Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research

Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research
2468 Camp McKenzie Trail NW
Seabeck, WA 98380-4513
1-206-931-4638
www.marecotel.org

The Foundation for Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research (MarEcoTel) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

MarEcoTel’s mission is to support the conservation of marine species and populations by conducting scientific research into their biology, behavior, and physiology, with data outputs designed for use by managers and stakeholders. We also promote the development, improvement, and use of technologies that support our research. MarEcoTel’s overarching goal is to improve public knowledge and awareness of these species and the ways that human activities affect them.

Incorporated in January of 2016, the lead researchers bring decades of relevant experience to the organization. Currently, MarEcoTel is comprised of nine researchers and research associates, and our organization is in the process of growing. Brief descriptions of the key personnel are included here, and additional information can be found at our website (www.marecotel.org).

Greg Schorr has over 20 years of experience working with a wide range of marine mammals, from harbor porpoise to blue whales. He works primarily from small boats in close proximity to animals and has focused heavily on cetacean tag development and deployment. He has deployed a wide variety of tag types on both free-ranging and captive animals of 17 different species, including suction cup attached tags, remotely deployed satellite tags, and pin-on tags used for live capture or rehab/release projects. Since 2006, Greg has been a PI or co-PI on beaked whale and fin whale research within the Southern California Bight, and has been part of prey studies with killer whales since 2004. As a project manager and lead PI, he has managed numerous federally funded multi-year projects with collaborators from the federal government, academic institutions, and nonprofit research organizations.

Erin Falcone has more than 23 years of experience in cetacean field research and is a photo-ID specialist with high proficiency in most cetacean data collection methods, including telemetry. Since 1995, she has participated in or lead numerous photo-ID and behavioral studies of humpback, blue, gray, fin, and Cuvier’s beaked whales, and was the data manager for the multinational SPLASH North Pacific Humpback Whale population assessment. Since 2006, she has co-led marine mammal studies at the Southern California Offshore Range.

Brenda Rone has 18 years of experience conducting marine mammal research including team/project management off the US east coast and west coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico, and Middle East using small boats, large vessels, and fixed-winged aircraft. She is now entering her fourth year working with MarEcoTel and California has been her primary region of focus during this time. She has worked with 57 species of marine mammals including the endangered North Pacific and North Atlantic right whales and vaquita. Her research background includes line-transect, acoustic, photo-ID, biopsy, tagging, and permits with research focus on anthropogenic impacts, management, and conservation

Alex Zerbini has over 26 years conducting photo-ID and biopsy sampling on humpback whales, right whales, and small cetaceans from small boat and large vessel operations. He also has over 15 years of experience in the development and deployment of telemetry devices (dart and implantable satellite tags) using remote methods on baleen and sperm whales. In addition, Dr. Zerbini is proficient at boat driving, photography, photo post-processing, data collection, data processing, and advanced analytical and modeling techniques. Dr. Zerbini currently serves as the vice-chair on the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.

Russ Andrews has 25 years of experience conducting scientific investigations of pinnipeds, cetaceans, seabirds, and sea turtles. His research has involved behavioral observations, capture, restraint & immobilization, use of local anesthetics and gas anesthesia, blood & tissue sampling, intramuscular and intravenous injections, arterial catheterization, surgical implantation of biotelemetry devices, and design and use of biotelemetry instruments.

In support of our research projects, MarEcoTel owns two customized Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), a truck, and all basic equipment necessary for conducting our research. We hold a NMFS issued research permit for work on cetaceans throughout much of the Pacific Ocean.

Our organization has current awards from three divisions within the US Navy (US Pacific Fleet via a contract through the CA-CESU program, the Living Marine Resources program, and the Office of Naval Research), as well as awards from NOAA (Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the International Whaling Commission, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. We collaborate closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service offices in each region where we work and including ongoing collaborations with scientist from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and Alaska Fisheries Science Center. All of these contracts support scientific research designed to be used by federal agencies in the management and assessment of cetaceans.

