Download or read book Using Orbital Altimetry and Ocean Color to Characterize Habitat of Sperm Whales in the Gulf of Mexico written by Julia Elizabeth O'Hern and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On Mesoscale Population Study cruises during summers 2004 and 2005 aboard the sailboat Summer Breeze, researchers from the Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) surveyed for sperm whales along the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. SWSS scientists tracked 35 groups of whales during these two summers, recording locations where they did and did not encounter whales. Whales were encountered during both summers at approximately the same frequency (19 groups in 38 survey days in 2004; 16 groups in 29 survey days in 2005), but fluke photo-identifications indicated that 85% of individuals encountered during summer 2005 had never been previously identified in the Gulf throughout 10 years of cetacean research. Composition and distribution of these groups also varied between summers. Oceanographic conditions at the edge of the continental shelf differed between 2004 and 2005, which may have modified the usual trophic cascade that begins with near-surface primary production to create local aggregations of prey at the depths where sperm whales forage. Sperm whales are apex, mesopelagic predators, but have been shown to associate with surface primary productivity over large spatial scales and time scales of months to years. The purpose of this thesis was to look for relationships between sperm whale presence and surface oceanography on smaller spatial and shorter temporal scales. Surface ocean color from NASA's Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and surface dynamic height from NASA's Earth orbital altimeters were evaluated to assess habitat occupied by sperm whales. Passive acoustic monitoring along transect lines for sperm whale clicks permitted determination of sperm whale presence and absence. Sperm whale encounters were in general associated with negative sea surface height and enhanced sea surface chlorophyll (SSC), especially in or near areas where local SSC anomaly was produced by cyclone induced upwelling of nutrients or from coastal water advected off-margin. During summer 2004, SSC was generally high all along the upper continental slope whereas summer 2005 saw relatively low SSC along the upper continental slope. Whales encountered in this study were most highly correlated with SSC two weeks after the initial development of locally highest-SSC anomalies.
Download or read book Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico written by Ann E. Jochens and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 692 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Characteristics of the Deep Scattering Layer in the Gulf of Mexico as They Relate to Sperm Whale Diving and Foraging Behavior written by Alyson Julie Azzara and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This research was carried out in support of fieldwork in the Gulf of Mexico in summers 2004 and 2005 as part of the multidisciplinary Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS). Important aspects of SWSS research include oceanographic habitat characterization and studies of sperm whale foraging and diving patterns. During the SWSS 2005 cruise, acoustic volume backscatter data were collected using a 38 kHz ADCP for comparison with XBT, MODIS ocean color data, and whale dive profiles extrapolated from analysis of towed passive acoustic hydrophone array recordings of whale vocalizations. This unique data set, collected from a cyclonic eddy, was compared with non-upwelling conditions surveyed in the western Gulf and the Mississippi Canyon in summer 2004. My focus was to examine the relationship between acoustic backscatter intensity from the deep scattering layer (DSL; usually 400-600 m deep) and the depths to which whales dived. The results of the study investigate differences in DSL characteristics between divergent zones and non-divergent zones, and examine connections relating to variations in sperm whale dive patterns. The analysis of 38 kHz ADCP data showed that there were significant differences in some characteristics of the main DSL dependent on time of day. There were no significant differences in characteristics of the main DSL between divergent and non-divergent areas or between 2004 and 2005. The comparison of the 38 kHz ADCP and the 70 kHz Simrad echosounder data yielded a relationship of 4 ADCP counts for every 1 dB of Sv. This relationship was a promising start to a potential calibration for the ADCP instrument. Lastly, the analysis of localized sperm whale dive profiles identified three basic dive profiles; Deep (> 800 m), Mid-water dives to DSL depths (500 - 800 m) and Shallow (
Download or read book Master s Theses Directories written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Education, arts and social sciences, natural and technical sciences in the United States and Canada".
Download or read book Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Annual Report Year 1 written by Ann E. Jochens and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-06 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is a agency within the U.S. Department of Interior. BOEM has four sections that cover the United States' waters: Alaska OCS Region, Pacific OCS Region, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region and the Atlantic OCS Region. The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region is responsible for almost 160 million acres of lands off the coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Currently, more than 31 million acres are leased for gas and oil development, and six million are actually producing oil and natural gas. The Gulf of Mexico Region is in charge of addressing the Environment, Leasing and Plans, and Resource Evaluation. The publish a variety of documents with topics such as: Marine Biology, Natural Gas, Oil Spills, Transportation, Chemical Products, etc. This is one of those publications.
