Douglas P. Nowacek
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View article: Short-finned pilot whales modulate surfacing and breathing patterns more strongly in response to dives than in anticipation
Short-finned pilot whales modulate surfacing and breathing patterns more strongly in response to dives than in anticipation Open
A new study reveals how short-finned pilot whales balance the conflicting demands of foraging underwater with breathing at the surface. Using data from digital tags, scientists found that pilot whales rely more on surfacing strategies that…
View article: Soundscapes of natural and artificial temperate reefs: similar temporal patterns but distinct spectral content
Soundscapes of natural and artificial temperate reefs: similar temporal patterns but distinct spectral content Open
Marine soundscapes often differ among habitats; however, relatively little is known about whether soundscapes on naturally occurring habitats differ from soundscapes on human-made structures. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated …
View article: Habitat use of Mediterranean fin whales in the recently established North-Western Mediterranean Particularly Sensitive Sea Area
Habitat use of Mediterranean fin whales in the recently established North-Western Mediterranean Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Open
The current climate change, pollution, and biodiversity crises highlight the urgent need to develop effective conservation measures for wildlife and their habitats. The Mediterranean Sea is home to some of the busiest traffic lanes globall…
View article: Recommendations for built marine infrastructure that supports natural habitats
Recommendations for built marine infrastructure that supports natural habitats Open
The extent of built marine infrastructure—from energy infrastructure and ports to artificial reefs and aquaculture—is increasing globally. The rise in built structure coverage is concurrent with losses and degradation of many natural habit…
View article: Leveraging built marine structures to benefit and minimize impacts on natural habitats
Leveraging built marine structures to benefit and minimize impacts on natural habitats Open
Many natural marine habitats are decreasing in extent despite global conservation and restoration efforts. In contrast, built marine structures, such as hardened shorelines, offshore energy and aquaculture infrastructure, and artificial re…
View article: From Wind to Whales: Potential Hydrodynamic Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy on Nantucket Shoals Regional Ecology
From Wind to Whales: Potential Hydrodynamic Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy on Nantucket Shoals Regional Ecology Open
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a committee in June 2023 to assess the potential hydrodynamic and ecological impacts from offshore wind energy development in the Nantucket Shoals region, with particular…
View article: Multi-class steroid profiling in short-finned pilot whale blubber using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Multi-class steroid profiling in short-finned pilot whale blubber using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Open
Rationale: Wildlife scientists are quantifying steroid hormones in a growing number of tissue types and employing novel methods which must undergo validation before application. This study tested the accuracy and precision of liquid chroma…
View article: Cyclical prey shortages for a marine polar predator driven by the interaction of climate change and natural climate variability
Cyclical prey shortages for a marine polar predator driven by the interaction of climate change and natural climate variability Open
Between 1992 and 2018, the breeding population of Adélie penguins around Anvers Island, Antarctica declined by 98%. In this region, natural climate variability drives five‐year cycling in marine phytoplankton productivity, leading to phase…
View article: Trade-offs in telemetry tag programming for deep-diving cetaceans: data longevity, resolution, and continuity
Trade-offs in telemetry tag programming for deep-diving cetaceans: data longevity, resolution, and continuity Open
Background Animal-borne telemetry instruments (tags) have greatly advanced our understanding of species that are challenging to observe. Recently, non-recoverable instruments attached to cetaceans have increased in use, but these devices h…
View article: Hunting cetaceans with sound: a worldwide review
Hunting cetaceans with sound: a worldwide review Open
Cetaceans are sensitive to a variety of anthropogenic sounds because they normally use sound to navigate, communicate and capture prey. This paper reviews some fisheries that have taken advantage of this sensitivity by using sound to help …
View article: Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change
Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change Open
Antarctic minke whales ( Balaenoptera bonaerensis , AMW) are an abundant, ice-dependent species susceptible to rapid climatic changes occurring in parts of the Antarctic. Here, we used remote biopsy samples and estimates of length derived …
View article: Intra-seasonal variation in feeding rates and diel foraging behaviour in a seasonally fasting mammal, the humpback whale
Intra-seasonal variation in feeding rates and diel foraging behaviour in a seasonally fasting mammal, the humpback whale Open
Antarctic humpback whales forage in summer, coincident with the seasonal abundance of their primary prey, the Antarctic krill. During the feeding season, humpback whales accumulate energy stores sufficient to fuel their fasting period last…
View article: Acoustic signalling and behaviour of Antarctic minke whales ( <i>Balaenoptera bonaerensis</i> )
Acoustic signalling and behaviour of Antarctic minke whales ( <i>Balaenoptera bonaerensis</i> ) Open
Acoustic signalling is the predominant form of communication among cetaceans. Understanding the behavioural state of calling individuals can provide insights into the specific function of sound production; in turn, this information can aid…
View article: Trade-offs in telemetry tag programming for deep-diving cetaceans: data longevity, resolution, and continuity
Trade-offs in telemetry tag programming for deep-diving cetaceans: data longevity, resolution, and continuity Open
Background Animal-borne telemetry instruments (tags) have greatly advanced our understanding of species that are challenging to observe. Recently, non-recoverable instruments attached to cetaceans have increased in use, but these devices h…
View article: Scaling of maneuvering performance in baleen whales: larger whales outperform expectations
Scaling of maneuvering performance in baleen whales: larger whales outperform expectations Open
Despite their enormous size, whales make their living as voracious predators. To catch their much smaller, more maneuverable prey, they have developed several unique locomotor strategies that require high energetic input, high mechanical p…
View article: Table S2: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change
Table S2: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change Open
Data associated with blubber hormone evaluations for pregnancy state.
