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Research Article
How do baleen whales stow their filter? A comparative biomechanical analysis of baleen bending
Alexander J. Werth, Diego Rita, Michael V. Rosario, Michael J. Moore, Todd L. Sformo
Journal of Experimental Biology 2018 221: jeb189233 doi: 10.1242/jeb.189233 Published 4 December 2018
Alexander J. Werth
Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA
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  • ORCID record for Alexander J. Werth
  • For correspondence: awerth@hsc.edu
Diego Rita
Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Michael V. Rosario
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Michael J. Moore
Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
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Todd L. Sformo
Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough, Barrow, AK 99723, USAInstitute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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ABSTRACT

Bowhead and right whale (balaenid) baleen filtering plates, longer in vertical dimension (≥3–4 m) than the closed mouth, presumably bend during gape closure. This has not been observed in live whales, even with scrutiny of video-recorded feeding sequences. To determine what happens to the baleen during gape closure, we conducted an integrative, multifactorial study including materials testing, functional (flow tank and kinematic) testing and histological examination. We measured baleen bending properties along the dorsoventral length of plates and anteroposterior location within a rack of plates via mechanical (axial bending, composite flexure, compression and tension) tests of hydrated and air-dried tissue samples from balaenid and other whale baleen. Balaenid baleen is remarkably strong yet pliable, with ductile fringes, and low stiffness and high elasticity when wet; it likely bends in the closed mouth when not used for filtration. Calculation of flexural modulus from stress/strain experiments shows that the balaenid baleen is slightly more flexible where it emerges from the gums and at its ventral terminus, but kinematic analysis indicates plates bend evenly along their whole length. Fin and humpback whale baleen has similar material properties but less flexibility, with no dorsoventral variation. The internal horn tubes have greater external and hollow luminal diameter but lower density in the lateral relative to medial baleen of bowhead and fin whales, suggesting a greater capacity for lateral bending. Baleen bending has major consequences not only for feeding morphology and energetics but also for conservation given that entanglement in fishing gear is a leading cause of whale mortality.

FOOTNOTES

  • Competing interests

    The authors declare no competing or financial interests.

  • Author contributions

    Conceptualization: A.J.W.; Methodology: A.J.W., D.R., M.V.R., M.J.M., T.L.S.; Software: A.J.W., M.V.R.; Validation: A.J.W., M.J.M., T.L.S.; Formal analysis: A.J.W., M.J.M., T.L.S.; Investigation: A.J.W., D.R., M.V.R., M.J.M., T.L.S.; Resources: A.J.W., D.R., M.V.R., M.J.M., T.L.S.; Data curation: A.J.W., D.R., T.L.S.; Writing - original draft: A.J.W.; Writing - review & editing: A.J.W., D.R., M.V.R., M.J.M., T.L.S.; Visualization: A.J.W., D.R., M.V.R., T.L.S.; Supervision: A.J.W.; Project administration: A.J.W., T.L.S.; Funding acquisition: A.J.W., T.L.S.

  • Funding

    Funding for A.J.W. came from Hampden-Sydney College faculty grants and a Harris Award from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration CINAR Award NA14OAR4320158 and North Slope Borough, Alaska, funded OHMSETT testing.

  • Data availability

    All data are freely available in the Dryad Digital Repository (Werth et al., 2018): dryad.73rm81p.

  • Received July 23, 2018.
  • Accepted October 11, 2018.
  • © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
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Keywords

  • Cetacea
  • Mysticete
  • Jaw
  • Keratin
  • Filter feeding
  • Morphology
  • Flexibility
  • Stiffness

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Research Article
How do baleen whales stow their filter? A comparative biomechanical analysis of baleen bending
Alexander J. Werth, Diego Rita, Michael V. Rosario, Michael J. Moore, Todd L. Sformo
Journal of Experimental Biology 2018 221: jeb189233 doi: 10.1242/jeb.189233 Published 4 December 2018
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Research Article
How do baleen whales stow their filter? A comparative biomechanical analysis of baleen bending
Alexander J. Werth, Diego Rita, Michael V. Rosario, Michael J. Moore, Todd L. Sformo
Journal of Experimental Biology 2018 221: jeb189233 doi: 10.1242/jeb.189233 Published 4 December 2018

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