San Diego Natural History Museum Whalers

Transcription

1 San Diego Natural History Museum Whalers Museum Whalers Handbook jmorris Revised 2016 by Uli Burgin

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3 SECTION 1: VOLUNTEER BASICS 1 SECTION 2: MARINE MAMMALS AND THEIR ADAPTATIONS 5 SECTION 3: INTRODUCTION TO CETACEANS 11 SECTION 4: INTRODUCTION TO THE GRAY WHALE 15 SECTION 5: RORQUALS 23 SECTION 6: ODONTOCETES (TOOTHED WHALES) 31 SECTION 7: PINNIPEDS SEA LIONS AND SEALS 41 SECTION 8: OTHER MARINE LIFE YOU MAY SEE 45 SECTION 9: BIRDING ON THE HORNBLOWER 49 SECTION 10: SAN DIEGO BAY 55 SECTION 11: DOING THE PRESENTATION 63 SECTION 12: FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 71 SECTION 13: VOLGISTICS AND SIGHTINGS LOG 77 SECTION 14: ON BOARD THE HORNBLOWER, CRUISE INFO AND MORE 81 SECTION 15: REFERENCES 85

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5 Section 1: Volunteer Basics Welcome! We are pleased to have you as a volunteer Museum Whaler for the San Diego Natural History Museum. As a Museum Whaler you are carrying on a long tradition of whale watching here in southern California. Our first trips were offered to the public in These trips were led by pioneer whale watching naturalist Ray Gilmore, an employee of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and a research associate of the San Diego Natural History Museum. Ray s whale-watching trips became well known over the years and integrated science and education with a lot of fun. We are sure that Ray would be very pleased with the San Diego Natural History Museum s continued involvement in offering fun and educational whale watching experiences to the public through our connection with Hornblower Cruises and Events. This is also a great opportunity to connect the public with the San Diego Natural History Museum. The Whaler training program consists of course readings from this manual, guest lectures, sample presentations and a lot of in-class practice delivering presentations. Our most experienced Whalers teach several course sections, while local experts that do research on or work closely with marine mammals and birds, present other sections. There will be a short mid-term and final examination to assess your understanding of the information contained within these pages. This manual provides much of the information on the marine life you will see. It also provides information on your responsibilities as a naturalist on the Hornblower Whale and Dolphin Watching adventure cruises. We hope you will enjoy your experience and help impart enthusiasm and knowledge about California s marine life. Your Role and Responsibilities as a Museum Whaler The primary responsibility of a Museum Whaler is to provide natural history information about the marine life sighted during the trip, especially the Eastern Pacific gray whale. The crew is responsible for all aspects of the vessel s operation, including passenger safety. Please follow the instructions of the captain and the first mate at all times. In addition to providing information to visitors, remember that you will be working with other volunteers, so it is important to be a responsible and supportive co-worker. Arriving on time and taking equal responsibility for working the line, engaging visitors, setting up materials and giving presentations at the end of the cruise will ensure that you and your fellow volunteers have an 1

6 enjoyable time. We will go into more detail as the course proceeds, but while on duty you should remember to: Arrive early (45 minutes prior to departure). Work the line Board either before the passengers (no pushing them out of the way) or at the end of the line. No need to pick up a boarding pass, your yellow jacket lets the crew know you a Whaler. Please allow them to take your photo as you board. If you pass up the photographers it encourages the passengers to do the same. Meet in the A/V room to get organized as a group Mingle with the passengers Waiting in Line to Board A large part of being a Whaler involves connecting with the passengers and providing information on gray whale migration as they wait in line. We call this working the line. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the cruise leaves. While passengers are waiting in line to board, use your whale information cards and gray whale migration map to educate. Once on board Once you board, head to the designated A/V room where you will find the museum supplies that include: Blue box Photos, books, etc. Logbook please sign in Whale models and other supplies While the passengers are boarding and the boat is cruising through the harbor and San Diego Bay, mingle with the passengers and introduce yourselves. Please DO NOT talk while the captain or first mate is talking. This is especially important during the talk on boat safety. Instead, follow their lead and point out sites or show pictures or visual aids that support their narration. At the beginning of the cruise, one of the Whalers should provide the names of the Whalers on board to the captain so that he can introduce you by name. During the Cruise During the cruise the Whaler s role is to assist the crew in locating the whales and engaging the passengers in conversation about what they are seeing. Point out birds, fish, dolphins, jellies, sea lions, and any other marine life you see. You will be learning about these animals so that you can help identify and have a couple of interesting stories to share. Keep in mind that you are sharing interpretive duties, so you do not need to say everything yourself. Don t worry about repeating information that the captain or first mate has already 2

7 covered. Just add something new. Please refer to the materials you received during your training session for specific details. In the Wheelhouse The wheelhouse is the captain s territory and new federal regulations do not allow uncertified personnel access without the captain s explicit permission. You are allowed in the wheelhouse to retrieve or return the museum specimens (biofacts) found in the black box. Generally speaking, the captain and/or first mate will provide the narration during the cruise through the San Diego Bay, indicating points of interest along the way. Some captains are open to having a Whaler provide some narration so if you feel comfortable on the PA, please ask the captain if you can talk. On the Way Back The museum provides several teaching specimens (biofacts) to assist in interpretation. These specimens are used during the cruise as we return to port. In general, please retrieve the biofacts when the boat reaches buoy #1 and return them when the boat reaches the bait dock. The timing may change based on sea conditions, so please be flexible. Participating in Giving Presentations All Whalers are expected to participate in giving presentations. Generally, presentations are given on the lower level towards the bow. At times, seas are rough and passengers may be sick where presentations are normally given. It is important to be flexible. Please keep control of the biofacts at all times. It is okay to let passengers carefully touch the baleen and the vertebrae, but remind them to be gentle and use only a 2 finger touch. And please use the microphone. If you are soft spoken, passengers cannot necessarily hear you. The Whalers are responsible for giving presentations on: Gray whale migration (mostly while working the line) Barnacles and whale lice Baleen and gray whale feeding behavior Lumbar vertebrae and their role in muscle attachment Conservation San Diego Natural History Museum exhibits of interest If no whales are seen, the dolphin skull model can be used to talk about dolphins 3

8 The following biofacts are available for your use during the formal presentation: Gray whale skin with an adult barnacle (preserved in resin) Gray whale lice (preserved in resin) Gray whale lumbar vertebrae (juvenile and calf) Cast of human lumbar vertebra for comparison Section of gray whale baleen (approximately 15 individual plates) Amphipods (preserved in resin) are an example of the family, not the specific species that are the main food source for the Eastern Pacific Gray whale Common dolphin skull model Being a Responsible Volunteer There are four things you absolutely must do to participate as a Museum Whaler: Always sign up for the cruise well in advance by adding your name to the Volgistics calendar. If you are unable to make the cruise, please remove your name from the calendar as soon as possible. This gives other Whalers an opportunity to sign up for that cruise. Always log your hours in Volgistics. If You Can t Meet Your Commitment First check the calendar and see how many other volunteers are signed up; if you are the only one, find a substitute. If there are others, please notify at least one of the other volunteers that you will not be on board. Remember, you work as a team. Be considerate of your teammates! Last minute changes sometimes happen, we understand, but we encourage you to solve scheduling problems ahead of time. If you have an emergency the day you are scheduled to work, please notify one of the other Whalers signed up for the cruise; unfortunately, the ticket booth does not pass along messages. Notifying the director of volunteer/intern services does not meet your obligation of notification; s are missed, texts are best. Passenger Safety is the Hornblower Crew s Responsibility The San Diego Natural History Museum is not liable for passengers. The Hornblower crew is responsible for onboard safety. If a passenger comes to you with injury, seasickness, or any other safety concern, please direct them to the captain or a crewmember. The captain will make announcements at the beginning of the cruise about safety, first aid, and the location of all life jackets. If you have any concerns about a passenger, please find a crewmember or talk to the captain. DO NOT give the passengers anything not even a sick bag. You ll regret it. The sick passenger will expect you to help them for the rest of cruise. If there is any emergency while onboard, the crew will consider you passengers. You are not there to help them. Please do not interfere; follow their directions. 4

9 Section 2: Marine Mammals and their Adaptations Members of three groups or orders of mammals evolved independently for life in the ocean. ORDER ORDER ORDER CETACEANS (Cetacea) whales, dolphins and porpoises SIRENIANS (Sirenia) manatees and dugongs, or sea cows (not in our region) CARNIVORES (Carnivora, Cats, dogs, bears, weasels etc.) Suborder: PINNIPEDS (Pinnipedia), sea lions, true seals and walrus Suborder: FISSIPEDIA, includes all land-living carnivores, plus: Sea Otter (no longer in our region) and Polar Bear General Remarks Examples of other mammal orders are rodents (rats and mice), rabbits and hares, monkeys and apes, even-toed ungulates (deer, antelopes, camels, goats) or odd-toed ungulates (rhino, horse, wild ass and donkey). All mammals, including marine mammals, are warm-blooded, have (or have traces of) hair or fur, breathe air through lungs, bear live young, and nurse their young with milk produced by mammary glands. Whales and dolphins, manatees and dugongs and sea otters live their entire lives in the water, whereas sea lions, true seals, the walrus (Pinnipeds) and the polar bear are semi-aquatic, spending part of their time feeding in the ocean and part of the time on land to mate, breed and molt. Doing research on animals that spend their entire life in the ocean environment, especially the large whales, is much more challenging than studying land mammals. Scientific understanding of whales has come in two distinct phases: first from the results of more than half a century of whaling information pieced together from the examination of thousands of dead animals from whaling operations and second from over 40 years of field studies of living whales in their natural habitat, which started in the late 60s. You will hear about these studies and the various techniques used from our special guest speakers: Photo identification of individuals Short- and long-term surveys from land, boats and airplanes 5

10 Research on migration and behavior with satellite tags and other high-tech tags attached to whales Hydrophones used for sound recordings Study of genetics through biopsies These methods and new research tools have provided a wealth of insights into the nature of living whales, but scientists are always cautious in the interpretation of their findings. Basic questions like Why do whales breach? or Do whale lice help gray whales? still do not have a definite answer, and new discoveries are being made all the time. Please keep this in mind as you read these pages and talk to passengers on the boat. Marine Mammal Adaptations While cetaceans, sirenians and pinnipeds have different evolutionary origins, they have evolved similar physical and physiological adaptations to life in the ocean. All have a streamlined body, well-developed paddle-shaped limbs, and the ability to dive underwater for extended periods of time. Physiologically, marine mammals differ from land mammals in that they can conserve oxygen and withstand increased water pressure during a deep dive. But like all mammals, they must breathe air. Swimming Adaptations Fusiform or streamlined shape reduces drag, which decreases energy consumption. Hair/fur reduction in cetaceans and sirenians reduces frictional resistance, making swimming long distances more efficient. Limb Modification In pinnipeds the front and hind limbs have been modified into fin-like structures (flippers). In cetaceans and sirenians the hind limbs are absent; there is only a small vestigial (no longer functional) pelvis bone, and their tails are modified into flukes for propulsion. The forelimbs, modified into flippers, function to stabilize the body and aid in turns; only humpbacks use their extremely long flippers for swimming. Thermoregulation Blubber serves as insulation (as well as energy storage and dampening for streamlining). Thick layer of fur in pinnipeds and sea otters provides insulation. Blood vessels in flippers and the tongue of gray whales feeding in ice cold water are arranged as counter current heat exchange system, where cold blood returning from the extremities absorbs heat of warm blood coming from the body core, to reduce heat loss. On occasion we see rafts of sea lions with their pectoral flippers extended out of the water to regulate their body temperature. Diving Physiology Marine mammals excel in their adaptability to rapid changes of external conditions, such as when they move from the water surface to depths of several 100 to several 1,000 below, and 6

11 back up again. During a dive they have to deal with a lack of oxygen and increased water pressure. This Dive Response is accomplished in several ways: More oxygen is stored in the blood and tissues than in land mammals. An elephant seal, one of the champion divers, has three times the blood volume of a human; 1.5 times the hemoglobin concentration, and 10 times as much myoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells, which transports oxygen. Myoglobin is a similar protein storing oxygen in muscles. Oxygen is NOT stored in the lungs, which collapse during deep dives. Residual air is pushed into the reinforced upper airway spaces, and there is no gas exchange in the lungs. This prevents the formation of nitrogen bubbles (the bends ) when ascending. Oxygen is conserved during a dive. The heart rate is slowed down, blood vessels are constricted and blood is directed only to the heart and brain, bypassing the digestive organs and muscles. How does the animal keep functioning? Muscles (needed for swimming) have their own oxygen supply in myoglobin. The elevated concentration of this protein is the most consistent hallmark of all deep divers. The shutdown of digestive functions during a dive is compensated by higher than normal performance during breathing intervals at the surface. When the oxygen supply is exhausted, muscle cells can still function by anaerobic respiration ( anaerobic = without oxygen), producing lactate instead of CO 2 as the end product. This process creates an oxygen debt, because the lactate has to be removed by using more oxygen when the animal comes back to the surface to breathe. Senses Vision The vision of marine mammals has a number of specific features which allow them to function in both water and air. Cetaceans Observations of dolphins in captivity, who catch fish, perform precisely aimed jumps to reach targets, and recognize their trainers, have shown that their vision above water (where echolocation does not work) is well developed. Based on anatomical comparisons of eye structures, it is assumed that baleen whales have visual acuity comparable to that of dolphins, although they are said to be near-sighted above water. Cetaceans, who spend most of their time under water, have to adapt not only to low visibility, but also to possible eye damage from the high density of water or suspended particles, and cold temperatures. In order to adjust to the optical properties of water, eye anatomy in Cetaceans is markedly different from that in land mammals: In land mammals the eyeball is almost spherical, the lens is flattened. In Cetaceans the anterior part of the eyeball is flattened, the lens is spherical. This optical system compensates for the refraction of light in water, and is, not surprisingly, similar to that of fish. 7

