Hawai‘i OASIS project
Odontocete ASessment around ISlands
The Hawaii OASIS (Odontocete ASessment around ISlands) project is a long-term multi-species study of whales and dolphins around the Hawaiian Islands. Efforts focus primarily on the less-well studied odontocetes. This research has been ongoing since February 2000, initially under the auspices of Dalhousie University, and since September 2005 through Cascadia Research Collective, a non-profit research organization based in Olympia, Washington, USA. This research is being coordinated by Dr. Robin Baird of Cascadia Research, but involves collaborations with researchers from several U.S. government labs, universities, and non-profit groups. The research team includes Daniel Webster, Greg Schorr, Dan McSweeney, Sabre Mahaffy, Allan Ligon, Annie Gorgone, Erin Oleson, Annie Douglas, and others. Primary funding for this work has come from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries
Service and the Wild Whale Research Foundation, and the U.S. Navy (through the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution, and the Alaska SeaLife Center). Additional support has been provided by Dolphin QuestDolphin Quest, the M.B. & Evelyn Hudson
Foundation, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and the Pacific Islands
Fishery Science Center. These studies have covered areas around all the main Hawaiian islands, from
the island of Hawai‘i in
the east to Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in the west, and focus on a number of species, including dwarf sperm whales, false killer whales,
bottlenose dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, rough-toothed dolphins, melon-headed whales, pygmy killer whales,
pantropical spotted dolphins, Blainville's beaked whales, and Cuvier's beaked whales. This work has involved
studies of:
Odontocete stock structure
This involves examination of residency and inter-island movements of
individuals using photo-identification and satellite- and VHF-radio tagging, and population structure using genetic markers (from skin biopsies). We have photo-identification catalogs of 11 species: bottlenose dolphins, rough-toothed
dolphins, spinner dolphins, false killer whales, killer whales, melon-headed whales, short-finned pilot whales, pygmy killer whales, Cuvier's
beaked whales, Blainville's beaked whales, and dwarf sperm whales, and have added photographs taken over the last 20 years of individuals of a number of species off the island of Hawai‘i, collected by Dan McSweeney of the Wild Whale Research Foundation. Photographs of sperm whales are also contributed to a catalog at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. In April 2006 we began deployments of long-term VHF and satellite tags (based on a tag design of Dr. Russ Andrews of the University of Alaska Fairbanks) to examine movements. To date we've deployed 60 satellite tags on six species: short-finned pilot whales, false killer whales, pygmy killer whales, melon-headed whales, Cuvier's beaked whales and Blainville's beaked whales. For molecular studies, we've
collected almost a thousand genetic samples from 12 different species, and have more field work planned for 2009. These
samples are being analysed by Drs. Susan Chivers and Karen Martien of the Population Identity Program at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La
Jolla, California, and by Sarah Courbis, a Ph.D. student at Portland State University (studying spotted dolphin stock structure).
Odontocete population assessment
Population estimation is undertaken using mark-recapture analyses of individual
photo-identification data. To date, data from bottlenose dolphins (see Baird et al. 2001,
below), false killer whales (see Baird et al. 2005, below), rough-toothed dolphins, Cuvier's beaked whales and Blainville's beaked whales have been analyzed, and catalogs for other
species are available for such analyses. Some of this work (e.g., false killer whales) is being done in collaboration with other researchers (Dan Salden of the Hawai‘i Whale Research Foundation, John Durban of the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, and Mark Deakos of the Hawai‘i Association for Marine Education and Research)
Diving behavior and ecology
These studies involve using suction-cup attached tags, analyses of habitat use, and studies of trophic ecology. Habitat use is being examined looking at distribution in relation to depth and slope using ArcGIS. Studies of trophic ecology involve stable isotope and fatty acid analyses of skin samples, in collaboration with Dr. Jason Turner of the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo. Tagging studies have involved deployments of time-depth recorders on short-finned pilot whales, false killer whales, pantropical
spotted dolphins, Cuvier's beaked whales, Blainville's beaked whales, melon-headed whales, and humpback whales, as well as deployments of the National Geographic Crittercam system on short-finned pilot whales and false killer whales. Examples of footage from the Crittercam deployments can be seen below (false killer whale on left, short-finned pilot whale, and oceanic whitetip shark, on right).
