Context-dependent lateralized feeding strategies in blue whales

Lateralized behaviors benefit individuals by increasing task efficiency in foraging and anti-predator behaviors [1–4]. The conventional lateralization paradigm suggests individuals are left or right lateralized, although the direction of this laterality can vary for different tasks (e.g. foraging or predator inspection/avoidance). By fitting tri-axial movement sensors to blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), and by recording the direction and size of their rolls during lunge feeding events, we show how these animals differ from such a paradigm. The strength and direction of individuals’ lateralization were related to where and how the whales were feeding in the water column. Smaller rolls (≤180°) predominantly occurred at depth (>70 m), with whales being more likely to rotate clockwise around their longest axis (right lateralized). Larger rolls (>180°), conversely, occurred more often at shallower depths (<70 m) and were more likely to be performed anti-clockwise (left lateralized). More acrobatic rolls are typically used to target small, less dense krill patches near the water’s surface [5,6], and we posit that the specialization of lateralized feeding strategies may enhance foraging efficiency in environments with heterogeneous prey distributions.

Herbert-Read, James E.Stockholms universitet,Zoologiska institutionen(Swepub:su)jherb (author)
Hazen, Elliott L. (author)
Cade, David E. (author)
Calambokidis, John (author)
Southall, Brandon L. (author)
Stimpert, Alison K. (author)
Goldbogen, Jeremy A. (author)
Stockholms universitetZoologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Friedlaender, Ar ...; Herbert-Read, Ja ...; Hazen, Elliott L ...; Cade, David E.; Calambokidis, Jo ...; Southall, Brando ...; show more...; Stimpert, Alison ...; Goldbogen, Jerem ...; show less...

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