Pelagic Odontoceti Research Project

Through our Research Scientist Program the Pelagic Odontoceti Research Project led by our Research Coordinator, Josh McInnes, is accomplishing it's goals. Odonotcete's are any whale of the suborder Odontoceti, such as dolphins, porpoises, killer whales (largest dolphin species), and others characterized by an asymmetrical skull, a single blowhole, and rows of teeth. The project consists of collecting data on photo-identification, occurrence patterns, and foraging behavior of toothed cetaceans. The areas we are comparing are Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) and the waters up to the Pacific Northwest along with the Salish Sea off Vancouver Island British Columbia. We have already made incredible connections between the waters from the Pacific Northwest and the MBNMS. Scientific papers are in the works.

Be part of our Citizen Science Team. Alert us when you spot orcas anywhere on the Pacific coast (Alaska to Mexico). Upload your photos and information about the sighting including date and location to: https://www.hightail.com/u/MLS
High resolution photos are best. If you did not include your name on the photo please include how you want your name listed on the photograph. You will get full
credit for your photograph.

Click to read: Ecology of Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) in Monterey Bay - Released March 2019

Spyhopping Southern Resident Killer Whale

L077 & new calf "Lucky" L124 born in January 2019

DONATE NOW!

Contribute to this important research. By doing so, you become the most critical part of our project by supporting our team to learn more about the many species of toothed cetaceans in the MBNMS. We need to research more about the species and the habitat they live in so that we can discover and understand the behavior and ecology, with addition of helping protect them from growing threats. Please click the donate button and follow prompts to pick Research Scientist Program so your support goes directly to this project. Thank you! Rather donate by check? Mail check to Marine Life Studies, PO Box 163, Moss Landing, CA 9503

Read all about! We have been in the news! Click on green links below:
1. Exciting news about the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (L pod) we spotted in Monterey Bay on March 31, 2019. 
2. Article published April 9, 2019 in Good Times Santa Cruz.
3. Stunning underwater footage of feeding and prey sharing behavior by members of the OCT044 (CA051) transient matriline! ​

We will also publish guides to be distributed to other researchers and the public through a citizen science philosphy. Both areas exhibit different species diversity based on physical dynamics of ocean patterns. Collaboration and citizen science is important for the productivity and efficiency of future research. Our goal is to continue this project year-around and to present our research work at the Biennial Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference.

DONATE NOW!

Please hit the donate button and follow prompts to pick Research Scientist Program so your support goes directly to this project. Thank you! 

Rather donate by check? Mail check to Marine Life Studies, PO Box 163, Moss Landing, CA 95039