Prolonged maternal investment in northern bottlenose whales alters our understanding of beaked whale reproductive life history.

摘要: Nursing and weaning periods are poorly understood in cetaceans due to the difficulty of assessing underwater behaviour wild. However, onset completion critical turning points for individual development survival, with implications a species' life history including reproductive potential. δ15N δ13C deposited odontocete teeth annuli provide lifetime record diet, offering an opportunity investigate variation trends fundamental biology. While available parameters beaked whales have largely been inferred from single records stranded or hunted animals extrapolated across species, here we examine strategy nursing duration northern bottlenose (Hyperoodon ampullatus) by measuring stable isotopes dentine growth layer groups (GLGs). Using collection H. ampullatus taken killed during whaling era (N = 48) two specimens, compared ontogenetic found annual GLGs all individuals, sex region. We detected age-based both that consistent regions males females, indicate is prolonged does not conclude until 3-4 years old, substantially later than previous estimates 1 year. Incorporating period maternal care into significantly reduces their potential, broad models whale history, energetics recovery whaling.