What Does The Barnacle Do To The Whale?

With the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you may find whale tails encrusted in barnacles. Photo by Robin Kundis, used with permission Craig Symbiotic connections, which may be defined as cooperation between two different species for the benefit of either one of them or both of them, are a helpful survival strategy for plants and animals all over the planet, and we find them in some very surprising locations.

For instance, if you examine the lumps and bumps on the skin of enormous, slow-moving whales very carefully, you could find colonies of barnacles, which are among the most frequent hitchhikers seen on whales. In the instance of barnacles and whales, only the barnacles get an advantage by clinging to the whales, but this does not come at the expense of the whale in any biological way.

The term “commensalism” refers to this kind of mutually beneficial partnership. In this scenario, the barnacles that attach themselves to whales are provided with a secure location to dwell, a free ride, and access to an abundant supply of food. But in the vastness of the ocean, how do these two different species ever collide? With the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, there is a humpback whale head that is encrusted in barnacles.

Credit for this image goes to Laura Howes. In the beginning of their life, barnacles, like many other species of marine invertebrates, are minute larvae that are completely dependent on the movement of ocean currents. Due to the fact that filter-feeding whales consume plankton and fish that are located close to the surface of the water, barnacle larvae are destined to come into contact with these gentle giants at some point.

Barnacles in some areas have adapted to reproduce during whales’ breeding seasons, when the whales migrate to warm, shallow waters and move more slowly and travel within a smaller range. Although scientists aren’t exactly sure how barnacle larvae attach to whales, it’s likely that when a whale swims near an area where barnacles are spawning, the drifting larvae embed themselves in the whale’s skin and remain attached as they grow.

• When barnacles reach maturity, they construct their hard shells around their soft bodies and develop tube-shaped cavities within it.
• These cavities serve to attach the barnacles to the whale, which sheds its outermost layer of skin many times each day.
• It is interesting to note that barnacles appear to be selective about the parts of a whale’s body on which to establish a colony.

They appear to select locations, like as the head and chin, where there is a steady flow of water, which is possibly because of the filter feeding approach they employ. Because whales migrate throughout the year, barnacles hitch a free ride to areas of the ocean rich in plankton and are able to go on a feeding binge as a result.

• Because of their enormous size, the world’s great whale species are able to host enormous colonies of barnacles that can weigh up to 1,000 pounds each.
• Even if it seems like a lot to us, for a whale that weighs many tons itself, that type of weight isn’t that much at all.
• The fact that certain species of barnacles often reside on specific species of whales is a remarkable pattern that we witness in whale/barnacle partnerships.

This pattern is likely the result of geographic location of each whale and barnacle species. For instance, it has only been documented that the barnacle species Coronula diaderma lives on humpback whales, while Cryptolepas rhachianecti lives only on gray whales.

What are whale-bound barnacles?

• March 22, 2010 – If you’re a hungry barnacle, the rim of the nose of a baleen whale isn’t the worst place in the world to be. When the whale travels through an area rich in plankton in search of food, the barnacle, which likewise consumes the microscopic creatures floating in the water, receives complimentary table service.

The only thing it needs to do is extend its feathery arm that filters, and then wait. Barnacles are known to colonize the skin of filter-feeding whales on a regular basis, and when they do so, they frequently do so in large numbers; for example, a single humpback whale can be home to approximately one thousand pounds of barnacles.

(This may sound like a burden, but in comparison to a humpback whale’s body weight of about 80,000 pounds, it’s roughly as much more weight as summer clothes would be on a person.) It’s a common misconception that whale-bound barnacles are merely normal barnacles with a case of wanderlust.

1. In reality, whale-bound barnacles are distinct species, and the vast majority of them are only found on that particular kind of whale.
2. For example, the barnacle known as Coronula diadema can only be found living on the skin of humpback whales, whereas Cryptolepas rhachianecti can only be found on gray whales.

¹ If that’s the case, then it begs the question: how did the barnacle get there in the first place? As is the case with many other types of stationary marine invertebrates, barnacles start off their lives as larvae, which are essentially shellless, shellless swimmers that eventually find a location to settle and mature into the hardy barnacles that we are familiar with.

