ORCAS!
On the glorious day of May 10, 2010 we found the long awaited J-Pod and it was wonderful. We got to spend 4 hours with them and got some great recordings. Check them out Orca Recordings. The whole time we were surrounded by orcas, it was surreal.  I can’t even begin to explain the level of excitement on the boat when we first spotted the whales. Whenever we spot the whales, we yell out their bearings with respect to the boat so we can better keep track of where the whales are. There were so many whales, we  had one on nearly every hour of the clock!  I never realized how big a creature can be until you see it in real life. Orcas are huge, not as big as a humpback, but when that black dorsal fin cut through the water, it rose to a stunning 5ft. It was amazing.
We stayed with them till dusk and eventually when all the whale watching boats were gone, it was just us and J-Pod. It was a beautiful clear sunny day and our recordings, as well as the photos, were fantastic. Â These photos were taken by our videographer, Carlos Sanchez
Erica Beneze talks about clicks. (Note the reflection of co-author Jason, as well as session Chair David Mellinger.)
Beam Reach staff and alumni presented no less than six talks at the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) meeting held this week in Seattle. Setting a record that will be hard to beat, in one session on killer whale acoustics a full third of the 12 presentations involved Beam Reach! The talks ranged widely in their topics and methodologies (abstracts below). Bravo to the whole crew!
Three Beam Reach alumni were involved in this ASA meeting, up from one (Kenna Lehmann, fall 2007) at the 2008 ASA meeting in Paris. Alumnus Erica Beneze (spring 2009) spoke about the relationship between the behavioral state of killer whales and their echolocation click rates and how it changes in versus out of areas proposed for marine protection. Alumnus Laura Madden (fall 2005) spoke first in a fisheries workshop session, comparing two ways to assess fish habitat restoration structures: non-invasive hydroacoustic methods versus the traditional electrofishing technique. Jason Wood and Peggy Foreman (fall 2006) asked whether the southern residents compensate vocally when ship noise increases using new recordings and ship track data from the Lime Kiln acoustic observatory maintained by The Whale Museum.
Val Veirs discussed ship noise signatures from a long-term study in killer whale habitat on Monday, and then introduced the concept of new underwater noise metric — the orca-weighted decibel — on Thursday. Scott Veirs presented a model of killer whale signal masking by commercial ship noise (Prezi embedded below).
4pAB5. Masking of southern resident killer whale signals by commercial ship noise. Scott R. Veirs and Val R. Veirs
The endangered southern resident killer whales (SRKWs) emit sound to communicate with each other and to hunt fish. Communication or fishing are possible only within a distance R at which a signal can be detected.We determine detection distance by comparing the power spectra of the ambient noise and the received signal, with attention to the auditory response curve of the receiver. In Haro Strait, the center of the SRKW critical habitat, about 21 commercial ships per day, increases the ambient noise level by about 20 dB. To assess how ship noise may affect the SRKW communication and hunting, we define the fractional reduction in the zone of audibility at any location and time as the ratio of the area where signal detection is expected to occur in the increased noise regime to the maxi- mum detection area expected under ideal conditions R^2/Rmax^2. We map the decreased zones of audibility in Haro Strait during average and extreme ship noise by combining field measurements of spreading rates with source power spectra 1–100 kHz of common SRKW signals and typical ships.
1aABa8. Shipping noise signatures. Val Veirs, Scott Veirs, and Jason Wood
Throughout 2010, underwater recordings have been made of each ship passing two separate Haro Strait nodes of the orcasound.net hydrophone network. About 20 ships pass each day. Each ship has been identified in real time [automatic identification system (AIS)]. Measurements of received underwater noise levels and AIS variables are recorded as each ship passes the listening stations. Individual ships are observed multiple times moving in either northerly or southerly directions at times separated by a day or two and also by intervals of months. A database has been developed that contains the spectrum level of each ship ô°ƒbandwidth 96 kHz at one location and 22 kHz at the other and the source level both in terms of intensity and angular distribution. Ship signatures in terms of frequency quantiles and angular distributions of emissions are quite reproducible. This database can be used to predict limitations on echolocating and vocalizing marine mammals’ active space due to specific ship noise emissions. In particular, predictions of marine mammal noise exposures in specific frequency bands can be made prior to specific vessels’ entry into an area opening the possibility of planning field observations to investigate correlations between behaviors and specific predicted noise exposures.
