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Editor's‐Choice Symposium: The Anatomical Record Replaces Wonder With Knowledge

2017; Wiley; Volume: 300; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/ar.23681

1932-8494

Kurt H. Albertine, Jeffrey T. Laitman, K. Bo Foreman,

Academic Writing and Publishing

The process of scientific discovery is, in effect, a continual flight from wonder —Albert Einstein Ever since my (KA, first author of this Editorial) reading of Jules Verne's “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” (1872) and Herman Melville's “Moby Dick” (“The Whale”) (1851), I wondered about whales. However, growing up in suburban Chicago, most of my childhood wonders were landlocked. Instead, I grew to learn about the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), a non-native relative of the lowly, North American shad that invaded the cold waters of Lake Michigan. My memory from the 1970s is stench caused by mass deaths of these alien fish owing to their population explosion during the 1960s. Indeed, our 1975 honeymoon was befouled by the gag-inducing odor of thousands of dead alewives pushed ashore by the waves along Sheboygan, Wisconsin's shoreline. So off-putting was the odor that flooded the Lake Michigan cabin at which we stayed that we eschewed romantic lakeside walks, instead fleeing to the local movie theaters to watch the new summer block-Buster, “The Apple Dumpling Gang,” starring “legends” Don Knots, Bill Bixby, Susan Clark, Tim Conway, Slim Pickens among others. Ah, the memorable moments of initial married life! Over the years, we shifted our viewing interest to whales in the oceans of the world. We touched newborn California gray whales that were pushed up by their mothers from the birthing waters of San Ignacio Lagoon, in Baja Sur, Mexico. We connected with Melville's epic story by watching and listening to sperm whales surface from the fathoms to exhale and take fresh breathes, with giant squid tentacles still wriggling from the whales’ mouths, all from the vantage point above the edge of the continental shelf that is about a mile off-shore of Kaikoura, New Zealand. We also whale-watched from Hermanus, South Africa, where we watched Southern Right whales at play. These experiences whet our appetite but left us wanting more knowledge to enhance our youthful wonder. The Anatomical Record brought an amazing, hands-on, learning experience for coauthors of this editorial when, in April of 2012, chance-opportunity knocked at our and the Journal's doors. While at the annual meeting of Experimental Biology in San Diego, a call came out that the head of a neonatal female California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus; SDNHM 24307) was to be dissected at San Diego State University. The neonate stranded at Moss Landing, Monterey County, CA. Veterinarians determined that the neonatal whale would not survive if returned to the ocean so decision was made to humanely euthanize it. The scientific opportunity to study anatomy of the neonatal gray whale was important because access to neonatal whales is rare. Whale experts Drs. Annalisa Berta, Eric Ekdale, and Ted Cranford from San Diego State University, Tom Deméré from the San Diego Natural History Museum, and Joy Reidenberg from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, along with a handful of the rest of us, participated in dissection of the whale's head. From this unique, hands-on opportunity to dissect the head came a Thematic Papers issue of The Anatomical Record that has six papers reporting the discoveries made (Berta et al., 2015a; Laitman, 2015). Observations are described on the external anatomy of the head (Berta et al., 2015b), oral anatomy (Kienle et al., 2015), tongue vasculature (Ekdale and Kienle, 2015), temporomandibular joint and muscles that act on the joint (El Adli and Demere, 2015), vasculature of the palate (Ekdale et al., 2015), and morphometrics of complete baleen racks (Young et al., 2015). These unique reports add to the rich tradition of whale papers that are regularly published in the Journal (Laitman and Albertine, 2015), including a most notable 2007 Special Issue on Anatomical Adaptations of Aquatic Mammals, guest edited Joy Reidenberg. These experiences led to an idea: members of the editorial board of The Anatomical Record should have similar opportunity to replace wonder with knowledge by having a scientific activity during the editorial board's annual meeting. Our