Mega-Facts on Megaptera

Humpback whales are some of the most popular, most celebrated and most studied species of whale on the planet. Here are some fun facts which totally validates all that.

1. Their scientific name is Megaptera noveanglia - meaning "Big-winged from New England". We're very creative.
2. They are a rorqual species of whale. The group is defined by the large grooves on the bottom of mouth, allowing their mouths to open like an accordion.
3. Humpbacks have longest pectoral fin-to-body ration of any whale - up to one third of their body length.
4. Why so long? Long fins allow for graceful manoeuvrability under and over the water
5. They love to breach! Breaching is a fairly common whale behaviour, where the animals throw themselves out of the water and come crashing down. There is no sight more amazing. I had the chance to watch one breach something like ten times in a row - utterly spectacular.
6. The 'humpback' in their name comes from the hump-like dorsal fin on most individuals, as well as small humps along the spine between the dorsal fin and tail.
7. They migrate! In the summer they inhale as much food as possible in cold northern waters, then they head south for the winter mating and breeding season.
8. Humpbacks are probably best known for their mad singing skills! They are the only whales to properly "sing" - in tune and everything! Only males sing though, and only at the winter breeding grounds.
9. Researchers are pretty sure it has something to do with mating (because what isn't, really), but nothing is definitive. Some think it actually has more to do with communicating to other males than with females.
10. In the summer they eat a lot  of krill and small schooling fish (capelin, herring etc.). Unlike some of their relatives, humpbacks aren't really picky eaters!
11. Humpbacks also have one of the coolest ways of catching fish! In a group effort, they'll blow bubbles out of their blowholes to surround and ensnare schools of fish, then swim up through the nets to get a good mouthful of fish. This is called bubble netting, and is crazy to watch!
12. Individuals can be identified using the patterning on the underside of their flukes (tail fins). Each one has a black and white pattern that is unique to an animal. The variation in the amount of white and black is used to ID an animals, as well as the edge of their tail, which have a natural raggedy to them.
13. They're big animals, about the size of a bus. Which seems pretty big, unless you compare them to the other whales in the rorqual family, which includes the blue whale and the fin whale. Now those are big whales!
14. the "moles" or "warts" on their faces are commonly known as tubercules - no one really knows what they are for, but they have little hairs on them, which makes scientists think they are sensory, and might help them with the search for fish.
15. As a big whale species, they used to be a target of the whaling industry. While whaling of humpbacks is banned in most places, some countries still hunt them, but in very small, highly managed quantities

So there you go! Some things to keep you interested in an interesting species of cetacean!

Minke Stranding!

I sort of feel kind of guilty for how exciting today was, because sometimes I think "dead whale" shouldn't make me a happy as it does, but today, it kind of did. I might be a bad person.

Anyway, today there was a stranded minke a little west of us, and MICS is the stranding response unit, so we got to go check it out!

Size has become such a relative thing. In reality, minkes are big animals. Like, probably 2 cows worth of animal. But compared to seeing humpbacks and fin whales, I knew the animal we saw was "tiny". Oh what a life I lead.

So we got there, and it's pouring rain. Makes it hard to take any kind of notes in the rain. Fortunately the rain did stop eventually, but not before getting every piece of paper we had sopping wet, and all the sharpies stop working. Oy.

We got there, took the total length measurement of the minke, then started taking our samples. Eight samples of muktuk (blubber and skin. They don't call it that here, that's just what the Inuit call it) from up and down the body, an entire jaws worth of baleen, plus a little bit of skin for isotope analysis. An extra sample of muktuk and a piece of our baleen for DFO, and we called it a day. It was a quick response because the rain made it impossible to take lots of measurements (we really had nowhere to write them down) and a little animal like that didn't need a whole lot of samples taken. A whole bunch of photos though, while praying that the camera doesn't get too damaged in the rain.

I didn't get to touch the minke (wah!) because I was taking photos of the samples, and you need clean hands to touch the camera.

We left it there, and hopefully the seagulls will help with the decomposition process. I'm not quite sure if they'll do anything with the body or just leave it up to mother nature.

All I know is I smell, my clothes are in the wash, my rain jacket might never be the same, and that is the biggest dead animal I have ever worked with. Can only go up from here!

And on a totally random note, I got my first ride on an ATV today! It was kind of fun, I have to admit!

Due to the nature of the photos, and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post them because of fun people like PETA, I'm not putting any photos of the minke up here (I really don't want to get in trouble!). Sorry guys!!!

