Beached Whales in Florida & Scotland...Should we be alarmed?
Sep 3, 2012 18:25:44 #
Within the past two weeks more than 50 whales have beached themselves. Should we be worried about the oceans? What does this signify?
At first I thought the whales that beached themselves along Florida's gulf coast were having issues with the water in the gulf due to the oil spill and subsequent dumping of dispersal chemicals. But now, Scotland is reporting that a dozen whales have beached themselves on their shores.
At first I thought the whales that beached themselves along Florida's gulf coast were having issues with the water in the gulf due to the oil spill and subsequent dumping of dispersal chemicals. But now, Scotland is reporting that a dozen whales have beached themselves on their shores.
Sep 3, 2012 19:04:46 #
RixPix wrote:
Within the past two weeks more than 50 whales have beached themselves. Should we be worried about the oceans? What does this signify?
At first I thought the whales that beached themselves along Florida's gulf coast were having issues with the water in the gulf due to the oil spill and subsequent dumping of dispersal chemicals. But now, Scotland is reporting that a dozen whales have beached themselves on their shores.
At first I thought the whales that beached themselves along Florida's gulf coast were having issues with the water in the gulf due to the oil spill and subsequent dumping of dispersal chemicals. But now, Scotland is reporting that a dozen whales have beached themselves on their shores.
No, we shouldn't be worried about the oceans due to beached whales and it dosen't signify anything except that whales do beach themselves for a variety of possible reasons. Pilot whales are especially known for their strandings. 8-)
Sep 3, 2012 19:38:20 #
Bmac wrote:
No, we shouldn't be worried about the oceans due to beached whales and it dosen't signify anything except that whales do beach themselves for a variety of possible reasons. Pilot whales are especially known for their strandings. 8-)
And this is from a qualified marine biologist, correct? If not, can you give us some scientific journals that back up your assertion?
Sep 3, 2012 19:45:08 #
tschmath wrote:
And this is from a qualified marine biologist, correct? If not, can you give us some scientific journals that back up your assertion?
Bmac wrote:
No, we shouldn't be worried about the oceans due to beached whales and it dosen't signify anything except that whales do beach themselves for a variety of possible reasons. Pilot whales are especially known for their strandings. 8-)
And this is from a qualified marine biologist, correct? If not, can you give us some scientific journals that back up your assertion?
If he had specified that he only wished responses from qualified marine biologists I would not have given my opinion. What specific assertions do you doubt? Are you a qualified marine biologist? 8-)
Sep 3, 2012 19:50:48 #
Bmac wrote:
quote=tschmath quote=Bmac No, we shouldn't be wo... (show quote)
I make no pretension at any knowledge of this subject. I am by nature skeptical of "opinions". You made specific assertions which implied specialized knowledge as an expert. Before I accept your assertions as fact, it's important to know where your knowledge of the topic comes from. Too many people spout off on things without being able to back up their opinions, if that's what you were offering.
Sep 3, 2012 20:52:11 #
tschmath wrote:
quote=Bmac quote=tschmath quote=Bmac No, we sho... (show quote)
My knowledge on whale strandings comes from what I have read. What proportion of the authors were qualifed marine biologists I do not know. My opinion is based on the knowledge based on what I have read. I hope this helps with your skepticism. Interestingly, I have asked you on occassion to give sources for some of the political "facts" you like to spout off. At times your response has been to ignore my question. That's fine, I don't care, but rather ironic.
But, let's keep on topic shall we. I'm curious about your opinion, even though I realize you are also not a qualified marine biologist, and this is not a court of law. So, do you think we should be worried about our oceans due to the recent whale beachings and do you think it signifies anything? Oh, and again, which "specific" assertions do you doubt?
Sep 3, 2012 22:19:21 #
tschmath wrote:
And this is from a qualified marine biologist, correct? If not, can you give us some scientific journals that back up your assertion?
Bmac wrote:
No, we shouldn't be worried about the oceans due to beached whales and it dosen't signify anything except that whales do beach themselves for a variety of possible reasons. Pilot whales are especially known for their strandings. 8-)
And this is from a qualified marine biologist, correct? If not, can you give us some scientific journals that back up your assertion?
