Habitat – Loss through pollution, oil, coastal development, urbanization, along with a multitude of other sources, meaning limited migration routes and calving grounds. Fish farms are located in important habitats for cetaceans which does not allow them to use these areas for feeding, breeding, or resting.
Noise Pollution – Fish farms use acoustic harassment to keep whales away from nurseries. As well, the noise produced by ships may disturb the normal migration paths of whales, while also interrupting their ability to communicate with one another.
As science and technology become more and more advanced, new methods are being developed to study the largest mammals on the planet. Programs such as photo recognition and animal tracking are leading to community involvement in whale research. This leads to a self-duplicating cycle of awareness in the community and further involvement in whale conservation. Using these methods, experiments are uncovering valuable information which can be used to protect cetaceans and their habitats.
- Satellite Tagging – Understanding migration and population structure is paramount to whale conservation. These tags allow scientists to track the paths of whales for several years.
- Acoustic Recording – In harsh marine environments, scientists face many difficulties researching whales. Underwater sound travels large distances, making it a powerful means of identifying and locating whales.
- Photo Identification – Biologists often use distinctive marking and wear patterns on the dorsal fins and flukes of large cetacean species. Almost every single humpback whale has a unique, identifying tail fluke. Also, the pigmentation and coloration of gray and blue whales can assist with identification in the field.
- Observation – Using aerial surveys and video recordings of whale behavior, scientists are able to develop a permanent record of whales spotted, along with other data which assists in determining the recovery rate of populations.
- Genetics – Scientists use biopsy samples to better understand relationships between breeding populations. These samples are also used to identify sex, population structure.
- Molecular Methods – Can provide useful information about cetacean biologies, such as population size, age, diet, and population demographic. These methods are on the cutting edge of science.
Whale Identification – Have some photos of Humpback Whale Tails? Check out these identification catalogs of Humpback Flukes.
