Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (2021)

pp. 68–71

CommentaryThe views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reﬂect the views of the Institute of Cetacean
Research

Importance of interna�onal collabora�on in the study of cetaceans:
experiences of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research
Luis A. Pastene
Institute of Cetacean Research, 4–5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104–0055, JapanThe Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (ICR) is an ins�tutefocused on the studies of cetaceans. This includes the baleen whale species, which have been the target of several
studies by the ICR. Baleen whales are par�cularly diﬃcult
to study, because they are migratory animals and theirhabitat is mainly oceanic. They move seasonally between
low la�tude breeding areas and high la�tude feedingareas. Interna�onal research collabora�on on cetaceans,par�cularly on baleen whales, is relevant and importantfor several reasons. In this ar�cle, these are explained
and illustrated by use of case studies at the ICR.
Interna�onal research collabora�on facilitates the access to samples and informa�on from wider areas
The study on some research topics of cetaceans requires
samples and informa�on not only from wider areas
within an oceanic basin, but also globally. For example,
the studies on taxonomy, stock structure, abundance andthe impact of cetaceans on the marine ecosystem fall into
this category. The ICR has succeeded in addressing some
important scien�ﬁc ques�ons related to such topics, especially regarding baleen whales. This has been achievedo�en through interna�onal research collabora�ons.
The taxonomy of some baleen whale species is yet to
be se�led, and the elucida�on of their taxonomical statusrequires studies based on samples collected worldwide.
The ICR has collaborated with interna�onal colleagues
in studies on the taxonomy of blue, right, Brydeʼs andminke whales. Here, I explain brieﬂy the collabora�ve
study on minke whale taxonomy. Two species of theminke whale are recognized, the Antarc�c minke whale(Balaenoptera bonaerensis), which is restricted to theSouthern Hemisphere, and the common minke whale(B. acutorostrata), which is distributed globally. Furthermore, three sub-species of the common minke whale arerecognized, one in the North Paciﬁc (B. a. scammoni),
one in the North Atlan�c (B. a. acutorostrata), and one
in the Southern Hemisphere (dwarf or diminu�ve minkewhale). The la�er is an un-named sub-species of the com68

mon minke whale. In order to elucidate the taxonomical
status of the dwarf minke whale, interna�onal researchcollabora�on was carried out between ICR scien�stsand scien�sts from regions where dwarf minke whales
are distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, speciﬁcallyscien�sts from several research ins�tutes in Chile andBrazil. The last published work based on mitochondrial
DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA (msDNA) indicatedsigniﬁcant gene�c diﬀerences between western South
Paciﬁc and western South Atlan�c dwarf minke whales,sugges�ng that the taxonomical status of common minke
whales in the Southern Hemisphere should be revised(Milmann et al., 2021).
Within an oceanic basin, a species of baleen whales
is composed of stocks, which are demographically independent units. The iden�ﬁca�on of such units, throughgene�c and non-gene�c analyses, is very important,because conserva�on and management policies should
be based on these units. Interna�onal collabora�on by
ICR has been important in inves�ga�ng the number anddistribu�on of stocks in some baleen whale species distributed through the en�re North Paciﬁc Ocean. In thecase of North Paciﬁc right whales, gene�c analyses basedon mtDNA were conducted to inves�gate the stock structure of this species in this oceanic basin. The analyses
were facilitated by the collabora�on between Japanesescien�sts who contributed gene�c data from the western
sector of the North Paciﬁc Ocean, and US scien�sts who
contributed gene�c data from the eastern sector. Resultsof the study conﬁrmed that at least two stocks occur in
the North Paciﬁc Ocean, one in the western side and theother in the eastern side (Pastene et al., in review). This is
key informa�on for developing conserva�on policies forthis depleted species.
Other examples include the gene�c analyses on stock
structure of sei and Brydeʼs whales in the North PaciﬁcOcean, carried out with gene�c samples from diﬀerent
sources. Gene�c samples from the western North Paciﬁc
Ocean were collected by ICR scien�sts during the former

