Seasonality of social behaviour among immature belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in managed care

Allonursing in captive belugas (Delphinapterus leucas).

This study describes allonursing (females nursing offspring that are not their own) in captive belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). In addition to the calf's mother, two females that were not pregnant or nursing at the time of the calf's birth spontaneously lactated and nursed the male calf intermittently throughout 34 months of his life at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center. These observ...

The Frequency and Nature of Allocare by a Group of Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Human Care

Estimated Abundance of Belugas, Delphinapterus Leucas, in Cook Inlet, Alaska, from Aerial Surveys Conducted in June

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducted aerial surveys of the beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, population in Cook Inlet, Alaska, 31 May 9 June 2011 as a continuum of surveys conducted since 1993. Eight of the days in 2011 resulted in complete surveys of the beluga habitat in the upper inlet (north of East Foreland and West Foreland); and the remaining two days included surveys of t...

Groups of related belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) travel together during their seasonal migrations in and around Hudson Bay.

Social structure involving long-term associations with relatives should facilitate the learning of complex behaviours such as long-distance migration. In and around Hudson Bay (Canada), three stocks of beluga whales form a panmictic unit, but have different migratory behaviours associated with different summering areas. We analysed genetic variation at 13 microsatellite loci among 1524 belugas,...

Pressure Induced Changes in Adaptive Immune Function in Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas); Implications for Dive Physiology and Health

Increased pressure, associated with diving, can alter cell function through several mechanisms and has been shown to impact immune functions performed by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in humans. While marine mammals possess specific adaptations which protect them from dive related injury, it is unknown how their immune system is adapted to the challenges associated with diving. The ...