12 Like some nocturnal land mammals (cats, raccoons, foxes), Cetaceans have a tapetum lucidum, a tissue layer behind the retina, which reflects light back through the retina, increasing the light available to photoreceptors. The retina contains mostly rods, cells that gather low intensity light. Cone cells, responsible for color vision, exist too, but there is no behavioral evidence that Cetaceans can discriminate colors. Cetaceans have no tear glands, however glands in the eyelids regularly bathe the cornea in an oily substance to protect it from the contact with seawater. Pinnipeds Pinniped s eyes are large, and share some features with Cetaceans, like a spherical lens. Because Pinnipeds spend considerable time on land and in the water, their eyes have some unique characteristics that help them function in both environments: In some species, pupil size can change over a very wide range, adapting to high and low light conditions. The tapetum lucidum, which reflects light back through the retina, increasing vision in low light, is one of the best developed among both terrestrial and aquatic animals. A special construction of the cornea in many species allows visual acuity to remain equal in both water and air. Hearing Unlike light, sound is transmitted well under water and travels almost four times faster than in air. It is therefore used for communication by all Cetaceans, and hearing is their dominant sense. Since there are major differences between Mysticetes and Odontocetes, they will be treated separately here. Mysticetes Mysticetes produce very low frequency sounds from Hz to 5 khz, and they can communicate with each other for tens, even hundreds of kilometers, so they must be able to hear these sounds. However, since Mysticetes lack ear pinnae (outer ears), and the auditory canals are narrow and hardly functional, the mechanism of sound transmission to the inner ear is not clear, nor is it known how Mysticetes produce their sounds. Odontocetes and Echolocation Because of their unique ability to use echolocation (a kind of highly sophisticated sonar) to orient themselves, the auditory system of Odontocetes has been studied extensively. Odontocetes or toothed whales (sperm, beluga, beaked, pilot whales, and all dolphins) produce high frequency sound waves called clicks (up to 120 khz), which bounce off objects in the water and return as echoes to the animal which made the clicks, giving it information about its surroundings. 8

13 Clicks are produced by sonic lips (formerly called monkey lips ) in the nasal complex. The clicks are focused and sent out through the melon, a fatty tissue in the rounded part of the head. The returning echoes and sound waves in general enter through the lower jaw and are transmitted through a fat-filled canal to the middle ear. Toothed whales have directional hearing, their echolocation sense is closely integrated with their visual sense, and their auditory nervous system has an extremely rapid response. The very highly developed echolocation capabilities of deep diving whales like sperm and beaked whales makes it possible for these species to orient themselves at great depths in complete darkness. In addition to echolocation clicks, some Odontocete species also produce burst pulses and whistles, signals used for communication. A special form of whistles are the signature whistles used by bottlenose dolphins (and maybe others?), which convey individual identity, analogous to a name. Calves learn their whistle in their first few months, and retain it throughout their lives.pinnipeds Eared seals (sea lions and fur seals) have ear pinnae (outer ears), whereas true seals and the walrus do not. On land, Pinnipeds use the normal land mammal hearing mechanism. For hearing under water no special mechanism is known, but it is supposed that they rely on bone conduction of sound. Smell and Taste Sharks have an exceptionally keen sense of smell for certain substances, like blood, which shows that the sense of smell can be very important under water. 9

14 In Cetaceans, however, whose blowholes close tightly as they submerge (and stay closed until they resurface), the advantage of a well-developed sense of smell seems limited. Even though some of the anatomical features for both smell and taste exist in some of the species (like olfactory bulb, taste buds), little evidence of their function has been found. Pinnipeds, on the other hand, have a well-developed sense of smell, (remember, they are members of the order Carnivores!) and probably also of taste. Touch Cetaceans have sensitive skin, and it is likely that in those species that have bristles on their faces, deflection of these hairs informs the animal about disturbances in the water. In Pinnipeds the sense of touch is highly developed. Their vibrissae have a more complex structure than that of land mammals. They let them identify objects by touching them with their whiskers, and sense water currents created by fish swimming nearby. Blind pinnipeds have been found, who were healthy and well fed. Main Adaptations to Life in the Marine Enviornment PHYSICAL PROPERTIES WATER VS. AIR High heat capacity of water means colder environment ADAPTATIONS Insulation: blubber, fur, large body size High density and viscosity more energy needed to move High water pressure Visibility low, decreasing with greater depth Sound travels much faster and farther underwater Streamlined body shape reduces drag Special diving adaptations, e.g. collapsible lungs Cetaceans: hearing is dominant sense Odontocetes: echolocation Pinnipeds: tactile sense highly developed (vibrissae) All: Special eye adaptations All Cetaceans: sound production for communication Odontocetes: echolocation DANGER: man made loud noises interfere with marine mammal s communication & orientation 10

15 Section 3: Introduction to Cetaceans General Remarks In scientific classification, whales, dolphins, and a third, lesser known group, the porpoises, make up the order of Cetaceans (from the Latin word cetus, a large sea animal). The order of Cetaceans is divided into two suborders, baleen whales (Mysticeti or Mysticetes) and toothed whales (Odontoceti, or Odontocetes). The two groups are distinguished by two main characteristics: baleen whales have baleen and a double blowhole (nostril), while toothed whales have teeth and a single blowhole. In all baleen whales females are about 5% larger than males. In toothed whales it is the opposite: males are larger than females in all except the porpoises and river dolphins. Baleen whales include most of the larger whales (blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, Minke whales, gray whales, right whales). Instead of teeth, they have baleen plates hanging down from their elongated upper jaws. These plates form an elaborate filtering system, which allows the baleen whales to take advantage of the most abundant food source in the ocean: small schooling fish, krill, and even smaller zooplankton. Toothed whales include the sperm whale, beluga and narwhal, beaked whales, all of the dolphins (including the orca or killer whale), and porpoises. They feed mostly on squid and fish, one piece of prey at a time. Some species also feed on crustaceans and Orcas feed on marine mammals. Suborder Mysticeti, Baleen Whales Classification Family Balaenidae: Bowhead whale, Northern and Southern Right whales Family Eschrichtiidae: Gray Whale, only member in this family Family Balaenopteridae: the Rorquals (Blue, Fin, Minke, Humpback, Sei, and Bryde s whales) Family Neobalaenidae: Pigmy Right whale, in southern hemisphere only 11

16 Minke whale Humpback whale Blue whale Gray whale Fin whale Size comparison of the mysticetes in our area. The gray whale averages 45 feet long. Unlike the other whales in this picture, the gray whale is not a rorqual. Evolution According to the fossil record, baleen whales evolved from early forms of whales with teeth, via transitional stages that had both teeth and baleen, to the ancestors of modern Mysticetes with baleen only. Even in modern baleen whales, there are tooth buds in the embryonic stage, which are reabsorbed before birth. Baleen Filter feeding, using baleen, is an adaptation that allows these whales to take in large quantities of water or sediment containing high concentrations of very small prey organisms in one mouthful. Baleen is a strong, yet flexible material made out of keratin, the same as hair and fingernails. A whale s baleen consists of several hundred individual plates that hang down from the upper jaw in two racks, like vertical blinds, one on each side of the mouth. The inner surface of the baleen features a dense fringed, broom-like mat, which retains the food organisms, while allowing the water to flow out of the mouth through the spaces between plates. In the days of commercial whaling, baleen, called whale bone by the Whalers, was one of the main products harvested from whales, besides blubber. Baleen was used for corset stays, umbrella frames, buggie whips, and many other items now made of plastic. The name of the suborder Mysticeti comes from the Greek word for moustache. 12

17 Feeding Strategies Baleen whales have evolved three types of filter feeding strategies. Their body shape reflects these different strategies: Skimming: Right and Bowhead Whales These whales heads have a strongly arched rostrum and very long, fine-textured baleen no throat grooves. They feed by swimming slowly (2 6 mph) with their jaws held open through concentrations of crustaceans at the surface and deeper in the water column, straining the soup of plankton. Lunging or Gulping: Rorquals One of the rorqual s most remarkable adaptations for feeding is the presence of throat grooves. Their feeding mechanism has been described as the largest biomechanical event that has existed on earth. With their streamlined bodies rorquals are able to swim into a ball of krill or school of fish at great speed to take in huge quantities of water and prey in one big gulp. During gulping, their throat grooves open like pleats, accordion-style, allowing the mouth cavity to expand four times in circumference, filling it with a volume of water equivalent to 70% of their body weight. Rorqual baleen is relatively short, and ranges from fine to medium texture. Bottom Feeding: Gray Whales Gray whales heads are straight and relatively short, with only 3 5 throat grooves and short, coarse baleen. In their arctic feeding grounds, gray whales dive to the shallow sea floor, roll to one side and suck in sediment and benthic invertebrates, with some distention of their throat grooves. Water and mud are expelled through the side of the mouth, while food items, mostly crustaceans (amphipods) and tube worms are retained on the baleen to be swallowed. Most gray whales (and many rorquals too) exhibit a strong right side preference while filter feeding. This preference in gray whales results in shorter baleen and fewer barnacles on the right side. The benthic foraging behavior of gray whales creates large pits the size of a small car in the sea floor, a disturbance which is an important factor in the ecology of soft bottom benthic communities. It has been compared to ploughing the ocean floor. During migration, some gray whales have been observed to also use the other feeding strategies, skim or even lunge feeding on small fish or plankton. In all Mysticetes the large, muscular, very flexible tongue plays an important role in creating suction, forcing water out through the baleen, and brushing prey items off the baleen mat for swallowing. 13

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19 Section 4: Introduction to the Gray Whale Migration The only member of the family Eschrichtiidae, the gray whale is a coastal whale and undertakes one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling miles one way along the North American Pacific Coast from the arctic summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Sea to the warm waters of the lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. In the lagoons they give birth and mate. Swimming at a speed of 3 4 mph, it takes the whales 2 2 ½ months to make the trip. With changing ice conditions, gray whales have been found feeding farther north, which can increase the length of their migration. Only humpback whales make migrations of similar length. The first whales usually arrive in the San Diego area in mid-december. January marks the peak of whales passing by San Diego. February is the turnaround point, when the first whales are heading north, and the last ones still coming south. In March many more whales can be observed on their return trip, taking a different route much farther offshore at the 9-mile bank, where ocean depth changes abruptly from a few hundred to as much as 3,000. Frequently visible from shore during the southbound migration, gray whales provide a unique opportunity for land and boat observation, and commercial whale watching has become a major industry along its migration route. Visitors to the calving and breeding lagoons sometimes encounter the phenomenon of the friendlies, gray whales that closely approach small boats and allow themselves be touched by humans. Ray Gilmore, Research Associate at the San Diego Natural History Museum, started some of the first whale watching excursions in 1957 and became an expert on the species. Description Gray whales have a streamlined body, with a narrow, tapered head. The upper jaw is arched in profile, and slightly overlaps the lower jaw. The rostrum (upper jaw) is dimpled and each of the little depressions contains one stiff hair. About 2/3 of the way back on its body is a prominent dorsal hump followed by a series of 6 12 knuckles along the dorsal ridge that extend to the flukes (tail lobes). The flippers are paddle-shaped and pointed at the tips. Barnacles and whale 15

20 lice cover various places on the body, especially on the head, giving the gray whale its mottled appearance. Adult males measure feet and adult females slightly more. Both sexes weigh tons. Similar Species Sperm whale Humpback whale North Pacific right whale Bowhead whale Behavior Gray whales are typical of the mysticetes in that they do not form lasting family associations. They frequently travel alone or in small groups, although large aggregations can occur on both breeding and feeding grounds. Occasional associations along the migratory route are considered to be like people crossing the street at a traffic light, without a persistent pattern of belonging together. The gray whale s blow can be either columnar or, when seen from the front or back, characteristically heart-shaped. A gray whale that has come to the surface will typically go for a series of short, shallow dives at intervals of seconds, surfacing and spouting after each dive, a behavior called snorkeling. When the whale arches its back, showing Photo Courtesy of Leslie Rapp its knuckles, observers know it will go for a deeper dive, called sounding, often raising its fluke. This (the photo moment!) means that the whale will stay down longer, anywhere from 3 8 minutes. Under good conditions fluke prints can be seen on the water surface where the whale went by, a row of 3 4 large slick circular patches created by the motion of the fluke under water. Breaching is relatively common in this species, and they also regularly spyhop (raise their head out of the water), but the function of both these behaviors is unclear. 16

