Brief Historical Review of Whaling

Special characteristics of whaling given beginning from old historical times. Distinguished different periods of this industry. Explained the transfer of whaling into the Antarctic. Given the catch data of main whaling species. The history of creation of International Convention on regulation of whaling and development of unified rules of whaling. Described the characteristics of whaling at current times.Дана характеристика особенностей промысла китов с давних исторических времен. Выделены качественно различные эпохи. Обоснован переход к промыслу китов в водах Антарктики. Указаны объемы добычи основных промысловых видов китов. Рассмотрена история создания Международной Конвенции по регулированию промысла и разработке единых Правил добычи китов. Описан характер китобойного промысла в настоящее время.Ключевые слова: киты, промысел, Антарктика, Международная конвенция, правила добыч

Past and present distribution, densities and movements of blue whales <i>Balaenoptera musculus</i> in the Southern Hemisphere and northern Indian Ocean

1Blue whale locations in the Southern Hemisphere and northern Indian Ocean were obtained from catches (303 239), sightings (4383 records of =8058 whales), strandings (103), Discovery marks (2191) and recoveries (95), and acoustic recordings.2Sighting surveys included 7 480 450 km of effort plus 14 676 days with unmeasured effort. Groups usually consisted of solitary whales (65.2%) or pairs (24.6%); larger feeding aggregations of unassociated individuals were only rarely observed. Sighting rates (groups per 1000 km from many platform types) varied by four orders of magnitude and were lowest in the waters of Brazil, South Africa, the eastern tropical Pacific, Antarctica and South Georgia; higher in the Subantarctic and Peru; and highest around Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Chile, southern Australia and south of Madagascar.3Blue whales avoid the oligotrophic central gyres of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but are more common where phytoplankton densities are high, and where there are dynamic oceanographic processes like upwelling and frontal meandering.4Compared with historical catches, the Antarctic (‘true’) subspecies is exceedingly rare and usually concentrated closer to the summer pack ice. In summer they are found throughout the Antarctic; in winter they migrate to southern Africa (although recent sightings there are rare) and to other northerly locations (based on acoustics), although some overwinter in the Antarctic.5Pygmy blue whales are found around the Indian Ocean and from southern Australia to New Zealand. At least four groupings are evident: northern Indian Ocean, from Madagascar to the Subantarctic, Indonesia to western and southern Australia, and from New Zealand northwards to the equator. Sighting rates are typically much higher than for Antarctic blue whales.6South-east Pacific blue whales have a discrete distribution and high sighting rates compared with the Antarctic. Further work is needed to clarify their subspecific status given their distinctive genetics, acoustics and length frequencies.7Antarctic blue whales numbered 1700 (95% Bayesian interval 860–2900) in 1996 (less than 1% of original levels), but are increasing at 7.3% per annum (95% Bayesian interval 1.4–11.6%). The status of other populations in the Southern Hemisphere and northern Indian Ocean is unknown because few abundance estimates are available, but higher recent sighting rates suggest that they are less depleted than Antarctic blue whales.</li

Mitochondrial sequence divergence among Antarctic killer whale ecotypes is consistent with multiple species

Recently, three visually distinct forms of killer whales (Orcinus orca) were described from Antarctic waters and designated as types A, B and C. Based on consistent differences in prey selection and habitat preferences, morphological divergence and apparent lack of interbreeding among these broadly sympatric forms, it was suggested that they may represent separate species. To evaluate this hypothesis, we compared complete sequences of the mitochondrial control region from 81 Antarctic killer whale samples, including 9 type A, 18 type B, 47 type C and 7 type-undetermined individuals. We found three fixed differences that separated type A from B and C, and a single fixed difference that separated type C from A and B. These results are consistent with reproductive isolation among the different forms, although caution is needed in drawing further conclusions. Despite dramatic differences in morphology and ecology, the relatively low levels of sequence divergence in Antarctic killer whales indicate that these evolutionary changes occurred relatively rapidly and recently

Pharmacological correction of early embryogenesis disorders in cows

Materials on the study of progestogenic, gonadotropic, selenium-containing and immunocorrective agents' effectiveness for the prevention of fetal development disorders in cows are present in the article. The aim of the research: is to study of pharmacological agents effectiveness for the prevention of early embryogenesis disorders in cows. Materials and methods: The studies were carried out on black-and-white cows with an average annual milk production of 5.5-7.5 thousand kg with tie-up and yard housing at various times after calving. Efficacy evaluation of methods for preventing intrauterine growth retardation and mortality of embryos and fetuses was carried out at 30-32 and 60-65 days after insemination by ultrasound. Diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation syndrome of the embryo and fetus in cows was carried out retrospectively. The results of the study: The prophylactic efficacy of progestagam was 60.0%, follymag combined with selemag - 61.5%, and bovine recombinant interferon-tau - 66.7%. Pregnancy after the application of these preparations proceeds against the background of increased content of progesterone (higher by 16.4-52.2%), which favorably affects the development of the embryo and fetus, the length of which in the first two months of gestation is 35.8-56.9% more than intact animals. Conclusion: The most effective ways of preventing early embryogenesis disorders (fetal death, embryo and fetal growth retardation syndrome) are the use of progestogenic and gonadotropic drugs, as well as interferon-series drugs - interferon-tau. © 2019 Popova et al

Past and present distribution, densities and movements of blue whales Balaenoptera musculus in the Southern Hemisphere and northern Indian Ocean

1. Blue whale locations in the Southern Hemisphere and northern Indian Ocean were obtained from catches (303 239), sightings (4383 records of 8058 whales), strandings (103), Discovery marks (2191) and recoveries (95), and acoustic recordings. 2. Sighting surveys included 7 480 450 km of effort plus 14 676 days with unmeasured effort. Groups usually consisted of solitary whales (65.2%) or pairs (24.6%); larger feeding aggregations of unassociated individuals were only rarely observed. Sighting rates (groups per 1000 km from many platform types) varied by four orders of magnitude and were lowest in the waters of Brazil, South Africa, the eastern tropical Pacific, Antarctica and South Georgia; higher in the Subantarctic and Peru; and highest around Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Chile, southern Australia and south of Madagascar. 3. Blue whales avoid the oligotrophic central gyres of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but are more common where phytoplankton densities are high, and where there are dynamic oceanographic processes like upwelling and frontal meandering. 4. Compared with historical catches, the Antarctic ("true") subspecies is exceedingly rare and usually concentrated closer to the summer pack ice. In summer they are found throughout the Antarctic; in winter they migrate to southern Africa (although recent sightings there are rare) and to other northerly locations (based on acoustics), although some overwinter in the Antarctic. 5. Pygmy blue whales are found around the Indian Ocean and from southern Australia to New Zealand. At least four groupings are evident: northern Indian Ocean, from Madagascar to the Subantarctic, Indonesia to western and southern Australia, and from New Zealand northwards to the equator. Sighting rates are typically much higher than for Antarctic bluewhales