The scientists reported the appearance of a whale’s baleen reflects the adrenal glands pumping out stress hormones as they fight a life-threatening circumstance. By analyzing the baleen after whales die, scientists can learn about spikes in stress hormones. The baleen showed a spike of stress hormones 20 times greater than normal, according to the aquarium. The research builds on a body of work that shows stress hormones elevate when whales become entangled in fishing gear, which some scientists estimate kills up to 300,000 whales and dolphins annually. The aquarium has touted the work as a “significant” breakthrough in the way whales’ stress hormones can be studied.

Source: thestar May 29, 2019 15:45 UTC