21 Like all cetaceans so far examined, gray whales do sleep, but only with one half of their brain ( uni-hemispheric slowwave sleep ). This facilitates continuous swimming motions, voluntary breathing, and awareness of their surroundings. Food and Foraging Gray whales have a unique feeding pattern. They feed on small crustaceans such as amphipods and also tube worms found in bottom sediments. They dive to the bottom of the ocean, turn on their side (mostly their right side) and scoop large amounts of sediment from the ocean floor. As a whale closes its mouth, water, and sediments are expelled through the baleen plates, which trap the food items on the inside and are then swiped by the tongue to be swallowed. Photo courtesy of Joe McKenna Gray whales feed mainly in the cold arctic waters during the summer. Adult males and adult pregnant or lactating females rarely eat on their journey to and from the lagoons of Baja, since their preferred diet is not available in warmer waters. Reports of apparent feeding behavior in winter lagoons are fragmentary, often anecdotal and sometimes contradictory. However juveniles and sub-adults, who often do not make the entire migration, seem to forage almost anywhere in the migratory range. Some whales have even been observed (through acoustic signals) to spend the winter near Barrow, Alaska. A small group of a few hundred whales called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group are residents, some year-round in near-shore areas from Northern California to British Columbia, where they feed on tube worms living in the sediment and crab larvae and mysids that swarm just above the sea floor. Reproduction Mating and calving occur primarily in the lagoons in Baja California, Mexico, although both have been observed during migration. Gestation is estimated to last months. Pregnant females are the first to arrive at the lagoons, and the last to leave, giving their calves a chance to grow before the long trip up north. Mothers nurse their calves for 6 7 months with milk that is almost 50% fat (cow s milk is 4% fat), while living off the fat reserves in their blubber. Females bear a single calf at intervals of 2 3 years. Courtship and mating are complex and not well understood. Groups of a single female and multiple males are often observed. Amphipod On their journey north, gray whale calves are at high risk of predation by mammal-eating killer whales, first in Monterey Bay, and then again farther north, as they enter the Bering Sea. Gray whale mothers keep their calves close to shore and in kelp beds wherever possible to elude the predators, and they defend them aggressively, often with success. Still, there is evidence that killer whales are responsible for removing as much as a third of the annual calf production. 17

22 Status and Conservation Today two distinct populations of gray whales exist in the eastern and western North Pacific. The western Pacific population numbers is as few as 150 individuals, while those on the eastern side are estimated at 20,000 individuals. Both populations were heavily exploited during the 19 th and beginning of the 20 th century. The eastern population has been called a model of stock recovery. Thanks to limited protection given the whales in 1946 with the establishment of the International Whaling Commission ( for the orderly development of the whaling industry ), and especially the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act in 1972 and 1973 respectively, the population grew back from an extreme low in 1870 of maybe 4,000 whales to 18,000, and was removed from the Endangered Species Act in The Western Pacific Gray Whale, however is one of the most critically endangered whale stocks in the world, having been hunted commercially by Korea as late as Surviving animals continue to be threatened by entanglement in fishing gear, oil and gas exploration on their feeding grounds off Sakhalin Island, and even occasional exploitation by Japanese fishermen. It is not known where their calving grounds are. Recently NOAA researchers tracked some individuals from the western Pacific stock to the lagoons of Baja, an amazingly long migration. It is not clear if there is interbreeding between the two stocks. A third, North Atlantic population of gray whales appears to have been in existence as recently as the 17 th century. Whether early, unrecorded coastal whaling was wholly responsible for, or merely hastened the extinction of an already declining population, remains unknown. History of the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale Population 1855 Charles Scammon discovers Mexican lagoon, Ojo de Liebre, where gray whales spend the winter and give birth. Heavy hunting of whales, including mothers with calves, in all four Mexican breeding lagoons Gray Whale population down to about 4,000; hunting is no longer profitable. Population recovers somewhat Norwegian factory ships resume hunting in Magdalena Bay International treaty for protection of whales, but hunt continues by Norway, Russia, Japan and America International Whaling Commission (IWC) established, for the orderly development of the whaling industry. Sightings from Scripps by Carl Hubbs Marine Mammal Protection Act gives the gray whale protection Endangered Species Act, gray whale declared an endangered species Removed from Endangered Species List. Population estimated at 18, Estimate is 20,000, according the NOAA research studies. 18

23 Whale Numbers to Remember Please remember when conveying the below information, use ranges of numbers not absolutes. There are always individual variations just like in humans. Different sources can quote different numbers so be aware that science is always learning and older sources may be out of date. Adult Gray Whale Length: ft. Weight: tons Width of fluke: ft. Gray Whale Calf Migration Reproduction Length: ~15 ft. Weight: 1,100-1,500 pounds Impacted by weather conditions; therefore, these figures are averages 5,000 6,000 miles one way, 10,000 12,000 miles round trip (changes in ice melt may increase length of migration as whales feed farther north) Cruising speed: 3 4 knots (1 knot=1.15 miles per hour) Distance traveled per day: miles Duration of trip, one way: 2 2½ months Sexual maturity reached at 5 11 years; males when they are just over 36 ft. long; females when they are around 38 ft. long Gestation: months 1 calf every 2 3 years Milk contains approximately 50% fat, and calves drink approximately 50 gallons a day Nurses for 9 months; weight almost doubles and grows to about 23 ft. long during that time Diving and Feeding Typical dive depths up to 200 ft. Average dive lasts 5 minutes; maximum 20 minutes Blow (spout) after dive is 15 ft. high; 100 gallons of moist air Baleen used in feeding process; plates on each side; 10 inches long Feeding grounds, Bering Sea: 165 ft. deep, Chukchi Sea: 225 ft. deep Amount of food consumed while in the feeding grounds: lbs. per day depending on the weight of the whale. (Whales consume about 6% of their body weight a day.) 19 Photo Courtesy of Diane Cullins

24 Age Estimated at years Estimated Population 20,990 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stock estimate for 2015) Barnacles and Whale Lice The skin of gray whales is host to two types of large and numerous traveling companions or hitchhikers : one species of barnacle and three or four species of whale lice, both members of the subphylum Crustacea. Barnacles are unique among Crustaceans (a group including shrimp, lobsters, crabs) in being permanently attached as adults on a variety of solid objects rocks, boats, wharf pilings, sea shells and several species of slow-swimming whales, in particular right whales, humpback whales, and gray whales. The barnacle found on gray whales, Cryptolepas rhachianecti, is host-specific, that is, it is only found on the gray whale. Gray whales have the distinction of carrying the most barnacles of any baleen whale. Figures given vary from lbs. The barnacle s life cycle generally includes six free-swimming planktonic stages (called Nauplius) that feed while progressing by molts to the Cypris stage, which stops feeding and searches for a place to settle. The Cypris anchors itself by secreting a cement from glands in its antennae, and metamorphoses into a juvenile barnacle, secreting the calcareous plates that constitute its home. The 19 th century naturalist Louis Agassiz described barnacles as a little shrimp-like animal, standing on its head in a lime-stone house, kicking food into its mouth. Through an opening in the center of the barnacle, six pairs of feathery legs emerge to sweep through the water like a net, catching small planktonic organisms. Barnacles orient themselves so that their filtering baskets face the flow of water over the whale s body. Most barnacles are hermaphrodites (producing both eggs and sperm). The gray whale barnacles breeding season is synchronous with that of the gray whales breeding season in the lagoons. Warm water and a high density of potential hosts gives the barnacle larvae a better chance of survival. 20

25 Whale Lice (singular: a louse) are also Crustaceans, not insects like the lice we are familiar with, and they are in the same taxonomic group, Amphipoda, that also includes the amphipods, which are the main prey of gray whales. Whale lice are much more widely distributed among whales of different species, and even dolphins, than barnacles. Most belong to the genus Cyamus, and some are host-specific (they occur only on one species). Gray whales are host to three or four different species of whale lice. Two of these, Cyamus scammoni, the largest and most abundant, and Cyamus kessleri are specific to the gray whale. Unlike barnacles, who have free-swimming larval stages, but as adults remain permanently attached to their substrate (the whale), whale lice spend their entire life on their host, but can move around. Sharp hooks on their legs assure them a firm grip on the whale s skin. They aggregate in areas of reduced water flow, such as the grooves of the throat pleats, blowholes, eyes, flippers, regions around barnacles, wounds, and genital slits, where they feed on dead or damaged skin. Whale lice are transferred between whales as they touch, during mating and from mother to calf. Female whale lice brood their young in a pouch-like structure on the underside of their bodies. The young whale lice, only about half a millimeter in length, but already resembling an adult, develop in this pouch, crawling in and out, until they leave for good after 2 3 months. Both barnacles and especially whale lice are often referred to as parasites. While barnacles do not get their food from the whales, they do add drag to the otherwise smooth, streamlined body of a whale. Whale lice do feed off their hosts (the whale s skin), which could qualify them as parasites. However, there is no conclusive evidence whether this is beneficial or harmful to the whale, or both, depending on circumstances. 21

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27 Section 5: Rorquals The rorquals or Balaenopteridae are the largest family of the suborder Mysticetes with about 7 species and some subspecies. Blue, Fin, Sei, Bryde s, and Minke whales all belong to the same genus, Balaenoptera. The humpback whale is different enough to be in a separate genus, Megaptera. Balaenoptera species are sleek, fast-swimming whales with a small, but distinct, often falcate (curved) dorsal fin and a varying number of ventral pleats (30 100, depending on the size of the species). Members of this group have been described as different sizes of the same model at least in terms of their shape; coloration varies. The four species seen fairly regularly off the coast of San Diego are the Blue, Fin, Minke and Humpback whale. One way to tell a Minke whale from the two larger Balaenoptera species is by looking at its blow and dorsal fin: When they surface, in the Minke whale the blowhole and dorsal fin are seen simultaneously, whereas in the blue and fin whale the dorsal fin appears well after the blowholes and blow. (Sei and Bryde s whales are like the MInke whale, but not likely to be seen here.) Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus The blue whale is often called the largest animal that ever lived on earth. This statement may have to be revised. In 2014 fossil bones of a dinosaur estimated to be 130 long and 65 tall were found in Patagonia, Argentina. (Some of these bones are now at the American Museum of Natural History in NY, as we were told by a passenger on Hornblower) The dinosaur was named Leinkupal laticauda, its name derived from the local native language. Physical Description The blue whale has a huge body, up to 85 in the northern hemisphere, and can weigh over 100 tons. Southern hemisphere blue whales are even larger; the maximum length recorded from one individual being 110. The head is U-shaped when seen from above and flat in profile, with a massive splashguard that rises before two large blowholes. The surprisingly tiny triangular or falcate dorsal fin is set far back on the body. The broad, triangular flukes are often raised during a dive. The blow is up to 30 tall and columnar. Coloration Are blue whales really blue? Kenneth Brower, in National Geographic March 2009 writes: As one field guide describes it, the blue whale is a light bluish gray overall, mottled with gray or grayish white and indeed, the back is often this advertised color, but just as often, depending on the light, the back shows a silver gray or pale tan. If blue whales above water are 23

28 generally considered blue, then below the surface they go indubitably turquoise. Note that other whales and even Risso s dolphins can also appear blue under water. The blue whale s variable mottling patterns have been used for photo identification of individual whales. Feeding Blue whales are thought to feed almost exclusively on krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean. Being such large animals, they need to feed year-round, wherever krill is available, consuming 4 tons or more each day. They feed by lunging into schools of prey. There are ventral grooves, or pleats, extending from the lower jaw to near the navel. These grooves expand when the whale feeds, allowing it to take in huge gulps of water and prey. It is interesting to note that the largest animal on earth eats some of the smallest prey. When blue whales are feeding at the surface, large masses of orange-colored poop can often be seen and smelled. Distribution and Migration Blue whales may be found in all oceans of the world. Their seasonal movements are complex and not well understood. Much of the population migrates to lower latitudes during winter, sometimes to productive areas, where feeding continues. Here they mate and give birth to calves. They can feed throughout their range in polar, temperate, and even tropical waters. During the summer months, blue whales have been seen feeding off the coast of California. Behavior Blue whales are fast, strong swimmers, said to reach 30 mph in bursts of speed when alarmed, but they usually cruise along at about 12 mph. Though they may be found singly or in small groups, it is more common to see blue whales in pairs. Groups of whales have been observed occasionally. Blue whales produce some of the loudest and lowest sounds of any animal, 188 decibels and Hz, which as humans we feel rather than hear. With these calls blue whales can communicate with each other over hundreds of kilometers, across whole ocean basins. Mating and Breeding Sexual maturity is reached between the ages of 6 10 years. Mating and breeding take place during fall and winter, and calves are born at intervals of 2 3 years. Gestation is estimated at months. A newborn calf weighs about 3 tons and measures While nursing, it consumes 100 gallons of high-fat milk each day, gaining 200 lbs per day, or 8 lbs an hour, until weaning time 7 or 8 months later, when it will weigh approximately 23 tons and measure 52. Most of these data must have been obtained from calculations based on measurements of dead animals, because until fairly recently, nothing was known about the blue whale s breeding grounds. Mothers with calves were seen in the Sea of Cortez and along the California coast, but they were not newborns, and a birth had never been observed. Studies by two of the most prominent whale researchers of the US west coast, Bruce Mate and John Calambokidis, (reported on in National Geographic March 2009), have shown that the 24 Krill

29 Costa Rica Dome, an area of upwelling of nutrient-rich water miles west of Costa Rica may be the place where blue whales migrate during the winter. Through years of satellite tagging and photo ID they were able to document that whales seen earlier along the California coast were spending as much as 5 months at the dome, mating, breeding and feeding, and they did encounter a newborn calf up close. Status and Conservation Because of their enormous size and speed, blue whales were safe from early Whalers, who could not pursue them in open boats with hand harpoons. But with the invention of the exploding harpoon gun in 1868, and the use of steam and diesel powered factory ships and catcher boats, the whaling industry began to focus on the blue whales after In the southern hemisphere alone, 390,000 were killed in the first half of the 20 th century. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned all hunting of blue whales in 1966, giving them worldwide protection. Recovery has been extremely slow, and presently there are an estimated 5 10,000 blue whales in the southern hemisphere, and only around 3 4,000 in the northern hemisphere. A population of around 2,000 individuals that summer off the coast of California may be the only population that is truly thriving. Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus The fin, or finback whale is second only to the blue whale in size and weight. Among the fastest of the great whales, it is capable of bursts of speed up to 30 mph, leading to its description as the greyhound of the seas. Blue whales are also said to be capable of 30 mph bursts of speed, but their cruising speed is given as 12 mph, whereas the fin whale swims at mph, and it probably got its name greyhound of the seas long before actual measurements were made. The most unusual characteristic of the fin whale is the asymmetrical coloring of the lower jaw, which is white or creamy yellow on the right side, and mottled black on the left side. Physical Description The fin whale is long, sleek, and streamlined, with a V-shaped head, which is flat on top. A single ridge extends from the blowhole to the tip of the rostrum (upper jaw). There is a series of throat pleats or grooves extending from the lower jaw to the navel. The fin whale has a prominent, slightly falcate (curved) dorsal fin located far back on its body. Its flippers are small and tapered, and its flukes are wide, pointed at the tips, with a notch at the center. Fin whales do not normally raise their flukes when diving. Adults measure up to feet in the northern hemisphere and slightly more in the southern hemisphere. As in all mysticetes, females are slightly larger than males. Weight for both sexes is between tons. 25

