Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (IAS), Unit of Capo Granitola, National Research Council, Via del Mare 3, 91021, Torretta Granitola, TP, Italy.
Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy.
Sci Rep. 2023 Mar 17;13(1):4436. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31665-x.
The Arctic marine environment is highly affected by global warming with notable changes in habitat conditions, which have great consequences on migrating species. For example, the timing of their migration can be altered leading to changes in their occurrence in suitable areas, which are critical for their survival. In this study, seven years of acoustic data were analysed in Svalbard Islands from 2014 to 2020, revealing that the occurrence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) happened all year-round. The sea surface temperature recorded reveals conditions which could be favorable for these species to persist until the Polar Night. The occurrence of songs indicated that certain individuals did not undertake the migratory journey through the southern breeding grounds, possibly using the area for mating purposes. The analyses of the Inter-Note-Interval (INI) demonstrated that over the years songs with different patterns were found. This suggests that either the fin whales are able to switch their INI patterns or that populations with different INIs are visiting during the Winter. Therefore, this study unveils the undertaking of an alternative strategy to migration movements, and the possible potential origin of the fin whales overwintering in Svalbard.
北极海洋环境受到全球变暖的高度影响，生境条件发生显著变化，这对洄游物种产生了重大影响。例如，它们的迁徙时间可能会发生改变，导致它们在适宜地区的出现发生变化，这对它们的生存至关重要。在这项研究中，分析了 2014 年至 2020 年在斯瓦尔巴群岛的七年声学数据，结果表明长须鲸（Balaenoptera physalus）全年都有出现。记录的海面温度表明，这些物种可能有条件在极夜期间持续存在。歌声的出现表明，某些个体没有通过南部繁殖地进行洄游，它们可能是在该地区进行交配。对间隔鸣叫时间（INI）的分析表明，多年来发现了不同模式的鸣叫。这表明长须鲸要么能够改变它们的 INI 模式，要么在冬季有不同 INI 的种群来访。因此，这项研究揭示了一种替代迁徙行为的策略，以及长须鲸在斯瓦尔巴群岛越冬的可能潜在起源。
