Blue Whale Observatory OverviewTeamPublicationsTechnologies How predators find and find and feed on prey affects their survival and shapes ocean ecosystems. The Blue Whale Observatory focuses on blue whales, the largest animal in Earth’s history, and krill which sustain blue whales and many other predators in the Monterey Bay region. By integrating passive acoustic sensing to understand predators, active acoustic sensing to understand prey, and meteorological / oceanographic data, we seek to understand the ecosystem processes influencing predator-prey dynamics and interactions. Blue whales and krill represent an ideal study system. Blue whales are obligate predators of krill, and both krill swarms and blue whale foraging have strong and persistent association with geological features – the continental shelf break and submarine canyons. Recent discoveries made in the Monterey Bay region have revealed that both blue whales and krill respond strongly to wind driven upwelling – krill by aggregating within coastal upwelling plumes, and blue whales by moving into the plumes to forage. This dynamic response to ocean circulation strongly influences the survival and fitness of the whales that require massive amounts of food to survive, migrate long distances, and reproduce. Small shrimp-like crustaceans called krill are an important part of the diet of blue whales. Dense aggregations of krill occur seasonally in Monterey Bay, attracting large numbers of blue whales. Image: © 2003 MBARI The blue whale observatory uses acoustic and other sensing techniques to acquire collocated, persistent observations of whales, krill, and physical oceanography, thereby enabling new insights into the complex dynamics of predator-prey interactions. The first deployment began in fall-winter 2022, and the second will occur in fall-winter 2023. While focused on blue whales and krill, the methods of observation and resulting data will also enable examination of the ecology of other species of predator and prey. Team Directory William Oestreich Postdoctoral Fellow John Ryan Senior Research Specialist Principal Investigator Kelly Benoit-Bird Senior Scientist & Science Chair Chad Waluk Research Specialist Mike Conway Marine Operations Engineer Jared Figurski Observatory Engineer Publications All Publications Oestreich, W.K., B. Abrahms, M.F. McKenna, J.A. Goldbogen, L.B. Crowder, and J.P. Ryan. 2022. Acoustic signature reveals blue whales tune life-history transitions to oceanographic conditions. Functional Ecology, 36: 882–895. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14013 Latest News All News Sorry, no results were found. Technologies All Technologies Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROV Ventana Technology ROV Ventana A remotely operated vehicle equipped with a Sea-Bird 19plus V2 CTD package including a dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, and spatial lasers mounted on the main camera. Observatory, Cabled Observatory Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) Technology Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) MARS provides electrical power and data connections for new research instruments in the deep-sea. Data All Data Sorry, no results were found.
Oestreich, W.K., B. Abrahms, M.F. McKenna, J.A. Goldbogen, L.B. Crowder, and J.P. Ryan. 2022. Acoustic signature reveals blue whales tune life-history transitions to oceanographic conditions. Functional Ecology, 36: 882–895. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14013
Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROV Ventana Technology ROV Ventana A remotely operated vehicle equipped with a Sea-Bird 19plus V2 CTD package including a dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, and spatial lasers mounted on the main camera.
Observatory, Cabled Observatory Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) Technology Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) MARS provides electrical power and data connections for new research instruments in the deep-sea.