30 Coloration The fin whale is slate gray to brownish-black on its back and sides. Most individuals have lighter swirls (called the blaze ) on the right side of the head and a V-shaped chevron across the back behind the head. The underside of the body, flippers and flukes are white. The lower jaw is gray or black on the left side, and creamy white on the right side. This asymmetrical coloration extends to the baleen plates as well, and is reversed on the tongue. Feeding Fin whales feed mainly on krill, some other crustaceans, and schooling fish. They have been observed circling schools of fish at high speed, rolling the fish into a compact ball, then turning on their right side to engulf all the fish in one big gulp. It has been suggested that the asymmetrical color pattern of their jaw may aid in this method of capturing prey. The dark left side on top and light right side below create counter shading, a feature common in marine animals. Distribution and Migration A cosmopolitan species, the fin whale occurs in all major oceans, usually in temperate and polar latitudes and less commonly in the tropics. Although fin whales tend to concentrate in coastal and shelf waters, they can also be found in the deep ocean. Their seasonal movements appear to be complex. Behavior Fin whales are usually found traveling alone or in small groups, but large unassociated aggregations can occur on feeding grounds. Mixed schools of blue and fin whales are often found in feeding areas, and these associations, combined with the evolutionary proximity of the two species makes blue-fin hybrids relatively common. Like blue whales, fin whales make very loud low-frequency vocalizations that can travel over hundreds of miles in deep water. Whether these are used to communicate over such distances is unknown. The fin whale s blow is tall and shaped like an inverted cone, and the dive sequence is 5 8 blows approximately 70 seconds apart before a long dive, which can be as deep as 1,800 (another source says limited to 600 feet ). Fin whales only rarely raise their flukes when they dive. Mating and Breeding No distinct breeding or calving grounds have been identified for the fin whale, and scientists know very little about this species mating system. Females usually give birth to a single calf every 2 3 years during the winter, after a gestation period of months. Calves are weaned after 6 7 months. Status and Conservation Like blue whales, the fin whales were safe from early whalers thanks to their speed and the fact that they prefer the vastness of the open sea. With modern whaling methods, however, they became easy victims. As blue whale populations became depleted, the whaling industry turned to the smaller, still abundant fin whales as a replacement. Between 1935 and 1965, as many as 30,000 fin whales were slaughtered each year. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) placed them under full protection in 1966, beginning with the North Pacific population. Precise 26

31 estimates are unavailable today, but it is thought that present populations are about 40,000 in the northern hemisphere and 15,000 20,000 in the southern hemisphere, just a small percentage of the original population levels. Minke Whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata When a whale or dolphin carries the name of a person, like Risso s Dolphin, Eschrichtius, the gray whale s scientific name, or many of the beaked whales, it is usually the name of the scientist or naturalist who first described it. The Minke whale has a different story. A novice whale-spotter on a Norwegian whaling boat named Meincke called out a sighting of this whale at a time when it was considered worthless, too small to be hunted. Crew members made fun of him, and from then on, these small whales were called Minke s whales. Originally only one species of Minke whale had been described, B. acutorostrata (meaning sharp snout ), the Common Minke Whale. As morphological and genetic evidence accumulated, the Antarctic Minke whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis (meaning from around Buenos Aires ) was recognized as a separate species. Physical description This whale does not lend itself to being easily noticed. Its low, diffuse spout is easily overlooked. Just in length and 5 10 tons in weight when fully grown, it is the smallest of the rorquals. The dorsal fin that emerges from the water is scarcely taller than a wavelet. This is why the Minke is often called the elusive whale. A closer look under good conditions reveals the narrow, pointed triangular rostrum ( acutorostrata ), a single ridge extending from the tip of the rostrum to the blowhole, ventral pleats and the falcate dorsal fin. Coloration The Minke whale is counter-shaded, black to dark gray on top and white below, often with a gray chevron crossing the back behind the head. A white band across the flipper is diagnostic for the species. Feeding In terms of feeding, the Minke whale occupies the niche of the versatile generalist. Thanks to its modest size, speed and agility, combined with its learning ability (for locating and remembering good feeding sites), the Minke has a tremendously successful lifestyle, making use of a large variety of food sources. Like all rorquals, they do lunge feeding for krill and smaller plankton, as well as various schooling fish, often forced into a tight ball by sea gulls. They can also chase down big fish like cod or salmon (up to 3 long) one-on-one all depending on the area and availability of prey. 27

32 Distribution and Migration Thanks to this adaptability, Minkes are now the most widely distributed of all baleen whales. B. acutorostrata occurs in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, from tropical to polar waters. Generally, they inhabit warmer waters during winter and travel north to colder regions in the summer, with some animals migrating as far as the ice edge. Minkes are frequently observed in coastal or shelf waters. Females remain close to shore; males are farther out to sea. Some Minkes migrate long distances, while others move only within a restricted area. In some areas, Minkes may be found year-round. Behavior Common Minke whales are noted for their curiosity about ships, often coming from afar to cross the bow or run with the vessel for minutes or hours. They are fast swimmers, said to be capable of swimming at 21 mph. Both species of Minke whales are preyed upon by killer whales, especially in Antarctica. Mating and Breeding Very little is known about the reproductive and breeding habits of Minke whales. There is good evidence that many females give birth annually. Pregnancy rates remain at 90% for most of the year, suggesting an annual cycle. Calving is thought to occur in winter after a gestation of approximately 10 months. Calves appear to attain independence at about six months old; the extreme rarity of mother-calf pair sightings anywhere in high latitudes suggests that females wean their calves prior to their arrival at the summer feeding grounds. Mating is presumed to occur in winter. Status and Conservation As the larger whale species became depleted, whalers began to hunt Minke whales, which in earlier days were considered too small to make a worthwhile catch. Since the late 1960s and 1970s, Japan, Russia (which has now ceased whaling), and Norway have focused their whaling efforts on Minke whales. Hunting for Minke whales continues today by Norway in the northeastern North Atlantic, and by Japan, as scientific whaling. However, the meat harvested from this scientific whaling is sold and used as food. Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Perhaps the most familiar of the great whales, and certainly the favorite of whale watchers, the Humpback whale is the only species in the genus Megaptera, and it is indeed unique in so many ways: Most acrobatic Longest flippers Haunting songs, produced by males only Cooperative feeding, using bubble nets One of the longest migrations, similar to the gray whale Best studied of all the great whales (photo ID) 28

33 Physical Description The humpback whale s long flippers, the longest of any cetacean, make the species virtually unmistakable at close range. The flippers also give this whale its scientific name: Megaptera is Greek for big wing, and novae angliae is Latin for from New England, the origin of the specimen first described in The humpback whale has a large, robust body. Length weight tons (similar to a gray whale, or a little larger).the head and lower jaw have a variable number of protuberances, called tubercles. Ventral pleats are fewer and wider than in other rorquals, only in number. The long, narrow flippers are approximately one third the length of the body. The dorsal fin, highly variable in form from almost absent to high and falcate (curved) is located on a hump, which is particularly noticeable when the whale arches its back during a dive. The trailing margin of the flukes is prominently serrated. Coloration The humpback s body is black above, and black, white or mottled below. The flippers are usually white ventrally; the coloration on the dorsal surface varies with the geographic region. The flukes are black above and have a highly variable pattern below, which is distinctive for each individual. These markings on the underside of the humpback s flukes make it possible to identify individual whales by a technique called photo identification ( photo ID ), which was first developed by Roger Payne in 1969 in his studies of Right whales off the coast of Argentina. Photo ID revolutionized the way whale research is done. Extensive catalogs with thousands of pictures of humpback whale flukes have been created and are used to track the whales movements, pregnancies, and general life history. Over the years, the method has been applied and adapted to other whales, and even dolphins. Feeding As rorquals, humpback whales use the lunge feeding strategy, eating krill and small schooling fish. But they have perfected this method with a special technique called bubble net feeding. One whale dives and blows bubbles in a spiral pattern around a shoal of fish, driving them into a tight ball toward the surface, where other whales then take large gulps of their prey. Bubble feeding behaviors appear to vary in nature among individuals and regions. Distribution and Migration Humpback whales are found worldwide in all major oceans. They are highly migratory, feeding during summer in mid and high latitudes, mating and calving during winter in tropical or subtropical waters. Most whales feeding in the North Pacific migrate to Hawaii for the winter. Both humpback whales and gray whales are said to make one of the longest migrations of any mammal, about 5 6,000 miles one way. Behavior The two most remarkable behaviors of humpback whales are their acrobatic behavior, breaching, lobtailing (slapping the water with the flukes) and flipper slapping, and the songs that only males produce during breeding season. For as much as these behaviors, especially the 29

34 vocalizations, have been recorded and studied even sent into space! their exact function is still not known. Mating and Breeding Male humpback whales compete aggressively for females with lunges, tail slashes, charges and blocks. Such competitive groups consist of 2 to more than 20 males around a single female, and can last for hours. Breeding follows the typical rorqual pattern: gestation about one year, one calf born every other year, but calves remain with their mother for a year (instead of 6 7 months), rarely two years. Status and conservation Humpback whales were hunted extensively by commercial whalers in the 20 th century as late as 1983, and were reduced to perhaps 10% of the original numbers worldwide. Despite this, most humpback populations appear to be recovering well from exploitation. New threats like for all of the great whales are ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, noise and other pollution in the ocean, and ocean warming, which affects their food supply. 30

35 Section 6: Odontocetes (Toothed Whales) Suborder Family Family Family Family Family Odontoceti (Odontocetes, toothed whales) Physeteridae: the Sperm whale Monodontidae: Narwhal and Beluga whale Ziphiidae: Beaked whales Delphinidae: Ocean dolphins, Orca, Pilot whales Phocoenidae: Porpoises There are five more families of Odontocetes, including several river dolphins. Toothed Whales are a much more numerous and diverse group than baleen whales. They have at least some teeth at some stage in their life and catch larger prey items, such as squid and fish, swallowing them whole. General Characteristics The presence of teeth instead of baleen A single blowhole on top of their head (baleen whales have a double blowhole) A fatty organ, called a melon, that forms the forehead, used to focus sound waves for echolocation, perhaps the Odontocetes most unique capability. Whether an animal is called a whale or a dolphin is a matter of size. All baleen whales are whales. The sperm whale is the largest member of the toothed whales, comparable in size to the humpback whale. Next in size is the orca, which is also called killer whale, but belongs to the Dolphin family (Delphinidae). In the waters around San Diego we fairly regularly see five species of dolphins, all belonging to the family Delphinidae. Sightings of Orcas, False Killer Whales, and even Sperm Whales have occurred during gray whale season. Beluga Whales and Narwhals are only found in the Arctic. Beaked Whales are medium-sized Cetaceans (about 9 23 ), characterized by a reduced dentition, elongated rostrum (beak), and un-notched fluke. Encounters with beaked whales are rare, because they live far offshore in the open ocean, feeding on deep water squid and fish, which they catch by suction rather than by grabbing them like dolphins with rows of teeth. Recent research has shown that their ability to go for very long, deep dives equals or maybe even surpasses that of the sperm whales. 31

36 Porpoises are small members of the toothed whales that look much like dolphins. The only consistent difference between dolphins and porpoises is their teeth. Dolphins have cone-shaped teeth, and porpoises have flattened, spade-shaped teeth. Porpoises do not occur in the San Diego area. The porpoise nearest to us is the highly endangered Vaquita, in the uppermost part of the Sea of Cortez. Some confusion exists as to the use of the word porpoise. Fishermen and animal trainers call dolphins, especially the bottlenose dolphin, porpoise. These dolphins often leap out of the water when moving around, a form of locomotion called porpoising. Ironically, the real porpoises do not do this. Delphinindae, Ocean Dolphins Basic Anatomy and Behavior All Delphinidae in our area have undifferentiated teeth (all looking the same, no molars etc.), though the number and size differ among species. They have a curved dorsal fin near the center of the back, and the flukes are notched. The length of the beak is variable; the bottlenose and the two species of common dolphins have distinctive beaks, while the Pacific white-sided and Risso s dolphins have little or no beak at all. These dolphins eat various kinds of fish and squid and travel in pods that may number from just a few individuals to hundreds, even thousands, of dolphin (called megapods ). Pods have a loose social structure, with individuals frequently joining or leaving. The cohesiveness of dolphin groups differs according to behavior, with dolphins generally in more dispersed subgroups while milling, socializing and feeding, and more tightly grouped while traveling and resting. They often cooperate while herding and feeding on small schooling fish. Like all odontocetes, dolphins use echolocation to orient themselves, find prey, and avoid predators. In addition to the very high frequency clicks (up to 120 khz) they emit when echolocating, they also produce lower frequency sound waves called whistles used for communication. 32

