Chronicle 7 - June 20, 2005 re: Special Reports from the SWSS Scientists

SWSS Chronicles
Special Reports from the SWSS Scientists

Chronicle 7 - June 20, 2005 Prepared by Dr. Joel Ortega-Ortiz Research Associate and Tagging Team Leader Hatafield Marine Science Center Oregon State University Newport, Oregon
	The ability to follow whales for extended periods of time over long distances is made possible by the use of satellite tagging (S-tag). By using an S-tag, researchers are able to follow sperm whale movements throughout the entire Gulf of Mexico over many months or even years. To tag the whales, scientists approach the animals in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (Figure 1).
S-tags are placed on the back of the whale near the dorsal fin (Figure 2). When an animals surfaces, the S-tag transmits a radio signal that can be received by several orbiting satellites. Satellite locations are calculated from the transmission and downloaded by researchers at Oregon State University, who analyze the whale’s movements. Continual monitoring of the animal’s movements over many months provides valuable insight into sperm whale distribution and habitat preferences in the Gulf.
Sperm whales are deep-divers, with dives exceeding 1000 meters (~4000 feet). How much time they spend at various depths during these dives is of great interest. However, previous investigations have only recorded diving behavior over a very small time period (< 1 day). This year, for the first time on this species, researchers have attached an s-tag with a depth sensor. The depth S-tag will record the amount of time spent by the whale at different water depths and transmit those data to the satellite. The depth S-tags will allow researchers to compare diving habits of sperm whales in different seasons and regions of the Gulf.

Last Updated: 08/08/2008, 01:52:01 PM