It’s not too difficult if the only thing you want to cling to is a stationary rock, but a whale? According to John Zardus, a marine scientist at The Citadel military academy in Charleston, South Carolina, “We don’t really know how they’re doing it.” Zardus has devoted the past six years of his life to researching the barnacles that are found on a wide variety of aquatic species, including whales.

“How are these little larvae supposed to navigate the vastness of the ocean in order to locate a whale to feed on? In point of fact, it appears to be completely absurd.” According to Zardus, there hasn’t been a lot of research done on whale barnacles since it’s difficult to get a hold of these creatures.

• The larvae are minuscule and difficult to differentiate from the larvae of other types of barnacles.
• The adults are so firmly entrenched in the skin of their hosts that they must be cut out, flesh and all, in order to remove them.
• Zardus is only able to obtain samples to analyze when there is a stranded whale that has died and from which he may cut a piece; however, if he waits too long to get to the whale, the barnacles will also have died.

Marine researchers have a theory that the barnacles reproduce during the whales’ mating season, which is in the spring and summer and occurs when the whales are more likely to be seen swimming in warm, shallow waters than in the wide ocean. Zardus added that if that were the case, the whales would be swimming in a thick soup of barnacle larvae since each barnacle parent may release anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 eggs, and they can live in the water for many weeks.

1. According to study, larvae that are drifting in the water are able to pick up a chemical signal from passing whales that instructs them to get aboard.
2. ² On a whale, there is plenty of room to squat, yet barnacles are selective about where they settle.
3. Zardus noted that some places, such as the head and the fins, are preferred because the flow of water is relatively constant in them.

Because of this, the larvae do not settle wherever they land; rather, they use their front antennae to “walk” about the whale looking for the best possible location to call home. And that’s not exactly a stroll in the park: if a barnacle larva were the size of a human, a whale would be more than 20 miles long.

• During the course of their journey, the larvae build a cement-like substance that, thankfully, prevents them from slipping and falling into the water.
• Zardus speculated that the travelers would have to traverse the whale for a considerable amount of time before arriving at their destination.
• “It’s not a random occurrence.” The barnacles will literally start to settle in after they have determined that their position is ideal for them.

As they develop into adults, they produce tube-shaped holes within their shells, which really serve to pull in prongs of developing whale skin. These cavities are formed as the animals progress into adulthood. The end consequence is a connection that is as deeply established and entrenched as the most noxious weed.

Barnacles of the species Coronula diadema encrusted on a fragment of humpback whale skin It is generally agreed that the interaction between the barnacle and the whale is an example of obligatory commensalism, which is a form of symbiosis in which one species benefits while the other is unaffected either way.

Zardus stated that it is possible that an excessive number of barnacles may cause the whale to experience drag, or that they could encourage infection if they penetrated the whale’s flesh to an excessive degree. On the other hand, it has been hypothesized that a sharp barnacle covering may be advantageous as a set of brass knuckles for male humpbacks who battle over females by ramming and slapping at each other.

• Male humpbacks fight over females by slapping and ramming each other.
• ¹ According to Dan Rittschof, a marine biologist at Duke University who has studied barnacles for over 30 years and has worked in the field for over 40 years, the singularity of species of whale barnacles means that whaling and the destruction of whale habitats put not only whales but also their hitchhiking companions in danger.

Rittschof stated, “If you’re an endangered whale, then everything that lives on you, like a barnacle, is equally endangered.” He was referring to the whales. ² In 2005, Japanese environmental scientists Yasuyuki Nogata and Kiyotaka Matsumura conducted one of the few laboratory experiments on whale barnacles.

1. They placed Coronula diadema larvae in Petri dishes filled with seawater.
2. Some of the dishes contained the larvae alone, while others contained the larvae along with a slice of whale skin.
3. The larvae, when left to float around by themselves, did so until they perished; however, those that were in close proximity to the whale skin began to settle on the top of the dish.

According to what the researchers said in an article that was published in Biology Letters back in March of 2006, “The settlement cue appears to be delivered from the tissue of the host whale.” The precise nature of the chemical cue, on the other hand, is not completely understood.

What is the symbiotic relationship between whales and barnacles?

Why Do Barnacles Live On Whales? – The interaction between barnacles and whales is a form of obligatory commensalism, which is a type of symbiotic association. It’s a strategy for survival that’s employed by a wide variety of animals and plants: symbiotic interactions include two different species cooperating in a way that’s beneficial to both of them.