37 Dolphin Species in Our Region Common Dolphin The common dolphin is indeed the most common meaning abundant dolphin in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Based on anatomical and genetic differences, two distinct species were recognized in 1994: The Short-beaked Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis And the Long-beaked Common Dolphin, Delphinus capensis The California coast is one of the areas where the ranges of the two species overlap, and as the picture shows, it can be difficult to tell them apart. When looking at the profile of the two species, the short-beaked common dolphin has a more rounded melon that meets the beak at a sharp angle, as compared to the long-beaked common dolphin that has a flatter melon that meets the beak at a more gradual angle. And, of course, the long-beaked form does have a longer beak. Now just imagine being out on the boat, watching these dolphins racing by, and deciding which species you are seeing! The color patterns, the most elaborate of any cetacean, don t help much either, because there is considerable variation in both species. Length and Weight Common dolphins can reach lengths of and weigh about 300 lbs. The short-beaked common dolphin is relatively heavier than the long-beaked common dolphin, and has a larger dorsal fin and flippers. Distribution Both species of common dolphin occur in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The shortbeaked common dolphin is the more widespread, offshore form, found in continental shelf and pelagic waters. The long-beaked common dolphin occurs in nearshore waters of parts of Africa, South America, China and California. This difference in distribution can be another clue for the two species identification; however, in some areas their ranges overlap. Feeding As would be expected for a species occupying a wide range of habitats, common dolphins feed on a wide variety of prey, mainly small size fish and squid, which can be swallowed whole, both at the surface during the day often accompanied by huge flocks of sea birds and during the night at the deep scattering layer. The deep scattering layer (DSL), first discovered through Navy sonar hence the name is actually a layer of living organisms, fish, squid and smaller invertebrates, which spend the day in 33

38 the depths and move closer to the surface during the night. Common dolphin have been found to dive to depths of 600. Mating and Breeding Like with feeding, there is considerable variation in reproductive behavior, depending on the region. Gestation: months, lactation: 5 6 months, in another reference at least 10 months, calving interval: 1 3 years. In temperate regions calves are usually born in the spring. Sexual maturity is reached earlier in males (2 4 years) than in females (6 8 years). Behavior Pods of hundreds and thousands of common dolphins are often seen. They are thought to be composed of smaller subunits of about closely related individuals. Associations with pods of other dolphins (like Pacific white-sided dolphins in our area) have been observed, as has bow riding on mysticete whales, possibly the origin of bow riding on vessels. Common dolphins are known for riding bow and stern waves of boats, even changing course to ride the pressure wave of fast moving vessels, and they engage in spectacular aerial behavior. Status For a long time, hundreds and thousands of common dolphins were taken incidentally, along with spinner and pantropical spotted dolphins, in purse seine nets used during tuna fishing operations in the eastern tropical Pacific. Once this practice became widely known in the 70s, it turned into an environmental issue. Gradually, regulations were put in place, the dolphin safe label for canned tuna was created, and the situation was greatly improved. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens Pacific white-sided dolphins sometimes appear in mixed pods with common dolphins. Both species are about the same size (length around 8, weight about 300 lbs.), have a bold, complex color pattern, dark above and lighter on the sides and below, and both like to bow ride and leap clear out of the water when traveling. Pacific white-sided dolphins can be readily distinguished from the common dolphin by having practically no beak and a large dorsal fin with a wash of white on it. Range and Distribution Often called Lags from their scientific name, Lagenorhynchus (which, ironically, means bottlenose ), these dolphins are found in temperate parts of the entire North Pacific in continental shelf and slope waters, in the eastern part as far north as the southern Bering sea, and south to the tip of Baja California. In southern California they become most abundant during winter, from November to April (our whale watching season), although they are seen less frequently than common dolphins. Feeding Pacific white-sided dolphins feed opportunistically on abundant species of fishes and squid, both during the day and at night. Average dives last 3 minutes, and they are not considered to be deep divers. 34

39 Reproduction Surprisingly little is known about the reproduction of such a common species. Like in the other dolphin species described here, gestation is about months. Calves are born in mid- to late summer, and the calving interval is 4 5 years. Status Until 1992, when large scale driftnet fishing was banned, 4 8,000 Pacific white-sided dolphins were killed each year as bycatch in these fishing operations. They are still hunted for food in Japan. They have been held in aquariums in the U.S., Canada and Japan, but survival rates are low. Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncates This is the archetypal dolphin, already well known to the ancient Greeks, and featuring prominently in their mythology. Today it is perhaps one of the best known cetaceans, because of its widespread use in marine parks, research facilities, and Navy training centers. It is the dolphin most frequently seen from shore in the US and elsewhere. The bottlenose dolphin is a relatively robust dolphin with an unusually short, stubby beak and a marked crease between the melon and the beak. Like the beluga whale, it has more flexibility in its neck than other oceanic dolphins, because 5 of its 7 neck vertebrae are not fused together. The color pattern consists mostly of gray tones with strong countershading (dark above, light below). Distribution Bottlenose dolphins are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. There are coastal populations that migrate into bays, estuaries and river mouths, as well as offshore populations that inhabit pelagic waters along the continental shelf. Offshore animals tend to be larger bodied and darker, with smaller flippers than their inshore counterparts. While there is much variation among bottlenose dolphins from different parts of the world, and between the inshore and offshore types, no subspecies have been recognized. Bottlenose dolphins used in marine parks and by the Navy are Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, smaller and lighter colored than the bottlenose dolphins we sometimes see on whale watching trips farther offshore. Feeding Feeding behaviors are diverse, primarily involving individual prey capture, but sometimes also coordinated efforts by several individuals, like chasing fish into mudbanks, and feeding in association with human fishing. One interesting aspect is that a large part of these dolphins diet are noise-producing fish, presumably because sound helps them locate their prey. 35

40 Mating and Breeding As in the other dolphins described here, gestation is about 12 months. Calves can be born any time of the year, with a peak during spring and summer. Unusual in this species is that lactation can continue for several years after the first year, and maternal investment for calves in the wild typically extends for about 3 6 years, with the separation often coinciding with the birth of the next calf. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Behavior Most of what we know of the general biology of dolphins comes from studies of bottlenose dolphins, both in captivity and in the wild. Bottlenose dolphins demonstrate a high level of intelligence and playfulness. They are able to recognize themselves in a mirror, and they produce so called signature whistles, which have been compared to an individual s name. Status Since bottlenose dolphins are in part a coastal species, some populations are exposed to high levels of pollution, gillnet entanglement, prey fish population collapse, and general habitat degradation. There is speculation that heavy burdens of pollutants weaken their immune system. The drive fishery in Taiji, the last one in Japan, documented in the movie The Cove still continues. In general, though, bottlenose dolphins are classified as a species of least concern by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Risso s Dolphin, Grampus griseus Encountering Risso s dolphins (named after Mr. Risso, who described them in 1812), is always a special experience. When you first spot their tall dorsal fins in the distance, you might mistake them for female killer whales. But as they come closer, there is no doubt that these are Risso s dolphins, the 5 th largest members of the family Delphinidae. Description Both males and females can reach up to 12.5 in length. Their anterior body is extremely robust, tapering to a relatively narrow tail stock, and their dorsal fin is one of the tallest in proportion to body length of any cetacean. The bulbous head with no beak has a distinct vertical crease along the surface of the melon. Coloration In this species, the color patterns change dramatically with age. Very young calves are gray brown dorsally and creamy white ventrally, with a white anchor-shaped patch between the flippers and white around the mouth. Calves then darken to nearly black, retaining the white patch. As they mature, they lighten (except for the dorsal fin, which remains black in adults), and most of the lateral and dorsal surface of the body becomes covered with distinctive linear scars, thought to be caused by other Risso s dolphins and maybe squid beaks. Older individuals can appear almost completely white on the dorsal surface. No sexual dimorphism has been reported. 36

41 Range and Distribution Risso s dolphin have an extensive distribution in tropical and warm temperate waters of all oceans. In some areas, or possibly seasonally, they occupy a very narrow niche, best described as the steep upper continental slope, where water depths usually exceed 1,000. They also move onto the shelf at times, presumably in response to squid availability. Although seasonal shifts in density occur, clear migratory patterns have not been defined. There is suggestive evidence that changed ecological conditions in at least two areas, the northern Gulf of Mexico and off southern California, resulted in Risso s dolphins moving into waters previously occupied by Short-finned Pilot Whales. Feeding Risso s dolphins are squid specialists. They occasionally consume octopus and cuttlefish as well, but there is little evidence that they regularly eat fish or crustaceans. Much of their feeding takes place at night, possibly because some prey species migrate towards the surface then. Reproduction Life history information about this species is very limited, and data given by different sources do not agree with each other. Behavior Risso s dolphins are usually seen in groups of individuals, averaging 25. Large aggregations of , or even several thousand are seen occasionally. They are often encountered in mixed schools with various other odontocetes. They can be playful and acrobatic during intervals of rest near the surface, with displays of breaching, fluke and flipper slapping fairly common. Dives may last half an hour. Status Risso s dolphin appears abundant, widely distributed, and not immediately threatened globally. They are exposed to the usual threats that all dolphins (and whales) face: bycatch and entanglement through various fishing operations, deliberate catch for food in some parts of the world, ingestion of plastic mistaken for food, and contamination with pollutants. Numbers off the US west coast are estimated at 30,000 (from Audubon Guide to Marine Mammals of the World, 2002). Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whales have been seen just once for several days during our more than ten years of doing Hornblower whale watching cruises. But the sperm whale is an animal of extremes, worth knowing about: Description The largest of the toothed whales, with the biggest head ( macrocephalus means just that) Females: up to 36 long, weigh 15 tons Males: 60 long, weigh 45 tons (compare this with the gray whale!) 37

42 The largest brain of any animal, weighing 16 lbs The most sophisticated echolocation organ One of the deepest and longest divers, more than 3,000 for 90 minutes A very highly developed social structure The sperm whale s appearance is dominated by its gigantic head, containing the spermaceti organ, which takes up a quarter of total body length in females and a third in males. Spermaceti, so called because to the early whalers it looked like sperm hence the whale s name is a waxy substance, which provided the finest grade oil for lubricants, candles and other purposes until the 1960 and 70s. For this highly prized product thousands of sperm whales were killed every year until they were finally protected. Behavior Sperm whales have a cosmopolitan distribution. Females form matrilineal social units consisting of several generations, which together travel widely within their home range in tropical and subtropical waters far from land. They raise their calves communally, babysitting each other s offspring, while a mother goes off for a deep dive to feed, where the young ones cannot follow, and in some cases even nursing each other s calves. They communicate with each other by special clicks called codas, which are typical for each group. Young males in their teens or before will leave their mother s unit, forming bachelor s groups, which gradually move to higher latitudes, eventually getting to the ice edges of both hemispheres. Over the years, groups become smaller, and only when they reach their late twenties do these males return to the warm water habitat of the females to mate. According to investigations done only in the last 15 years, spermaceti is part of the most complex echolocation organ found in any toothed whale which allows the sperm whale to create the most powerful and most directional clicks, reaching over ranges of hundreds of meters to tens of kilometers. Feeding On their deep dives to depths of total darkness sperm whales hunt for squid, relying on their superior echolocation capabilities. They actively pursue their prey, but do not grab the squid with the powerful teeth in their lower jaw; they suck them in. Females mostly eat squid in the 2 20 pound range; males take larger ones, but not exclusively the giant squid, as popular literature would make you believe. 38

43 Orca (Killer Whale) Orcinus orca Though seldom found off the coast of San Diego, Orcas or killer whales are so iconic, they are included in this guide. General Characteristics The Orca, or killer whale, with its striking black and white coloring, is one of the best known of all the cetaceans. It has been extensively studied in the wild and is often the main attraction at many sea parks and aquaria. The Orca is known for being a carnivorous, fast and skillful hunter, with a complex social structure. Sometimes called "the wolf of the sea," the Orca can be a fierce hunter with well-organized hunting techniques, although there are no documented cases of killer whales attacking a human in the wild. Many whale calves, dolphins, and pinnipeds are prey for these animals. Description The Orca has a striking color. Each whale can be individually identified by its markings and by the shape of its saddle patch and dorsal fin. Males can grow as large as 32 feet long and weigh 8 9 tons. Females can reach 23 feet in length and weigh up to 4 tons. By 1973, photographs were being used to identify individuals based on differences in saddle color pattern, dorsal fin shapes and other identifying marks and scars. Identified Orcas have all been numbered and careful records are kept of their re-sightings. Behavior Orcas generally live in pods (groups) consisting of several females, calves, one or more males, and/or juveniles. Some pods consist of a mother and her offspring who stay with her for life. There are resident pods off the coast of the Pacific Northwest which have been extensively studied. They feed mostly on fish. There are other pods called transient Orcas who feed on other marine mammals. Residents have a matrilineal family structure has been observed in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where resident pods have been documented as stable, consistent matriarchal family groups with several generations traveling together. Transient pods appear to be more fluid; individuals come and go, groups often contain unrelated females with offspring, offspring do not stay with their mother and pods may form solely as a temporary foraging pack. Status Although Orcas are widely distributed, total world population is still unknown. They have no natural enemies and have not been hunted as much as other whales. Recent studies suggest that a significant threat to Orcas, and other marine mammals, may come from man-made chemicals. Yet, toxins are not the only threats facing orcas. Many fish populations around the world are decreasing. This may be having a direct effect on the populations of fish-eating resident whales. Loss of fish may also cause a decline in seals and sea lions, often the primary prey of transient Orcas. 39

