Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Abstract Groups of pelagic dolphins and whales (order Cetacea) regularly strand on beaches throughout the world. These strandings are referred to as mass stranding events (MSEs). MSEs have been observed for centuries, however the underlying causes remain unclear. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, MSE...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093697 |
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| author | R. Zellar A. Pulkkinen K. Moore C. S. Rousseaux D. Reeb |
| author_facet | R. Zellar A. Pulkkinen K. Moore C. S. Rousseaux D. Reeb |
| author_sort | R. Zellar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Groups of pelagic dolphins and whales (order Cetacea) regularly strand on beaches throughout the world. These strandings are referred to as mass stranding events (MSEs). MSEs have been observed for centuries, however the underlying causes remain unclear. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, MSEs usually involve only a few species of cetaceans. We investigated possible connections between MSEs in Cape Cod and regional wind and ocean currents. The seasonal MSE distribution is strongly correlated to both wind and ocean current strengths, and correlation is maximized when MSEs are compared to environmental data one month in the past. Furthermore, a superposed epoch analysis (a Chree analysis) indicates significant shifts in ocean current strength for months surrounding MSEs. These results may indicate that atmospheric and oceanic effects are possible underlying factors influencing MSEs. These factors could generate environments conducive for prey assemblages that attract cetaceans, or perhaps by driving seasonal production of prey species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c059f33c3a2d4d4797cf46c62810f03a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-c059f33c3a2d4d4797cf46c62810f03a2025-08-20T02:09:34ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072021-10-014820n/an/a10.1029/2021GL093697Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USAR. Zellar0A. Pulkkinen1K. Moore2C. S. Rousseaux3D. Reeb4NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USAInternational Fund for Animal Welfare Yarmouth Port MA USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USABureau of Ocean Energy Management Camarillo CA USAAbstract Groups of pelagic dolphins and whales (order Cetacea) regularly strand on beaches throughout the world. These strandings are referred to as mass stranding events (MSEs). MSEs have been observed for centuries, however the underlying causes remain unclear. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, MSEs usually involve only a few species of cetaceans. We investigated possible connections between MSEs in Cape Cod and regional wind and ocean currents. The seasonal MSE distribution is strongly correlated to both wind and ocean current strengths, and correlation is maximized when MSEs are compared to environmental data one month in the past. Furthermore, a superposed epoch analysis (a Chree analysis) indicates significant shifts in ocean current strength for months surrounding MSEs. These results may indicate that atmospheric and oceanic effects are possible underlying factors influencing MSEs. These factors could generate environments conducive for prey assemblages that attract cetaceans, or perhaps by driving seasonal production of prey species.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093697mass stranding eventsCape Cod, MassachusettsCetaceanupwellingprey assemblages |
| spellingShingle | R. Zellar A. Pulkkinen K. Moore C. S. Rousseaux D. Reeb Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA Geophysical Research Letters mass stranding events Cape Cod, Massachusetts Cetacean upwelling prey assemblages |
| title | Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA |
| title_full | Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA |
| title_fullStr | Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA |
| title_short | Oceanic and Atmospheric Correlations to Cetacean Mass Stranding Events in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA |
| title_sort | oceanic and atmospheric correlations to cetacean mass stranding events in cape cod massachusetts usa |
| topic | mass stranding events Cape Cod, Massachusetts Cetacean upwelling prey assemblages |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093697 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rzellar oceanicandatmosphericcorrelationstocetaceanmassstrandingeventsincapecodmassachusettsusa AT apulkkinen oceanicandatmosphericcorrelationstocetaceanmassstrandingeventsincapecodmassachusettsusa AT kmoore oceanicandatmosphericcorrelationstocetaceanmassstrandingeventsincapecodmassachusettsusa AT csrousseaux oceanicandatmosphericcorrelationstocetaceanmassstrandingeventsincapecodmassachusettsusa AT dreeb oceanicandatmosphericcorrelationstocetaceanmassstrandingeventsincapecodmassachusettsusa |