Related Readings

Romano, A. T., Keogh, J. M., Kelly, C., Feng, P., Berk, L., Schlundt, E. C., ... Finneran, J. J. (2011, April 11). Anthropogenic sound and marine mammal health: measures of the nervous and immune systems before and after intense sound exposure. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, doi:10.1139/f04-055

Anthropogenic sound, or intense underwater sounds like those the military use, cause many health issues for marine mammals. For example, when the blood was tested before and after sound exposures from a seismic water gun and single pure tones resembling sonar pings from a white whale health issues were obvious. The bottlenose dolphin along with other marine mammals had an increase of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine levels were considerably higher after high-level sound exposures compared to low level.

Baker, C. S., Steel, D. J., Choi, Y., Lee, H., Kim, K. S., Choi, S. K., ... Funahashi, N. (2010, April 14). Genetic evidence of illegal trade in protected whales links Japan with the US and South Korea. Biology Letters, Retrieved from http://mmi.oregonstate.edu/genetic-evidence-illegal-trade-protected-whales-links-japan-us-and-south-korea

Evidence was found that restaurants in Los Angeles, California and Seoul, South Korea purchased illegal whale-meat in 2009. Records show the DNA profile of whale sold in Seoul matched products purchased previously in Japan in September 2007. DNA analysis of the meat found it to be from the three types of whale that are currently killed in the controversial scientific whaling programme in Japan. The fin, sei and Antarctic minke whales are at the center of this illegal trade investigation and are all protected from international trade.

Shinsuke, T. (2002, September). Contamination and toxic effects of persistent endocrine disrupters in marine mammals and birds. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 45(1-12), 69-77. , doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00175-3

In the past few years it has been noticed that marine mammals are suffering from uncommon diseases and unusual mortalities. There are many reasons for this; however exposure to man-made toxic chemicals seems to be the main cause. These toxic chemicals can disrupt normal endocrine physiology in animals. These chemicals are found in the tissues of many sea animals such as cetaceans and albatrosses.

Simmonds, M. P., & Stephen, I. J. (2007, March 5). The impacts of climate change on marine mammals: early signs of significant problems. Oryx the international journal of conservation, 41(01), doi:: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605307001524

Climate change has a noticeable effect in marine mammals. They face a changing environment daily and it’s not a natural occurrence. The global climate change has impacted them through melting habitat, prey distribution and abundance. Marine ecosystems modelers and marine mammal experts will need to work together on the conservation of these marine mammals.

Laist, D. W. (1987, June). Overview of the biological effects of lost and discarded plastic debris in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 18(6), 319-326. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(87)80019-X

Plastics and other synthetic materials degrade very slowly and are very abundant in the world’s oceans. Those that are buoyant remain suspended at the sea surface for a long time, and those that are not, sink and remain on the bottom for years or even decades causing issues for marine mammals and other sea life. Many issues that come with plastic debris in the ocean include marine mammals to become entangled in loops or openings of debris; they may ingest plastic materials, have their ability to catch food or avoid predators impaired, or incur wounds from abrasive or cutting action of attached debris. Ingested plastics may block digestive tracts, damage stomach linings, or lessen feeding drives and entanglement causes marine mammals to drown.