References cited (all available at www.marecotel.org or at the corresponding journal’s website):
Andrews RD, Baird RW, Schorr GS, Mittal R, Howle LE, Hanson MB (2015) Improving attachments of remotely-deployed dorsal fin-mounted tags: tissue structure, hydrodynamics, in situ performance, and tagged-animal follow-up.
Curtis KA, Falcone EA, Schorr GS, Moore JE, Moretti DJ, Barlow J, Keene E (2020) Abundance, survival, and annual rate of change of Cuvier’s beaked whales ( ZIPHIUS CAVIROSTRIS ) on a Navy sonar range. Mar Mammal Sci:mms.12747.
Falcone E, Schorr G, Douglas A, Calambokidis J, Henderson E, McKenna M, Hildebrand J, Moretti D (2009) Sighting characteristics and photo-identification of Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) near San Clemente Island, California: a key area for beaked whales and the military? Mar Biol 156:2631–2640.
Falcone EA, Schorr GS (2014) Distribution and demographics of marine mammals in SOCAL through photo-identification, genetics, and satellite telemetry. Naval Postgraduate School.
Falcone EA, Schorr GS, Watwood SL, DeRuiter SL, Zerbini AN, Andrews RD, Morrissey RP, Moretti DJ (2017) Diving behaviour of Cuvier’s beaked whales exposed to two types of military sonar. R Soc Open Sci 4:170629.
Moretti D, Di Marzio N, Thomas L, Harwood J, Schorr GS, Falcone EA (2018) A Population Consequences of Acoustic Disturbance Model for Cuvier’s Beaked Whales (Ziphius cavirostris) in Southern California. Report prepared for the Office of Naval Research.
Scales KL, Schorr GS, Hazen EL, Bograd SJ, Miller PI, Andrews RD, Zerbini AN, Falcone EA (2017) Should I stay or should I go? Modelling year-round habitat suitability and drivers of residency for fin whales in the California Current. Divers Distrib 23:1204–1215.
Schorr GS, Falcone EA, Moretti DJ, Andrews RD (2014) First Long-Term Behavioral Records from Cuvier’s Beaked Whales (Ziphius cavirostris) Reveal Record-Breaking Dives. PLoS ONE 9:e92633.
Schorr GS, Falcone Erin A (2016) Integrated Measurement of Naval Sonar Operations and Precise Cetacean Locationss: Ingetration of Fastloc GPS into a LIMPET tag. Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Selected list of Current MarEcoTel Projects
Project Title: Cuvier’s beaked whale and fin whale behavior during military sonar operations: Using medium-duration tag technology to develop empirical risk functions.
Funding Agency: US Navy, Living Marine Resources Program
Principal Investigator: Gregory Schorr
Project Duration: 2017-2022
Abstract: This project is designed to collect data on the behavior of two LMR Priority Species- Cuvier’s beaked whales and fin whales- during actual Navy training and testing activities off Southern California, using high-resolution dive and movement tags that can remain attached for weeks. These data will be used to help determine the effects training activities have on tagged whales, and provide insight into the roles distance to source, sound source type, behavioral state, and other relevant variables may have in response. Results of this work will lead directly to improved risk functions for key species, and thus form the basis for more robust estimates of takes associated with training activities. They will also improve on-going Population Consequences of Disturbance (PCoD) model development for projecting the population-level impacts these takes are likely to have. The technology and methodologies developed in the course of this work will be available for use at other Navy training ranges with similar environmental compliance needs.

Project Title: Development of multi-week Sound and Motion Recording and Telemetry (SMRT) tag for behavioral studies of whales
Funding Agency: Office of Naval Research
Principal Investigators: Melinda Holland, Wildlife Computers and Russ Andrews, MarEcoTel
Project Duration: 2016-2021
Abstract: This project aims to dramatically improve the ability of researchers to understand and characterize the behavioral responses of cetaceans to anthropogenic sounds, and to facilitate the collection of data at the scales necessary to determine the population-level consequences of sound exposure on cetaceans. This has been a critical challenge ever since the documentation of a causal link between Navy activities and mass-strandings of several species of cetaceans, most notably poorly understood beaked whale species. The need to understand the relationship between anthropogenic noise (mid-frequency active sonar in particular) and whale behavior has led to many recent investigations into the responses of marine mammals to sound, and these
studies have relied heavily on sound recording multi-sensor tags such as the DTAG. The DTAG has been an essential tool in behavioral response studies because of its ability to measure both
the exposure intensity and the animal’s responses on a synchronized time-line, and its use has led to demonstrations that mid-frequency active sonar can elicit a behavioral response in various
cetacean species, including Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and blue whales. However, in order to determine how these short-term responses translate into fitness
consequences, it will be critical to obtain longer-term records than have been possible with the current designs of sound recording tags, which have been limited to recordings of less than 2
days due to constraints on battery capacity and the attachment ability of suction cups. Therefore, we will develop and demonstrate a multi-week Sound and Motion Recording and Telemetry
(SMRT) tag.

