Seminar on Whale Feeding

Humpback whale.\Photo by Rena Olson.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Thursday research seminar series continues online—but those in the Newport area can now attend in person.

On Thursday, April 7, 3:30 p.m., postdoctoral researcher David Cade of Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station will speak on “Size limitations on rorqual whale engulfment filtration feeding.”  Rorqual whales in include the familiar grays and humpbacks that frequent Oregon waters.

Dr. Cade’s summary of his subject matter: 

“Intermittent engulfment filtration feeding, a foraging modality unique to rorqual whales, is an energetically efficient strategy that enabled the evolution of the largest animals. The efficiency of this strategy increases with body size, yet the smallest rorqual whales (minke whales) still appear to forage at several times the efficiency of many other cetacean species. Additionally, baleen whale ancestors exhibited much lower body sizes overall, so the absence of rorqual whales smaller than extant minkes is conspicuous and largely unexplained. Similarly, the linearly increasing efficiency of rorqual whale foraging with body size does not suggest an upper limit to size, leaving unexplained why no animals larger than a blue whale have ever been discovered. Our best answers to date for these related problems involve the intersection of ecology, physiology, paleontology and oceanography, and take us on a tour of productive temperate ocean waters around the world.”

For those wishing to attend physically, the seminar takes place in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building (GVMSB) auditorium at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.  A coffee-and-cookies social will take place in the atrium prior to the presentation.

For those attending online, go to: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94555731151?pwd=RnJ6eVg0ODdzRUpVc0pQbUlIdUV3dz09

Password: 972587 or call +1-971-247-1195 US Meeting ID: 945 5573 1151