concept's implementation is dubbed “Editor's-Choice Symposium” at the editorial board's annual meeting and from which thematic articles are recruited for the Journal. To our knowledge, such a scientific scholarly activity embedded in an annual editorial board meeting is another “first” by The Anatomical Record. The venue for this, the inaugural, Editor's-Choice Symposium was the Strait of Georgia west of Vancouver, BC. We took a whale-watch cruise to observe orcas and possibly humpback whales. Embarkation was from the nearby port town of Richmond (Steveston). We recruited local whale aficionados, the ever-energetic, brilliant anatomist A. Wayne Vogl, Ph.D., Professor and member of the Cell & Developmental Biology Research Group, and renowned cetacean biologist Robert (Bob) Shadwick, Ph.D., Professor of Zoology, and Canada Research Chair in Comparative Physiology. Both are faculty at the University of British Columbia. Together, they assembled a group of thematic articles on whales, about which the “Introduction” in this issue of the Journal provides exposé, followed by the peer-reviewed articles. Early into our whale-watching period, and while the boat's engine was off, leaving the boat to soothingly sway with the light seas, a mother orca (Orcinus orcas) and her calf slowly swam across the stern of our boat. The gap was but a few meters (cover illustration). Their slow glide at the surface of the water near the stern reminded us of a scene in the movie “Jaws” when the great white shark revealed itself to Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfus) by its slow glide at the surface past the stern of Quint's (Robert Shaw's) fishing boat. Do you recall Matt's statement to Quint? We had the fabulous opportunity to watch the mother and her calf for more than an hour because they were members of a pod of transient orcas that engaged in non-stop social activity at the sea's surface (Supplementary Video 1 https://players.brightcove.net/656326989001/default_default/index.html?videoId=55 52103544001). Seeing and hearing the orcas exhale upon surfacing, as well as repeatedly slap their fluke and pectoral fins on the water's flat surface, were spectacular (Supplementary Video 2 https://players.brightcove.net/656326989001/default_default/index.html?vid eoId=5552096726001). Still-shot examples of the extent to which the orcas raised their aft-end above the water are shown in Figure 1. The pod's members seemed to be having a blast at the water's surface, a point made by the docent with us, Joan Lopez. Clearly, their social activity was not the norm because Joan, Wayne, and Bob pulled out their long-lensed cameras to take pictures. They were as excited as we! The three of them provided explanation and told us where scientific knowledge remained to be discovered. Orca tails out of the water. Social activity by members of a transient pod of orcas (Orcinus orcas) included repeated periods of fluke slapping against the water's surface. Strait of Georgia, west of Richmond (Steveston), BC (greater Vancouver City area) Canada. Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. The transient orcas’ social activity was continuous, and at times, furious (Supplementary Video 3 https://players.brightcove.net/656326989001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5552090685001). At other times, the orcas languished at the surface, giving us prolonged photo-ops of their head, blowhole, back, and dorsal fin (Fig. 2). At other times, they leapt from the sea (Fig. 3). While mesmerized by the surface activities of the orcas, we kept sharp ears for Joan's voice identification of each toothed-whale and information about them (Fig. 4). Among the many facts we learned, and one easily recognized even by neophytes, is that the dorsal fin typically is straight and pointed (Figs. 2-4). We learned that straighter and more pointed dorsal fin are morphological characteristics that help distinguish transient orcas from resident orcas. A behavioral explanation for these characteristics is that transient orcas primarily eat the fast-swimming and agile marine mammals, whereas resident orcas eat salmon. These, biological differences, as well as other differences, are the reason that transient orcas are identified as a distinct group from resident orcas (orcalab.org/transient orcas; ptmsc.org/programs/investigate/citizen). Orcas at the surface of the water to breathe. The blowhole of both orcas is obvious. A characteristic of transient orcas is their dorsal fin is straight and typically pointed (panel A). Strait of Georgia, west of Richmond (Steveston), BC (greater Vancouver City area) Canada. Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. Orcas abound. Members of the transient orca pod cruise at the surface (panel A) and bound out and into the water (panel B). Strait of Georgia, west of Richmond (Steveston), BC (greater Vancouver City area) Canada. Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. Perspective of orca size and data for the day. The alpha male's dorsal fin height and length from dorsal fin to head are given perspective by the whale-watching boat in the background (panel A). Height of the dorsal fin of mature male orcas may reach 2 m (6 feet). Panel B: Map of the Strait of Georgia showing the list of orcas seen during our whale watch and information about the orcas [group (T, transient), assigned identification number, and dorsal fin unique anatomic feature, sex, year of birth, pedigree]. Strait of Georgia, west of Richmond (Steveston), BC (greater Vancouver City area) Canada. Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. Orcas are a prominent element of the culture of many nations and tribal affiliations among Northwest Coast First Peoples. One cultural expression of orcas is carving their likeness into totem poles, two examples of which are inset pictures of the cover illustration. Traditional colors are black, as the primary color for form line, and red as secondary elements. Symbolically, orcas embody longevity and romance because they are thought to mate for life (Leung, 2006). Orcas also are carved into the front wall of longhouses, masks, and war canoes, as well as being decorative artwork of baskets and clothing (firstpeoplesofcanada.com). Totem pole parks abound in communities along the Pacific Northwest Coasts of Canada and the United States. Culturally, totem poles are carved to record oral tradition, history, and social events, as well as to honor deceased ancestors. Three such totem pole parks are shown in Figure 5: (A) Totem Pole Park at Brockton Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada, (B) Saxman Native Village Totem Park at Ketchikan, AK, and (C) Council of Totem Clans Circle on the grounds of Cape Fox Lodge, and at Ketchikan, AK. Many of the totem poles in these parks are replicas because the tolls of time and weather on the carved tree trunks of the original totem poles gradually deteriorate the wood; other totem poles are blown down by storms. The largest collection of unrestored 19th century totem poles is at the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan. After a totem-pole has toppled, a thoughtful tradition is to settle it lovingly on the ground. A splendid example of this cultural tradition is at Saxman First Village Totem Park. The centerpiece of this park was Chief Ebbits Pole, flanked by Totem Guards, at the corner of Killer Whale Avenue and Totem Row. Today, Chief Ebbits Pole is on the ground (Fig. 6), beside the Edwin C. Dewitt Carving Center. If you have not watched totem pole carving by masters of this cultural art, put Saxman on your bucket list to watch the sculptures emerge as wood chips fly. Totem pole parks in cities along the Northwest Pacific Coast. The parks are Totem Pole Park at Brockton Point, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC Canada (panel A), Saxman Native Village Totem Park, Ketchikan, AK USA (panel B), and Council of Totem Clans Circle, Cape Fox Lodge, Ketchikan, AK (panel C). Iconic animal symbols are thunderbirds, orcas, eagles, and bears. The black arrow near the middle of panel B points to the location where Chief Ebbits Pole stood (see Fig. 6). Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. Chief Ebbits Pole, Saxman Native Village Totem Park, Ketchikan, AK USA. The pole was laid down because it was unstable in its historic standing location (refer back to panel 5B). The supporting standards behind the carved tree trunk are visible at the base of the totem pole (right side of the photograph. The building in the background is the Edwin C. Dewitt Carving Center. Saxman Native Village Totem Park, Ketchikan, AK USA. Photograph by Kurt H. Albertine. Another totem pole that is fun to learn about is Chief Kyan Totem Pole in the center of Ketchikan (Fig. 7). The current totem pole is the second replication of the original totem pole (the latter was carved in the early part of the 20th century). Is this totem pole, with its