By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director
The SR3 team wrapped up a successful research season in the Antarctic Peninsula onboard the M/V National Geographic Endurance. This research extends a long-term study (since 2009) to assess the health of top consumers (humpback and minke whales) and top predators (killer whales) in the rapidly-warming waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. During the second and final trip, the team collected aerial photogrammetry and photo-identification images of six individual Type B1 “pack ice” killer whales, 20 Type B2 “Gerlache Strait” killer whales and six individual Antarctic minke whales. Aerial images will be measured to monitor growth and body condition of individual whales, while photo-identification images will be used to estimate trends in population abundance over time. Support for this research is from the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund.
(Left) Photo of a Type B2 killer whale in the Gerlache Strait and (Right) aerial image of an Antarctic minke whale. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 22306 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.