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45 Section 7: Pinnipeds Sea Lions and Seals Order Carnivora Suborder Pinnipedia Family Otariidae, eared seals (sea lions, fur seals) Phocidae, true seals, earless seals (harbor seal, etc.) Odobenidae, walrus General Comments The order Carnivora is divided into two suborders, the Pinnipedia (the wing-footed ones), and the Fissipedia (those with separate toes), which include all the land carnivores (cats, dogs, bears, raccoons, weasels) and also the aquatic otters. As with the terms dolphin and porpoise, there is some confusion as to the meaning of the word seal. It is often used in a general way for any pinniped, except the walrus. The performers in seal shows are actually all California sea lions, and fur seals are really eared seals. That is why Phocids are called true seals. Similar to cetaceans, pinnipeds have evolved over the past 25 million years from land mammals, gradually adapting to an aquatic life style. But unlike cetaceans, they have only gone half-way. They still spend a good part of their lives on land, and have retained some characteristics of land mammals: hind legs, fur, and in the case of the eared seals, external ear flaps. Sea Lions vs. Seals Several characteristics of sea lions indicate that, compared to seals, they are still more closely associated with life on land. Sea Lions have external ear flaps. They are able to rotate their hind flippers forward, bringing them under the body. This allows them to walk on land at remarkable speed, even climbing rocks and buoys. Sea lions swim with rowing motions of their front flippers. They often come partway out of the water, porpoising almost like dolphins. Mating and breeding take place on land. Newborn pups can walk and groom themselves within an hour of birth, but learning to swim is a much more gradual process. True seals (like the harbor seal) have adapted more fully to life in the water. In the process of streamlining the body, they, like cetaceans, have lost their external ears. They cannot rotate their hind flippers forward, so on sandy or rocky beaches they have to propel themselves awkwardly on their bellies, with the help of their front flippers. On ice, however, where many 41

46 species of Phocids live, they glide along fast and seemingly without effort. They swim with sideways motions of their rear end and hind flippers. Like sea lions, seals haul out on land, but mating takes place in the water. Newborn pups in the case of the harbor seal, born on land can go swimming with their mother within an hour of birth. The only species of Pinnipeds that we routinely see on Hornblower cruises is the California sea lion it s practically a guarantee to see one! They haul out on the buoys we pass, and at the bait dock in the harbor, which captains will often pass on the way back to the pier. Sometimes we also encounter them swimming in the open ocean. On clear days, Los Coronados Islands can be seen from the boat. The following are in Mexican waters and the site of breeding colonies of three species of pinnipeds: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus Description California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and noisy barking. Their color ranges from chocolate brown in males to a lighter golden brown in females. In sea lions, there is high sexual dimorphism (males and females are different in size and other characteristics). California sea lion males may reach almost 8 in length and weigh as much as 1,000 lbs., more often 850 lbs. Females grow to a maximum of 6 and 220 lbs. Sea lions have a doglike face, and at around five years of age, males develop a bony ridge on top of their head, called a sagittal crest. This area often gets lighter with age. It gives the California sea lion its scientific name, lophus, which refers to the crest on a Greek warrior s helmet; the prefix za intensifies the meaning (like we use super or mega. ) Range and habitat California sea lions are found from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico. They breed mainly on offshore islands, ranging from the southern California s Channel Islands all the way to Mexico. A few pups have been born on Ano Nuevo and the Farallon Islands in central California. There is even a distinct population of California sea lions on the Galapagos Islands. A third population in the Sea of Japan became extinct, probably during World War II. 42

47 Behavior and Diet California sea lions are very social animals, and groups often rest closely packed together at favored haul-out sites on land, or float together on the ocean s surface in rafts. They are sometimes seen porpoising (alternating rising above the water and submerging), or jumping out of the water, presumably to speed up their swimming. Keep this in mind when you think you see dolphins in the distance. Sea lions have also been seen surfing breaking waves. California sea lions are opportunistic eaters, feeding on squid, octopus, herring, rockfish, mackerel and small sharks. Natural predators are Orcas (killer whales) and great white sharks. Mating and Breeding Most pups are born in June or July and weigh lbs. They nurse for at least five or six months and sometimes over a year. Mothers recognize pups through smell, sight and vocalizations. Pups also learn to recognize the vocalizations of their mothers. When you look at pictures of the extremely crowded rookeries, you understand how important this is. After the first few days of continuous nursing, mothers go off on prolonged foraging trips to replenish their energy, and on their return, they have to recognize their own pup to continue nursing. Status The population of California sea lions is growing steadily. They can be seen (smelled and heard) in many coastal spots, such as La Jolla Cove and Pier 39 in San Francisco. The current population is approximately 296,000 according to the 2015 NOAA stock reports. Harbor Seals, Phoca vitulina Greek and Latin for seal resembling a calf Description Harbor seals have spotted coats in a variety of shades from silver-gray to black or dark brown. They reach 5 6 in length and weigh up to 300 lbs. Unlike in sea lions, male seals are only slightly larger than females. Range and habitat Harbor seals are found north of the equator in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the northeast Pacific, they range from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. They favor near-shore coastal waters and are often seen at sandy beaches (like the Children s Pool, or Casa Pool in La Jolla), at mudflats, bays, and estuaries. 43

48 Mating and Breeding In California, harbor seal pups are born in March and April and weigh about 30 lbs at birth, considerably more than the lbs for California sea lions, even though seals are smaller. These pups are more highly developed when they are born; they can swim within their first hour and will sometimes ride on their mother s back when tired. The pups are weaned after only about 4 weeks (unlike sea lions, which nurse for at least 6 months). Adult females mate and give birth every year. They may live years. Behavior and Diet Harbor seals spend about half their time on land and half in water, and they sometimes sleep in the water. They can dive to 1,500 for up to 40 minutes, although their average dive lasts less than three to seven minutes and is typically shallow. They are opportunistic feeders, eating sole, flounder, sculpin, hake, cod, herring, octopus, and squid. They are usually found in small groups, but sometimes occur in numbers of 500. Status The harbor seal population in the eastern north Pacific is estimated to be 300,000 and in California the estimated population was 30,900 according to the 2015 NOAA stock reports. 44

49 Section 8: Other Marine Life You May See Kelp Forests On most Hornblower trips you may see the kelp beds that grow just offshore from Point Loma. It is a vast expanse of what people often refer to as a plant, but is actually a form of brown macroalgae (Protists). You may come across individual pieces of kelp floating in the water. Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, is Southern California s most important seaweed, forming giant underwater beds that reach up to the surface from as far down as 90 feet. Giant kelp is considered the fastest growing organism, capable of increasing in length 1 to 2 feet per day. Giant kelp (internet image) from: Macrocystis has long stem-like stipes that rise to the surface from a large mound-like holdfast anchored in the sand or rocks. Along their length, the stipe holds many broad, wrinkled blades, each with an air-filled bladder, or float, at the base. The floats keep the blade upright. Sometimes you will see a different, rather striking species of kelp floating at the surface, the Elkhorn Kelp or Bullwhip (Pelagophycus sp.). It has a single gas-filled float the size of a tennis, or baseball, with two antler-like extensions that bear long, broad blades. Kelp favors nutrient-rich, cool, clear water conditions through which sunlight penetrates easily. They use the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into the carbohydrates that provide them nutrients through the process of photosynthesis. Kelp grows most successfully in regions of upwelling (regions where the ocean layers overturn, bringing cool, nutrient-rich bottom waters to the surface) and regions with continuously cold, high-nutrient waters. Kelp serves many functions within the marine ecosystem, including: food, shelter, attaching surface, nursery, and hunting grounds for predators. Kelp forests are the producers, and are grazed upon by sea urchins and some snails. Filter feeders, larval stages of many different species, and scavengers (hermit crabs, anemones, and certain kinds of worms, snails and fish) take shelter in the kelp bed. Sea stars, lobsters, octopi, and fish, in turn, prey upon these organisms. Historic kelp beds in Southern California have been reduced by more than 80 percent during the past 100 years. Though natural disturbances, such as heavy storms and El Niño events have taken their toll, the kelp beds have not been able to recover due to human impacts from storm water and other pollution, sedimentation from coastal development and over-fishing of the predators that balance out kelp-grazing sea urchins. Source: Mann, K.H Seaweeds: their productivity and strategy for growth. Science 182:

50 Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola Family: Molidae The ocean sunfish or Mola mola, is the heaviest known bony fish in the world. It has an average adult weight of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). The species is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. Ocean sunfish live on a diet consisting mainly of jellies. Females can produce more eggs than any other known vertebrate. Sunfish fry resemble miniature pufferfish, with large pectoral fins, a tail fin, and body spines uncharacteristic of adult sunfish. Adult ocean sunfish are vulnerable to few natural predators, but sea lions, Orcas (killer whales), and sharks will consume them. Among humans, sunfish are considered a delicacy in some parts of the world and are frequently caught in gillnets. In the course of its evolution, the caudal fin (tail) of the sunfish disappeared, to be replaced by a lumpy pseudotail. Without a true tail to provide thrust for forward motion and equipped with only small pectoral fins, the ocean sunfish relies on its long, thin dorsal and anal fins for propulsion, driving itself forward by moving these fins from side to side. Sunfish are native to the temperate and tropical waters of every ocean in the world. Contrary to the perception that sunfish spend much of their time basking at the surface, adult sunfish actually spend a large portion of their lives submerged at depths greater than 200 m (660 ft). Surface basking behavior, in which a sunfish swims on its side, presenting its largest profile to the sun, may be a method of "thermally recharging" following dives into deeper, colder water. Jellies Some people call them jellyfish, but the proper name is jelly since they are not actually fish. Jellies are more than 95% water and do not have brains, teeth, bones, or blood. Moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) like the one on the right are seen in the Pacific Ocean sea coast from Alaska to Southern California. The moon jelly is a carnivore that feeds on small mollusks, crustaceans, tunicate larvae, copepods, and nematodes among other small plankton. The Monterey Bay Aquarium website is a good source for more information on jellies. 46

51 Squid Whalers have reported seeing squid from the boat. Squid are cephalopods with 8 arms arranged in pairs and, usually, longer tentacles. There are over 280 species worldwide. Many are able to change their color and pattern to stalk prey, attract mates, or communicate with other squid. They move by shooting jets of water. The below pictures are the Giant Humboldt Squid. Most of the squid that are food sources for some whales are much smaller. 47

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53 Section 9: Birding on the Hornblower There are some great birding opportunities while cruising on the Hornblower. In the harbor, many familiar species of coastal and marsh birds can be observed, such as herons, egrets, and the ubiquitous gulls, and brown pelicans. As we go further out to sea, you can see the less familiar sea birds, such as shearwaters, auklets, murres, and boobies. Identifying birds while on a boat is challenging and fun. The key to identifying seabirds is watching their flight patterns and behaviors. Take note: binoculars are necessary for observing details. Wading Birds Herons and egrets have curved necks and straight, dagger-like bills used to capture prey in quick strikes. They feed on fish, and are often seen around the bait docks and on fishing boats. Snowy egret (L) L 24, WS 41 They have black legs and yellow feet in breeding season (February July). Great egrets are larger and have black feet. Great Blue Heron (R) L 46, WS 72 Great Blue Herons are found along the shores, ponds, lagoons, and bays. They feed on small mammals, fish, and other prey. The large size and gray color make this heron unmistakable. Jaegers Jaegers are predatory gulls that come to land only to nest. Jaegers prey on other birds, or steal food from other seabirds (kleptoparasitism) by chasing them, and forcing them to give up captured prey. Jaegers can be seen within a few miles of land during fall and winter; they are usually solitary. Jaegers are fast fliers, and the agile Parasitic Jaeger performs stunning acrobatics when chasing terns. Parasitic Jaeger (R) L 16.5, WS 46 Dark gray-brown body, white wing patches. Adults have long tapered central tail feathers and a dark cap. Gulls Gulls are adept at swimming, walking, and flying. Identifying gulls is challenging because they molt yearly and have a number of plumages in the first three years of life. All of the larger gulls 49

54 are born dark, and lighten as they mature. Gulls are surface feeders; they do not dive underwater for food. They are omnivorous, feeding on food they capture, glean, or scavenge. Gulls have a buoyant, parachute-like arching wing position as they fly. There are 3 common gulls in our area: California gull, Heermann s gull, and Western gull. Western Gull (R) L 25, WS 58 This is a large stocky gull with, white head and body and a heavy bill that is thick-tipped. They are black on upper edge of wing, with very dark upper wing and a dark back. They follow boats, stealing fish, and also prey upon small seabirds. Heermann s Gull (L) L 19, WS 51 This gull is easiest to identify. The first winter birds are chocolate brown; adults are dark grey with a white head. Adults have black feet and blacktipped red bill. They chase other birds to steal food. They are seen in fall and winter. California Gull (R) L 21, WS 54 This gull is smaller than the Western gull, with a smaller bill. The back is medium gray with black wing tips. Adults have a red and black tip on the bill. They are seen in fall and winter. Shearwaters Shearwaters are long-winged seabirds and members of a larger group known as tubenoses. They have tubular nostrils located on top of the bills that excrete excess salts. Shearwaters spend their lives over the open ocean, coming to land only when nesting. Shearwaters are amazing flyers that fly with stiff wingbeats and long arcing glides. They forage for small animals and carrion mainly at the water s surface Black-vented Shearwater (L) L 14, WS 34 Dark on upper body, white below. Black under tail. Most common shearwater off San Diego, is seen usually within a few miles from shore. They fly with 5 6 snappy wingbeats then a glide. 50

