Summary
A study on the longevity of balaenid whales, specifically the southern right whale (SRW) and the North Atlantic right whale (NARW), found that SRWs can live up to 131.8 years, while NARWs have a median life span of 22.3 years due to anthropogenic factors.
Highlights
- SRWs can live up to 131.8 years, exceeding previous estimates.
- NARWs have a median life span of 22.3 years due to human activities.
- The study used mark-recapture data and survival analysis to estimate life spans.
- The results suggest that all balaenid whales may have the potential for extreme longevity.
- The study highlights the impact of human activities on whale populations.
- The findings have implications for conservation and management efforts.
- The study demonstrates the importance of long-term data collection and analysis.
Key Insights
- The study's findings suggest that SRWs may be one of the longest-living animals on record, with some individuals potentially living over 150 years.
- The significant difference in life spans between SRWs and NARWs highlights the impact of human activities, such as entanglements and ship strikes, on whale populations.
- The study's use of mark-recapture data and survival analysis provides a robust estimate of life spans, but the results may still be biased low due to the limitations of the data.
- The findings have significant implications for conservation and management efforts, as they suggest that whale populations may take centuries to recover from human impacts.
- The study highlights the importance of long-term data collection and analysis in understanding the ecology and conservation of long-lived species.
- The results of the study are consistent with the growing body of evidence that many species of whales and dolphins are capable of living for hundreds of years.
- The study's findings underscore the need for continued conservation efforts to protect whale populations and their habitats.
Mindmap
Citation
Breed, G. A., Vermeulen, E., & Corkeron, P. (2024). Extreme longevity may be the rule not the exception in Balaenid whales. In Science Advances (Vol. 10, Issue 51). American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq3086