On a Boat:  Dtag Experiments and Behavioural Response Studies in Southern California

Speaker: Dr Stacy DeRuiter (CREEM)

Abstract

Many statistical ecologists have begun working with data from dtags or other marine-mammal-borne sensors, but not all have had the opportunity to go to sea and see first hand how these data are collected.  In this combination travelogue/research seminar I will try to provide an idea of what field work to tag marine mammals is really like, drawing mostly from my recent experiences as a tag technician on the SoCal Behavioural Response Study (which measures whale behaviour changes in response to simulated Naval sonar sounds).  I promise astonishing audiovisuals, insider stories, (startling?) new insight into where tag data really come from, and at least one equation.