1. It is only the barnacles that profit from the symbiotic link that exists between whales and barnacles since the barnacles are the only ones that are connected to the whale.
2. The whales give the fortunate barnacles with a location to reside and access to food, but in exchange, they don’t get anything in return from the whales.

Barnacles create a hard and spiky coat that might provide the whale an edge in this circumstance, according to the hypothesis of one marine researcher. This hypothesis was based on the observation that male whales engage in combat with one another. If you are looking for barnacles on whales, all you have to do is search for white spots that are bordered by orange patches.

What do barnacles and baleen whales eat?

Credit: Jorge Vasconez (Unsplash) The marine organisms known as whale barnacles are classified as arthropods under the class Crustacea. This places them in the same group of marine life as lobsters and shrimp. These species of barnacles, in contrast to the majority of barnacles, are able to attach themselves to huge baleen whales, such as the gray, blue, and humpback whales, and hitch a ride on their backs in order to graze together on the plankton and other tiny creatures that whales generally consume.

1. Both barnacles and whales have what is known as a commensal connection, which is a form of symbiotic partnership in which neither animal is primarily responsible for the well-being of the other.
2. There are three primary forms of symbiosis that may be found in nature.
3. These are mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

When it comes to whales and barnacles, experts and marine biologists have differing points of view on the subject. Because barnacles may be harmful to whales in some ways, some people view the connection as one that is fundamentally one of parasitism.

• A number of other authorities are of the opinion that we are referring to commensalism.
• The practice of one species benefiting from the presence of another without inflicting any long-term damage is an example of the symbiotic connection known as commensalism.
• When it comes to barnacles, this statement is accurate most of the time.

Barnacles do neither help or hurt the whales in any way by attaching themselves to them, but they do gain from free feeds and protection from other animals. Both barnacles and baleen whales obtain their food in the form of microscopic creatures that float in the water, such as the abundant plankton that can be found all across the ocean.

1. Barnacles are able to attach themselves to the skin of whales because whales are filter feeders.
2. Once attached, the barnacles only need to extend their filtering arm in order to capture part of the whale’s microscopic food.
3. In return, barnacles can be beneficial to whales, particularly when they cover a significant portion of their body.

In circumstances like these, barnacles provide the function of a hard external shell, building a protective armor that will make the whale more durable while encountering a variety of hazards. Due to the cases involving big infestations of barnacles, which have been discovered to inflict major injury to their whales, the subject of whether or not whale barnacles are parasitic in nature is still being discussed.

1. This is because of the examples that include enormous infestations of barnacles.
2. It is not uncommon for whales to carry more than one thousand pounds of barnacles on their bodies.
3. When compared to the average weight of a whale, which is over 80,000 pounds, this is a comparatively low number.
4. The majority of whales weigh in excess of this amount.

However, while only minor irritations and skin issues are caused by tiny infestations, bigger infestations can contribute to severe drag, which makes it difficult for the whale to swim. Minor infestations only produce mild irritations and skin problems.

How do barnacles reproduce in the ocean?

• March 22, 2010 – If you’re a hungry barnacle, the rim of the nose of a baleen whale isn’t the worst place in the world to be. When the whale travels through an area rich in plankton in search of food, the barnacle, which likewise consumes the microscopic creatures floating in the water, receives complimentary table service.

• The only thing it needs to do is extend its feathery arm that filters, and then wait.
• Barnacles are known to colonize the skin of filter-feeding whales on a regular basis, and when they do so, they frequently do so in large numbers; for example, a single humpback whale can be home to approximately one thousand pounds of barnacles.

(This may sound like a burden, but in comparison to a humpback whale’s body weight of about 80,000 pounds, it’s roughly as much more weight as summer clothes would be on a person.) It’s a common misconception that whale-bound barnacles are merely normal barnacles with a case of wanderlust.

• In reality, whale-bound barnacles are distinct species, the vast majority of which are only found on that particular species of whale.
• For example, the barnacle known as Coronula diadema can only be found living on the skin of humpback whales, whereas Cryptolepas rhachianecti can only be found on gray whales.

¹ If that’s the case, then it begs the question: how did the barnacle get there in the first place? As is the case with many other types of stationary marine invertebrates, barnacles start off their lives as larvae, which are essentially shellless, shellless swimmers that eventually find a location to settle and mature into the hardy barnacles that we are familiar with.

