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Species

Minke whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Balaenoptera acutorostrata, the minke whale, is a relatively small baleen whale that feeds on schooling fish and krill.

Ecoregions
Norwegian Current
Ecoregion types
Polar & Subpolar
Trophic levels
Tertiary Consumer

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About this species

Species identity

Balaenoptera acutorostrata, the minke whale, is a relatively small baleen whale that feeds on schooling fish and krill. It moves widely through cold and temperate northern seas and is a recognizable top consumer in productive subpolar waters.

Where it lives

Minke whales are widely distributed across the North Atlantic and frequently feed in Norwegian and Barents Sea waters during productive seasons. They use current systems and prey concentrations to track feeding opportunities.

Role in the ecosystem

Minke whale helps explain how marine food webs function through its ecological role, habitat use, and connection to broader ecosystem change.

Citation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2024.103361

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