KOMPAS.com - Hibrida alias hasil kawin silang antara Paus Minke Antartika dan Paus Minke Artik ditemukan dalam analisis DNA seekor paus yang ditangkap oleh pemburu asal Norwegia. Penemuan tersebut dipublikasikan di jurnal PLoS ONE yang terbit 22 Desember 2010 lalu.
Penemuan hibrida tersebut sangat mengejutkan. Ilmuwan tak pernah memperkirakan kedua jenis itu bisa bertemu, bahkan lewat proses migrasi. Pola pergantian musim yang berlawanan antara bagian bumi utara dan selatan adalah penyebabnya.
Ketika belahan utara bumi mengalami musim gugur, belahan selatan bumi mengalami musim semi. Akibatnya, arah migrasi kedua paus berlawanan, Paus Minke Artik bergerak ke Ekuator sementara Paus Minke Antartika bergerak ke kutub.
Hingga seekor paus ditemukan oleh Kevin Glover dari Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norwegia tahun 2007. Setelah dianalisis DNA-nya, paus itu ternyata merupakan hibrida dari Paus Minke Artik dan Antartika.
Penemuan itu menggugurkan pandangan tentang kemustahilan dua jenis paus tersebut bertemu. Hasil analisa DNA menunjukkan, Paus Minke Antartika bisa bergerak lebih jauh hingga belahan bumi utara, bertemu dan kawin dengan Paus Minke Artik.
Sampai saat ini, peneliti belum mengetahui apakah terciptanya hibrida itu hanya sebuah kebetulan atau sudah menjadi tren. Penelitian tentang populasi paus hibrida ini masih diperlukan untuk mengungkap.
Namun, ilmuwan menduga kejadian tersebut terkait dengan hasil studi ilmuwan Jepang. Dikatakan, populasi Paus Minke Antartika menurun drastis di era 80an dan 90an. Populasi crustacea yang biasa menjadi mangsa paus ini juga menurun.
"Hasil riset ilmuwan Jepang bahkan menunjukkan bahwa lapisan lemak pada tubuh paus juga menipis. Bukan terkait dengan malnutrisi, tetapi menunjukkan kurangnya bahan makanan," kata Glover.
Glover melanjutkan, "kami berspekulasi bahwa jumlah makanan menurun. Hasilnya, paus mulai gencar mencari makanan. Bisa jadi beberapa individu bergerak jauh ke luar wilayahnya dan menemukan jalan menuju Artik."
Ketika beberapa individu tersebut memasuki wilayah Artik, di sanalah mereka bertemu dengan kerabatnya, Paus Minke Artik. Perkawinan menghasilkan hibrida yang baru saja ditemukan akhirnya dimungkinkan.
Pope's New Hybrids Discovered
KOMPAS.com - alias results Hybrid intercross between Antarctic Minke Whales and Minke Whales are found in DNA analysis Arctic whale that was captured by hunters from Norway. The findings were published in the journal PLoS ONE, published December 22, 2010 last.
The discovery is surprising hybrids. Scientists had never expected the two types that can be met, even through the migration process. The opposite pattern of change of seasons between northern and southern parts of the earth is the cause.
The discovery is surprising hybrids. Scientists had never expected the two types that can be met, even through the migration process. The opposite pattern of change of seasons between northern and southern parts of the earth is the cause.
When the northern hemisphere experienced autumn, southern hemisphere experience of spring. As a result, the direction of migration of both opposite whales, Minke Whales Arctic to the equator while moving Antarctic Minke Whales move to the poles.
Until a whale was found by Kevin Glover of the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway in 2007. Having analyzed the DNA, the pope turned out to be a hybrid of the Arctic and Antarctic Minke Whales.
Until a whale was found by Kevin Glover of the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway in 2007. Having analyzed the DNA, the pope turned out to be a hybrid of the Arctic and Antarctic Minke Whales.
The findings shed a view of the impossibility of the two types of whales are met. DNA analysis showed that the Antarctic Minke Whales can move further to the northern hemisphere, meet and mate with Minke Whales Arctic.
Until now, researchers do not yet know whether the creation of hybrid was just a coincidence or has become a trend. Research on hybrid whale populations are still required to unravel.
However, scientists suspect the incident was related to the study of Japanese scientists. It is said, the Antarctic Minke Whale population dropped dramatically in the era of 80s and 90s. Crustacean populations usual fall prey to this pope is also declining.
However, scientists suspect the incident was related to the study of Japanese scientists. It is said, the Antarctic Minke Whale population dropped dramatically in the era of 80s and 90s. Crustacean populations usual fall prey to this pope is also declining.
"Japanese scientists research even suggests that the layer of fat on the whale's body is also thinner. It is not associated with malnutrition, but show a lack of food," said Glover.
Glover continued, "we speculate that the amount of food decreased. As a result, the pope began to aggressively search for food. It may be that some individuals move far beyond its territory and find the way to the Arctic."
Glover continued, "we speculate that the amount of food decreased. As a result, the pope began to aggressively search for food. It may be that some individuals move far beyond its territory and find the way to the Arctic."
When some individuals are entering the Arctic region, that's where they met with relatives, Minke Whales Arctic. Marriage produce the newly discovered hybrid finally possible.
