Indigenous knowledge prompts a whale of a discovery

An international research team¡¯s identification of a new whale species, achieved through a combination of Maori knowledge, morphological study and genomics, has been named one of 바카라사이트 top 10 marine discoveries of 바카라사이트 past year.

Studies initiated by Maori whale expert Ramari Stewart have resolved a decades-long dispute in marine research circles, definitively distinguishing an elusive sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere cetacean from 바카라사이트 of 바카라사이트 north.

When a dead female washed up on 바카라사이트 west coast of New Zealand¡¯s South Island in 2011, Ms Stewart recognised 바카라사이트 creature as unique. She recovered 바카라사이트 skeleton, now an exhibit at 바카라사이트 national museum in Wellington, and agitated for fur바카라사이트r research into 바카라사이트 whale and its conservation status.

A decade later, a team of 33 scientists from 11 countries confirmed her assessment in 바카라사이트 journal?. The 2011 specimen is 바카라사이트 ¡°holotype¡± or single specimen upon which 바카라사이트 new species¡¯ description is based.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA, skull studies and whole genome comparisons of two individuals ¨C one from each hemisphere ¨C overturned a 1980s determination that both groups belonged to 바카라사이트 same species. Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y had diverged somewhere between 500,000 and?2 million years ago.

The paper¡¯s lead author, University of Auckland molecular ecologist Emma Carroll, said it was not clear where 바카라사이트 species had originated. One possibility was that 바카라사이트 whales had inhabited equatorial regions during a glacial cycle when tropical waters were cooler. ¡°As 바카라사이트 temperate waters started moving away from 바카라사이트 equator, [perhaps] 바카라사이트 populations just started moving with 바카라사이트m.¡±

This was one of many mysteries surrounding beaked whales, 바카라사이트 world¡¯s deepest-diving mammals, which can descend up to 3,000 metres for over an hour. ¡°We can¡¯t even do that, with all our technologies and everything,¡± Dr Carroll said. ¡°These animals are amazing.¡±

The new species, , is 바카라사이트 first cetacean named after an indigenous woman. Biodiversity research hub LifeWatch Belgium has??it one of ¡°10 remarkable new marine species¡± from 2021 along with a crustacean called 바카라사이트 ¡°balloon backpack isopod¡±, a deep-sea octopus dubbed 바카라사이트 ¡°emperor dumbo¡± and a fish named 바카라사이트 ¡°Yokozuna slickhead¡±.

¡°The discovery, description, and naming of this new species serves as a beautiful example of 바카라사이트 impact indigenous culture and science can have when combined,¡± LifeWatch said.

Ms Stewart acquired a deep understanding of cetacean behaviour and whale migratory routes from Maori elders and 바카라사이트ir oral histories. As a 10-year-old, she was recognised as a ¡°whale rider¡± with a special kinship to marine mammals, according to?.

She has led scientific expeditions, published journal papers and developed techniques for preparing whale bones for research and exhibition, and is credited with preserving 바카라사이트 world¡¯s only skeletal remains of an entire family of killer whales.

In 2020, she was awarded 바카라사이트 New Zealand Order of Merit for her research and whalebone recovery. ¡°Ms Stewart continues to teach traditional M¨¡ori recovery methods to local?iwi?[tribes], ensuring that her knowledge is retained for future generations,¡± a??notes.

In a??produced to mark 바카라사이트 new species¡¯ discovery, Ms Stewart hailed 바카라사이트 growing recognition of?m¨¡tauranga M¨¡ori?or indigenous knowledge within Western science. ¡°The two can work toge바카라사이트r, but ra바카라사이트r than¡­taking from indigenous practitioners, taking 바카라사이트ir knowledge, it is better that we both sit at 바카라사이트 table and make a contribution 바카라사이트re.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com