4pAB9. Are click rates in killer whales an indicator of group behavior and foraging hotspots? Erica L. Beneze, Jason Wood, Scott Veirs , and Val Veirs
Killer whales use sound to communicate, find food, and navigate through the ocean. Southern Resident killer whales are specialized hunters and predominantly target Chinook salmon. It is presumed that these whales use echolocation clicks to distinguish between different species of salmon and to navigate. If this is the case, then click rates should vary by group behavior as the need for locating prey and navigating change. It has also been suggested that certain areas are utilized heavily by this population for foraging (hotspots) and some of these areas have been included in NOAA’s proposed “no-go†zone. If click rates during foraging are distinct, then hotspots should be identifiable by click rates. This study tested if click rates varied by behavior state and geographic area. Group behavior was categorized into five states: foraging, traveling, milling, resting, and socializing. Click rate varied significantly by behavior state and by area. Socializing had the highest click rate followed by foraging, traveling, milling, and then resting. The Southern Residents had higher click rates in foraging hotspots.
4pAB6. Shipping noise and vocal compensation by Southern Resident killer whales: Haro Strait as a study case. Jason D. Wood (SMRU Ltd.), Peggy Foreman (Univ. of Washington), Val Veirs, and Scott Veirs
Southern resident killer whales (SRKWs) use acoustic signals to navigate, forage, and facilitate social dynamics. Researchers have published evidence that suggests SRKW compensate for increased background noise by increasing the source level and duration of their signals. Unpublished reports have also suggested that SRKW may compensate for background noise by repeating their signals and by preferentially using certain signal types. Most of this work has focused on noise from whale watching vessels or general background noise. Haro Strait is both the center of the summertime home range of the SRKW and an important shipping channel. From September 2009 to December 2010 almost 10 000 ships transited through Haro Strait with an average of 21 ships passing per day. Ship transits in Haro Strait can increase background noise by up to 20 dB and are detectable above back- ground noise for up to 30 min. This may be impacting the ability of SRKW to detect and utilize their acoustic signals. A five hydrophone array and Automatic Identification System receiver located at the Lime Kiln Lighthouse were used to record passing ships and SRKW in Haro Strait. This project investigates signal compensation strategies in SRKW in correlation with increased noise from passing ships.
4pAB7. Orca hearing weighted decibels: Underwater sound measurements appropriate to studies of Orcinus (killer whales). Val Veirs, David Bain, and Scott Veirs
In community noise studies, sound levels are usually measured under the dB-A weighting scheme, which was introduced 50 years ago in an effort to match noise measurements to the response of human listeners. Here we pro- pose an underwater noise decibel weighting scheme matched to the hearing sensitivity of killer whales (dB-O). This scheme is based on a convolution of the spectral energy of sound with the frequency-specific hearing detection thresholds of killer whales. The biological significance of noise sources may be more readily discerned if underwater sounds are quantified dB-O weighted. Further, use of this measure would emphasize the importance of broad-band measurement of noise rather than characterizing noise sources by the frequency with the peak power-spectral density and the source level of low frequency components. We compare the measures of representative noise sources, which have been recorded within the range of Southern Resi- dent Killer Whales, including small boats, ships, airguns, and mid-frequency sonar, using both flat and db-O weighted levels. While dB-O provides a more relevant characterization of noise than flat measurements e.g., for predicting noise-induced stress, more detailed measurements will be required to address masking of biological signals, whose frequency structure varies with type of phonation and direction.
4pFWa1. Evaluating freshwater habitat restoration with active acoustics. Laura E. Madden (School of Forest Resources and Appl. Res. Lab., The Penn State Univ.) and Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds (The Penn State Univ.)
The effectiveness of adding a submerged physical structure in order to increase fishery production is uncertain. Measuring fishery response to these alterations with conventional techniques is difficult. Electrofishing is a typical assessment method in freshwater fishery management and is often limited in sample size and sampling frequency. This study used active acoustic technology to evaluate the distribution and behavior of fish assemblages associated with added submerged rock structures in a reservoir currently undergoing habitat improvement. An acoustic water column profiler was deployed for three 1-week intervals at each of three replicate sites consisting of adjacent treatment areas with added rock structures and control areas without added structures. Electrofishing was conducted during each sam- pling interval. Fish abundance and behavior at each site were assessed from the volume backscatter time series and electrofishing data. Differences between areas with and without structures were compared. Combining acoustic technology with conventional assessment methods has enabled a more thorough evaluation of habitat restoration projects and helps guide the development of future conservation efforts.
