Body Fat Condition in Northeast Atlantic Fin Whales, Balaenoptera physalus, and Its Relationship with Reproduction and Food Resource

Abstract

Measurements of body girth, blubber thickness, and the lipid content of blubber, muscle, and visceral fat of Icelandic fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) showed a consistent pattern of body fat condition for each sexual class in all years between 1977 and 1982, with pregnant and anoestrous females being fattest. There was a trend of increasing body fatness between 1977 and 1982 which is supported by data on oil production from the catch. Parallel to this was an apparent increase in food abundance and whale fecundity.