Question of the monthDuring an interview with Richard Sears, founder, research scientist and Program Director of the Mingan Island Cetacean Society (MICS), Whales online asked him the following question: Why are there so few young blue whales in the St. Lawrence River?For starters, it is important to realize that the location of the North-Atlantic blue whale's breeding grounds is still unknown. We know that breeding takes place during winter but we do not know where exactly. When these animals leave the St. Lawrence they seem to travel offshore, where breeding probably occurs. In my 20 years of seasonal work (from spring to fall) in the St. Lawrence, I have seen only nine calves, whereas, in just ten days work in Iceland, spread over a period of three years, I have seen seven! I do not know exactly why we see so few young blue whales in the St. Lawrence. Maybe females do not venture here with their young. Biopsies (blubber and tissue specimens) that I have performed on blue whales of the St. Lawrence and Iceland have shown higher PBC levels in the blubber of the animals of the St. Lawrence. Who knows? Perhaps chemical contaminants affect their reproductive success. I want to know more |