Current Beaked Whale Research
Since 2015 our research has expanded outside the Gully and beyond the Scotian Shelf to include waters off Newfoundland and collaborations across the range of northern bottlenose whales. Our efforts have been directed at collecting primary field data (acoustic records, photographs, behavioural data and biopsies) to address ongoing questions regarding diet using stable isotopes (Feyrer et al. 2020) and fatty acids (Hooker et al. 2001), genetics (Feyrer et al. 2019, Dalebout et al. 2006), movement and distribution (Wimmer & Whitehead 2004), and population status and trends of northern bottlenose whales in Canada (O’Brien & Whitehead 2013). In addition we continue to collect similar data streams for Sowerby’s beaked whales.
In 2016 we confirmed the discovery of a previously unknown concentration of northern bottlenose whales in a region North East of Newfoundland. This present significant questions for managing the two known populations designated by Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Sowerby’s beaked whales are also increasingly being sighted in the Gully (Whitehead 2013). Our ongoing monitoring in the Gully MPA includes all species of beaked whales and provides an important baseline for these poorly-known species. Photo identification and acoustic studies are the focus of our ongoing work on Sowerby's (Clarke et al. 2019).
In 2016 we confirmed the discovery of a previously unknown concentration of northern bottlenose whales in a region North East of Newfoundland. This present significant questions for managing the two known populations designated by Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Sowerby’s beaked whales are also increasingly being sighted in the Gully (Whitehead 2013). Our ongoing monitoring in the Gully MPA includes all species of beaked whales and provides an important baseline for these poorly-known species. Photo identification and acoustic studies are the focus of our ongoing work on Sowerby's (Clarke et al. 2019).
Microplastics in the Gully
From 2015-2019 we conducted surveys for floating marine pollution following the protocols of Dufault and Whitehead (1994). These include two elements: 1.5-7 km long visual surveys, with a 50-m transect width, for large items (which are retrieved when feasible); and tows of a 308 µm mesh Neuston net (1.85 km each tow) for small items. Results from debris surveys will be compared with similar surveys carried out in 1990 (see Dufault, Whitehead 1994, Hooker, Baird et al. 2001) and 1997, to see whether levels of debris have changed.
