Oceans & shores

How do seals and whales survive in 0°c water without freezing?

Contrary to the idea of a simple “coat of fat,” the survival of marine mammals in Canada’s icy waters is a masterpiece of biological engineering. Every adaptation, from breath-holding oxygen management to the chemical composition of milk, represents an optimized…

Why does the meeting of fresh and salt water create a global pantry?

Far from being a simple mixing of waters, the richness of the St. Lawrence Estuary is the result of a precision mechanic akin to clockwork. It is the unique underwater topography of the Laurentian Channel that, by forcing the upwelling…

How to identify a humpback whale by the coloring of its tail?

Observing a humpback whale’s tail is more than just a spectacle: it is the starting point of a concrete scientific contribution. The coloration under the fluke, or “biological ID card,” is unique to each individual and allows for long-term tracking….