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Diet

As minke whales are abundant their diet varies on where they are found.

North Atlantic

/*Minke whales in the North Atlantic are observed to be euryphagous (Haug 1995)*/. Before 1993, minke whales in the north barrents sea fed predominantly on capelin until stocks collapsed and the whales switched to krill as their primary prey type (Haug et al 2002). The minke whale population in the Norwegian sea primarily feeds on adult herring (Olsen & Host 2000) while krill, herring, capelin, and sand eels are also recorded prey types (Haug et al 1993). In Scotland, sand eels are the most commonly observed prey species with clupeids (herring and sprat) second (pierce et al). Seasonal variations are observed off of Finnmark, with krill the most popular prey type in the summer and cod in the autumn (Haug et al 1994). Stable isotope analysis from 2003 shows minke whales in the north atlantic also feed on prey from lower trophic levels as well (Born et al 2003)

North Pacific

Two stocks of minke whale are observed in the north pacific: J stock (Sea of Japan-Yellow Sea-East China sea) and O stock (Okhotsk sea-west Pacific) (IWC, 1983). Seasonal variations in diet are also observed. J stock whales' primary prey type is Japanese anchovy during May and June, pacific saury in July and August, and krill in September. O stock whales primarily feed on krill in July and August (Tamura and Fujise). Most minke whales observed in 2002 (90.4%) fed solely on one prey species.

Antarctic

Minke whales in the Antarctic are diurnal feeders (Ohsumi 1979). This minke whale population mainly feeds on Antarctic krill in offshore areas and ice krill in coastal areas on the continental shelf such as the Ross sea and Prydz bay (Tamura and Konishi). The population has been recorded to forage on ten known species: five fish (Antarctic silverfish, antarctic jonasfish, Antarctic lanternfish, Chionodraco, and Notothenia), four euphausiids (Antarctic krill, ice krill, Euphausia frigida, Thysanoessa macrura), and one amphipod (Themisto gaudichaudii)

2.3 Predation

Observed killer whale predation on minke whales has been well documented (Hancock and anon and two other documented killer whale predation observations). A study in 1975 found that in 49 killer whale stomachs, 84% had consumed minke whale (schvencko from ford paper). Minke whale carcasses investigated after attacks show that killer whales have an affinity for minke tongues and lower jaw. The anti-predatory mechanism of the minke whale is strictly a flight response, as when this fails no physical retaliation is observed (Ford). Chases most commonly lead into open ocean, although there have been records of minke whales inadvertently swimming into confined, shallow waters (Ford et al 2005). There have been two recorded instances of minke whales ending high speed chases by hiding under a ship's hull, however, both instances were unsuccessful (ford 2005)