Why whales are big but not bigger: Physiological drivers and ecological limits in the age of ocean giants

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aax9044
• Publication Date: 2019-12-13T00:05:40Z
• Authors: J. A. Goldbogen; D. E. Cade; D. M. Wisniewska; J. Potvin; P. S. Segre; M. S. Savoca; E. L. Hazen; M. F. Czapanskiy; S. R. Kahane-Rapport; S. L. DeRuiter; S. Gero; P. Tønnesen; W. T. Gough; M. B. Hanson; M. M. Holt; F. H. Jensen; M. Simon; A. K. Stimpert; P. Arranz; D. W. Johnston; D. P. Nowacek; S. E. Parks; F. Visser; A. S. Friedlaender; P. L. Tyack; P. T. Madsen; N. D. Pyenson
• Keywords: Creatures

It's the prey that matters Although many people think of dinosaurs as being largest creatures to have lived on Earth, true known animal is still here today—the blue whale. How whales were able become so large has long been interest. Goldbogen et al. used field-collected data feeding and diving events across different types calculate rates energy gain (see Perspective by Williams). They found increased body size facilitates capture. Furthermore, body-size increase in marine environment appears be limited only availability. Science , this issue p. 1367 ; see also 1316