Behavior and Ecology of Not-So-Social Odontocetes: Cuvier’s and Blainville’s Beaked Whales

摘要: While beaked whales are the poorest-known family of cetaceans overall, behavior and ecology two species whales, Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris) Blainville’s (Mesoplodon densirostris), have been studied extensively for more than 15 years in multiple areas around world. This research was largely initiated as a result susceptibility both to react high-intensity navy sonars, sometimes resulting death individuals. In this chapter long-term studies Hawai‘i reviewed, informed by on these elsewhere. Both small populations that resident island slopes, evidenced combination photo-identification shorter-term satellite tag deployments. The coexist partitioning their habitat three dimensions, with being found deeper water, diving deeper, whales. Diving acoustic appears be driven part predator avoidance. echolocate only at depth, foraging deep water column during day night, less time spent near surface between dives. Ascent rates also slower descent rates. All factors likely ways minimizing detection from near-surface visually or acoustically oriented predators such large sharks killer There no strong selective pressure grouping species. often alone average very groups (medians: = 2; 3). Groups do form appear function avoid (for females calves) allow mating opportunities adult males seeking mates). Individuals tend ephemeral social relations, although one pair subadult documented together over an 11-year period. whale exhibit female defense polygyny, while sperm competition may play role system Studies spanning tropics temperate waters different oceans beginning earn them important place our overall understanding cetacean ethology behavioral ecology.