During the last few days at the end of the third week at sea, we were beginning to question if J-pod was real. We had been out with vigil eyes, but had a better track record on land for seeing killer whales. Each and every time a report came in, it seemed we were in the complete opposite area.  The Gato Verde is not fast, so each path has to be carefully planned out in order to find these elusive (well at least they were to us) animals. One evening we got word that they were in Active Pass.  After mooring at Patos Island, we all took shifts staying up and listening to the hydrophone hoping to know if they tried to get past us. We got up early and headed just a bit north to wait for them to pass by. Unfortunately, they had not gone the way we had planned and had been sighted at Lime Kiln, a location we frequently visit. We were too far north to catch up and would not get our wish of seeing J-pod.
This past Monday ended in us hearing word of residents, possibly J-pod, at Neah Bay. We were already stopped for the night, but tried to calculate when they would head our way. If they did decide to come into the area instead of going back out into the open ocean, it could take them anywhere from 17 hours to one and a half days. I was convinced we would get back to land and then be able to catch them once again from Lime Kiln’s rocky edge. Tuesday we headed to Lime Kiln. We planned to get some samples and do a sound spreading experiment in the area. Things were going great in terms of our science. Then, Val radioed us from the Gatito and said he had gotten a text claiming J-pod was close. I did not get excited because they were always close just never close enough. Mandy of course went into observer mode. To our surprise we saw several whale watch boats just south of us. We packed everything up and headed down the west side of San Juan Island. Mandy then let out a high pitched sentence…WHALES in sight!!! Excitement filled the air as we got close. Suddenly two orcas surfaced on our port (left) side. The whale watch boats were spread out pretty far, so we continued further in.
Eventually we found ourselves surrounded by these whales. We stayed there for hours and got great recordings from the vocal J-pod members that were all around.  Slowly the small groupings left us. We headed back to Friday Harbor, since we were close and would be getting off the boat Wednesday morning.
I still find it hard to believe that day was so great. Val and Todd speculated that these recordings are the best Beam Reach has ever gotten.  Here are a few short clips.
What a great feeling. We all could walk back on to land with our whale fix.
Looking back we have had some great once in a lifetime whale encounters. They have by no means been numerous, but have led us to our motto, “when we see whales, we SEE whalesâ€. Our first day, we spotted transients through the Lime Kiln Lighthouse window, a fluke to say the least. It continued with our literally unbelievable Minke whale breaching. Several days before seeing our beloved J-pod, we stumbled upon two humpbacks.
They were an unexpected surprise to our morning. We have been told humpbacks in Haro Strait are rare. Seeing these two off of Kellet Bluff breach and pec slap repeatedly was nothing short of amazing.
I am grateful for our encounters and can not wait for the ones to follow. I will leave you with something I found today by a fellow Aggie…
The truth is that billions of us live on this small blue planet with millions of other species. Even 90% of the cells in our own bodies are other species….
Next time you feel lonely, go meet another species of this world, they’re all around us and they have much to say.
I have never met another species I didn’t like and they are usually more like us than they are different. They dream like we do, they are made of the same stuff as we are, they think and feel, they play… and they are all so very present. Each one has so much to teach us and we know practically nothing about 90% of the species on this planet.
Begin your discovery today and I promise you’ll not regret it. Start by watching the bugs, the birds, your dog… watch them just be. Then go to the park or the forest or a reef and look for them, they are waiting for you.
Throughout our travels in the San Juans, we passed an island called Spiden. Todd said Spiden is unique because it originally belonged to two brothers who were taxidermists. They liked to hunt and stocked the island with all sorts of exotic deer. When we went by on our way to Patos Island, we were able to see a few of them. Todd told me that sometimes the deer swim to different islands and occasionally one will see a set of antlers making its way across the water.
Last week we  had a confirmed report that the elusive J-Pod came in through Discovery Island and had gone up Swanson Cannel into Canada. Normally, when they come to the islands, they go up Swanson Channel and down Boundary Pass or Presidents Channel. Taking the strategic approach, we decided to camp out near Patos Island where we would be at the fork of the two channels (see map). This way, we could be close and listen for them when they came back down. To ensure that they didn’t slip by us overnight, we did an anchor watch. For the anchor watch, we all took turns listening to the hydrophones overnight. My shift was from 12-1:30am. I unfortunately didn’t hear anything and neither did anyone else. As a result, we were up bright and early the next morning watching and waiting for J-Pod to hopefully come back down.  Oddly enough, these tricky killer whales went back down the way they came in and we missed them all together. Oh nature.  On the brighter side, Patos Island was amazing. It was very secluded and there were only two mooring buoys where we stayed. After dinner we went on a hike to the lighthouse where we watched the most beautiful sunset yet.
On Mother’s Day we saw humpbacks! We spotted them early in the morning and had them all to ourselves. We arrived at the perfect time. When we found them they were very playful, breaching and peck slapping, all right in front of us!  They are massive creatures. A humpback whale can reach lengths of 48-63 feet and weigh up to 40 tons! There’s also a picture of us in Jeanie’s blog, here. We spent about an hour and half with them before we moved on to Salmon Bank to get plankton samples.
