Journal article
Mating ecology of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhal (Monodon monoceros) as estimated by reproductive tract metrics
Trish C Kelley, Robert EA Stewart, David J Yurkowski, Anna Ryan, Steven H Ferguson
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE | WILEY | Published : 2015
DOI: 10.1111/mms.12165
Abstract
AbstractNarwhal and beluga whales are important species to Arctic ecosystems, including subsistence hunting by Inuit, and little is understood about their mating ecology. Reproductive tract metrics vary across species in relation to mating strategy, and have been used to infer mating ecology. Reproductive tracts from beluga and narwhal were collected between 1997 and 2008 from five beluga stocks and two narwhal stocks across the Canadian Arctic. Tract length for males and females, relative testes mass for males, and tusk length for male narwhal were measured. We assessed variation relative to species, body size, stock, maturity, and season. Significant variation was found in testes mass acro..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Hunters and Trappers' Associations of Aiviit (Coral Harbor), Arviq (Repulse Bay), Clyde River, Igloolik, Kimmirut, Pond Inlet, Qikitarjuaq, Resolute Bay, and Sanikiluaq; the Hunters and Trappers' Organizations of Aiviq (Cape Dorset), Aqigiq (Chesterfield Inlet), Arviat, Grise Fjord, Issatik (Whale Cove), Pangnirtung, and Taloyoak; the Hunters and Trappers' Committees of Aklavik (Shingle Point); and all of the hunters from these communities who sent us or allowed us to collect samples from their harvested animals. We also wish to thank all employees at the FWI who received, sorted, stored, and entered data for all of the samples we used, as well as Manitoba Hydro, NSERC, ArcticNet, and Earth Rangers for providing funding.