Here is my proof , Im 52 years old and they have been beaching themselfs for at least that long , lol , of course if you took five minutes to do a little research you would see they have been doing it for thousands of years . DUH
Sep 3, 2012 22:25:40 #
RixPix wrote:
Within the past two weeks more than 50 whales have beached themselves. Should we be worried about the oceans? What does this signify?
At first I thought the whales that beached themselves along Florida's gulf coast were having issues with the water in the gulf due to the oil spill and subsequent dumping of dispersal chemicals. But now, Scotland is reporting that a dozen whales have beached themselves on their shores.
At first I thought the whales that beached themselves along Florida's gulf coast were having issues with the water in the gulf due to the oil spill and subsequent dumping of dispersal chemicals. But now, Scotland is reporting that a dozen whales have beached themselves on their shores.
I dont think it is anything to worry about.. It has been happening all over the world for many years and for many reasons. Not a qualified answer Im sure but you put the question up and you dont seem to like the answers? :)
Sep 3, 2012 22:30:22 #
Bmac wrote:
But, let's keep on topic shall we. I'm curious about your opinion, even though I realize you are also not a qualified marine biologist, and this is not a court of law. So, do you think we should be worried about our oceans due to the recent whale beachings and do you think it signifies anything? Oh, and again, which "specific" assertions do you doubt?
I don't know the answer, and was unaware this was even a possible issue until this thread. But you summarily dismissed the question as if the answer were a foregone conclusion. You may be perfectly right in your assertion, but I'd like to see what readings influenced your opinion. There are too many climate change doubters out there for me to just dismiss a possible problem like this with unsubstantiated opinion dressed as fact.
Sep 3, 2012 22:38:21 #
No need to worry. We have documentation going back 2300 years that whales beach themselves. That is before the BP oil spill and before we started burning fossil fuels.
Sources? Google it yourself.
Sources? Google it yourself.
Sep 3, 2012 22:56:24 #
RTR wrote:
No need to worry. We have documentation going back 2300 years that whales beach themselves. That is before the BP oil spill and before we started burning fossil fuels.
Sources? Google it yourself.
Sources? Google it yourself.
I'm not so stupid that I don't know that whales beach themselves. But these numbers are higher than any I've ever heard about, so I'd be curious as to the reason. Just show me how it's normal, is all I'm asking. Are there other documented cases like this going back over time? A beached whale here and there is a whole lot different than 50 of them.
And you don't think we were burning fossil fuels 2300 years ago? The writings of Herodotus record the fact that "rock oil" (petroleum) was being used for various purposes including lamp lighting in the 5th century BC, and probably it was used before that too. (ask.com)
Sep 3, 2012 23:16:24 #
"Mass strandings of dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals date back to the time of Aristotle" http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-whales-beach-themselves
Man did not burn enough fossil fuels to even be considered until the 8th Century AD when Baku people used ground impregnated with oil for heating because of absence of wood. http://www.geohelp.net/world.html
Man did not burn enough fossil fuels to even be considered until the 8th Century AD when Baku people used ground impregnated with oil for heating because of absence of wood. http://www.geohelp.net/world.html
Sep 3, 2012 23:20:21 #
RTR wrote:
"Mass strandings of dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals date back to the time of Aristotle" http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-whales-beach-themselves
Finally!!! Thank you for a reliable source. Now I know that it ISN'T a big deal. Thanks for putting that one to rest.
Sep 4, 2012 01:07:34 #
tschmath wrote:
Finally!!! Thank you for a reliable source. Now I know that it ISN'T a big deal. Thanks for putting that one to rest.
RTR wrote:
"Mass strandings of dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals date back to the time of Aristotle" http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-whales-beach-themselves
Finally!!! Thank you for a reliable source. Now I know that it ISN'T a big deal. Thanks for putting that one to rest.
You couldn't have found that for yourself? I think you attempted to make it a big deal or you are not very computer savy.
Again, I'm curious about your opinion, even though I realize you are also not a qualified marine biologist, and this is not a court of law.
So, do you think we should be worried about our oceans due to the recent whale beachings and do you think it signifies anything? Oh, and again, which "specific" assertions do you doubt?
Sep 4, 2012 01:13:30 #
tschmath wrote:
quote=RTR No need to worry. We have documentation... (show quote)
I believe that one estimate is that 2,000 whales strand themselves a year. Perhaps you should do a wee bit of research and educate yourself before spouting off like some sort of badgering prosecuter. It makes you appear insincere in your demands and rather silly. 8-)
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