Migrations of California gray whales tracked by oxygen-18 variations in their epizoic barnacles

Journal Article · Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.207.4432.759· OSTI ID:5411012

Killingley, J S

Barnacles attached to the California gray whale have oxygen isotope compositions that serve as a record of changing ocean temperatures as the whale migrates between arctic and subtropical waters. The isotopic values for the barnacles can be used to track whale migrations and to reconstruct the recent movements of beached whales. The method may be useful for tracing the movements of other animals, living or fossil, and for reconstructing the voyages of ancient ships.

• Research Organization: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
• OSTI ID: 5411012
• Journal Information: Science; (United States), Vol. 207
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
MIGRATION
MAMMALS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
OXYGEN 18
CRUSTACEANS
MAPPING
SYMBIOSIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
520101* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (-1989)