55 Terns Terns are distributed worldwide and are normally found near the sea, rivers, or wetlands. Terns are generally smaller and more slender than gulls, and have relatively long, pointed wings and straight pointed bills. Most feed exclusively on small fish, captured by plunging headfirst into the water from flight. Subtle differences in wing color separate one species from another. Elegant Tern (R) L17, WS 34 These terns are smaller than the Royal terns found in the bay. They are more common further out of the bay. They have a slender downturned bill. Other terns you might see are the Forster s tern with translucent wings and the Caspian tern which is larger than the Elegant Tern with a distinctive red bill. Pelicans Pelicans are large birds with long bills and large pouches. They hunt for fish with spectacular twisting plunge-dives from the air. Flight is relaxed with graceful gliding, and they are often seen flying in lines just above the water. Brown Pelican (R) L 51, WS 79 These pelicans are gray brown or silvery in color. They are common along the coast. Surf Scoter (R) L 20, WS 30 ; The prominent bright orange bill is distinctive; with white on back of head. They are found near pilings searching for shellfish, mainly mussels. Other diving ducks include the Bufflehead and the Greater Scaup. The male Bufflehead has a white patch on face and back of head. The Greater Scaup in flight has a white band on inner part of upper wings. 51

56 Cormorants Cormorant feathers rapidly become saturated on contact with water, therefore they only enter the water to feed and bathe. They dive from the surface and propel themselves with their feet. After fishing, cormorants go ashore and are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun to dry. Brandt s Cormorant L 34, WS 48 Brown chin area. Neck is nearly straight in flight. Common in ocean waters. Flies low over the water in lines. Double-crested cormorant L 33, WS 52. Orange chin area. Flies with crook in its neck. Stays close to bay. Identifying Birds by Behavior Watching a bird s behaviors is one way to begin identification of the bird. For accurate identification, appearance and size also need to be taken into account. Plunge Diver Pelicans and Terns These birds will fly above the ocean, sometimes quite high, and then fall from the sky. It will appear that they have been shot! But don t worry, they are just after fish. The Brown Pelican is often seen in large flocks either just above water surface or higher in the air, often gliding for long periods of time on large, fingered wings; wing-beats are slow and measured. Underwater Swimmers Cormorants and Surf Scoters Cormorants are mostly seen singly, flying low above the water surface on rapid wing-beats without gliding intervals. They can be seen in larger flocks and also higher in the sky many in the bay, particularly at bait docks where they swim around diving for fish or sit upright, with wings stretched out to dry them. When they dive into the water they can swim for long distances. If you see one disappear look carefully, it will pop up somewhere else. Surface Scavengers Gulls and Shearwaters These birds float on the surface or fly low and pick up any food that is readily available, including human refuse. If you see birds following fishing boats, it s most likely gulls and shearwaters. The shearwater is known for flying with 506 snappy wingbeats and then gliding. Kleptoparasites Heermann s Gull Yes, you have it correct, klepto for kleptomaniac and parasite meaning they live off other animals. Heermann s gulls stay close to the Brown Pelican to snatch food away, even retrieving the food from the pelican s pouch. 52

57 Interesting Tidbits on the Birds You ll See Western Gulls and KFC Interesting note from Phil Unitt, Curator of Birds & Mammals: Western gulls have a huge colony on the south Coronado Island. Scientists were mystified to find chicken bones all over the island, which were traced back to Kentucky Fried Chicken. The gulls were scavenging local KFC restaurants and taking the chicken pieces back to the island to feast on the finger licking good chicken, or should we say, Claw licking good? Snowy Egret s Feeding Behavior The Snowy Egret can be found in tide pools searching for food. The bird will move its feet and disturb the bottom of the pool to release the prey and then gobble them up. It resembles dancing. Snowy Egrets can also be spotted closely following clam diggers waiting for whatever comes up when the diggers pull up the clam gun (a hollow tube that is inserted in the sand). Great Blue Heron s Love the Navy Subs Look carefully in the eucalyptus trees in the Navy s submarine barge opposite the bait dock. A large nesting colony of Great Blue Herons can be seen. Cormorants Cormorants swim low in the water often with just their necks and heads visible. After diving, a Cormorant spends long periods standing with its wings outstretched to allow them to dry, since they are not fully waterproof; they do not have oil producing glands like many other seabirds. 53

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59 Section 10: San Diego Bay This section is courtesy of Birch Aquarium. Written by Audrey Evans. San Diego, today the eighth largest city in the U.S., is separated from the city of Coronado by San Diego Bay. This landlocked natural harbor shelters the overlapping, peninsulas of Point Loma to the west and Coronado to the east. San Diego Bay: Besides serving as a homeport for commercial fishing fleets, San Diego Bay is the headquarters of the 11th U.S. Naval District, and is a base of operations for army, marine and coast guard installations. The bay, one of the great natural harbors of the world, is a first port of call for coastal and foreign shipping. The entrance to San Diego Bay is 10 miles northwest of the Mexican border. It lies entirely within the county of San Diego and is bounded by five cities: San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, and Coronado. The bay is 14 miles long and ranges from 55 feet deep at the entrance to only a few feet deep at the extreme southern end, the head of the bay. San Diego Bay is a wellprotected and sheltered bay. A low, narrow sand spit, which expands to a width of 1.6 miles at Coronado North Island on its northern end, separates the bay from the Pacific Ocean at Coronado Roads and offers excellent protection in most weather. San Diego Bay encompasses 12,000 acres, and at half-tide, has an area of 18 square miles and a water volume of 300 million cubic yards. Ecologically, San Diego Bay is recognized as one of the most important bays of the California coast. It is a part of the Pacific flyway, a stopover for migrating birds, as well as home to a variety of finfish, shellfish, turtles, bottom-dwelling invertebrates, and plants that are dependent on the bay. There are over 50 endangered, threatened, or rare species found in San Diego Bay. The bay is also home to a fleet of large sport fishing and whale watching vessels. Located at the mouth of the bay are the Point Loma kelp beds, an important habitat, in addition to world famous diving, snorkeling, and surfing. San Diego Bay s extensive shelter from ocean waves makes it one of the finest natural harbors in the world for commercial, recreational, and military vessels. Three separate marine terminals provide facilities for a variety of commercial cargo handling and cruise ship operations. Principal cargo includes lumber, newsprint, fertilizer, fresh, frozen, and canned foodstuffs, automobiles, palm oil, minerals, and fuel oil. Passenger cruise ships frequent the harbor. In addition, one third of the U.S. Naval Pacific Fleet is home ported in San Diego Bay, making it instrumental in the National Defense. The Navy has designated San Diego Bay as a West Coast megaport. Lindbergh Field Founded in 1928 and dedicated in honor of Charles Lindbergh, San Diego International Airport is the 28th busiest airport in the country in terms of passengers and the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the nation. It has one runway that is 9,400 feet long and 200 feet wide. Prior to 1928, Lindbergh Field was a vast mud flat, occasionally covered by water during high tides. The area, now occupied by runways and buildings, was created as a result of harbor development following the sale 55

60 of a $650,000 bond issue in With these funds, engineers deepened the bay north of the B Street Pier and provided deep water berthing along the Embarcadero. The dredged material was used to reclaim 142 acres of tidelands in what was to become the Lindbergh Field area. Naval Air Station North Island North Island derived its name from the original geography. In the nineteenth century, it was referred to as North Coronado Island. In1886, North and South Coronado Island were purchased by a developer for development as a residential resort. South Coronado became famous as the city of Coronado, but fortunately for the Navy, North Coronado was never developed. Instead, Glen Curtiss opened a flying school and held a lease to the property until the beginning of World War I. In 1917 Congress appropriated the land and it was commissioned as Naval Air Station San Diego. Two airfields were commissioned on its sandy flats. The Navy started with a tent-covered city known as "Camp Trouble." The Navy shared the island with the Army Signal Corps Rockwell Field until 1937, when the Army left and the Navy expanded its operations to cover the whole island. During the Second World War, the land between North and South Coronado, called the Spanish Bight, was filled with dredge material from the bay. In 1914, then unknown aircraft builder Glenn Martin took off and demonstrated his pusher aircraft over the island with a flight that included the first parachute jump in the San Diego area. Other aviation milestones originating at North Island included the first seaplane flight in 1911, the first midair refueling, and the first non-stop transcontinental flight, both in One of history's most famous aviation feats was the flight of Charles A. Lindbergh from New York to Paris in May, That flight originated at North Island on May 9, 1927, when Lindbergh began the first leg of his journey. Today we see aircraft carriers: Theodore Roosevelt (CVN71), and Carl Vinson (CVN 70).The USS Vinson arrived in San Diego in April It was built in 1980 and had previously spent most of the last five years in Newport News, VA getting a major facelift. The Vinson left Virginia in January en route to San Diego when it was rerouted to Haiti to assist with the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Naval Air Station North Island is additionally, home to the Navy's only Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles: Mystic (DSRV 1) and Avalon (DSRV 2). These 50-foot submarines are used to rescue crew members of submarines trapped underwater. Along the shoreline is a large, semicircular building that once housed seaplanes. It is currently used to house Seahawk helicopters. You can still see the ramp where the seaplanes once took off and landed. Also along the shoreline are concrete mooring dolphins used to tie up battleships and smaller aircraft carriers during WWII. This area was referred to as Battleship Row. Harbor Island Formed by dredging the main channel of San Diego Bay in order to deepen the berths for military ships at North Island Naval Air Station, the U.S. Navy built this recreational island in More than 12 million cubic yards of sand and mud created this mile-and-a-half long island. Today, Harbor Island is a resort island and is home to hotels, marinas, and popular restaurants for the food and city views. At the west end of the island is a restaurant and working lighthouse called Tom Ham s Lighthouse Restaurant. It was opened in 1971 by the late restaurateur and Shelter Island booster Tom Ham. Today the restaurant is in its second generation of 56

61 family management. The duel-use operation stems from the fact that Tom Ham wanted a restaurant and the Coast Guard wanted a lighthouse. Beacon #9, is one of two fully functioning Coast Guardsanctioned lighthouses on the bay. Shelter Island As early as 1859, what is now known as Shelter Island was identified on the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey map of San Diego Harbor as a shoal or mud bank. A large dredging project undertaken in the 1930s and 1940s by the Harbor Commission raised Shelter Island to 14 feet above low water and about seven feet above high tide. Dredged material was also used to create a causeway (Shelter Island Drive) to connect the island to the mainland. It is now home to some of the world s most prestigious yacht brokers, hotels, and marinas, including the world-famous San Diego Yacht Club. America s Cup Harbor is located on the east side of Shelter Island and was made famous by local sailor Dennis Conner who turned yacht racing into a professional sport. He participated in the America s Cup race nine times and won a total of four victories. The America s Cup is the Super Bowl of yacht racing and is highly regarded around the world. Some of these famous sailboats can be seen cruising around the bay. The America s Cup World Series held a portion of its races here in San Diego in November Navy Marine Mammal Program The program started nearly 50 years ago when the Navy began studying swimming abilities of dolphins that revealed their ability to use biosonar, or echolocation, to detect objects in the water. More than 100 sea lions and dolphins are trained and used to help protect our waterways. Using echolocation, dolphins are extremely adept at finding sea mines or underwater weapons used to sink ships and kill the enemy. Once located, the dolphin places a marker near the mine so it can be avoided or removed. Sea mines are made so that they cannot be easily set off by animals bumping into them. Sea lions, which have been used by the Navy since 1975, also have sensory skills that surpass those found in people. They have incredible vision and can see in low light conditions five times better than humans. Their excellent eyesight and highly sensitive hearing help them to find objects in murky, deep water. But sea lions do not work near live mines. Instead, they help train Navy pilots learning how to drop practice mines. The pilots have a specific mark that they are supposed to hit. The sea lions can go down and hook up a target. With GPS, the location can be obtained to find out how close they were to their mark. In addition, the sea lions attach devices to the exercise targets so they can be recovered easily from the ocean floor. 57

62 Both dolphins and sea lions are trained to protect harbors and ports by detecting and reporting unauthorized swimmers and divers. The animals are never put in harm s way. The animals are extremely well cared for, with the staff boasting that the program is the world's finest marine mammal veterinary facility. While on the water keep an eye out for the gray zodiacs accompanying marine mammals on training missions. Point Loma and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Behind Shelter Island lies Point Loma, which translates to hill in Spanish. Only the northern third of Point Loma is residential. The rest is federal land and is mostly naval facilities known as Naval Base Point Loma. A road at the top of Point Loma leads to Cabrillo National Monument and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. At the top of the hill are barracks buildings which were part of Fort Rosecrans (U.S. Army fort) from The grassy knoll overlooking San Diego Bay is Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Over 90,000 veterans are buried here. The first veterans to be interred were Civil War Veterans. The cemetery has been full since the Vietnam War. Bait Docks The bait docks are owned and operated by Everingham Bros. Bait Co. The business, which now employs its fourth generation of the Everingham family, has been around since 1951 and is anchored at the same location in San Diego Bay where it began a century ago. This area is used to store live sardines and anchovies for the public and sport fishing fleet. Numerous animals, from sea lions to shore birds, are found along the bait docks in search of a free meal. Ballast Point The name Ballast Point was derived from the ballast stones Yankee skippers would collect on their return journey to Boston. Some New England streets are lined with ballast brought back from San Diego. Additionally, many of the stones on Ballast Point are from ports around the world. Ballast Point is a historical landmark and reminder of the conservation success story of the gray whales. They have come back from near extinction twice in the last 150 years. Prior to the 1840s gray whales came into San Diego Bay seeking a calving and breeding ground. In 1855, Charles Scammons discovered the breeding and calving lagoon of Ojo de Liebre in Baja. Because the whales congregated in large numbers, it was easy to hunt them. Whales were hunted for their oil, or tallow, to be used as lamp oil. Gray whales were not the best source of tallow, but due to their predictable yearly migration along the coastline they were easy to catch and harvest. In San Diego, whalers killed and brought grays to Ballast Point, the site of a whale-rendering plant. The plant was built in 1858 and lasted until 58

