Dr. Michael Ford
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The Center's Marine Mammal Program conducts critical research on Southern Resident killer whales and is led by Dr. Michael Ford. Drs. Brad Hanson and Dawn Noren are the program's two marine mammal scientists. Brad is an expert on habitat and foraging ecology, while Dawn specializes in marine mammal physiology. The Center's program also includes scientists from the Center's Environmental Assessment program, which measures contaminant levels in marine mammal tissues and analyzes stable isotopes and fatty acids to understand marine mammal prey, and the Genetics program, which studies the genetic structure of living marine resources.
2007 Southern Resident Killer Whale Research Update
Recent Events:
Scientists from NOAA NWFSC Marine Mammal Program and Cascadia Research have continued their studies of the prey habits of Southern Resident Killer Whales during the fall months. With the assistance of local sighting networks and collaborators J pod was encountered three times in early November. Fecal samples were collected during each encounter and will be used to isolate both DNA from killer whales and their prey. Furthermore, the newest member of J pod was documented on November 7th (pictured below). This newest addition brings the population up to 88 whales (Center for Whale Research unpublished data).
Drs. Dawn Noren and Brad Hanson will attend the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals from 28 Nov
– 3 Dec. Dawn will present a poster, "Close approaches by vessels elicit surface active displays by Southern Resident killer whales", which describes some of her research results on Southern Resident killer whale behavioral responses to vessels. Dawn will also participate in the Marine Wildlife Behavior Database Workshop. Brad will present two talks at the conference, "Summer diet and prey stock identification of the fish-eating "Southern Resident" Killer Whales: Addressing a key Recovery need using fish scales, fecal samples, and genetic techniques" at the main conference, and "Multispecies outbreak of Cryptococcosis (Cryptococcus gatti) in stranded harbor, Dall’s porpoises, and a Pacific white sided dolphin in the Northeastern Pacific" at a marine mammal health workshop.
New J-Pod Calf |
Southern Residents near Ferry |
New J-Pod Calf |
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