Speak Loud!

Conservation vs. Research(vation)

Hey Team!

This post is actually a year in the making. Because last year I did an internship with a conservation group, rather than all my others, which have been research based.

And there is a big difference between the type of work they do, and the people who do it. And I sort of wanted to touch on those differences here. Because research work isn't for everyone, but neither is conservation. So maybe use this as a way to help decide which is right for you (if, you know, you're reading this as a way to help continue your future in marine biology).

So, research. It's about asking questions. Keeping up with the latest news in the field and figuring out what the next step is in the pursuit of knowledge. Most biologists are just trying to figure out the world around them.

Conservation is about doing something with the answers that researchers have found. It's one thing to find out that whales are sick but what are we going to do about it? As the world is being figured out, we need to put that figuring into action.

The people are different as well. To be a biologist, you probably need at least one degree in, you know, biology. Do to research, you probably want a one of those too. At least some kind of science degree is a must. Chemistry, physics, geology, all important.

Not for conservation. Anyone with any background can do conservation work, though it would help if you had some bit of background in what you are conserving, but you don't need an entire degree for it. Marketing and business, law, even an arts degree is completely okay if you want to go into conservation. In fact, different background of education mean that people bring different ideas towards their conservation efforts, which can be useful!

This next one is very generalizing, and not true for each and every researcher, but for the most part, researchers would rather not deal with the general public, at all. They'd even rather not deal with other scientists every once in a while. But they have to, mostly for funding reasons.

Conservationists have to deal with the public on a regular basis, so they should probably like it. A big part of wildlife conservation is prevention and awareness - letting people know what they can do to protect their local (and global) wildlife. It's also fundraising, petitioning, rallying - all having to deal with ordinary people on the street. It takes a particular kind of person to be able to swallow retorts as the ignorant come out of the woodwork. So unless you have a strong filter on you, I'd stay away from conservation.

If you're going to go into research, don't do it because "you love whales" or "always wanted to see a killer whale". Do it because science fascinates you  Do it because you want to know more. This isn't an ecotour of whales or the safari or the rainforest. This is real work. For some, it doesn't matter what species they work on, it's the techniques and the methods that they care about. That is research.

That isn't to say that researchers don't love their research species. Some of the best really do. But it's more about what we can learn from them, rather than the "prettiness", "cuteness" or "coolness" of the animal.

I've known since before I can remember that I want to work with whales. I've known since second year university that I want to work with blue whales. But that's not what any potential Masters supervisor cares about. What they care about is my skill set, and my determination to do science. Any science, so long as it's science.

Conservation is begging for passionate people. Save whales because you love whales! Stop the poaching of elephants if you love elephants! Get involved because where scientists need to keep some professional distance from their research species, conservationists get to put all the emotion into it, because that's what interests and holds an audience captive!

I want to end on things they have in common. It's the people who are most passionate about nature and the world around them that get involved in both. These people, for the most part, love hiking, camping, eating organically and locally, and just being outdoors as much as humanly possible.

They are also in it for the animals. Although almost all the funding comes from "how does this affect humans" kind of sources, they are really all in it because of the animals, and because this Earth would be a pretty awful place to live without them.

Another thing they have in common - there is no money to be made in either. If you promised your mother you'd find a job that would keep you comfortable for the rest of your life, you better get out now.

If you promised your mother you'd find a job that tried to make a real difference in this world, then stick around and get ready for ramen.

Speak Loud!

Go Greased Lightening!

Why do my hands feel so greasy and why do they smell so weird?

Kidding, they don't, I've washed them a bunch of times, but they did for a while there because I helped clean the boat stem to stern so we could put it away for the winter. So much grease and scrubbing and taking apart of things.

Even if it was cold and grey out today, a perfect day to stay indoors curled up with blankets, being out and active was so much better than being inside in front of my computer. I started with some photo matching this morning and could barely see straight, so I am happy that most of my day was spent being busy, albeit cold and wet.

Speak Loud!

A Little Info Fo' You!

Hey!

So, it's so sad to think about, but I'm soon going to have to go home. I know, I'm crying. But before I go, I think I should tell you guys a bit more about where I am at.

The Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS) was founded in 1979 by Richard Sears, who was originally in the St. Lawrence estuary to study salmon, but then noticed all the blue whales in the Gulf. Like the rest of us, he was hooked.

