A seagull: clerk found that whale is often they pecked to death

A seagull: clerk found that whale is often they pecked to death

According to often say “big fish eat small fish, small fish eat small shrimp” logic, if you ask what birds are able to eat giant whale, it is estimated in the legend of the roc. But the researchers found that in the South Argentina sea gull often falls on the back of the whale peck his flesh, and may therefore lead to a lot of whale’s death.

The United States institutions such as University of Utah researchers recently in the academic journal Public Library of science network “integrated” (PLOSONE) the report said, in the waters of Argentina live a southern right whale whale, they often put back in breathing when exposed on the surface of the water, while the sea gull often seize the opportunity to fall on its back pecking skin and fat. As early as the 70s of last century, it was observed that this phenomenon, but from 1974 to on the observation of more than two thousand whale shows that the behavior of the seagull attack whale intensified. In 70s, only about 2% of the birds are wound on the back of whale; in 2000, this proportion has risen to 99%.

As shown above, there is a considerable area of the wound on the back of the whale. This is because the seagull pecking out of a small opening, will continue in the pecking repeatedly, causing wound expanding. The researchers found a calf especially bad, the wound area has accounted for 19% of the surface of the back. These long exposure wounds can lead to infection, dehydration, and body temperature disorders in whale, and additional energy is needed to heal wounds, which adds to the burden of survival. During the period from 2003 to 2014, the relevant area of Argentina has been found at least 626 southern right whales died. The researchers believe that the seagull attack may be an important factor leading to their death.

According to often say “big fish eat small fish, small fish eat small shrimp” logic, if you ask what birds are able to eat giant whale, it is estimated in the legend of the roc. But the researchers found that in the South Argentina sea gull often falls on the back of the whale peck his flesh, and may therefore lead to a lot of whale’s death.

The United States institutions such as University of Utah researchers recently in the academic journal Public Library of science network “integrated” (PLOSONE) the report said, in the waters of Argentina live a southern right whale whale, they often put back in breathing when exposed on the surface of the water, while the sea gull often seize the opportunity to fall on its back pecking skin and fat. As early as the 70s of last century, it was observed that this phenomenon, but from 1974 to on the observation of more than two thousand whale shows that the behavior of the seagull attack whale intensified. In 70s, only about 2% of the birds are wound on the back of whale; in 2000, this proportion has risen to 99%.

As shown above, there is a considerable area of the wound on the back of the whale. This is because the seagull pecking out of a small opening, will continue in the pecking repeatedly, causing wound expanding. The researchers found a calf especially bad, the wound area has accounted for 19% of the surface of the back. These long exposure wounds can lead to infection, dehydration, and body temperature disorders in whale, and additional energy is needed to heal wounds, which adds to the burden of survival. During the period from 2003 to 2014, the relevant area of Argentina has been found at least 626 southern right whales died. The researchers believe that the seagull attack may be an important factor leading to their death.

So why doesn’t whale get under the water? This is because whale can not breathe in the water, every time you have to surface water. Under the seagull attacks over the years, whale has learned some air took most of the body hidden in the underwater position, but the young whale hasn’t learned this skill, it has also become a key target in recent years seagull. Data show that in 80s and 90s the last century, the number of the mother and calf on the back of the wound after almost, but by 2000, the number of baby back wounds significantly more than the average female whales 9 more, the wound area accounts for a bigger proportion of back. The calf survival ability lower, seagull attacks have obvious threat to whale’s next generation.

You may not think seagull so fierce? Not only is in South America, in Africa also reported seagull attack seals, is also the pecking flesh and fat, also has the ability to resist not strong pups died. In order to protect whale, according to reports in some places in South America has been shooting and driving attack whale seagull. But from the perspective of nature, seagull but is also trying to find food for themselves, only the southern right whale scales between the growing imbalance and seagull. More research is needed in order to maintain the balance of ecosystem. (reporter Huang Kun, Xinhua International client reports)