Project Title: Measuring the effect of range on the behavioral response of marine mammals through the use of Navy sonar and small source playbacks
Funding Agency: Living Marine Resources Program
Principal Investigator: Gregory Schorr
Project Duration: 2018-2022
Abstract: This project builds on the currently funded LMR program assessing behavioral response of Cuvier’s beaked whales and fin whales to Navy sonar and adds the component of including coordination with operational Navy helicopter deployed sonar to better assess range to effect. Using data collected during opportunistic sonar exposures, we will fill in distances where sample sizes are low in order to build out a defensible risk curve. Additionally, controlled dips will be undertaken in order to assess potential response to the hovering helicopter versus sonar transmissions.

Project Title: Demographics and diving behavior of Cuvier’s beaked whales at Guadalupe Island, Mexico: A comparative study to better understand sonar impacts at SCORE.
Funding Agency: Office of Naval Research
Principal Investigator: Gregory Schorr
Project Duration: 2018-2021
Abstract: When assessing the nature and degree of anthropogenic impacts on a population, a key question is “compared to what?” This is particularly difficult to evaluate when no data exist for the population of interest prior to the introduction of the activity. Such is the case with Cuvier’s beaked whales that live in and near the Southern California Anti-Submarine Warfare Range (SOAR), where they are frequently exposed to Mid-Frequency Active (MFA) sonar during routine military training exercises- the likes of which have been associated with mass strandings of this species elsewhere in the world. While there is a growing body of behavioral and demographic data on the SOAR population, there is little or no data from an ecologically-similar population of this species that is not regularly exposed to MFA sonar to which these data can be compared. Such an approach is proving highly valuable for evaluating impacts to Blainville’s beaked whales at a training range in the Bahamas. Here, we propose a pilot effort to investigate a comparative study site for Cuvier’s beaked whales at Guadalupe Island. Recent efforts by collaborators have demonstrated the presence of this species within close proximity to the island during multiple seasons, with some individuals spotted numerous times over an 8-year period, suggesting site-fidelity (Cárdenas-Hinojosa, unpublished data). We propose to conduct a base year of effort, followed by two option years, with each year consisting of 28 days in the field to locate, photo-identify and satellite tag Cuvier’s beaked whales. Diving behavior and photo-identifications will be compared to animals from SOAR to assess possible differences between disturbed and undisturbed populations, a key input for Population Consequences of Disturbance models. If sample sizes are sufficient, population-level demographics between the two areas may also be compared.

