Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V62
Höfundar / Authors: Jasmin Luana Johannesdottir1,2, Valerie Chosson1, Sverrir Daníel Halldórsson1, Guðjón Már Sigurðsson1
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute 2. University of Iceland
Kynnir / Presenter: Jasmin Luana Johannesdottir
The northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) is a deep-diving beaked whale found in the Arctic and temperate North Atlantic waters. This study analyzed the stomach contents of eight stranded individuals around Iceland to gain insights into their diet. Stomach content samples were collected, separated into sections, sieved, and examined. Of the eight stomachs, two were empty, while six contained mostly cephalopod remains. At least ten cephalopod species from six families were identified, with Gonatus spp. making up more than 80% of the diet, while no remains of fish were found. One whale's stomach was filled with plastic debris and a fish net, with plastic comprising most of the whale's stomach contents, likely causing its death. The results confirm that northern bottlenose whales around Iceland seem highly selective towards deep-sea squids in their diet, and highlight the potential threat of plastic pollution to this species.