Beluga Whale: The White Spirit of the Arctic🐬🐋

Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), a small, toothed whale found mainly in the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas but also in rivers and deep offshore waters. It is an extremely vocal cetacean and thus has also been referred to as the “canary of the sea.” This whale can also proficiently mimic a variety of sounds. Easily caught in shallow water, the beluga has been kept in captivity since the 1860s, and its coloration and adaptability have made it popular at oceanariums. 

Belugas are about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) long at birth and grow to a length of about 4 meters (13.1 feet). Newborn calves are gray to brown, but their color fades with age until they become completely white after attaining sexual maturity at four to five years old. Adults have broad flippers with upward-curving tips, but there is no dorsal fin. Belugas have a rounded forehead and extremely plastic facial features, enabling the whales to alter the external shape of their head at will. Female belugas experience menopause, and a significant portion of their 35–50-year life span may be spent in a post-reproductive phase.

Arctic populations of beluga whales are at home in pack ice but must migrate to warmer waters when the sea freezes over completely. They usually live in groups of 5 to pods of more than 1,000, feeding on fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and worms.

Beluga whales are becoming more and more at risk as victims of different human activities. Among the most pressing concerns is climate change, which is quickly warming the Arctic and diminishing sea ice—a critical component of their environment. This has an impact on both their migratory routes and the availability of their food. Moreover, the echolocation and communication of the animals are disturbed by underwater noise pollution, generated by ship traffic, oil drilling, and industrial activities, which is a prerequisite for social bonding and navigation. They accumulate pollution, especially mercury, PCBs, and other contaminants, in their tissues and suffer reproductive and immune system disorders. Also, belugas are exposed to the risks of overhunting and being accidentally caught in fisheries gear in some areas, contributing to their decreased numbers.

We must create marine protected zones, restrict destructive industrial operations, and reduce pollution in order to save beluga whales. Their long-term existence also depends on ongoing study and public awareness. Together, we can contribute to the protection of these amazing animals and their delicate Arctic habitat.

Written by - Chamodh Ekanayake

1st Year (23/24 Batch)

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Sea salps, the secret swimmer of the ocean.

I bet most of my dear readers haven't heard about sea salps, ever ! But don't worry I understand your dilemma. If it wasn't for National Geographic Channel's documentary on sea salps I wouldn't be writing about these fascinating sea salps. One fine day , the Storm Bay beach in  Tasmania encountered some strange, transparent, jellyfish like species.On further observation, Dr Lisa Ann Gershwin , who's an American - Australian biologist found that these species were sea salps. Even tough they looked like jellyfish actually they weren't jellyfish. Well how can I be so sure about that?Sea salps don't have any stinging materials called nematocysts, so you are out of danger and they got all the organs like heart, brain, lungs, stomach, muscles which cannot be found in jellyfish.Not only in the beaches of Australia, sea salps were abundantly found in the Southern ocean, near Antarctica.  

Sea salps make friends easily and they stick together.Well, you'll might be thinking as to why I mentioned something like this? It's because these salps are rarely found as individual species instead they're found as chains. They move, feed and live together as a chain. Sea salps got muscle bands encircling their body.Food is taken from the incoming stream and diverted to the stomach.Water exits the body of these creatures due to the contraction of the muscle bands allowing them to move forward through water.This is commonly known as the jet propulsion system.Mechanical engineers you have got something to learn from them.

Sorry to say this but I got to know about a situation where these salps had to say goodbye to their friends and break off. That's during reproduction. So, when the sea salps are aggregated into chains they are female colonies. The females breaks off from the aggregate and release  a single embryo. The solitary females then go on to develop testis,  become males and fertilize the aggregates. Interesting right? I wasn't expecting this too.

Now here's a fun fact.Salps are the fastest growing multicellular animals on earth. They can grow to maturity by 48 hours increasing their length by 10% per hour. Under favourable conditions these species can number upto 400 per cubic meter of water. Well,  now that's fast.Dr Gershwin stated it like this 

" Let's say that it's born at midnight, by noon it's a parent and by midnight it's a grandparent."

But unfortunately they have a short life span. Salp fusiforms found in Storm Bay lives up to only 22 days. As these sea salps are considered as large zooplanktons, they feed on phytoplanktons and algae.

During phytoplankton and algal blooms, the salp population increases rapidly by consuming them. Therefore, the water becomes clean and clear because these salp buddies have filtered out and eaten all the algae. So, it's the perfect time for a dive or snorkel. Salps are also important for recycling nutrients through different depth zones on the ocean. As they move up and down through the ocean eating and excreting, they spread nutrients downwards to other ocean communities 

Another interesting fact is that, the feces of sea salps called fecal pellets sinks to the bottom of the ocean and Carbon is carried away from where it will enter the atmosphere. So because of this nutrients are available for the deep sea plant species.

Now that the cat is out of the box, sea salps are not a mystery anymore but a treasure to be protected everyday.

Written by - Chanmi Dalpadadu 

1st year ( 23/24 Batch )

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Did you know the Right Whale's Journey ?

From Whalers’ Choice to Conservation Icon: The Right Whale’s Journey🐬

There are now three recognized species of right whales, the Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), and the North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica). 

The right whale got its name because it was the "right" whale to hunt, it was slow moving and floated after being killed. Their oil rich blubber & baleen made them valuable, leading to drastic population declines. While the Southern right whale is making a comeback, with populations growing at impressive rates, the North Atlantic and North Pacific species remain critically endangered.

These majestic creatures inhabit various oceanic regions. For instance, Southern right whales roam the waters of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa, while North Atlantic right whales are primarily found along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. Their feeding habits are equally fascinating, as they primarily consume zooplankton—Northern species prefer copepods, whereas Southern right whales tend to feed on krills.

One of the intriguing aspects of right whale reproductive behavior is that females mate with multiple males in large groups, emphasizing the importance of sperm quantity over competition. After a gestation period of about 12 months, North Atlantic right whale calves are born during the winter months, while Southern right whale calves arrive between July and October. These calves stay with their mothers for their first year, learning vital feeding ground locations, which is crucial for their survival.

Remarkably, research has advanced significantly through innovative techniques like photo-identification and satellite telemetry, allowing scientists to track individual whales and their migratory patterns. This research has revealed alarming threats to their survival, particularly for North Atlantic right whales, where over 60% show signs of entanglement with fishing gear and face dangers from ship strikes.

Currently, the North Pacific right whale is critically endangered, with estimates indicating fewer than 31 individuals remaining. In contrast, Southern right whales have made significant strides in recovery, achieving growth rates of 7-8% per year since hunting ceased, raising their status to Least Concern in many regions.

The ongoing conservation efforts highlight both the resilience of these remarkable creatures and the urgent need to protect them from human-induced threats. As we learn more about their lives and the challenges they face, there remains hope that with concerted efforts, the story of the right whale can shift from one of decline to a narrative of recovery and thriving populations.

Written by – T.V.K. Hashini Nawoda

4th year (20/21 Batch)

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Aquatic Students' Association Annual General Meeting 2025

Highlights from the Aquatic Students' Association Annual General Meeting 2025! 🌊

A memorable gathering that brought together our dedicated lecturers, passionate students, and professionals to shape the future of ASA.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined hands to make this event a success! 💙

Let’s keep the momentum going and work together toward an impactful year ahead.✨

Exciting plans are on the horizon — stay tuned for what’s next! 🌟

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