Project Title: Assessing Performance and Effects of New Integrated Implantable Large Whale Satellite Tags
Funding Agency: Office of Naval Research
Principal Investigator: Alexander Zerbini
Project Duration: 2018-2021
Abstract: Satellite telemetry is widely recognized a key method to study the spatial ecology of large
whales. It is also an important research tool for evaluating the vulnerability of these species to anthropogenic threats and for guiding proper management decisions for whale populations. Because satellite tracking of large cetaceans is often conducted with penetrating (“implantable”) tags that are embedded in the body and that anchor at the blubber/muscle interface, there is concern about the potential risk this technology poses to some species. A recent study developed with North Atlantic humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine (GoM) was designed to assess behavioral, physical and demographic effects of these types of tags and to evaluate potential causes of premature tag loss. Repeated re-sightings of individuals tagged during this study revealed structural flaws in subdermal whale satellite tags, which resulted in breakage of satellite tags and were associated with long-term physiological reactions and potentially negative effects to the health of whales. Motivated by the findings of the GoM study, ONR supported a research project designed to develop a new implantable tag that would (1) improve tag robustness and duration and (2) minimize their potential impacts to the welfare of the tagged animal. Preliminary data suggest an improvement of up to 20% in the attachment duration of this new tag design relative to its predecessors. However, the variability associated with tag duration and the relatively small sample size (only 15 tags deployed to date) precluded more robust evaluations of its performance of this design. The goal of this proposal is to further contribute towards the development implantable tags by assessing the performance of this new tag design on multiple species/populations of large whales. Tag duration will be used as the metrics to test the hypothesis that the new design performs better than existing tags. A total of 75 satellite transmitters will be deployed in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Chilean blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis). These populations have been selected because of (1) their relatively high within-season resighting rates; (2) because ongoing tagging studies have used earlier versions of implantable satellite tags, allowing for a direct comparison of their duration with that of the new design and (3) because deployment of new tags as part of ongoing studies minimize overall project costs. Follow-up studies will be carried out concurrently or after tag deployment to evaluate the conditions of the tag and the tag site. Photographs will be taken to assess the rate of tag egress and to evaluate tissue reaction in comparison with other studies where physical and physiological effects of implantable tags have been described. The results from the proposed study shall provide validated scientific evidence on the relative efficiency of newly commercially available satellite tag designs across a range of large whale species. Such information is critical for guiding the development and success of future tagging studies performed by the scientific community.

Project Title: A Fully-Piercing Tag Attachment System for Remotely-Deployed Cetacean Tags with External-Electronics
Funding Agency: NOAA, Small Business Innovation Research
Principal Investigator: Russel Andrews
Project Duration: 2018-2021
Abstract: Animal-borne electronic instruments (tags) are critical tools for determining the movement patterns, habitat use, and other behaviors of cetaceans, providing data needed for managing their populations and mitigating the threats they face. Tagging has been successful for species that can be captured, and those large enough to tolerate tags that penetrate deeply into tissue. However, for most cetaceans, the options have been limited to remotely-deployed tags with rigid darts that provide valuable yet frustratingly short and variable attachment durations. Our Phase I objective will be to demonstrate the feasibility of an alternative tag attachment element for remote deployment of tags, onto the dorsal fin of small- to medium-sized cetaceans, that eliminates implanted sharp surfaces, has a compliance closer to tissue than the current generation of rigid metallic implants, and decreases the chances of attachment element breakage. We propose a truly biocompatible fully-piercing tag attachment element. Our approach will include CAD, finite element analysis, and production of prototypes for conducting static and dynamic force testing. The biomaterial offering the best combination of strength, flexibility, elasticity, and biocompatibility, while still functioning effectively to anchor an external tag package will be determined. This innovation would be readily commercialized, as we have done for many wildlife tracking products, and it would realize the goal of longer and more consistent attachment durations while minimizing the impact on tagged whales.

Project Title: Cuvier’s Beaked Whale and Fin Whale Surveys at the Southern California Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR)
Funding Agency: US Pacific Fleet, via CA-CESU
Principal Investigators: Gregory Schorr, Erin Falcone, and Brenda Rone
Project Duration: 2019-2023
Abstract: Use photo-identification, genetics, and tagging to elucidate population size, structure, and trends for assessing population-level impacts in order to provide the Navy with data for effective marine mammal monitoring as part of the Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program.
The primary goals of this project are:
1. Conduct vessel surveys with M3R to locate, identify, photograph, biopsy and/or tag Cuvier’s beaked whales and fin whales; effort will be focused on SOAR when possible.
2. Up to 50 genetic samples will be sequenced, sexed, and archived. A possible comparison of stable isotopes between SCORE and Guadalupe Island may be done to assess further population level differences.
3. Work with Marine Mammal Monitoring (M3R) to locate Cuvier’s and fin whales and to identify additional species and group size to aid in the development of marine mammal passive acoustic monitoring using range hydrophones and provide key input data for the PCoD models.
4. Document the behavior of Cuvier’s and fin whales before, during, and after actual Navy exercises, with sufficient individual baseline data, using medium duration tags.

