Marine Mammal Research Unit

The status of marine mammal populations is of growing concern to a wide range of individuals. Questions are being asked about the impact of human activities on marine mammals and the effect of marine mammals on fish stocks. These uncertainties may have repercussions on people, marine mammals, and the health of the ecosystem.

February 2012
Quarterly Newsletter (Issue 3)

	INTO THE LAB … A recent study by UBC scientists is trying to understand the interaction between seasonal changes in Atka mackerel and fish requirements of young Steller sea lions. The results may have dramatic consequences on the timing of weaning for sea lions in the western Aleutian Islands. [more]
	FROM THE FIELD … Whales living in a dark underwater environment where vision is limited must rely heavily on sound to guide them through their daily activities. Two graduate students are using whale calls to study the ecology and behavior of whales.[more]
	NUMBER CRUNCHING Cataloguing the diet of the highly endangered Hawaiian monk seal is not an easy task, but it is a critical step in understanding whether the population is food limited.[more]
	STELLER NEWS The final report of the independent scientific review of the 2010 Biological Opinion by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning the impact of groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions was recently published by…[more]
	VIDEO CONNECT Follow female northern fur seals as they leave Bogoslof Island in the southern Bering Sea and forage along ocean fronts. Videos such as these help scientists understand feeding behavior of seals and how they interact with fine-scale oceanography.[more]
	THIS JUST IN Latest peer reviewed publications[more]
	SCIENCE OUTREACH A large group of researchers working in affiliation with the Consortium presented the results of their science at the International Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals held in Tampa FL in December 2011. Of particular note, Chad Nordstrom was awarded “best student (pre-doctoral) oral presentation”. [more]