Global warming is affecting the population dynamics and trophic interactions across a wide range of ecosystems and habitats. Translating these real‐time effects into their long‐term consequences remains a challenge. The rapid and extreme warming period that occurred after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition (7–12 thousand years ago) provides an opportunity to gain insights into the long‐te...

Line transect based abundance estimation is complicated for long‐finned (LFPW, Globicephala melas ) and short‐finned (SFPW, G. macrorhynchus ) pilot whales because of their similarity in appearance and their overlapping summertime range in some areas. We developed a photograph‐based approach to distinguish between species of free‐ranging pilot whales in the northwest Atlantic. We collected skin samples and photographs during t...

The use of voluntary approaches to achieve conservation goals is becoming increasingly popular. Nevertheless, few researchers have quantitatively evaluated their efficacy. In 1998 industry, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations established a voluntary conservation program for whale watching in the northeast region of the United States, with the intent to avoid collisions with and harassment of endangered whale...

A bstract We describe a novel behavior, termed “tail‐up,” observed in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) on wintering grounds on Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. The behavior involves the whale positioned vertically in the water column with its tail in the air. With the exception of calves, tail‐up was observed in all social classes, and its frequency increased through the end of the season. Tail‐ups were recorded in 144 (5.8%)...