View article: Table S1: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change
Table S1: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change Open
Data associated with sample collection and genetic information
View article: Table S3: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change
Table S3: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change Open
Data associated with UAS-derived measurements and maturity classification
View article: Table S4: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change
Table S4: from Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change Open
Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis, AMW) are an abundant, ice-dependent species susceptible to rapid climatic changes occurring in parts of the Antarctic. Here, we used remote biopsy samples and estimates of length derived fr…
View article: Risso's dolphins perform spin dives to target deep-dwelling prey
Risso's dolphins perform spin dives to target deep-dwelling prey Open
Foraging decisions of deep-diving cetaceans can provide fundamental insight into food web dynamics of the deep pelagic ocean. Cetacean optimal foraging entails a tight balance between oxygen-conserving dive strategies and access to deep-dw…
View article: First description of migratory behavior of humpback whales from an Antarctic feeding ground to a tropical calving ground
First description of migratory behavior of humpback whales from an Antarctic feeding ground to a tropical calving ground Open
Background Despite exhibiting one of the longest migrations in the world, half of the humpback whale migratory cycle has remained unexamined. Until now, no study has provided a continuous description of humpback whale migratory behavior fr…
View article: Scaling of heart rate with breathing frequency and body mass in cetaceans
Scaling of heart rate with breathing frequency and body mass in cetaceans Open
Plasticity in the cardiac function of a marine mammal facilitates rapid adjustments to the contrasting metabolic demands of breathing at the surface and diving during an extended apnea. By matching their heart rate (fH) to their immediate …
View article: First Description of Migratory Behavior of Humpback Whales From an Antarctic Feeding Ground to a Tropical Breeding Ground
First Description of Migratory Behavior of Humpback Whales From an Antarctic Feeding Ground to a Tropical Breeding Ground Open
Background: Despite exhibiting one of the longest migrations in the world, half of the humpback whale migratory cycle has remained unexamined; until this point, no study has provided a continuous description of humpback whale migratory beh…
View article: An integrated comparative physiology and molecular approach pinpoints mediators of breath-hold capacity in dolphins
An integrated comparative physiology and molecular approach pinpoints mediators of breath-hold capacity in dolphins Open
Ischemic events, such as ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke, are the number one cause of death globally. Ischemia prevents blood, carrying essential nutrients and oxygen, from reaching tissues and organ systems, leading to cell and…
View article: An integrated comparative physiology and molecular approach pinpoints mediators of breath-hold capacity in dolphins
An integrated comparative physiology and molecular approach pinpoints mediators of breath-hold capacity in dolphins Open
Background and objectives Ischemic events, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, are the number one cause of death globally. Ischemia prevents blood, carrying essential nutrients and oxygen, from reaching tissues, leading to cell and …
View article: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and submersion bradycardia in bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>)
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and submersion bradycardia in bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) Open
Among the many factors that influence the cardiovascular adjustments of marine mammals is the act of respiration at the surface, which facilitates rapid gas exchange and tissue re-perfusion between dives. We measured heart rate (fH) in six…
View article: Exploring movement patterns and changing distributions of baleen whales in the western North Atlantic using a decade of passive acoustic data
Exploring movement patterns and changing distributions of baleen whales in the western North Atlantic using a decade of passive acoustic data Open
Six baleen whale species are found in the temperate western North Atlantic Ocean, with limited information existing on the distribution and movement patterns for most. There is mounting evidence of distributional shifts in many species, in…
View article: Why whales are big but not bigger: Physiological drivers and ecological limits in the age of ocean giants
Why whales are big but not bigger: Physiological drivers and ecological limits in the age of ocean giants Open
It's the prey that matters Although many people think of dinosaurs as being the largest creatures to have lived on Earth, the true largest known animal is still here today—the blue whale. How whales were able to become so large has long be…