Conservation

New Genome Assembly Approach Unlocks Secrets of Critically Endangered Dolphins in New Zealand

/ / Whale Science / ,

Scientists have successfully assembled the first high-quality reference genomes for New Zealand’s Hector’s and critically endangered Māui dolphins, despite working with degraded DNA samples. The new study reveals these dolphins have maintained small populations for thousands of years, with Māui dolphins showing 40% lower genetic diversity than their Hector’s cousins. The innovative genome assembly approach […]

New Genome Assembly Approach Unlocks Secrets of Critically Endangered Dolphins in New Zealand Read More »

The Great Whale Conveyor Belt: Earth’s Largest Mammals Keep Oceans Thriving

/ / Whale Science / , ,

Each year, the world’s largest mammals embark on epic journeys spanning thousands of miles across the planet’s oceans. However, large whales aren’t just impressive travelers – they’re also operating what scientists have called “the Great Whale Conveyor Belt,” the largest long-distance nutrient transport on Earth. An exciting study just published in Nature Communications has quantified

The Great Whale Conveyor Belt: Earth’s Largest Mammals Keep Oceans Thriving Read More »

Super-sized Sacrifice: The Enormous Costs of Being a Humpback Whale Mom

/ / Whale Science / , , ,

Imagine being a humpback whale mom-to-be. You have been pregnant for 10 months. Your 2600-pound calf is due in just four to six weeks. Over the summer and fall, you have consumed as much food as possible, preparing for the journey ahead. Soon, you will embark on a 3000-mile migration south to the Hawaiian breeding

Super-sized Sacrifice: The Enormous Costs of Being a Humpback Whale Mom Read More »

Whale research without a PhD? Yes you can!

/ / Become a whale scientist / ,

While many dream of studying these incredible animals, it is easy to feel discouraged by the thought of spending many years getting a PhD before contributing to their research and conservation. But here’s a little open secret: you don’t need a PhD to make meaningful contributions to the field. To prove it, we asked six

Whale research without a PhD? Yes you can! Read More »

Eyes in the Sky: Drones Transform Sperm Whale Research

/ / Whale Science / , ,

Traditional sperm whale identification has long relied on photographing tail flukes from boats, capturing the distinctive notches and patterns that make each whale unique. However this method has a significant limitation: researchers can only identify whales when they perform their characteristic deep dive, raising their tails above the surface. Now, drone technology is opening new

Eyes in the Sky: Drones Transform Sperm Whale Research Read More »

Meet the Australian Snubfin Dolphin – An Edemic and Threatened Species

/ / Whale of the Month / , , ,

The Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is one of Australia’s only endemic dolphin species, identified as a new species in 2005. This small dolphin is adorable, but it faces conservation threats due to its small population and coastal habitat preference. So this month, let’s celebrate the Australian snubfin dolphin and the 25th Biennial Conference on

Meet the Australian Snubfin Dolphin – An Edemic and Threatened Species Read More »

Eavesdropping on whales using land seismometers

/ / Types of Whale Research / , ,

In a newly published study in Seismica, researchers used instruments on land designed to monitor earthquakes (seismometers) to detect the presence of fin and blue whale calls in the Gulf of St Lawrence.   What is a seismometer?  Seismometers are instruments that measure the ground motion and are typically used to study earthquakes. However, they can

Eavesdropping on whales using land seismometers Read More »

How To Study The Deepest Diving Whales? Use Chemistry!

/ / Types of Whale Research / , , ,

Marine mammals are difficult for scientists to study; they spend most or all of their lives in and around water habitats. Because of their vastness (hundreds of thousands of square kilometers) and depth (thousands of meters), marine mammal habitats are difficult for humans to access and explore. Cetaceans – whales, dolphin, and porpoises – spend

How To Study The Deepest Diving Whales? Use Chemistry! Read More »

Russian ship played classical music to rescue entrapped belugas

/ / Whale Science / , ,

The Moskva was the largest and most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker at her delivery time. She got international attention in 1985 when she herded around 2000 ice-entrapped belugas back to the open sea … by playing classical music. Yes, you read that right! What is an icebreaker? An icebreaker is a class of ships that can

Russian ship played classical music to rescue entrapped belugas Read More »