crane, thunderbird (mythical giant, supernatural bird), and brown bear, familiar to readers who are US citizens? Pull-out your passport, if you have a new passport, or had new pages added to your passport, in the past 5 or so years. If recent enough, one of the visa pages will have the Chief Kyan Totem Pole as the background picture. Chief Kyan Totem Pole, Ketchikan, AK, USA. This totem pole is the second replication of the original totem pole that was carved in the early part of the 20th century. The pole's iconic animal symbols are the crane (top), thunderbird (middle), and brown bear (bottom). Photograph by Kurt H. Albertine. Totem poles have carvings of other iconic mammals of the Pacific Northwest. Eagles, especially bald eagles, are such an icon (Fig. 8). Eagle symbols are interpreted to mean power or messenger to the Creator (Leung, 2006). Bears, both black and brown, are iconic elements of totem poles (Figs. 7, 9, and 10). The bear symbol represents power, learned humility, motherhood, teaching, healing, or dreaming (Leung, 2006). Bald eagle. Panel A: A carved bald eagle is the crown-piece of this totem pole at Saxman Native Village Totem Park, Ketchikan, AK USA. A wild bald eagle is photographed while it looked for salmon (Glendale Cove, BC Canada). Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. Bears. Panel A: A black bear dines on grass on a hillside at Whistler Ski Resort, beneath the chairlift that we rode. Panel C: Grizzly (brown) bear, with its characteristic shoulder hump (Glendale Cove, BC Canada). Panels B and D show zoomed photographs of the face of a black bear (panel B; Glendale Cove, BC Canada) and grizzly bear (panel D; Glendale Cove, BC Canada). Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. Group of grizzly bears. A grassy glen at Glendale Cove, BC Canada is the grazing spot for 14 female grizzly bears and cubs. Panel A: Seven of the 14 grizzly bears are captured in this photograph. Panel B: Sow with her four cubs. This spring-time photograph reveals the thinness of the sow of the four cubs. Panel C: Zoomed photograph of the four curious cubs. Their coats are gray. Photographs by Kurt H. Albertine. The form line of whales also is carved into totem poles. The waters west of Vancouver and northward along the coast of Alaska are traveled by orcas and two other species of whale that are introduced earlier in this editorial. The two other species are humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) (Fig. 11) and California gray whales (Berta et al., 2015a; Laitman, 2015). We saw neither species of baleen whale during our orca (a toothed-whale) scientific activity. Due to the spectacle created by the orca pod's social activity for our entire whale-watch trip, our spirits were only slightly dampened by not seeing and hearing the humpback whales, which are symbols of the earth's record keeper by First Peoples. As a totem symbol, whales teach about self-understanding and following self-truth. Whale tails (flukes) also are symbolic. Our editorial's parting view is of a whale's tail (Fig. 11C), which is a symbol of good luck. However, whale symbolism is more than good luck; whale symbolism is wisdom-holder. Wisdom comes about through experience and knowledge, with new knowledge arising from discovery. As Einstein said, “the process of scientific discovery is, in effect, a continual flight from wonder.” We hope that his astuteness may be embraced and fostered by those in positions of leadership, not debunked, denied, or ignored. Humpback whales in the waters off of Juneau, AK, USA. Panel A: This humpback whale glided along the surface of the sea (Photographed by Breneé L. Albertine). Panel B: Another humpback whale has its left nostril flared open as it inhaled before diving. Panel C: Whale symbolism: tail of a humpback whale before its next shallow dive. Small barnacles are attached to the edge of the left side of the fluke. Photographs in panels B and C by Kurt H. Albertine. This article includes AR WOW Videos. Video 1 can be viewed at Whale_1_final.mov-https://players.brightcove.net/656326989001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5552103544001; Video 2 can be viewed at Whale_2_final.mov - https://players.brightcove.net/656326989001/default_default/index.html?videoId=555 2096726001; Video 3 can be viewed at Whale_3_final.mov - https://players.brightcove.net/656326989001/default_default/index.html?videoId=555 2090685001 Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.