Download or read book Sperm Whales written by Megan M. Gunderson and published by ABDO Publishing Company. This book was released on 2010-08-15 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dive into Earth's oceans and discover the world of the sperm whale! Stunning, full-color photos show these large-headed whales above water and below. A range map reveals where these special sea creatures can be found. A labeled diagram helps readers identify flukes, flippers, and more. The sperm whale's size, habitat, senses, threats, diet, reproduction, and unique behaviors are also introduced. Plus, find out about the spermaceti organ that gives these whales their name. Learn about the long, deep dives sperm whales are capable of, and discover how they communicate. A facts page, bolded glossary terms, and an index support the engaging, easy-to-read chapter text. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Download or read book Sperm Whales written by Hal Whitehead and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2003-08-15 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Famed in story as "the great leviathans," sperm whales are truly creatures of extremes. Giants among all whales, they also have the largest brains of any creature on Earth. Males can reach a length of sixty-two feet and can weigh upwards of fifty tons. With this book, Hal Whitehead gives us a clearer picture of the ecology and social life of sperm whales than we have ever had before. Based on almost two decades of field research, Whitehead describes their biology, behavior, and habitat; how they organize their societies; and how their complex lifestyles may have evolved in this unique environment. Among the many fascinating topics he explores is the crucial role that culture plays in the life of the sperm whale, and he traces the consequences of this argument for both evolution and conservation. Finally, drawing on these findings, Whitehead builds a general model of how the ocean environment influences social behavior and cultural evolution among mammals as well as other animals. The definitive portrait of a provocative creature, Sperm Whales will interest animal behaviorists, conservationists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists as well as marine mammalogists.
Download or read book Habitat of Gal pagos Sperm Whales written by Ana Eguiguren and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Habitat models elucidate species-environment relationships and inform conservation. But the influence of environmental variables on habitat use is scale-dependent and influenced by behaviour. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) occupy a broad range of spatiotemporal scales and their behaviour is culturally driven. Here, I characterized sperm whale habitat off the Galápagos Islands through time, determined their vulnerability to threats within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR), and investigated the role of culture in shaping habitat use. Over fine spatiotemporal scales (less than a decade, 50 km) sperm whale habitat was associated with environmental conditions, but these varied across time. Over broader scales (between centuries, 100 km) their distribution was associated with productive areas and was encompassed by the GMR, although encounters also occurred outside its boundaries. The cultural identity of sperm whales affected their habitat use. This work contributes to our understanding of processes shaping sperm whale habitat and provides insights for conservation.
Download or read book Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Synthesis Report written by U. S. Department U.S. Department of the Interior and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-02-14 with total page 350 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) manages the oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in a manner that seeks "to ensure that all activities on the OCS are conducted with appropriate environmental protection and impact mitigation" (USDOI, MMS 2002). To this end, MMS sponsors studies to evaluate environmental impacts of OCS activities and to identify appropriate mitigation measures. Since the 1970s, one focus has been on the potential for impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals. Marine mammals are adapted to use sound in the ocean for communication, navigation, localizing and using prey, and sensing of the environment. These animals have evolved in an ocean that is filled with natural sounds. Humans began to introduce significant additional sound sources with the advent of the industrial age in the mid-nineteenth century. As the power and number of these sound sources increased, the potential for impacting marine mammals increased as well. Of concern are the potentials for negative behavioral and physiological responses to human-generated sound, at both the individual and population levels.
Download or read book Sperm Whales written by Megan M. Gunderson and published by ABDO. This book was released on 2010-09 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dive into Earth's oceans and discover the world of the sperm whale! Stunning, full-color photos show these large-headed whales above water and below. A range map reveals where these special sea creatures can be found. A labeled diagram helps readers identify flukes, flippers, and more. The sperm whale's size, habitat, senses, threats, diet, reproduction, and unique behaviors are also introduced. Plus, find out about the spermaceti organ that gives these whales their name. Learn about the long, deep dives sperm whales are capable of, and discover how they communicate. A facts page, bolded glossary terms, and an index support the engaging, easy-to-read chapter text. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Download or read book The Natural History of the Sperm Whale written by Thomas Beale and published by . This book was released on 1839 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ... Embracing a description of the extent, as well as the adventures and accidents that occurred during the voyage in which the author was personally engaged.
Download or read book Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Synthesis Report written by A. Jochens and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-06 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is a agency within the U.S. Department of Interior. BOEM has four sections that cover the United States' waters: Alaska OCS Region, Pacific OCS Region, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region and the Atlantic OCS Region. The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region is responsible for almost 160 million acres of lands off the coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Currently, more than 31 million acres are leased for gas and oil development, and six million are actually producing oil and natural gas. The Gulf of Mexico Region is in charge of addressing the Environment, Leasing and Plans, and Resource Evaluation. The publish a variety of documents with topics such as: Marine Biology, Natural Gas, Oil Spills, Transportation, Chemical Products, etc. This is one of those publications.
Download or read book Sperm Whales written by John F. Prevost and published by ABDO. This book was released on 1995 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, and food habits of sperm whales.
