Hi all
My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of the following
paper in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management:
Revised estimates of foetal and post-natal growth in young gray whales
(Eschrichtius robustus) by James L. Sumich, Sergey A. Blokhin and Piotr A.
Tiupeleyev
Abstract
Patterns of gray whale growth in body length and weight with age are evaluated
using published values of foetal and post-natal body dimensions at reported
ages, supplemented with previously unpublished measured lengths of 88
mid-gestation foetuses, 82 first-summer calves and 30 second- summer whales
taken in the summer/autumn Chukotkan native subsistence fishery. Gompertz
growth models are fitted to foetal and post-natal lengths at age, predicting
mean lengths at birth in mid-January of 4.7m, 7.9m at weaning and 8.7m at one
year. The late foetal diapause in growth of length is not supported by the
available data. Two equations were derived for estimating body weights from the
linear body dimensions of length and maximum girth. For biomass estimates, two
equations based on length alone and on both girth and length are derived. A
multiple least squares regression equation fit to 14 measurements of the same
whale over 14 months of captive rehabilitation predicts mean body weights at
birth of 1,100–1,200kg, 5,100–5,200kg at six months (weaning), and
6,700–6,800kg at one year of age.
The article can be downloaded from vol. 13(2) at:
https://archive.iwc.int/pages/search.php?search=!collection15&k
or by email from me at [email protected]
Cheers,
James Sumich, PhD
Hatfield Marine Science Center
Newport, OR 97365
[email protected]
_______________________________________________
MARMAM mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
