PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Physical Health and Welfare States of Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Welfare Assessment Protocol for Wild Cetaceans
Version 1
: Received: 21 September 2024 / Approved: 23 September 2024 / Online: 24 September 2024 (11:32:08 CEST)
How to cite:
Boileau, A.; Blais, J.; Van Bressem, M.-F.; Hunt, K. E.; Ahloy-Dallaire, J. Physical Health and Welfare States of Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Welfare Assessment Protocol for Wild Cetaceans. Preprints2024, 2024091785. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.1785.v1
Boileau, A.; Blais, J.; Van Bressem, M.-F.; Hunt, K. E.; Ahloy-Dallaire, J. Physical Health and Welfare States of Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Welfare Assessment Protocol for Wild Cetaceans. Preprints 2024, 2024091785. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.1785.v1
Boileau, A.; Blais, J.; Van Bressem, M.-F.; Hunt, K. E.; Ahloy-Dallaire, J. Physical Health and Welfare States of Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Welfare Assessment Protocol for Wild Cetaceans. Preprints2024, 2024091785. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.1785.v1
APA Style
Boileau, A., Blais, J., Van Bressem, M. F., Hunt, K. E., & Ahloy-Dallaire, J. (2024). Physical Health and Welfare States of Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Welfare Assessment Protocol for Wild Cetaceans. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.1785.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Boileau, A., Kathleen Ellen Hunt and Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire. 2024 "Physical Health and Welfare States of Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Welfare Assessment Protocol for Wild Cetaceans" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.1785.v1
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities impacting marine environments are internationally recognized as welfare issues for wild cetaceans. This study validates a first evidence-based physical health and welfare assessment protocol for humpback (n=50) and fin whales (n=50) living in a highly anthropized environment. Visual assessments of body condition, skin health, prevalence of injuries and parasite/epibiont loads were performed using a species-specific multi-scale measuring tool. A total of 6403 images were analyzed (fin, n =3152; humpback, n= 3251) and results were validated through reliability and positive discrimination statistical tests. Welfare assessment results showed that 60% of humpback whales were considered in a good physical welfare state compared to only 46% of fin whales. Significant relationships were observed in both species, between environmental parameters, like dissolved oxygen levels, and prevalence of cutaneous lesions like pale skin patch syndrome. Furthermore, animals with injuries due to anthropogenic activities were more likely to be in poorer body condition, suggesting chronic stress affecting health and welfare.
Keywords
Humpback Whales; Fin Whales; Welfare Assessment; Anthropized environment; Chronic Stress; Entanglement; Physical health; Body condition; Cutaneous lesions
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
,
,
,
,
