Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism
Morphological changes during body development measurements are crucial in understanding growth rates, allometric relationships, and sexual dimorphism. Recent advances in drone technology provide a new perspective enabling an indirect, non-invasive morphological assessment of free-ranging cetaceans....
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/4/290 |
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| author | Dorottya Mészáros Beatriu Tort Eduard Degollada |
| author_facet | Dorottya Mészáros Beatriu Tort Eduard Degollada |
| author_sort | Dorottya Mészáros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Morphological changes during body development measurements are crucial in understanding growth rates, allometric relationships, and sexual dimorphism. Recent advances in drone technology provide a new perspective enabling an indirect, non-invasive morphological assessment of free-ranging cetaceans. In this study, 10 body parameters were measured and examined with drone-based aerial photogrammetry across 82 individual fin whales (<i>Balaenoptera physalus)</i> along the Catalan coast of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, between 2021 and 2023. The growth pattern of each body parameter relative to the total length was determined as negative allometry. The developmental changes depicted that the head region at first decreases proportionally until the animal reaches approximately 14 m in length. Then, it remains constant until 18 m, subsequently followed by a relative increase. The difference in the growth rates among the sexes leads to a proportional shift between females and males approximately between 15 and 17 m in length. Overall, males exhibit a more rapid body elongation, along with moderate development of the other body parameters, while females display the contrary. The morphological parameters reveal insights into the population status dynamics and provide information on the reproductive status. These parameters are critical for the proper conservation and management of the local population of the species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-95c491869ec644bb8deecc1ea708475a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drones |
| spelling | doaj-art-95c491869ec644bb8deecc1ea708475a2025-08-20T02:17:20ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2025-04-019429010.3390/drones9040290Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual DimorphismDorottya Mészáros0Beatriu Tort1Eduard Degollada2EDMAKTUB Association, Ctra. Sant Vicenc 17, 08393 Caldes d’Estrac, SpainEDMAKTUB Association, Ctra. Sant Vicenc 17, 08393 Caldes d’Estrac, SpainEDMAKTUB Association, Ctra. Sant Vicenc 17, 08393 Caldes d’Estrac, SpainMorphological changes during body development measurements are crucial in understanding growth rates, allometric relationships, and sexual dimorphism. Recent advances in drone technology provide a new perspective enabling an indirect, non-invasive morphological assessment of free-ranging cetaceans. In this study, 10 body parameters were measured and examined with drone-based aerial photogrammetry across 82 individual fin whales (<i>Balaenoptera physalus)</i> along the Catalan coast of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, between 2021 and 2023. The growth pattern of each body parameter relative to the total length was determined as negative allometry. The developmental changes depicted that the head region at first decreases proportionally until the animal reaches approximately 14 m in length. Then, it remains constant until 18 m, subsequently followed by a relative increase. The difference in the growth rates among the sexes leads to a proportional shift between females and males approximately between 15 and 17 m in length. Overall, males exhibit a more rapid body elongation, along with moderate development of the other body parameters, while females display the contrary. The morphological parameters reveal insights into the population status dynamics and provide information on the reproductive status. These parameters are critical for the proper conservation and management of the local population of the species.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/4/290morphometricsphotogrammetryfin whalesexual dimorphismUAVbody development |
| spellingShingle | Dorottya Mészáros Beatriu Tort Eduard Degollada Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism Drones morphometrics photogrammetry fin whale sexual dimorphism UAV body development |
| title | Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism |
| title_full | Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism |
| title_fullStr | Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism |
| title_short | Tracking Fin Whale Morphology with Drone Photogrammetry: Growth Tendencies, Developmental Changes, and Sexual Dimorphism |
| title_sort | tracking fin whale morphology with drone photogrammetry growth tendencies developmental changes and sexual dimorphism |
| topic | morphometrics photogrammetry fin whale sexual dimorphism UAV body development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/4/290 |
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