Scientist's Daily Routine Documenting Sperm Whales
In the Gulf of America, a groundbreaking project is underway to study the lives of sperm whales. The "Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Multiple Stressors on Cetaceans" project, funded by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group, is using digital acoustic recording tags (DTAGs) to collect detailed acoustic and behavioural data.
The deployment of these tags is a collaborative effort involving various team members, including the deck crew, engineers, bridge team, scientists, galley staff, and the office team. The process begins with a small boat team being launched from the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter. The team's patience is crucial as sperm whales can stay submerged for over two hours and only surface briefly.
Tagging a sperm whale is challenging and depends on calm seas and careful coordination. Once a whale is spotted by team member Emma Beretta, the bridge team maneuvers the ship into position. Dr. Nikki Vollmer then collects the tag from the water, finding samples of the whale's skin within the suction cups for genetic analysis.
The DTAGs are suction-cup devices that stick to whales temporarily. These tags are equipped with a VHF antenna, sensors to measure ambient sound, movement orientation, swim speed, animal vocalizations, pressure (a proxy for depth), temperature, acceleration, and are designed to give scientists a window into the activities of sperm whales. While still attached, the tag emits a VHF signal each time the whale surfaces, which the team can track.
After 24 hours, the challenge of finding a 6-inch orange tag floating in the ocean begins. Using the tag's surface signal, the crew manages to track it down. After sample collection and cleaning, the data downloading process begins. This data can provide insights into the whale's diving depths, foraging behavior, and surfacing intervals between dives.
The research is conducted under NOAA permits (permit #27867) and involves coordinated efforts including drone usage and vessel-based monitoring to complement the tag data collection. A team at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center is studying the demographics and foraging behavior of sperm whales as part of the project.
The aim of the project is to continue studying the lives of sperm whales as the survey continues. Dr. Matthew Bowers quickly checks the data for completeness and produces a figure showing the whale's diving behavior over 24 hours. The findings from this research will help scientists understand the cumulative impacts of noise pollution, fishing activity, and other disturbances on these cetaceans.
- Utilizing advanced technology such as data-and-cloud-computing and environmental-science, the research findings from the ongoing project in the Gulf of America, focused on species identification of sperm whales, will aid scientists in understanding the cumulative effects of climate-change factors, including noise pollution and fishing activities, on these marine creatures.
- The groundbreaking research, named "Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Multiple Stressors on Cetaceans," employs cutting-edge gadgets, like digital acoustic recording tags (DTAGs), to gather detailed data about sperm whales, fueling the advancement of science and enhancing our understanding of these magnificent marine mammals.
- As the "Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Multiple Stressors on Cetaceans" project progresses, the team continuously works to collect vital data, employing both traditional methods such as vessel-based monitoring and contemporary tools like drones, all with the aim of improving species identification and fostering a healthier environment for sperm whales.