Photo by Carlos Sanchez
We also spent one day down on south Lopez looking at fish populations. To assess the fish, we photographed sea birds and looked at what types of fish were in their  beaks. This is difficult because the birds like to swallow the fish immediately.  Luckily, Carols with his awesome photo skills, was able to capture a picture of a seagull with a sand lance in its mouth which was the fish that Kelsey was looking for to support her project. It was a successful day overall.
Yesterday we got back from our two week session at sea. We had a rough start. Our first ten days were whale-less. Sure, J pod was around, but we always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. At one point we got a call that the whales were up in Active Pass. We couldn’t catch up to them, but we anchored strategically at Patos Island. That way, when they came through Active Pass we could see them if they went down either Boundary Pass or President’s Channel. To be sure that we didn’t miss them, we posted anchor watch that night. We each took two hour shifts listening to the hydrophone all night. I slept outside in hopes that I would hear their blows if they came by. None of us heard anything, so the next day we set ourselves up so that we had a view of everything. I got hoisted up onto the mast to have a better view of the surrounding water. We were there half the day before we heard that there were whales down south at Lime Kiln. Of course. They must have gone up Active Pass and then turned around and gone back the way they came, which they almost never do. We were six hours away, and by the time we made it down to Snug Harbor the whales had gone back out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Our week continued like that until the Saturday before we got off the boat. We were headed out of Snug when Robin told me that she had seen a minke from the road on her way over. She figured that it’d be long gone, but I decided to go out and check anyway, just in case the whale had slowed down. I was out looking for no more than two minutes before Ally came out and asked what I was looking for. As I turned and told her, she suddenly pointed and said, “What’s that?” It was our whale!  As the whale arched its back, it was obvious that it was not a minke, but actually a humpback! Surprise #1! Another blow rose up and glistened in the sun. Surprise #2! There were actually two whales! It was exceptional. Humpbacks are rarely seen in Haro Strait, so it was a real treat. The local humpback population was destroyed by commercial whaling operations in the early 1900s. In fact, the whole Salish Sea population was wiped out in just one season of industrial whaling. They are only just starting to return a century later. We were lucky enough to get to observe two of these leviathons. I have had the opportunity to see a lot of humpbacks on whale watches on the East Coast, and they are always my favorite to see. They’re known for being extremely active and acrobatic. These whales did not disappoint. We were treated to just about every surface behavior imaginable. One whale breached, then performed a series of chin slaps before finishing with another breach. One of the whales slapped his pectorals repeatedly, giving us a beautiful display of his “big wings” that give humpbacks their Latin name (Megaptera novaeangliae translates to ‘big-winged New Englander’). It was fantastic. We also got some good looks at the flukes of the humpbacks. The markings on the undersides of the flukes are like a human’s fingerprint. The unique patterns and pigmentation are used to identify individual whales. For a catalog of the humpbacks that are seen in these waters, check out this site.
Just two days after this, we were performing a spreading and localization exercise when we got a text saying, “Many whales between False Bay and Lime Kiln.” When we spotted the first blows and fins I was incoherent with excitement (literally – Captain Todd had to ask me to calm down enough so that he could understand what I was saying). Finally, after three weeks of searching, J pod had come to us. It was amazing. The whales were extremely vocal, and we were the last boat with them, so we got some great recordings with minimal boat noise. We also witnessed a lot of surface active behaviors, including cartwheels, which was fantastic. We managed to remain with J pod for four hours. Even if it took us three weeks to find them, it was well worth the wait! I can’t wait to go back out and hopefully find them again!
I’m happy to say we all survived 3 weeks at sea with many stories to tell! To the left is one of my favorite pictures taken so far of me and Mandy riding the waves on the trampoline along the bow of the catamaran! And yes it was cold…as you can see in my face. Before I jump too far into the 3 weeks, I’ll start by reviewing how a typical day is structured. We first get up around 7:00 a.m. every day with specific tasks. We each rotate around 4 different roles that help keep the boat in shape and organize our science activities for the day.The systems reporter measures the water level in our tank, updates the sewage level,checks the percent of biodeisel left in the tank, and records our engine run time. The navigator is responsible for the weather forecast ,strength and direction of the currents,direction of the wind, amount of time predicted to reach our destination ,and is responsible for directing the boat accordingly throughout the day.The University of Washington developed a useful online program called BIS Portal and we also use another source called Open CPN that helps us predict the timing of the currents. If you live close to shore or are interested, take a look at what the tides might be like! Here is the link to BIS Portal: http://bis_portal.apl.washington.edu/bis_portal_app.php. We also learned how to use a current atlas called the Washburn Tables that seemed to conflict multiple times with Open CPN and Bis Portal predictions. This conflict further proves the complexity behind our ocean’s dynamics! Especially within the San Juan Islands where currents have hundreds of obstacles compared to deeper ocean waters away from the coast.
