Wildlife Ecology in Iceland: Crispus NGO Sibiu Romania: Why are dying the pilot whales?

The pilot whales stranding in Iceland

Hypothesis by Ecology Department of Crispus NGO Sibiu Romania

Summer wildlife survey to West Iceland
Reykjavik, 22nd of July 2019

by Ovidiu C. Banea
Environmental Ecologist MSc

- Crispus NGO Sibiu Romania, Ecology Department

Between 20 and 22nd of July 2019 took place a research expedition leaded by Dr Gabriel Vasile, and the main objective was to hike on Snæfellsjökull National Park, where he already climbed in the past with his wife Mădălina Ioana several times.

WHY?

On the way to the glacier and the camping site after we checked the news on the stranded pilot whales on peninsula and after we received from Dr Ingvar H. Olafsson the lower tide levels and their estimated time we decided to investigate the possible cause of the stranded whales and their death, whales localized one day before by David Schwarzhans, Reykjavik Helicopters pilot (BBC news) while he was flying near Southern Snæfellsnes beaches with tourists.
We knew from mbl.is (here) that whales were located somewhere on the 15-25 km at Longufjorur beach with almost impossible access of tourists. More specific maritime levee name appeared yesterday (not to be disclosed!)

First DW, what a news!

Two days ago Deutsche Welle showed a picture (video) with plastic bags and nets from Norway and related the news of Icelandic whales with it! It is about a whale which was killed on the shore in Norway (DW here). The researchers, during the necropsy, found many plastic bags in the stomach content? Why the whale was killed, probably the whale was suffering? What is the relation of the video from Norway with Icelandic tragedy of the dozens of dead pilot whales? None!

Not the global climate change!
It is well known that those echolocation users, the pilot whales are social, that they dive more than 500 m and that they often die in huge number up to 145 as occurred last November (summer) in New Zealand (BBC here) or as happened on 16th of July, few days ago in Simon's Island when 50 whales stranded and two died (here).

WHAT?

Yes, few days ago on 16th of July 2019 a large number of #pilot-whales were stranding in tropical waters.

20-50 whales stranded on the Beach of St Simon's Island, Georgia (here). Two died

Coincidence or not?

The first idea I had 3 days ago when I heard the news on Icelandic stranded whales from Gabriel and Mădălina was that some submarines are doing exercises near the Icelandic borders. Then, looking to the marine biologist explanations and Natural Museum expert opinion it was suggested that they become dizzy when navigated in shallow waters.

But 50 whales became dizzy at the same time? And how to be dizzy at tropics and in Iceland at the same time?

What happens here?

And we started to look to this so inhabited area as somebody would expect, the people from DW. No no, Iceland has no tourists in this regions. There would be another coincidence for the whales, full pod to have been ingesting hundreds of plastic bags.

No way! Iceland has pure waters with no pollution!

Crispus NGO Sibiu, Ecology Department

HYPOTHESIS ONE:

LOW TIDE and The Romanian Two WEEKS Theory (HERE)

The pilot whales are often stranding at the beach.

There are happy cases when the people help them to survive.
The possible cause of the stranded whales in Iceland, THE LOW TIDE together with abundant food on the shores: We found thousands of moon jelly on the shore of few hundreds meters.

Were they eating in an estuary which is becoming delta or covered of water when the waters increases?

Aurelia aurata and other specific shore food. Why not?

HYPOTHESIS TWO:

TOXICITY through ingestion with to much Aurelia aurita and possible consequent neuromuscular blockade with neurotoxines and consequent neuromuscular paralysis.

These medusae might produce neurotoxic effects! Toxicity was proved in an experiment with Aurelia aurita tentacle venom extract (HERE).

The team is approaching to the shore when the lowest tide level

The analysis and the observation of the shore showed plenty of moon jelly.

Aurelia aurita, Photo Mădălina Ioana Vasile

Aurelia aurita, Photo Mădălina Ioana Vasile "Nordic Romania NGO Iceland"

Photo: Mădălina Ioana Vasile

Camping site

Research and proposal, suggested mechanism?

Study area. All submersible land is potentially a source of food, but the maritime levee and the beaches with two shores are main obstacle for the whales, they cannot escape, if the tide is to low.