Download or read book Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Summary Report 2002 2004 written by U. S. Department U.S. Department of the Interior and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-06-22 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In managing the oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) seeks "to ensure that all activities on the OCS are conducted with appropriate environmental protection and impact mitigation" (MMS 2002). The MMS sponsors studies to evaluate environmental impacts of OCS activities and to identify appropriate mitigation measures. Since the 1970s, one environmental focus has been the potential for impact of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals. Marine mammals are adapted to use sound in the ocean for communication, navigation, prey identification and location, and sensing of the environment. These animals have evolved in an ocean that is filled with natural sounds. Humans began to introduce additional sound sources with the advent of the industrial age in the mid-nineteenth century. As these sounds increase, the potential for impacting marine mammals increases as well. Of concern are the potentials for negative behavioral and physiological responses to human-generated sound, at both the individual and population levels.
Download or read book Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Annual Report written by U. S. Department U.S. Department of the Interior and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-02-14 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the third annual report of the Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS). SWSS is a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary study supported by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior under Cooperative Agreement 1435-01-02-CA-85186 for Cooperative Research on Sperm Whales and their Response to Seismic Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico through the Texas A&M Research Foundation. Under SWSS, scientists from Ecologic, Oregon State University (OSU), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Texas A&M University (TAMU), Texas A&M University-Galveston (TAMUG), University of Colorado (CU), University of Durham (UD), University of St. Andrews (USA), and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) develop and implement scientific research plans in coordination with MMS, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Industry Research Funders Coalition (IRFC).
Download or read book 38 KHZ ADCP Investigation of Deep Scattering Layers in Sperm Whale Habitat in the Northern Gulf of Mexico written by Amanda May Kaltenberg and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A hull-mounted 38-kHz phased-array acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) was used to acoustically survey the continental margin of the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) during 6 cruises in 2002-2003. This is the first backscatter survey with a 38-kHz ADCP in the Gulf of Mexico. ADCPs have been used as a proxy to measure the volume backscatter return from plankton in the water column, however previous studies were restricted to the upper 200 to 300 meters due to the relatively high frequency of operation (150-300 kHz) of the transducers. In addition to measuring deep water current velocities, the 38-kHz phased-array ADCP can measure Relative Acoustic Backscatter Intensity (RABI) as deep as 1000 meters. The daytime depth of the main deep scattering layer at 400 to 500 meters was resolved, and locally high backscatter intensity can be seen down to 800 meters. The objectives were to determine how to analyze RABI from the instrument to resolve scattering layers, and then to seek secondary deep scattering layers of potential prey species below the main deep scattering layer, from 600 to 800 meters in the feeding range for Gulf of Mexico sperm whales. Based on RABI from the 38-kHz ADCP, secondary DSLs in sperm whale diving range were more commonly recorded over the continental shelf than in the deep basin region of the Gulf of Mexico. The daytime depths of migrating plankton showed variation depending on physical circulation features (cyclone, anticyclone, proximity to Mississippi river, and Loop Current) present. Vertical migrations compared between concurrently running 38 and 153-kHz ADCPs showed an overlap of acoustic scatterers recorded by the two instruments, however the 153-kHz instrument has much finer vertical resolution. Vertical migration rates were calculated and simultaneous net tow samples from one of the cruises was used to compare abundance estimates by the two methods.
Download or read book Assessing the Requirements for Sustained Ocean Color Research and Operations written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-12-15 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ocean is a fundamental component of the earth's biosphere. It covers roughly 70 percent of Earth's surface and plays a pivotal role in the cycling of life's building blocks, such as nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and sulfur. The ocean also contributes to regulating the climate system. Most of the primary producers in the ocean comprise of microscopic plants and some bacteria; and these photosynthetic organisms (phytoplankton) form the base of the ocean's food web. Monitoring the health of the ocean and its productivity is critical to understanding and managing the ocean's essential functions and living resources. Because the ocean is so vast and difficult for humans to explore, satellite remote sensing of ocean color is currently the only way to observe and monitor the biological state of the surface ocean globally on time scales of days to decades. Ocean color measurements reveal a wealth of ecologically important characteristics including: chlorophyll concentration, the rate of phytoplankton photosynthesis, sediment transport, dispersion of pollutants, and responses of oceanic biota to long-term climate changes. Continuity of satellite ocean color data and associated climate research products are presently at significant risk for the U.S. ocean color community. Assessing Requirements for Sustained Ocean Color Research and Operations aims to identify the ocean color data needs for a broad range of end users, develop a consensus for the minimum requirements, and outline options to meet these needs on a sustained basis. The report assesses lessons learned in global ocean color remote sensing from the SeaWiFS/MODIS era to guide planning for acquisition of future global ocean color radiance data to support U.S. research and operational needs.
