Respiration Rates in Captive Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Effects of Season, Sex, Age, and Body Size

Respiration rates can be used as important indices of health and welfare in animal subjects. In the present study, the respiration rates of captive beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) (N = 55) were found to be influenced by season (winter-spring rates > summer-fall rates), sex (males > femal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAquatic mammals Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 350 - 356
Main Authors George, Elizabeth M., Noonan, Michael
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Moline Aquatic Mammals Journal, NFP 01.12.2014
Aquatic Mammals
Subjects
Age
Animal behavior
Aquatic mammals
Body size
Cetacea
Delphinapterus leucas
Marine
Metabolism
Mothers
Observations
Physiological aspects
Pulmonary gas exchange
Respiration
Seasons
Whales
Whales & whaling
White whale
Canada
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Summary:Respiration rates can be used as important indices of health and welfare in animal subjects. In the present study, the respiration rates of captive beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) (N = 55) were found to be influenced by season (winter-spring rates > summer-fall rates), sex (males > females), age (calves > adults), and body size (smaller adults > larger adults). Significant interactions among these terms were also found for season-by-sex and season-by-age. Additionally, the respiration rates of beluga calves gradually declined to the point where they equaled their mothers by 3 y of age, the same age that other cetaceans achieve mature dive physiology.
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ISSN:0167-5427
1996-7292
DOI:10.1578/AM.40.4.2014.350