Minke Whale Research Project
(North Pacific Tropical Islands)

Minke whales in North Pacific tropical and sub-tropcal waters are notoriously difficult to detect visually. Interestingly, during winter and spring, they produce a unique and distinctive sound known as the 'boing'. This sound is believed to be an 'acoustic display' related to courtship and breeding. As part of this field research project, we used passive acoustic methods to detect, locate and track vocalizing minke whales using bottom mounted hydrophones located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) and a hydrophone array, towed behind a motor-sailing research vessel. Using data collected during our winter-spring field seasons in 2009 and 2010, we are developing automated methods for detecting, localizing and measuring boings. We will use this information to examine questions related to individual and geographic variability in boing structure, responses of minke whales to noise from our vessel, and possible functions of the boing sound. Ultimately, the information and methods resulting from this project will allow for more effective conservation and management of this and other species that are vocally active but visually elusive. This project is being conducted in collaboration with our partners Steve Martin (SPAWAR), Len Thomas and Vincent Janik (St. Andrews University). This project is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Click here for a presentation given at the 2nd International Conference on the Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life (Cork, Ireland 2010).