Seeing below the surface: using tag technology & visualization tools to understand the underwater behavior of whales

Whales spend over 90% of their time submerged below the surface, out of sight of direct observation from humans.  While many of their behaviors can be gleaned from surface observations, means to recreate the underwater movement patterns and behaviors of whales in situ can lead to unprecedented insights into their biology, ecology, and conservation.  Multi-sensor suction-cup tags have been used for nearly 15 years, and were initially designed to study the acoustic behavior of certain cetacean species.  Since that time, our ability to discern underwater behaviors from hydrophones, accelerometers and magnetometers and link these to the environment in which whales live, has provided novel information for several heretofore undocumented cetacean species.  Data will be presented providing examples of the analytical tools that have been developed to study the kinematic patterns of whales underwater.  As well, new and emerging perspectives into the foraging behaviors of humpback whales will be discussed in the context of individual and regional variability.  Among cetaceans, humpback whales are unique in the array and plasticity of feeding behaviors that they employ and understanding how these relate to changes in their environment can offer hope towards providing adequate protection and mitigation against threats caused by human activity.

Speaker: Ari Friedlaender, Oregon State University

Editor's Note: Both the venue and time of this presentation have changed since we first listed it.  Please note new time and place information.