The Crittercam system is attached with a suction cup and will rotate on the body to face into the direction the animal is swimming. When the tagged whale stops forward motion the camera will swivel and sometimes face backwards. The false killer whale clip lasts three minutes. To see either clip again hit the Refresh button on your internet browser.
Results of some aspects of this work are currently submitted or being written up for publication, and
information on other aspects are available in the following reports, publications, or conference abstracts.
Peer-reviewed publications
- Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon, M.H. Deakos, D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr, K.K. Martien, D.R. Salden, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2008. Population structure of island-associated dolphins: evidence from photo-identification of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the main Hawaiian Islands. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00257.x Download PDF copy. The definitive version is available at Wiley InterScience
- McSweeney, D.J., R.W. Baird, S.D. Mahaffy, D.L. Webster, and G.S. Schorr. 2008. Site fidelity and association patterns of a rare species: pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) in the main Hawaiian Islands. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.00267.x Download PDF copy. The definitive version is available at Wiley InterScience For photos or more information click here
- Reeves, R.R., S. Leatherwood and R.W. Baird. 2009. Evidence of a possible decline since 1989 in false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) around the main Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science 63: in press. Contact me for a pre-publication copy. For photos or more information click here
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr, D.J. McSweeney and J. Barlow. 2008. Diel variation in beaked whale diving behavior. Marine Mammal Science 24:630-642. Download PDF copy. The definitive version is available at Wiley InterScience
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, S.D. Mahaffy, D.J. McSweeney, G.S. Schorr and A.D. Ligon. 2008. Site fidelity and association patterns in a deep-water dolphin: rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Marine Mammal Science 24:535-553. Download PDF copy The definitive version is available at Wiley InterScience
- Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, D.R. Salden, M.H. Deakos, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr, J. Barlow and S.D. Mahaffy. 2008. False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) around the main Hawaiian Islands: long-term site fidelity, inter-island movements, and association patterns. Marine Mammal Science 24:591-612. Download PDF copy The definitive version is available at Wiley InterScience
- Chivers, S.J., R.W. Baird, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, N.M. Hedrick, and J.C. Salinas. 2007. Genetic variation and evidence for population structure in eastern North Pacific false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). Canadian Journal of Zoology 85:783-794. Download PDF copy or for photos click here
- McSweeney, D.J., R.W. Baird and S.D. Mahaffy. 2007. Site fidelity, associations and movements of Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville’s (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales off the island of Hawai‘i. Marine Mammal Science 23:666-687. Download PDF copy. The definitive version is available at Wiley InterScience
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr, and J. Barlow. 2006. Diving behaviour of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales in Hawai‘i. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:1120-1128. Download PDF copy or for photos click here
- Baird, R.W., D.J. McSweeney, C. Bane, J. Barlow, D.R. Salden, L.K. Antoine, R.G. LeDuc, and D.L. Webster. 2006. Killer whales in Hawaiian waters: information on population identity and feeding habits. Pacific Science 60:523-530. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W. 2005. Sightings of dwarf (Kogia sima) and pygmy (K. breviceps)
sperm whales from the main Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science 59:461-466. Download
PDF copy (3.9 meg file)
- Baird, R.W., and A.M. Gorgone. 2005. False killer whale dorsal fin disfigurements as a
possible indicator of long-line fishery interactions in Hawaiian waters. Pacific Science 59:593-601.Download
PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., A.D. Ligon, S.K. Hooker, and A.M. Gorgone. 2001.Sub-surface and night-time behaviour of pantropical spotted dolphins in Hawaii. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79: 988-996. Download PDF copy
Popular articles, contract reports and government reports
- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, M.B. Hanson, and R.D. Andrews. 2008. Movements of satellite-tagged false killer whales around the main Hawaiian Islands. Document PSRG-2008-13 submitted to the Pacific Scientific Review Group, Kihei, HI, November 2008. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, A.M. Gorgone and S.J. Chivers. 2008. A survey to assess overlap of insular and offshore false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) off the island of Hawai‘i. Report prepared under Order No. AB133F07SE4484 for the Protected Species Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, HI. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, M.B. Hanson, and R.D. Andrews. 2008. Multi-species cetacean satellite tagging to examine movements in relation to the 2008 Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise. A quick look report on the results of tagging efforts undertaken under Order No. D1000115 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Download PDF copy