The science lead has the most work out of all the roles. This person is in charge of all the science activities and helps individuals reach their particular goals. The science reporter is the person who was science lead the day before and recaps what was achieved previously through graphs or a narrative presented in front of the crew. After a science meeting presenting each update, we cast off for the day.One topic that is always on our minds no matter what our science goals are for the day is the presence of whales! If we hear that whales are around we make finding them our number one priority!
We are also learning how to efficiently stay warm without putting on too many layers and making it impossible to move. Even though its Spring its very cold on the boat, especially at night in our cabins. I think this trip will make us all appreciate  how much is readily available to us on land on a daily basis (including a heater) and be more aware of how much energy and water we are using without thinking about it! This sustainability awareness is presented in the name of our catamaran. Our captain, Todd Shuster, named his catamaran the Gato Verde. This translates to the Green Cat in spanish. It is “green” because it practices sustainable methods and “cat” represents the fact it is a catamaran. Our class revolves around practicing sustainability when we clean using environementally friendly cleaning materials and methods,minimize water usage, run the boat with biodiesel, and use the sails as our source of speed when wind is present. This class is already making me more conscious of my actions and keeping me more organized compared to how I used to be!
Yesterday we returned from our first week at sea on the Gato Verde! It was an absolutely fantastic week, even though the orcas managed to elude us. We went where no Beam Reach group has gone before: all the way around Whidbey Island via Saratoga Passage and through the narrow, turbulent Deception Pass! In case you didn’t know, Whidbey Island is BIG! In fact, it’s the largest island in the state of Washington, and the fourth largest in the lower 48 states. It took us several full days of cruising and a 5:30 AM hail-and-rain-filled departure from anchorage to make it all the way around.
However, we got an incredible taste of the marine life of the Salish Sea. We were treated to sights of river otters, harbor seals, California sea lions, Stellar sea lions, harbor porpoises, gray whales, and even an elusive minke whale! After shooting through Deception Pass, we surprised a California sea lion, who popped up right in front of our boat and proceeded to glare us down for the intrusion. We got to watch a gray whale slowly feeding up and down the coastline. Our first cetacean encounter of the trip was of a minke whale breaching at least five times in quick succession in Admiralty Inlet. I have seen a lot of minkes on various whale watching trips on the East Coast. Usually they just pop up a few times and then disappear. I have NEVER seen one breach. This was most certainly the highlight of the trip for me so far.
However, we were confronted with a problem when reporting the minke whale. No one believed us. It turns out a humpback whale was also sighted breaching that day in about the same area. As breaching is much more commonly observed in humpbacks than in minke whales, everyone assumed that we had mixed the two up and had actually seen the humpback. If Val hadn’t been quick and snapped a picture of the dorsal fin, most likely no one would have believed us. It turns out that this is a common problem. Seeing as how we usually only get to see such small parts of the whales above the water, it is very easy to get the different species confused. I decided to compile a quick guide of some of the more commonly sighted species of cetaceans in the Salish Sea in an effort to make it easier to properly identify these species when spotted! Below is a diagram of a humpback whale. Some key features that I will be discussing are labeled. All photos are taken by me unless otherwise labeled.
CETACEAN 101
A) The Mysticeti, or baleen whales.
1. Minke Whale– The minke is the smallest of the baleen whales. They are roughly the size of an orca, and are dwarfed by the larger gray whales and humpback whales. Being so small, their blows are not always easily seen. Their bodies are small and torpedo-like, with small pectoral fins with a white band going across them. If you are lucky enough to see them breach, as we did, you can easily see this.
Note the smooth, torpedo-like shape. The white band on the pectoral fins is clearly visible, and the small pectorals are tucked in close to the body. The minke whale is part of the rorquals, so they do have ventral pleats. However, you have to be quite close to be able to distinguish these pleats.
Breaching is a rare thing to see in a minke; they are typically shy and elusive, so more frequently you only see their back and dorsal fin. No fear though, as the minke dorsal fin is also fairly easy to distinguish from other cetaceans in the Salish Sea. As with all baleen whales, the dorsal sits about 2/3 of the way back on the body, so it is preceded by a fair amount of back before the dorsal fin can be seen. The dorsal is small and distinctively curved.
