Vertical Migration of Prey Forces Baird’s Beaked Whale Into Extreme Depth Swings

It chases prey that rises at night and vanishes by day.

Top Ad Slot
🤯 Did You Know (click to read)

Diel vertical migration is considered the largest synchronized movement of biomass on the planet.

Many deep-sea squid species perform diel vertical migrations, ascending toward shallower waters at night and descending during daylight, requiring Baird’s beaked whales to adjust dive depths accordingly.

Mid-Content Ad Slot
💥 Impact (click to read)

This means the whale’s daily routine can involve dramatic depth changes spanning thousands of meters, tracking prey that effectively commutes between ocean layers on a 24-hour cycle.

Such synchronized predator-prey movement ties one of the ocean’s largest mammals directly to one of Earth’s largest biomass migrations, linking abyssal giants to global ecological rhythms.

Source

National Geographic

LinkedIn Reddit

⚡ Ready for another mind-blower?

‹ Previous Next ›

💬 Comments