Ed: Feb 2008. Many of the earlier images in this particular thread have been lost, and probably never will be relocated for the purposes of reposting. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
2 strandings of whales and dolphins in Tasmania:
Link
and one in NZ:
Link
are mystifying experts:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD202161.htm
A squid connection (from second link):
and some speculation:
Link
and a transcript:
[edit: Ooops missed off the link (or accidentally removed it) - its:
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1255082.htm
and annotingly truncated mention of squid beaks:
but as there are more intersting developments below.... ]
So what are the squiddly implications?
2 strandings of whales and dolphins in Tasmania:
Link
and one in NZ:
Link
are mystifying experts:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD202161.htm
A squid connection (from second link):
That leaves prey movements. Pilot whales normally feed in the deep ocean on squid and fish.
Squid specialist Dr George Jackson, of the University of Tasmania, said there had been no known mass spawning locally that might have drawn whales into shore.
and some speculation:
Link
and a transcript:
JOCELYN NETTLEFOLD: The weather appears to be central to the stranding cycle.
Every decade or so, atmospheric changes bring cooler sub-Antarctic waters further north.
Those waters are rich in squid and fish - the favoured prey of whales and dolphins - so, naturally, the mammals follow their food source, meaning that a lot more of them are spotted around Australia's coastline.
[edit: Ooops missed off the link (or accidentally removed it) - its:
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1255082.htm
and annotingly truncated mention of squid beaks:
PROFESSOR MARK HINDELL, UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA: So what's the biggest beak we've ever got from one of these sperm whale stomachs?
DR KAREN EVANS: One of the southern Antarctic species gets up to --
JOCELYN NETTLEFOLD: By analysing the stomach contents from dead whales and working with climatologists, these zoologists have established a pattern of whale strandings around Tasmania.
but as there are more intersting developments below.... ]
So what are the squiddly implications?