A project proposed by BMMRO and collaborators has been selected for funding by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).

The project will characterize baseline behavioral ecology of deep-diving odontocetes to identify and describe significant behavioral responses to particular threats, including anthropogenic noise.

To meet this objective, we will fill key data gaps on the behavioral ecology of six odontocete species in The Bahamas (seen on this page). Using a spatio-temporal approach and integration of unique datasets, we will characterize social structure, reproductive biology, residency patterns, population structure and foraging ecology. This project will use existing data from the ONR Bahamas Beaked Whale Ecology Study, as well as data from our long-term field work off of Abaco. Additional data collection will be conducted through month long large vessel surveys. These data include photo-identification pictures, tissue samples for genetic and chemical studies (fatty acid, stable isotope and persistent organic pollutants), animal movement data from satellite tags, visual sightings and acoustic recordings.

The study begins in March 2011, and is a four year project.

Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus	Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus	Melon-headed whale Peponocephala electra

Lead Project Investigator (PI): Diane Claridge
Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews

Co-PI's:
Dr. Kim Parsons, Ph.D.
National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA Fisheries
Specialist in genetics

Ms. Gina Ylitalo, M.Sc. and Dr. David Herman, Ph.D.
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Specialists in chemical analyses

Ms. Charlotte Dunn, M.Sc.
Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews
Specialist in acoustics

Dr. John Durban, Ph.D.
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Specialist in satellite telemetry studies