Project Title: Monitoring the coastal distribution, habitat use, and prey selection of Southern Resident Killer whales using boat-based surveys in the coastal waters of Washington
Funding Agency: NOAA and NFWF
Principal Investigator: Brad Hanson and Gregory Schorr
Project Duration: 2020-2022
Abstract: SRKW are known to occur in the northern coastal waters of Washington based on prior satellite tag location data and detections of vocalization calls on autonomous passive acoustic recorders. In recent years this population has been spending an increasing amount of time in coastal waters. The northern coastal waters of Washington are subjected to a high level of anthropogenic noise, and in particular, the Strait of Juan de Fuca experiences a substantial level of vessel traffic. However, only a limited amount of information is available on how this whale population uses this region. These areas will be monitored for SRKW by conducting mall boat surveys during the spring of 2021 and 2022 in order to determine the extent to which they are using these waters and, if so, which prey are selected this time of year. The primary project objective will be to determine whale distribution and habitat use relative to data collected in previous years and potentially allow assessment of diet in response to a prey base that is expected to be substantially reduced during this time period. Additional insights in prey selection with comm from tissue and scale samples collected from predation events and from fecal samples. The fecal samples data will potentially provide valuable ancillary information on the whale health status that is being monitored by other projects in their summer range.

Project Title: Photo-identification of Cook Inlet Beluga’s
Funding Agency: NOAA
Principal Investigator: Brenda Rone
Project Duration: 2019-2021
Abstract: The Cook Inlet beluga whale population has declined significantly from 1979 when the population was estimated at approximately 1,300 whales to a current 2014 estimate of 340 whales. This decline led the National Marine Fisheries Services to designate the Cook Inlet beluga whales as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML) conducts scientific research on this population as part of a broader effort to understand the lack of recovery of this endangered population in order to propose conservation actions to promote recovery. MarEcoTel provides beluga photographic identification services to MML which
included establishing a workflow of photo processing, scoring, matching, and the creation of a matching system and catalogue of identified individuals.

Project Title: North Atlantic Right Whale Satellite Tag Development and Deployment.
Funding Agency: Georgia Department of Natural Resources / NOAA
Principal Investigator: Russ Andrews
Project Duration: 2017 – 2020
Abstract: Every year a portion of the North Atlantic right whale (NARW) population travels from foraging grounds in the Northeast U.S. (NEUS) and Canada to the Southeast U.S. (SEUS) wintering grounds. During each leg of the migration whales are exposed to vessel traffic, military activities and commercial fishing activities. Upon arriving in the SEUS, NARWs remain at risk of boat and ship collisions due to several large ports, recreational boating and military activities. In order
to mitigate these threats, and to justify management actions that might reduce interactions, detailed right whale movement data are needed, especially to better manage right whale vessel
strike risk in the mid-Atlantic region. However, few quantitative data exist on the movements of right whales through the mid-Atlantic region. To address this knowledge gap, our plan is to work
to develop a minimally invasive satellite tag optimized for use on North Atlantic right whales that will provide sufficient tag attachment duration to track movements of whales migrating
north from the Southeast U.S. and into the Mid-Atlantic region. Our approach will focus on barnacle-style tags in which the electronics are external to the whale’s body and the tag package
is attached via small percutaneous anchors, such as the “LIMPET” tag, an acronym for “Low Impact Minimally Percutaneous External-electronics Transmitter”. LIMPET tags have now been
successfully applied to over 20 species of cetaceans. We propose to tag NARW with multiple configurations of minimally invasive satellite tags with subcutaneous anchors. Improved
versions of the LIMPET tag system and novel tag designs will be deployed right whales in the SEUS during the winter field seasons. The goal will be to develop a minimally invasive satellite
tag optimized for use on North Atlantic right whales with sufficient tag attachment duration to track movements of right whales migrating north from the Southeast U.S. calving grounds and
into the mid-Atlantic region. If successful, this project will enhance capabilities to track right whales for myriad research purposes, and for enhancement purposes, such as tracking
chronically entangled right whales or tracking whales that are out of habitat.