Importance of international collaboration in the study of cetaceans: Experiences of the Institute of Cetacean Researchwhale research programs conducted under the IWC special permit (JARPN, JARPNII and NEWREP-NP), and biopsy
samples were also obtained during Japanese dedicatedsigh�ng surveys. Gene�c samples from the central andeastern North Paciﬁc Ocean were mainly biopsy samples
collected during dedicated sigh�ng surveys of the Interna�onal Whaling Commission Scien�ﬁc Commi�ee (IWCSC) POWER (Paciﬁc Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research). This is a collabora�ve research program between
Japan and the IWC. Gene�c analyses based on mtDNA
and msDNA suggested two stocks of Brydeʼs whales in
the central-western North Paciﬁc Ocean with spa�allyoverlapping distribu�on, and one stock of sei whalesin the whole of the North Paciﬁc Ocean. Interna�onal
research collabora�on enabled large areas in the North
Paciﬁc Ocean to be covered, and the results of the gene�canalyses on the stock structure of these two species were
important for the work on assessment and management
carried out by the IWC SC. The analyses presented in IWC(2018) is one example of this kind of research.
Abundance es�mates of sei and Brydeʼs whales as wellof other species in large areas of the North Paciﬁc Ocean
have also beneﬁted from the Japan-IWC interna�onalresearch collabora�on through the POWER surveys (seeIWC, 2020).
The research of the impact of baleen whales on themarine ecosystem also requires samples and informa�onfrom wider areas within an oceanic basin. Once again,interna�onal collabora�on plays an important role. Qualita�ve and quan�ta�ve analyses of prey consump�on bywhales are commonly used to inves�gate the impact ofwhales on the ecosystem. Es�mates of prey consump�onby marine mammals in the North Paciﬁc Marine ScienceOrganiza�on (PICES) region, which cover the en�re North
Paciﬁc Ocean, were made in collabora�on between theICR and scien�sts from research organiza�ons in Canada(Tamura et al., 2019). This collabora�ve research was animportant contribu�on to the 5-year PICES project �tled
ʻClimate and Trophic Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals.ʼ
Interna�onal research collabora�on facilitates the access to, and interchange of, ﬁeld, laboratory and analy�cal techniques
Research groups from diﬀerent ins�tutes have diﬀerent
levels of exper�se on ﬁeld, laboratory and analy�cal techniques used for diﬀerent scien�ﬁc purposes. In science,the development and improvement of such techniques
progress rapidly. In such an environment, it is clear thatcollabora�on among ins�tutes will facilitate access, inter-change and use of new techniques among collabora�ng
laboratories.
It should be noted that access to, and interchangeof, new ﬁeld, laboratory and analy�cal techniques are
not restricted to cetaceans nor solely to interna�onal
collabora�on. Collabora�on among research ins�tutes
within one country, irrespec�ve of target species, could
also contribute in achieving the same purpose.
Below are some cases of ICRʼs interna�onal collabora�ons that have resulted in the interchange of new techniques.
New techniques acquired by ICR as a result of international research collaboration
Survey design and analy�cal techniques for abundancees�mates
Abundance es�mates of whale species is essen�al for deﬁning policies on conserva�on and management. Given
the importance of this topic, and to ensure the designand implementa�on of sigh�ng surveys as well as analyses of the data are in line with the guidelines adopted
by the IWC SC, scien�sts of ICR have received technicaland scien�ﬁc advice from experts of several interna�onal
research ins�tutes and universities. These have included
organiza�ons in South Africa and Scotland, and also theIWC POWER program (IWC, 2020).
Kinship analysis
This technique was acquired by ICR following collabora�on with a university in Germany regarding the North
Paciﬁc common minke whale stock structure. Kinshipinforma�on based on the analyses of gene�c data isvery important in addressing ques�ons on ecology, stockstructure and abundance es�mates.
Ecological markers
The occurrence of external and internal parasites inwhales can be used as ecological markers to resolve,
among others, ques�ons on stock structure. ICR scien�sts
have beneﬁted from a recent collabora�on with scien�sts
from a university in Spain to inves�gate the use of parasites as ecological markers for Antarc�c minke whales. As
a result, techniques for the iden�ﬁca�on and analyses ofparasites were acquired by ICR.
Satellite tracking
Satellite tracking of whales is a useful tool to study movement, stock structure and behavior of whales. ICR scien�sts are using this technique to study such aspects inwhales from both the Antarc�c and North Paciﬁc Oceans.
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Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (2021)