Another thing to look for in minkes is lunging behavior. These whales often lunge feed; they create a bait ball and then lunge through the middle and can sometimes come partly out of the water. Minke whales are perhaps easiest to confuse with fin whales. While these guys are rare visitors to the Salish Sea, it is still worth noting the difference, as they are sometimes seen here. Fins also have small, hooked dorsals that look quite similar to minkes. However, the fin whale tops out at around 80 feet, and is the second largest creature on earth. This is much bigger than the 30 foot minke. While it can be tricky to distinguish from a distance, size is the key feature to look for in this case.
Minke whales are known to make “boing” sounds. Most of the energy in these calls is between 1 and 2 kHz, which is well within the hearing range of humans. An example of their call can be heard here.
2. Humpback Whale– Humpbacks are larger (between 40-50 feet) members of the baleen whale family. When you know what you are looking for, humpbacks are pretty easy to distinguish from other species of cetaceans. Their blow is usually more visible than the blow of a minke. See the picture below to note what to look for in the blow.
Humpbacks are also known for being one of most acrobatic of the whales. They frequently breach, spy hop, slap their pectorals, and slap their flukes. If you see a whale doing any of these behaviors, look closely. The most obvious feature of the humpback whale is its pectoral fins. Their scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae, literally means “large-winged New Englander.” Long and often white, the pectorals are very obvious and are a dead giveaway that you are looking at a humpback.
Humpback whales are also known to fluke, which is when they deep dive and show their tails. All the whales have distinct white patterns on the underside of their flukes. These patterns are used to identify individual whales. Minke whales do not usually show their flukes. Gray whales do on occasion, but humpback whale tails are distinct in shape.
If you only see the dorsal fin of the whale in question, it is also fairly easy to tell which kind of whale it is, especially if you get a picture! Humpback dorsal fins have a small bump in the front and then a sickle-shaped curve. They are also well-known for “humping” their backs right before they dive.
Humpbacks are known for being very vocal, and males compose long, haunting songs that carry for miles. An example of a humpback song can be found here. However, these songs are sung primarily at the breeding grounds of humpbacks, presumably to attract mates, although this isn’t known for sure. Humpbacks found in the Salish Sea are more likely to be making a feeding call.
3. Gray Whale– Gray whales are rather prehistoric looking whales that can be found in the spring, summer and fall in the Salish Sea. These whales like to feed along the bottom in shallow waters, and so are frequently seen foraging close to shore. They are covered in barnacles and whale lice. These patches of parasites can help distinguish individuals.  The blows of gray whales are bushy and heart-shaped.
Gray whales also don’t have a dorsal fin, instead they have a prominent dorsal ridge.
Gray whales tend to roll on their side and scrape along the muddy bottom in search of food. Because they feed in shallow water, this often exposes their pectoral fin. They also sometimes show their flukes, which are smaller and more square-shaped than those of humpbacks.
If you wish to try to identify a gray whale that you spotted, check out the gray whale ID guide from Cascadia Research Collective.
The vocalizations of gray whales are typically series of grunts. The average frequency is typically around or below 1 kHz.
A quick comparison of these three most common species of baleen whales found in the Salish Sea:
B. The Odontoceti, or toothed whales
1. Killer Whale, or orca- The orca is the most easily distinguished cetacean in the Salish Sea. Actually the largest member of the Dolphin family, the orca can be recognized by it’s black and white color pattern. Males sport dorsal fins up to six feet tall, while females have smaller, curved dorsal fins. The gray saddle patch behind the dorsal fin can be used to identify individual killer whales.
Of the three ecotypes of killer whales (residents, transients, and offshores), only residents and transients are found with any regularity in the waters of the Salish Sea. While it can be difficult to distinguish these two, it is not impossible. The southern residents (SRKWs) are found in relatively large, stable family pods, while transients are typically (but not always) found in smaller pods. Of course, the SRKWs eat only fish, while the transients prey on marine mammals. So if you see a killer whale pursuing a sea lion or other mammal, it is a transient. Transients and residents can also be distinguished by their dorsal fins and saddle patches. The SRKWs have more rounded dorsal fins than transients, and they can have open saddle patches, while the transients have solid gray saddle patches. Residents and transients can also be distinguished by their calls. Residents are much more vocal, and tend to have an almost up-beat, bubbly sound to their calls. Transients typically make fewer vocalizations that have a rather haunting quality to them.
