BOTTLENOSE WHALE RESEARCH 2003
Project description
This summer, several members of the Cetacean Research Lab conducted a single 6-week long research trip on the 40 foot sailboat Balaena. The purpose of this trip was to gather distribution data, photo-ID shots and skin biopsy samples from northern bottlenose whales along the 1000 m contour of the continental shelf off northern Labrador. We hoped to collect up to 50 biopsy samples from bottlenose whales in this region for DNA analysis and pollution studies. Mitochondrial and nuclear loci will be used to investigate population structure and gene flow among this population and animals further south in the Gully, near Sable Island. Biopsy samples were collected using the PAXARMS system (modified .22 calibre rifle; Krutzen et al. 2002). We also have a crossbow on board as a backup.
In addition, information was collected on any other cetacean species encountered. We planned to photograph blue, bowhead, fin, humpback, right and sperm whales, as well as white-beaked dolphins (and pilot whales -only near northern Cape Breton).
Crew members:
- Dr. Hal Whitehead (principal investigator and skipper)
- Dr. Merel Dalebout (postdoctoral fellow, Dalhousie University)
- Dr. Sascha Hooker (postdoctoral fellow, St Andrew's University, UK)
- Derek Herfst (BSc. Honours student)
- Bas Beekmans (MSc. student, on exchange from the Netherlands)
Travel Log
July 21 - Merel, Derek and Bas left Halifax to drive to St. Anthony
July 24 - Merel, Derek, and Bas are in Cornerbrook and driving to Deer Lake to pick up Sascha. Everything is on schedule and they will meet up with Balaena and set sail tomorrow
August 6 - Balaena is located at 61oN, 61oW, which is about level with the southern
tip of Greenland. The crew plans to travel north for one more day and then head south. They have not yet seen any bottlenose whales.
August 7 - Balaena reached 61o40.3'N, 60o30.1'W before the crew turned around and headed south. Although
they experienced good weather in the north, they encountered no bottlenose whales.
August 8 - The heater breaks
August 18 - Balaena is located at 55o26.8'N, 56o30.1'W. They are heading south on the 1000 m contour off of Labrador.
In the last 5 days they have encountered four groups of bottlenose whales and obtained photo-i.d. of several whales. They have also
obtained three biopsy samples. The crew has also encountered white-beaked dolphins, pilot whales, a sperm whale, icebergs, and the northern lights.
The crew plans to return by August 31st at the latest.
August 22 - Balaena seeks shelter from a gale in a government wharf in St. Augustin, Quebec. Everyone gets to take showers!
August 24 - Balaena arrives in Rocky Harbour, drops off Sascha, picks up supplies.
Balaena is now headed to Louisberg, Nova Scotia to pick up Tonya Wimmer and Meaghan Jankowski and drop off Bas.
August 31 - Balaena and her crew have returned to Halifax safe and sound. A more thorough account of their trip
will be posted here in the future.
The red dots on the image above indicate previous sightings of bottlenose whales in the Labrador region
Summary of results to date from 2003 field trip
Labrador
A 5 week survey was conducted along the 1000 m contour of the Labrador continental shelf, departing from St. Anthony, NewFoundland, on 25 July. Sighting conditions were excellent but the northernmost point of the survey track (61°40.3'N, 60°30.1'W on 7 August) was reached without encountering any bottlenose whales. On the way back south several small groups of bottlenose whales were encountered (approx. 20 - 25 animals total). Photographs for individual identification and three biopsy samples for genetic and pollutant analyses were collected. No bottlenose whales were seen in the possible hotspot areas suggested by previous surveys (inshore near Saglek Bank and Nachvak Fiord; Reeves et al. 1993) and reported sightings (e.g., northern section of Labrador 1000 m contour - Jack Lawson DFO; see figure).
The Gully
On the way back to Halifax, two days were spent in the Gully, near Sable Island. Bottlenose whales were encountered in this area, as expected from previous studies over the last decade. A number of these were known individuals identified photographically during previous field seasons. Five biopsy samples were obtained; some from known individuals, bringing the number of biopsies from this population to 34 (1996/7 = 20, 2002 = 9, 2003 = 5). We hope to return to the Gully in late September to obtain further biopsy samples from known individuals and to monitor ongoing seismic surveys in this area.
