Arctic Whales Species

General Information
1. There are 3 types of whales that stay in the arctic all year round
  1. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros)
  2. Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)
  3. Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)
2. Taxonomy (Beluga)
  1. Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Mammalia Order:Cetacea Family:Monodontidae Genus:Delphinapterus Species:leucas
3. Unifying Characteristics
  1. All are mammals
  2. Flippers and horizontal flukes allow them to propel through water
  3. blubber serves as an energy source and keeps them warm
  4. small eyes to endure great pressure of oceans
  5. Exceptional hearing through vibrations
Current Status
1. 17 different arctic whale species
  1. Includes dolphins and porpoises
2. Ecosystems arctic whales inhabit
  1. Beluga habitats include: inlets, fjords, channels, bays and shallow waters of the arctic sea
  2. Narwhal habitats included: deep bays and fjords.
    1. Largest narwhal population can be found in the deep inlets, sounds and channels of the Canadian Arctic and North-west Greenlanf
  3. Bowhead whale habitats include: colder water of the northern hemisphere.
    1. Follow receding ice drifts
    2. Can be found in bays, straits and estuaries in the summer
Threats
1. Diminished sea ice
  1. Decreasing sea ice cover means more commercial shipping and oil, gas and mining exploration
2. Industrial Development
  1. 60% of of the habitats of arctic whales overlaps with gas and oil, and shipping
  2. Increase of collisions between ships and whales
3. Harvest for skin/leather
  1. Skin thick enough to be used for leather
4. unclear to what extent whales will be able to adapt to changes like climate change
Conservation
1. Conservation Plan for the Cook Inlet beluga whales
  1. Appointed Cook Inlet beluga whales as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
    1. Took immediate action to execute rulemaking to controlthe harvest of beluga whales
  2. This is effective however it will take until 2038 to reach it's goal
  3. Goal: Minimum pop. of 780 animals before the Cook Inlet stock is no longer considered depleted
2. WWF
  1. Plan ship traffic lanes and ship speed restrictions
  2. close important areas such as places where calves rest and feed
  3. Strictly control loud underwater noices
3. What can you do?
  1. Maintainable whale watching
    1. Promotes conservation

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Arctic Whales Species

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