2. Pacific White-sided Dolphin- While Pacific white-sided dolphins aren’t seen frequently in the Salish Sea, they are seen at times during the summer and fall. These dolphins are relatively small, around eight feet long. They have a dark upper body, with a light underside and gray stripes running along their sides. They also tend to show more of their bodies when surfacing than the porpoise species found in the Salish Sea. They make high frequency, whistle-like vocalizations.
3. Harbor Porpoise- Harbor porpoises are small members of the Phocoenidae family. They are gray-brown on top with a light underside. They have a triangular fin. Harbor porpoises are often seen in fairly shallow water, and can be found around the mouths of rivers. They are typically found in small groups of less than ten individuals. Harbor porpoises typically make acoustic signals that are above the hearing range of humans, but it is possible to slow the calls down to allow humans to hear them.
4. Dall’s Porpoise- Dall’s porpoises have a black and white coloration that is similar to that of orcas, leading to them occasionally being incorrectly referred to as baby orcas. Measuring around 6 feet, the lack of an eye patch and shape of the dorsal fin immediately give the animal away as being a Dall’s porpoise rather than an orca. Dall’s porpoise are very fast cetaceans, and often create a “rooster tail” of spray when bow-riding. They have a small white patch on their triangular dorsal fin, helping to distinguish them from harbor porpoises. They are stockier than harbor porpoises, with a narrow, distinct peduncle (area immediately in front of tail). Like harbor porpoises, Dall’s porpoise produce acoustic signals that are too high for most humans to hear. However, when brought down to a frequency within our hearing range, they make a series of click-like sounds. Scripps Whale Acoustic Lab has a nice recording of a Dall’s porpoise here (For whatever reason I can’t link directly to it, so click on Porpoises, Dall’s porpoise, and then play call).
Comparison of toothed whales found in the Salish Sea:
Well that about wraps it up for the cetaceans of the Salish Sea! I hope that this helps provide a guide for identification of the cetaceans in this area.
On a quick side note, I would like to thank everyone who was on the Gato Verde with us this past week, and give a special thanks to Val and Leslie for cooking us a fantastic Easter brunch and letting the Easter Bunny into S1 to hide chocolate eggs for all of us! 🙂
Also, while writing this blog post, I was interrupted by orca calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophones. Carlos was super nice and drove us all down to Lime Kiln, where we got our first sighting of J Pod!!! It was extremely exciting, probably one of the best days of my life. One whale even breached right off shore from us twice! I’d like to leave you all with this photo of a whale porpoising by us at LK. Jeanne was also watching from shore; she got some IDs and posted a recording of the calls on her blog!
“What are the effects of cars on whales?” This week, we were all asked this question by the extremely knowledgeable killer whale researcher Dave Bain. We all sat there, staring blankly and not coming up with any potential impacts. We could think of nothing. However, it turns out cars are one of the top threats to the marine mammals. Everything from oil spills, to abundance of prey, to threats to the whales from alternative energy are influenced by them.
It’s a theme that we’ve been learning a lot about in the past couple weeks. Our terrestrial environment has remarkable
Enjoying the mud at Beaverton Marsh!
effects on the marine ecosystems. It’s something that isn’t thought of that much, with the exception of direct dumping into the environment and potential contamination of groundwater. But it is a concept that deserves more attention. This terrestrial impact has been the focus of our service projects this year, and rightfully so. Last week, we helped work on the enhancement and restoration of Beaverton Marsh. Over the years, the invasive reed canary grass has taken over the wetland, which has fallen victim to agricultural overuse. The restoration project aims to help restore native species and increase the diversity of the marsh. So for a couple of hours we all sloshed around in the mud and put plant protectors and mulch on plants that had been previously planted. It was hard work, but well worth the effort. Plus, it was a GORGEOUS day, which made it very enjoyable!
Last Friday we spent the day helping out on an organic local farm. We toured the farm and learned
Sweet Earth Farms- photo by Carlos Sanchez
a bit about organic farming on the island. We talked about permaculture, which is a type of agriculture that tries to model natural processes in nature. For example, there is a heavy focus on the use of perennial plants over annual plants (which need to be planted every year). The majority of plants found in the wild are perennials, which have a very stable root system. These long, deep roots absorb nutrients more efficiently, and so generally require less maintenance than annuals, and don’t deplete the topsoil as much. For more information on the use of perennials vs. annuals, check out this article from National Geographic.