The technique used by ICR scien�sts has improved considerably, thanks to the interna�onal collabora�on withexperts from an ins�tute in Norway. More recently, Japanand the North Atlan�c Marine Mammal Commission(NAMMCO) commenced a collabora�ve project to develop miniature tags (MINTAG project) to be used on fastswimming whale species in the North Atlan�c, the North
Paciﬁc and other oceans.
Krill surveys
ICR scien�sts have collaborated with specialists fromthe Conven�on for the Conserva�on of Marine Living
Resources in the Antarc�c (CCAMLR) regarding the design and implementa�on of krill surveys using dedicatedsigh�ng vessels for cetaceans as a pla�orm. The advice
from visi�ng CCAMLR specialists resulted in an improved
data collec�on method in es�ma�ng the abundance anddistribu�on of krill.
Sta�s�cal models
ICR scien�sts have beneﬁted from an interna�onal collabora�on with Norwegian scien�sts in developing andapplying sta�s�cal models to study yearly trends of
biological characteris�cs of whales. In par�cular, thesesta�s�cal models were applied in a study on the trend of
blubber thickness and stomach-content weight in Antarc�c minke whales, in order to assess yearly change in body
condi�ons of this species. See Cunen et al. (2021) for thelatest applica�on of the sta�s�cal models that address
this research topic.
Technical assistance of ICR to scientists from foreigncountries
ICR scien�sts have par�cipated in programs of collabora�on that included the transfer of new survey, laboratory and analy�cal techniques to colleagues from foreigncountries.
Some examples include the collabora�ve programswith scien�sts from Caribbean and western African countries. To learn sigh�ng surveys techniques for the purposes of abundance es�ma�on and gene�c analyses on stock
structure, scien�sts from St. Lucia and St. Vincent and theGrenadines in the Caribbean, as well as from the Republicof Guinea and other countries from western Africa havevisited ICR. At the same �me, some ICR scien�sts havevisited those countries to par�cipate in ﬁeld works andhold lectures on relevant research topics.
Other examples include research collabora�ons with
Brazilian and Mexican scien�sts on popula�on gene�canalyses pertaining to large whales. As a result of such
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collabora�on, foreign colleagues increased their knowledge on gene�c techniques available at the ICR (laboratory and analy�cal), which in turn, allowed them to apply
such techniques in their respec�ve countries.
Final remarks
Based on just some of ICRʼs experiences outlined above,it is clear that interna�onal collabora�on is important forthe studies of cetaceans, including the diﬃcult group ofbaleen whales. Interna�onal research collabora�on on
topics such as stock structure, abundance, and impactof cetacean on the ecosystem is important because suchcollabora�on enables coverage of wider areas of thedistribu�on of species and stocks. It is also important
for access to, and interchange of, laboratory, ﬁeld andanaly�cal techniques among research ins�tutes from different regions and countries.
Despite the advances and beneﬁts of internet communica�ons, research ac�vi�es of many research organiza�ons in the world are s�ll not well known to many people,and even to a large part of the scien�ﬁc community.
The ICR is not an excep�on in this respect. Interna�onal
research collabora�on, with interchange of scien�sts
between laboratories on speciﬁc scien�ﬁc projects, will
facilitate the mutual understanding of objec�ves and ac�vi�es of the research ins�tutes involved.
Further, interna�onal research collabora�on will allow
the interchange of ideas and modes of working amongscien�sts from diﬀerent countries. This should facilitate
the understanding of the diﬀerent cultures involved. Ignoring such diﬀerences may result in misunderstandings
or miscommunica�on during scien�ﬁc debates amongscien�sts from diﬀerent countries.
Responding to and appropriately addressing scien�ﬁcques�ons on baleen whales are indispensable for theirconserva�on and management. Interna�onal collabora�on contributes greatly to this end, as evidenced by theresults of several cases at the ICR. Therefore, the ICR
should con�nue to seek and engage in interna�onal collabora�on on research topics relevant for the conserva�on and management of cetaceans.

REFERENCESCunen, C., Walløe, L., Konishi, K. and Hjort, N.L. 2021. Decline inbody condi�on in the Antarc�c minke whales (Balaenopterabonaerensis) in the Southern Hemisphere during the 1990ʼs.
Polar Biol 44 (2): 259–273.
Interna�onal Whaling Commission. 2018. Report of theWorkshop on the Implementation Review of western North
Paciﬁc Brydeʼs whales. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 19 (Suppl.):Importance of international collaboration in the study of cetaceans: Experiences of the Institute of Cetacean Research563–593.
Interna�onal Whaling Commission. 2020. Report of the mee�ngof the IWC-POWER Technical Advisory Group (TAG), January
2020. Paper SC/68B/Rep01 presented to the IWC Scien�ﬁcCommi�ee, May 2020 (unpublished). 23 pp. [Available fromthe IWC Secretariat].
Milmann, L., Taguchi, M., Siciliano, S., Baumgarten, J.E., Oliveira,L.R., Valia�, V.H., Goto, M., O�, P.H. and Pastene, L.A. 2021.
New gene�c evidences for dis�nct popula�ons of the common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in theSouthern Hemisphere. Polar Biol 44 (8): 1575–1589.
Pastene, L.A., Taguchi, M., Lang, A., Goto, M. and Matsuoka, K.
(in review) Popula�on gene�c structure of North Paciﬁc rightwhales. Marine Mammal Science.
Tamura, T., Konishi, K., Matsuoka, K., Hakamada, T. and Trites,A.W. 2019. Es�ma�on of prey consump�on by marine mammals in the PICES regions–Update to Hunt et al. (2000). Oralpresenta�on to the 2019 PICES Annual Mee�ng, October 2019,
Victoria, BC, Canada. h�ps://mee�ngs.pices.int/Publica�ons/
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