Soon after he figured out how to identify blue whales by their mottling pattern on their backs. Yes my friends, this guy invented a way to ID blue whales. And so MICS was born. It used to be just a little museum in the living room of a little blue house (where the team lives now), and now, in Longue-Pointe de Mingan, it's a large research station, shared with Parks Canada, with research offices upstairs and a beautiful museum downstairs.

As a source of income, MICS does interpretations in the museum, where the public can come in and learn all about the rorquals of the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and the research that we do. We invite them to ask tons of questions and learn as much as we can teach them. Awareness is the first step to change.

After (or before) their interpretation they can peruse the boutique and buy something either very cute, very beautiful or very cheesy that has a whale on it.

Now, I love museums. And talking. And teaching people. So this seems like it would be perfect for me, right? Yes... except for the fact that all the "public" they get in are French. So, not so perfect for me. I just get to stare longingly at the museum and hear it whimper "Interpret me, I'm so lonely...".

Okay, I might be going a little crazy. Well, crazier. I'm already pretty far gone.

I don't want to spoil too much of the station because, well, everyone should spend so many hours getting here to get the interpretation in person! And if you're my friend you probably want it in English! Yay!

Speak Loud!

When the Sky is Grey

Hey Team!

So the title of this post is a little misleading - we don't just to office work when the skies are grey and cloudy, that would mean a lot of office days! In fact, cloudy days are some of the best days to get out on the water, because there's no sun for that horrible glare!

But on days were it's too windy, too foggy or too rainy to be out on the water, we head over for a day in the station.

There are a bunch of things I've gotten a chance to work on here, and I'm going to try to explain them.

First, data:

The work here has been going on for a long time, and there is a lot of data. Data from the boats, data from the biopsies - a lot. So as often as possible, a couple people sit down and put all the data that was recorded on the water, which has already been transcribed into logbooks for the shelves, into digital data to be stored electronically. I don't think I've ever known a project to be up-to-date with data entry, and this one is no different - we would like to finish 2008 before the end of the season.

Second, photos:

This one is has multiple parts. First there is always matching. Always. I explained in this post what sort of photos we try to take, and while time individuals are known straight away on the water, there are lots that aren't, and we have to figure out if we already have them in the catalogue or if they are new individuals. It's rather a subtle art, one that I am in no way perfect at, but once and a while I get it totally right (like here). Which means I'm learning!

Second, up until about 2007, most of the photos taken here were film. Which means that they had to be developed and stored. Now with all our fancy-schmancy technology, they are scanning in the negatives from decades past and storing them digitally, so we can actually try to use them for matching.

I need to say though, that some of these photos are just horrible to look at, I don't know how anyone could see the small details that differentiate one whale from another, but they do and they did for decades before I cam around. Those are the true artists, my friends, true artists.

Back on topic though. So negatives have to be scanned and labelled, and all the information about the photos have to also be stored on the computer. Which means sitting with the negatives and the logbooks and making sure everything lines up pretty. It takes a lot of concentration and a lot of time to make sure you don't miss information, but once it's done, it's done!

Usually one of the main jobs of interns here is to do interpretations of the museum that they also have here. It's an awesome place, I'll try to write about it next week (I want to take pictures for the post!), but because it can't get any more French then where I am now, I have been practically useless in the museum. Interns also usually work in the boutique and help set up day trips (people who come out on the boats for one day, and get to watch us do our research. Sort of like whale watching, but with more science!). But again, as a very deeply rooted Anglophone, I am useless. Plus it's the end of the season, so the day trips have ended anyway.

The others here, sometimes interns included, usually have other projects that they are working on as well, so that fills their time. As someone with a very unstable future and limited means of figuring things out, I have had a bit more spare time around the lab to do personal things, like write this blog!

So the station days aren't the most exciting or most interesting, and sometimes I am so happy for the invention of the internet and all it's means of procrastinating. But it comes with the territory of scientific research, and at least I can look forward to the day I'm back on the water again.

When I try to explain to people why I do what I do, one of the things I say is I can't imagine life at a desk job. But then I have to remind myself that 80-90% of this job is a desk job. But I think in part it's what we get to do at our desks that can make it so cool - learn and discover new things. And then of course there's the big wall calendar (or the countdown that a calendar would symbolize) that let's us count down the days until we are back in the field again. The adrenaline of being out on the water helps carry you through the desk days.

Speak Loud!

Matched a Blue!

I matched a blue whale today! From the Baja catalogue, for a scientist that wants to see if we know any of the blues he's been studying.

BB006. I finally got a chance to feel like I know what I'm doing!

Speak Loud!