Now you might be wondering what all of this really has to do with whales. It turns out, a lot! The three main threats to the southern resident killer whales were listed as being: 1) Prey availability, 2) Vessel noise, and 3) Toxins. The terrestrial environment can have a large effect on both prey availability and toxins. Degradation of the spawning environments of Chinook salmon can limit the returns of the fish back to the ocean. These rivers are easily affected by humans and agriculture. Cattle and other livestock can erode the river and stream banks and the removal of riparian vegetation leads to decreased shelter from predators (provided by shade) and increased temperatures that could rise to undesirable levels for the cold-loving salmon. Agricultural runoff creates an influx of nutrients that can lead to eutrophication and decreased oxygen content in water bodies. Dams create barriers to salmon migration to spawning areas. All of these lead to less fish for the killer whales to eat.
Toxins also pose a huge threat to the killer whales. High on the trophic pyramid, the killer whales suffer from the bioaccumulation of chemicals (see diagram at right). High levels of DDT, PCBs, and PBDEs have been found in killer whales. These are all organic chemicals that don’t breakdown well, leading to relatively high levels in the marine environment, even for the now illegal DDT. Indeed, many pesticides are a problem. Kwiaht in 2008 found that pyrethroid pesticide levels in the San Juan County waters averaged 1-2 parts per billion, with much higher levels in some areas. Levels of 1 part per billion are known to be toxic to salmonids. Surfactants, which are chemicals used to mix water and oil, are present in nearly every man-made product. The Friday Harbor Aquarium found lethal levels of surfactants in the surrounding water.
All of these toxins come from the terrestrial environment. It is important to be conscious of what we’re pouring down the drain or dumping outside. The San Juan Islands were heavily glaciated in the last ice age, which has resulted in very thin soils in many areas. Soil typically helps to filter groundwater. This decreased filtration can lead to increased runoff of chemicals to the marine environment. It’s important to be conscious of what we’re pouring down the drain or dumping outside. Try to minimize the amount of chemicals poured down the drain. Take care of your septic system to help prevent leakage. Restoration projects help bring back native species which help balance the ecosystem. Sustainable agricultural processes help reduce the runoff of toxic pesticides and other chemicals. So be cautious, be aware, and help protect these iconic animals!
Beam Reach solidified and focused my goals as a scientist. During the 10-week program I learned a lot about myself as someone who can work in a team, or individually, as well as gained valuable insight into the world of marine mammal science. I made wonderful professional contacts and amazing friends. In addition, it was one of the highlights of my life. It isn’t too often you get to be so close to such intelligent and unique animals, surrounded by people who are interested in the same things you are. I went home with a new drive and completed a marine biology degree with the intention to some day continue in a graduate program.
After graduating with my BS, I continued working on a project for the National Marine Fisheries Service, where I learned something about working for a federal agency who is there to protect mammals using the environmental laws. I was later hired at an environmental consulting firm, where I worked for a few months because I also got accepted into a graduate program. I began at San Diego State University in 2008 working under Ted Cranford, whose work was the subject of part of a lecture Dave Bain gave today. I initially was uncertain how I felt about switching from a strictly ecology background with an interest in bioacoustics to anatomy. But, as it turned out, I really enjoyed it. There was blood, sweat, and tears shed in between the many good times. And I do mean, literally, blood, sweat and tears. I definitely injured myself enough times to learn my lesson around most tools, the porpoises carried onto CT scanner beds were heavy to prepare and maneuver, and sometimes I just sat down to cry out of frustration. I learned that most often things did not go according to plan, but at least the preparations made adjustments much easier.
My thesis project was focused on the mandibles of toothed whales because they are an important component not only in feeding, but also sound reception. Using newer methods of analyzing morphology and shape (excluding size), we were hoping to get some insights into the evolution and function of the mandibles. We saw that the posterior region, the region implicated in sound reception appears relatively conserved suggesting that stabilizing selection is acting on that part of the mandibles. Whereas in the anterior portion, thought to be primarily for feeding, there was much more variability among all Odontocetes, or the 53% of described species I used in my study. Using some comparative phylogenetic methods, we were able to confirm that, in fact, stabilizing selection was likely occurring. The results suggested that there is an optimum shape for the posterior region of the mandibles, perhaps an optimum shape required to adequately hear underwater?
Grad. school was a pain but well worth it. I learned so much about myself: my strengths, my weaknesses and how to overcome those weaknesses. I worked with Dr. Ted Cranford, who is brilliant and while he expects a lot out of a student, he taught me to become a much better scientist. If anyone is interested in mechanisms of sound reception and production, he is someone with whom to talk. Although I truly enjoy marine mammal work, I am now looking toward a career in environmental consulting. I would love to apply that to marine mammals, but look forward to expanding my knowledge and skills to terrestrial ecosystems. I recently was hired as an on-call biologist for a firm which will provide me with the opportunity to do just that. I look forward to applying the lessons learned during Beam Reach and my other experiences, to which Beam Reach helped open the doors.
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