Presenter: Kerri Seger (Applied Ocean Sciences)
Description:
The waters off the Dominican Republic (DR) was a suspected location for a novel killer whale ecotype that preys on humpback whale calves. Data were collected from multiple platforms, successfully documenting a predation event of a humpback whale calf by killer whales for the first time. This was done in collaboration with DR scientists from government agencies and nonprofit organizations, including permitting agency representatives. This predation event is difficult to observe opportunistically, but the unique combination of technologies enabled the achievement. In February 2021, a helicopter-based visual observation team located a group of killer whales surrounding a humpback whale mother-calf pair about 100 kms off the DR and alerted a biologging team to begin an ethology and tagging operation. During the two-hour focal follow, data were collected: video images from the helicopter; surface behaviors and DSLR images of individual cetaceans; and acoustic, video, and kinematic data from two CATS tags. The first CATS tag was placed on a killer whale and the second CATS tag was placed on the humpback whale calf. The CATS tags remained attached for twelve hours and forty minutes, respectively, capturing the pursuit and the final moments of the hunt. All data sources were time synchronized for subsequent correlation of acoustic and behavioral data to reveal any acoustic signals eliciting behavioral responses. The successful components for coordination between taggers, ethologists, photographers, helicopter surveyors, and videographers on multiple platforms will be discussed in this talk. We will also discuss the methods and preliminary findings of acoustic signals associated with observed behaviors during the predation event to better understand verbal and nonverbal communication between and among individuals in this mixed species encounter and to lay out future plans for continued collaboration between international supporting agencies with DR and US scientists.
More Information:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Full list of Authors
- Kerri Seger (Applied Ocean Sciences)
- Mithriel MacKay (Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center)
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
- ()
First documented killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation event in the Caribbean: successful hunt of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf recorded simultaneously from a helicopter, a small vessel, and two CATS tags
Category
Scientific Session > OT - Ocean Technologies and Observatories > OT04 Leveraging Existing Marine Platforms for Ocean Observing: Engaging Commercial and Professional Sectors on Local, Regional, and Global Scales
Description
Presentation Preference: Oral
Supporting Program: None
Student or Profesional? I am a Professional