- Schorr, G.S., R.W. Baird, M.B. Hanson, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, and R.D. Andrews. 2008. Movements of the first satellite-tagged Cuvier's and Blainville's beaked whales in Hawai‘i. Report prepared under Contract No. AB133F-07-SE-3706 to Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, California. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr, and D.J. McSweeney. 2007. Diel variation in beaked whale diving behavior. Final report prepared under Contract No. AB133F-06-CN-0053 to Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington, from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, California. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W. 2006. Hawai‘i’s other cetaceans. Whale and Dolphin Magazine 11:28-31. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2006. Studies of beaked whale diving behavior and odontocete stock structure in Hawai‘i in March/April 2006. Report prepared under contract No. AB133F-06-CN-0053 to Cascadia Research from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, La Jolla, CA. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., G.S. Schorr, D.L. Webster, S.D. Mahaffy, A.B. Douglas, A.M. Gorgone, and D.J. McSweeney. 2006. A survey for odontocete cetaceans off Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, Hawai‘i, during October and November 2005: evidence for population structure and site fidelity. Report to Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, under Order No. AB133F05SE5197 with additional support from the Marine Mammal Commission and Dolphin Quest. Download PDF copy
- Southall, B.L., R. Braun, F.M.D. Gulland, A.D. Heard, R.W. Baird, S.M. Wilkin, and T.K. Rowles. 2006. Hawaiian melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) mass stranding event of July 3-4, 2004. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-31. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster and D.J. McSweeney. 2005. Biases and data limitations of odontocete cetacean sighting data from small-boat based surveys around the main Hawaiian Islands. Report prepared under Purchase Order No. N62742-05-P-1880 from the NAVFAC Pacific, Pearl Harbor, HI. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, J.W. Durban, A.D. Ligon, D.R. Salden, and M.H.
Deakos. 2005. False killer whales around the main Hawaiian islands: an assessment of inter-island movements and
population size using individual photo-identification. Report prepared under Order No. JJ133F04SE0120 from the
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service. Download
PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon and G.S. Schorr. 2005. Diving behavior and ecology of Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) in Hawai‘i. 2005. Report prepared under Order No. AB133F-04-RQ-0928 to Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, La Jolla, CA. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon and D.L. Webster. 2004. Tagging feasibility and
diving of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's beaked whales
(Mesoplodon densirostris) in Hawai‘i. Report prepared under Order No. AB133F-03-SE-0986
to the Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, Volcano, HI, from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine
Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA, 92037 USA. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, A.M. Gorgone and A.D. Ligon. 2003. Studies of odontocete population structure in Hawaiian waters: results of a survey through the main Hawaiian Islands in May and June 2003. Report prepared under Contract No. AB133F-02-CN-0106 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Western Administrative Support Center, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 USA.Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, and D.L. Webster. 2002. An examination of movements of bottlenose dolphins between islands in the Hawaiian Island chain. Report prepared under contract #40JGNF110270 to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, A.D. Ligon, and S.K. Hooker. 2001. Mark-recapture abundance estimate of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus around Maui and Lana‘i, Hawai‘i, during the winter of 2000/2001. Report prepared under contract #40JGNF0-00262 to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Download PDF copy
- Baird, R.W. 2000. High levels of human interaction with a Hawaiian monk seal on the island of Maui. The Monachus Guardian 3(1). (admittedly this publication is on a pinniped, not a cetacean, but it seems to belong here)
- Baird, R.W., A.D. Ligon and S.K. Hooker. 2000. Sub-surface and night-time behavior of humpback whales off Maui, Hawaii: a preliminary report. Report prepared under Contract #40ABNC050729 from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kihei, HI, to the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Paia, HI.