It’s not too difficult if the only thing you want to cling to is a stationary rock, but a whale? According to John Zardus, a marine scientist at The Citadel military academy in Charleston, South Carolina, “We don’t really know how they’re doing it.” Zardus has devoted the past six years of his life to researching the barnacles that are found on a wide variety of aquatic species, including whales.

“How are these little larvae supposed to navigate the vastness of the ocean in order to locate a whale to feed on? In point of fact, it appears to be completely absurd.” According to Zardus, there hasn’t been a lot of research done on whale barnacles since it’s difficult to get a hold of these creatures.

The larvae are minuscule and difficult to differentiate from the larvae of other types of barnacles. The adults are so firmly entrenched in the skin of their hosts that they must be cut out, flesh and all, in order to remove them. Zardus is only able to obtain samples to analyze when there is a stranded whale that has died and from which he may cut a piece; however, if he waits too long to get to the whale, the barnacles will also have died.

Those White Crusts on Whales Are Alive and Full of Stories

Marine researchers have a theory that the barnacles reproduce during the whales’ mating season, which is in the spring and summer and occurs when the whales are more likely to be seen swimming in warm, shallow waters than in the wide ocean. Zardus added that if that were the case, the whales would be swimming in a thick soup of barnacle larvae since each barnacle parent may release anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 eggs, and they can live in the water for many weeks.

1. According to study, larvae that are drifting in the water are able to pick up a chemical signal from passing whales that instructs them to get aboard.
2. ² On a whale, there is plenty of room to squat, yet barnacles are selective about where they settle.
3. Zardus noted that some places, such as the head and the fins, are preferred because the flow of water is relatively constant in them.

Because of this, the larvae do not settle wherever they land; rather, they use their front antennae to “walk” about the whale looking for the best possible location to call home. And that’s not exactly a stroll in the park: if a barnacle larva were the size of a human, a whale would be more than 20 miles long.

1. During the course of their journey, the larvae build a cement-like substance that, thankfully, prevents them from slipping and falling into the water.
2. Zardus speculated that the travelers would have to traverse the whale for a considerable amount of time before arriving at their destination.
3. “It’s not a random occurrence.” The barnacles will literally start to settle in after they have determined that their position is ideal for them.

As they develop into adults, they produce tube-shaped holes within their shells, which really serve to pull in prongs of developing whale skin. These cavities are formed as the animals progress into adulthood. The end consequence is a connection that is as deeply established and entrenched as the most noxious weed.

Barnacles of the species Coronula diadema encrusted on a fragment of humpback whale skin It is generally agreed that the interaction between the barnacle and the whale is an example of obligatory commensalism, which is a form of symbiosis in which one species benefits while the other is unaffected either way.

Zardus stated that it is possible that an excessive number of barnacles may cause the whale to experience drag, or that they could encourage infection if they penetrated the whale’s flesh to an excessive degree. On the other hand, it has been hypothesized that a sharp barnacle covering may be advantageous as a set of brass knuckles for male humpbacks who battle over females by ramming and slapping at each other.

1. Male humpbacks fight over females by slapping and ramming each other.
2. ¹ According to Dan Rittschof, a marine biologist at Duke University who has studied barnacles for over 30 years and has worked in the field for over 40 years, the singularity of species of whale barnacles means that whaling and the destruction of whale habitats put not only whales but also their hitchhiking companions in danger.

Rittschof stated, “If you’re an endangered whale, then everything that lives on you, like a barnacle, is equally endangered.” He was referring to the whales. ² In 2005, Japanese environmental scientists Yasuyuki Nogata and Kiyotaka Matsumura conducted one of the few laboratory experiments on whale barnacles.

They placed Coronula diadema larvae in Petri dishes filled with seawater. Some of the dishes contained the larvae alone, while others contained the larvae along with a slice of whale skin. The larvae, when left to float around by themselves, did so until they perished; however, those that were in close proximity to the whale skin began to settle on the top of the dish.

According to what the researchers said in an article that was published in Biology Letters back in March of 2006, “The settlement cue appears to be delivered from the tissue of the host whale.” The precise nature of the chemical cue, on the other hand, is not completely understood.