Where have the Whale Nerds gone?

Summer is not only a time of camping and fine weather, it is also the busiest time of year for biologists- field season. So what have the whale nerds been doing with these lovely warm days?

Merina and Jacklyn are both working for Archipelago Marine Research, as a data technician and fisheries observer respectively. Kyla is at sea working as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) onboard the Langseth which is conducting seismic work on the Endeavour Ridge. They are attempting to map the magma plumbing of the ridge and gain new insights into offshore earthquakes. Check out this link to read about the project.

Natalie (me, seen here with my new friend ROPOS of the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility) is also at sea and at one point passed within a few miles of Kyla (the Langseth was a mere dot on the horizon). She is onboard the R/V Thompson which is engaged in the deployment of the instruments for the deep sea oceanographic network, Neptune Canada. This project has been in the works for over a decade and after all that planning and engineering the pieces are finally going into the water. It is a truly momentous journey that will change the way people think about the ocean. The data being collected will be available to anyone, anytime, anywhere, steamed live over the Internet. If you would like to know more about the cruise the Neptune Canada Wiki hosts the blog and you can also follow the project on Twitter.

In terms of whale-nerdiness the wildlife seen from the cruise was pretty awesome both above the water and at 2700m depth. Check out these photos!

ROPOS, the deep sea remotely operated vehicle, with an instrument platform (IP) attached to its base. The tripod-looking thing on the side of the IP is a hydrophone.

A sea pig, weird-looking relative of the sea cucumber, at 2660m below sea level.

A sunfish (Mola mola)

A black footed albatross takes off

Baird's beaked whale (my first time seeing them)

Lags were regular visitors of the R/V Thompson. They were often accompanied by right whale dolphins who lack a dorsal fin and are very difficult to photograph.