Conference presentations
- Atwood, T., J.P. Turner and R.W. Baird. 2007. An examination of the trophic ecology of odontocetes from the main Hawaiian Islands. Talk presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of abstract
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr, D.J. McSweeney and J. Barlow. 2007. Diel variation in beaked whale diving behavior: physiological limitation or predation avoidance? Talk presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of abstract
- Baird, R.W., D.J. McSweeney, G.S. Schorr, S.D. Mahaffy, D.L. Wester, J. Barlow, M.B. Hanson and R.D. Andrews. 2007. Site fidelity and movements of Cuvier's and Blainville's beaked whales at three spatial/temporal scales: combining VHF radio tracking, satellite tagging and long-term photo-identification. Presentation at the 21st Annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastian, Spain, April 24, 2007. Download PDF copy of abstract
- Courbis, S., R.W. Baird and D. Duffield. 2007. Population structure of island-associated pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata). Poster presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of poster
- Faerber, M.M., and R.W. Baird. 2007. Does a lack of beaked whale strandings in relation to military exercises mean no impacts have occurred? A comparison of stranding and detection probabilities in the Canary and Hawaiian Islands. Talk presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of abstract
- Faerber, M.M., and R.W. Baird. 2007. Beaked whale strandings in relation to military exercises: a comparison between the Canary and Hawaiian Islands. Presentation at the 21st Annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastian, Spain, April 22-27, 2007. Download PDF copy of poster
- Gorgone, A.M., R.W. Baird, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, D.R. Salden, M.H. Deakos, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr, J. Barlow and S.D. Mahaffy. 2007. False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) around the main Hawaiian Islands: long-term site fidelity, inter-island movements, and association patterns. Talk presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of abstract
- Ligon, A.D., R.W. Baird, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, and G.S. Schorr. 2007. Habitat preferences of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) around the main Hawaiian Islands: implications for interpretation of the 2004 Hanalei Bay stranding event. Poster presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of poster
- Mahaffy, S.D., R.W. Baird, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, G.S. Schorr and A.D. Ligon. 2007. Residency and inter-island movements of rough-toothed dolphins within the Hawaiian Archipelago. Poster presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of poster
- Schorr, G.S., R.W. Baird, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, M.B. Hanson, R.D. Andrews and J. Barlow. 2007. Spatial distribution of Blainville's beaked whales, Cuvier's beaked whales, and short-finned pilot whales in Hawai'i using dorsal fin-attached satellite and VHF tags: implications for management and conservation. Talk presented at the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa, November-December 2007. Download PDF copy of abstract
- Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr and J. Barlow. 2005. Diving behavior of Cuvier's and Blainville's beaked whales: implications for mass-strandings in relation to high-intensity sonar. Presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, December 2005.
- Huggins, J., R.W. Baird, D.L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, G.S. Schorr and A.D. Ligon. 2005. Inter-island movements and re-sightings of melon-headed whales within the Hawaiian archipelago. Presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, December 2005.
- Martien, K.K., R.W. Baird and K.M. Robertson. 2005. Population structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) around the main Hawaiian Islands. Presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, December 2005.
- McSweeney, D.J., R.W. Baird, D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr and S.D. Mahaffy. 2005. Requirements for conservation action? Small population size, high site-fidelity, strong associations, and uncertainty: pygmy killer whales off the island of Hawai‘i. Presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, December 2005.
- Webster, D.L., R.W. Baird, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon and G.S. Schorr. 2005. High site-fidelity of a deep-water dolphin: rough-toothed dolphins in the Hawaiian archipelago. Presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, December 2005.
- Baird, R.W., D.J. McSweeney, M.R. Heithaus and G.J. Marshall. 2003. Short-finned pilot whale diving behavior: deep feeders and day-time socialites. In Abstracts of the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC, December 2003. Download PDF copy
- Chivers, S.J., R.G. LeDuc and R.W. Baird. 2003. Hawaiian island populations of false killer whales and short-finned pilot whales revealed by genetic analyses. In Abstracts of the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC, December 2003. Download PDF copy
- Gorgone, A.M., R.W. Baird and D.L. Webster. 2003. Only 50 kms apart, yet bottlenose dolphins do not move between islands in the main Hawaiian island chain. In Abstracts of the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC, December 2003. Download PDF copy
- McSweeney, D.J., R.W. Baird, D.L. Webster, A.D. Ligon, A.I. Mackay, L.K. Antoine, and A.M. Gorgone. 2003. Inter-island differences in cetacean species composition in the main Hawaiian islands. In Abstracts of the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC, December 2003. Download PDF copy
ADOPT A (WHALE) TAG
Map showing movements of two melon-headed whales satellite tagged in 2008
We are using remotely-deployed satellite tags to examine movements of six species of Hawaiian odontocetes. This research allows us to assess:
- Whether individuals, particularly false killer whales, move far enough offshore to interact with the commercial long-line fishery?
