Marine Mammals

Follow the links below to visit exhibits and watch videos about marine mammals.

 

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An aerial view of a small fishing boat on blue-green water. There is a foamy stream created from the motor behind the boat and two dolphins next to the boat.

Cantor Lab

At our lab, study behavioral and ecological intersections through the interactions between humans and marine mammals.

 

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Māui dolphins – Photograph courtesy of University of Auckland and NZ Department of Conservation

Cetacean Conservation and Genomics

Our lab uses DNA to answer questions related to the conservation and management of whales and dolphins, from the smallest marine dolphin (the New Zealand Māui dolphin) to the largest animal that has ever lived (the blue whale).

 

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GEMM Lab research boat and gray whale

Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna

We use drones, cameras, whale poop, helicopters, kayaks, underwater videos, hydrophones and more cool gadgets to better understand how marine megafauna feed, move, and survive.

 

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large dolphin pod

Marine Mammal Institute

The MMI integrates research, education, and outreach to advance our knowledge of marine mammals, train the next generation of professionals, and engage with stakeholders to ensure that these animals and their ecosystems are always healthy.

 

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Researchers attending to stranded whale on the beach

Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Stranding events offer a wealth of information to researchers and resource managers by providing valuable insights into the lives of marine mammals, including their seasonal distributions, natural histories, environmental contaminant levels, impacts due to human interactions, and incidence of disease.

 

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A beluga whale mother and calf swim closely.

Stafford Lab

The Stafford Lab uses passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to study the underwater soundscape around the globe. Eavesdropping underwater provides information on when and where marine mammals occur and what are the anthropogenic (human-caused) threats that impact marine mammal feeding, migration, and communication.

 

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Blue whale in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of Southern California.

Whale Habitat, Ecology and Telemetry Lab

Our research focuses on studying the movements and behavior of whales to address important but unanswered scientific questions about their lives. We use electronic tags to “ride along” and remotely track whales over periods of several weeks to months via satellite.