- How much time do species such as beaked whales spend in areas where naval sonar exercises occur?
- How do different species react to naval sonar activity?
- What are the boundaries of populations?
- What areas, habitat types and features are important for different species?
Short-finned pilot whale with remotely deployed satellite tag.
Although we have had funding for field activities each year since starting the satellite tagging work (in 2006), funding obtained for tags has been limited, allowing us only to tag a small number of individuals other than our primary species (beaked whales).
As a 501(c)3 non-profit research organization, any donations to Cascadia Research by individuals or organizations that are willing to sponsor the cost of one or more tags are tax deductible in the United States. Individuals that Adopt a (whale) Tag will receive a photo of their tag attached to a whale, a map showing movements of the individual and more information both on that species of whale and the sighting history of that individual. Species that we have tagged in Hawaii so far include Blainville's beaked whales, Cuvier's beaked whales, false killer whales, pygmy killer whales, melon-headed whales and short-finned pilot whales, although in the future we also hope to examine movements of killer whales and Longman's beaked whales.
For information on how to Adopt a (whale) Tag contact Robin Baird at rwbaird (at) cascadiaresearch.org
Photographs taken by whale watching or sports fishing charter operators, passengers on sightseeing or sportsfishing trips, and private individuals out boating have all contributed to helping understand the residency and movements of Hawaiian whales and dolphins. Contributions by Chris Bane of HoloHolo Charters off Kaua'i, Tori Cullins of the Wild Dolphin Foundation and Chuck Babbitt off O'ahu, and the Hawai'i Marine Mammal Consortium, among others, have played an important role in understanding inter-island movements of several species.
If you have photographs of the dorsal fins of Hawaiian odontocetes (other than spinner dolphins) from any of the Hawaiian islands, and are willing to share these photographs for comparisons of inter-island movements, please contact me by e-mail at rwbaird (at) cascadiaresearch.org
IDENTIFYING DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY SPECIES
There are three pairs of species of Hawaiian odontocetes that are particularly difficult to distinguish in the field, and we have made up one-page sheets that include photographs and text that point out the key features to distinguish them. The purpose of these ID sheets is for folks to print out and carry in the field to help in IDing species. Photographs on these sheets are copyrighted and should not be used for any other purpose.
USING DATA/SAMPLES FROM STRANDED ANIMALS TO HELP UNDERSTAND WILD POPULATIONS
With the cooperation of the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office and Dr. Kristi West of Hawai‘i Pacific University we are also trying to use data and samples from stranded animals to help understand wild populations - information on the types of samples and data we are using can be found in the following pdf file:
| Squid and octopus carcasses from Hawaiian waters are wanted for research purposes. During 2006 we started collecting floating cephalopod carcassess off the island of Hawai‘i, and since then we've collected 26 specimens. These specimens were identified by Bill Walker of the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, and include a pelagic octopod, Alloposus mollis, and a number of deep-water squid, Architeuthis sp., Cycloteuthis akimushkini), Discoteuthis sp., Enoploteuthis reticulata, Histioteuthis hoylei, Mastigoteuthis sp., and Moroteuthis sp. All species may be eaten by deep-diving odonotocetes - collection of these specimens will both help us understand what species of cephalopods are in the area, and be used in a study of trophic ecology involving analyses of stable isotopes and fatty acids.
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*Research outlined on this page is being undertaken under U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service Scientific Research Permits No. 731-1509 (issued to R.W. Baird), No. 774-1714 (issued to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center), and No. 782-1719 (issued to the National Marine Mammal Laboratory).
Wondering what the ‘ is? It is an ‘okina, which marks a glottal stop used in many Polynesian languages. An ‘okina is used in many Hawaiian place names, such as Hawai‘i and Kaho‘olawe, but is not used in the word Hawaiian.
Go to the Cascadia Research Collective main web page
Last Updated March 2009 by Robin W. Baird