63 1886. Whaling in San Diego peaked in , when approximately 55,000 gallons of whale oil was processed. The gray whale population was hit hard by whaling and by 1888 whaling in San Diego was no longer profitable. It is estimated that only 5,000 of 20,000 individuals remained by the mid 1880s. Between the late 1880s and the early 1900s, gray whale populations started to rebound. However, gray whale populations took another hard hit with the development of harpoons and factory ships in the early 1900s. Since that time, laws have been enacted to protect grays from hunting, and the gray whale population is currently estimated at 20,000 individuals. Today Ballast Point is part of the San Diego Naval Submarine Base, which is home to Los Angeles-class fast attack nuclear-powered submarines. The submarine base provides pier-side berthing and support services for submarines of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Eight attack submarines, one submarine tender, and one floating dry-dock are home ported at the base. There are no ballistic missile submarines home ported in San Diego. Also located on Ballast Point is a U.S. Coast Guard facility that houses Coast Guard cutters. Station San Diego conducts maritime law enforcement and search and rescue missions, and ensures Homeland Security. Cabrillo National Monument Cabrillo National Monument is located in Point Loma and is part of the National Park Service. Point Loma was first discovered by Europeans on September 28, 1542 when Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer sailing in the service of Spain, led an expedition to explore the west coast of what is now the United States. Cabrillo described San Diego Bay as a very good enclosed port, and historians believe he probably docked his flagship on Point Loma s east shore, likely at Ballast Point. He named the bay Bahia San Miguel. Sixty years later in 1602, a Spanish- Mexican merchant named Sebastian Vizcaino discovered the bay and renamed it San Diego Bay. Cabrillo National Monument, established in 1913, commemorates Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo s voyage of discovery. A heroic statue of Cabrillo looks out over the bay that he first sailed into. On top of the point sits the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The lighthouse was lit for the first time in 1855 and only stayed in operation for 36 years because it proved to be a bad location with heavy, dense fogs. A new lighthouse that is still in operation today was built closer to the water on the tip of Point Loma. Point Loma is the most southwesterly point in the continental United States. Standing on top of Point Loma at Cabrillo National Monument you will see one of the best views of the San Diego skyline, the Pacific Ocean and Mexico. The point extends 4.5 miles, forming a natural protective barrier to San Diego. Looking at the point you will see a large tower; this tower is the beginning of the 650-acre Point Loma Ecological Reserve, which extends to the end of the point. This reserve is dedicated to restoring and maintaining healthy populations of native species through the removal of invasive species. 59

64 Assets and activities afforded by the park include: Views: On a clear, winter day you can see downtown San Diego, Mexico, and far out to sea. History: Learn more about Juan Cabrillo in the visitor center, and visit the nearby historic military building to learn about the area s military history. Old Point Loma Lighthouse: San Diego's first lighthouse has been restored to its 1880s appearance. Whale watching from shore: whale overlook, near the lighthouse, is a popular whale-watching spot, especially in January and February. Hiking: A self-guided, two-mile walk begins near the lighthouse. This trail is particularly pleasant during the spring wildflower bloom. Tide Pools: On the west side of the park, this area is accessible by car only. Zuniga Jetty On the East side of the channel is Zuniga Jetty. It is a rock jetty built 100 years ago to keep sand from washing up the coast and altering the entrance to the bay. Story has it that John Wayne ran his boat aground twice on the jetty when returning from fishing trips in Mexico. Therefore, it is often referred to as John Wayne Jetty. Point Loma Kelp Beds Along the coast of California are dense forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), a brown algae that grows in clear, shallow oceans. It requires nutrient-rich water below about 20 C (68 F). Giant kelp can grow up to two feet a day during the summer months. It is an important habitat for a variety of organisms. Occasionally, juvenile gray whales can be spotted playing in the kelp forest. Alginate, a kelp-derived carbohydrate, is used in a number of products as a thickening agent. Items include ice cream, pudding, toothpaste, and even beer. Along the San Diego coastline are the Point Loma beds and La Jolla kelp bed, both popular fishing sites. It is an important habitat for more than a hundred fish species and more than a thousand invertebrates. Coronado Island, Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Boathouse Coronado Island was first discovered in the early seventeenth century when the Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino caught sight of a group of islands 17 miles off the coast of southern California and named them Las Yslas Coronadas, or the crowned ones. These men surveyed the territories now known as San Diego and Coronado, yet failed to settle in the area. For almost 200 years the peninsula remained bare. While still under Spanish control in the early nineteenth century, Coronado was used as a safe harbor by whalers, who also built hide houses to carry out their work. After Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, land grants were issued for various sections of California. In May 1846, a land grant was issued to Don Pedro Carrillo for the island or Peninsula in the Port of San Diego. Carrillo s sold the property just five months later to the American captain of a trading ship, Bezer Simmons, for $1,000. The peninsula changed hands several times over the next 39 years until it was purchased by Elisha S. Babcock, Jr., Hampton L. Story, and Jacob Gruendike, for $110,000 in

65 The men envisioned a resort community with a world-class hotel. In order to accommodate the growing number of people journeying to the peninsula, Babcock and Story created the San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company in 1886, with the ferry completing its first run that same year. In1887, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Hotel del Coronado was held, with the hotel officially opening eleven months later. In 1977, the Hotel del Coronado became a National Historic landmark. One of the most important buildings on Coronado is the Coronado Boathouse, built in It is here that the Scripps Institution of Oceanography began in William E. Ritter, a visionary zoologist from the University of California, Berkeley, desired a more permanent residence for his studies after spending summer field sessions along the California coast between 1891 and With a recommendation from Fred Baker, a physician and avid shell collector, Ritter set up a laboratory in the boathouse with his small group of marine researchers (nine in all, including two women). During that summer they were able to successfully collect impressive specimens of plankton, soft coral, copepods, and many other species of marine life. As a result, Ritter not only determined that the San Diego region housed a rich and varied sea life, but that deep-sea depths were accessible just short distances from the shore. Based on this initial research, Ritter concluded, There can be no doubt that a laboratory capable of great things for biological science might be built at San Diego. Ritter's work attracted the interest of many prominent San Diegans. Newspaper publisher Edward W. Scripps, along with his sisters Ellen and Virginia Scripps, were particularly drawn to Ritter's work, developing a lasting friendship in the process. By the end of that first summer in 1903, the Scripps family, along with Fred Baker and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, had formed the Marine Biological Association of San Diego, with the goal of establishing a permanent marine laboratory on the Pacific coast. Ritter s work continued at the Hotel del Coronado s Boathouse until 1905, at which time a larger site was secured at the Cove in La Jolla known as the Little Green Lab. In 1910, the Institution moved to its current location at La Jolla Shores. Renamed Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1925, it is now part of the University of California, San Diego, the UC campus it helped found in Los Coronados Islands Located in Mexican waters, this group consists of three main islands and a smaller islet. They have gone by many names throughout their colorful history since Juan Cabrillo passed them on his way to San Diego in Today they bear the likely names of North Island, Middle Island, and South Island. North Coronado Island: Lying just to the east of a deepwater canyon, North Island is composed of steep volcanic rock that rises abruptly from the sea. The island is host to a fairly large colony of sea lions and occasional elephant seals. Middle Island: The name collectively refers to Middle Coronado Island and the smaller adjacent Middle Rock. Several species of sea birds nest and raise young here. A small harbor seal population supports itself here. South Island: Largest of the Los Coronados group, South Island is the site of the only human habitation on the islands. The Republic of Mexico maintains a small naval garrison above a cove on the lee side that once boasted a casino. Fire and the elements have reclaimed the remnants of that bygone era. Northern elephant seals and California sea lions share a cove on the windward side that is ringed by high, unstable cliffs. To the east, several offshore reefs host the richest invertebrate habitat south of the Northern Channel Islands. 61

66 Marine Protected Areas: Evidence shows that human activities are altering the oceans and affecting the health and productivity of marine ecosystems around the world. Studies show fish species in decline, changes in the chemistry of the oceans, and decreases in biodiversity, to name a few examples. The purpose of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is to reverse this trend and to protect and restore coastal wildlife and habitats, similar to state and national parks on land. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, an MPA is a named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine area seaward of the mean high tide line or the mouth of a coastal river, including any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora and fauna that has been designated by law or administrative action to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. MPAs are primarily intended to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. In 1999, California became the first state in the United States to adopt the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), a law that requires a comprehensive, science-based network of MPAs with a goal of statewide implementation of the law by To implement the law, a MLPA Initiative was created that includes a team of policy advisors, stakeholders, and scientific advisory groups to ensure the process is based on the best science and an unprecedented level of public participation. There are three main types of MPAs that were considered in the MLPA: State marine reserves: No-take zones. Some recreational, scientific, and educational activities may take place, but vary from reserve to reserve. State marine parks: Some recreational take is allowed; commercial take is prohibited. Recreational, scientific, and educational activities may take place and, depending on restrictions, recreational harvest may be allowed. State marine conservation areas: Limited recreational and commercial take. Research, education, and recreational activities, and certain commercial and recreational harvest of marine resources may be permitted by managing authority. In December 2010, regulations to create MPAs in Southern California were adopted by the California Department of Fish and Game. These new MPAs went into effect January 1, 2012 and cover approximately 354 square miles of state waters and represent about 15% of the region. The southern California region ranges from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County south to the California border with Mexico, including offshore islands. 62

67 Section 11: Doing the Presentation We use a number of props in our presentations that help create a picture of some important aspects of gray whale natural history. In addition to photographs, we have museum specimens to illustrate in more detail the amazing adaptations that have occurred during the long evolutionary history of cetaceans. Practice and perfect your presentation with the intent of keeping it brief, only about 2 minutes per topic. The personality, enthusiasm and presentation style will be unique to every Whaler. The props we use throughout the cruise include: Laminated National Geographic migration map (optional map you can purchase) This can be used to discuss the migratory route of the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale while working the line. Photograph booklets and gray whale models There are a number of photographs on whales and birds that you can use throughout the cruise. In addition, there are models of gray whales to show while cruising through the harbor. Lumbar vertebrae There are two lumbar vertebrae from a gray whale (one from a juvenile and one from a calf). There is also a plastic model of a human vertebra for comparison as well as laminated images of skeletons. Barnacle and whale lice A sample barnacle and whale louse (the singular form of lice) is preserved in resin. There are also laminated images showing details and life cycles. Baleen and Amphipod The baleen is a segment of 15 plates. There is also an amphipod preserved in resin as well as laminated images showing baleen, gray whales feeding and amphipods. Rope The rope is marked to show the difference in size between an adult and a calf. Ask any children in the audience to help you unwind the rope. Please be sure to rewind. Common Dolphin Skull Model When no whales are seen this is an opportunity to talk about dolphins. Note the conical teeth. Art supplies These can be used to make rubbings and whale origami with children. 63

68 Points to Mention in your Presentation Gray Whale Migration (done mostly while working the line) Gray whales spend their summer in the Arctic, feeding and building up their blubber When the ice forms, they migrate south along the coast all the way to the lagoons in Baja California, Mexico, where they mate and give birth In the spring, whales return to the Arctic feeding grounds Pregnant females are the first to arrive in the lagoons; mothers with calves are the last to leave Gray whales travel to San Ignacio Lagoon, Scammon s Lagoon and Magdalena Bay The yearly round-trip is 10,000 12,000 miles, one of the longest migrations of any mammal Migration one way takes 2 2 ½ months During the southbound migration (peak in January) we see whales relatively close to shore, just outside the kelp During the northbound migration (peak in March) whales travel farther offshore, near the 9-mile bank To spot a whale, look for the spout: a plume of water vapor, visible from far away, which indicates a whale has come up to breathe Not all gray whales make the long migration every year; some juveniles don t come so far south; some gray whales have even been observed spending the winter off northern Alaska Vertebrae The lumbar vertebrae are from a juvenile and calf. An adult gray whale vertebra is not much larger than the vertebrae from the juvenile whale. (Taken from study that looked at the muscle power of different whales and dolphins. Published in Marine Mammal Science by Arthur Logan.) Point out the prominent projection on the top of the bone this is called a neural spine, or spinous process. The spinal cord runs through the opening just below the neural spine Explain that the transverse processes (the side projections) are the attachment points for the large muscles that provide the power to move the tail up and down for swimming The laminated picture of a gray whale skeleton shows the lumbar area in red For comparison, we have a plastic model of a human vertebra to contrast size and length of the processes Whales do not have hind legs, but they have a long and powerful tail for propulsion The large vertebra appears heavy, because of its size, but the bones of whales are porous and less dense than the bones of land mammals Heavy bones are not needed, as whales do not support the weight of their bodies on land Lighter, more porous bones, are adaptations that make whales more buoyant in water FYI: Gray whales and humans both have 7 cervical (neck) vertebrae. Gray whales have a total of 56 vertebrae vs. 33 in humans. Interestingly, giraffes also have 7 cervical vertebrae 64

69 Barnacles and Whale Lice Use the barnacles and whale lice to discuss the life cycles and unique characteristics of these organisms that spend most, if not all, of their lives on the bodies of whales. Barnacles The gray whale barnacle (Cryptolepas rhachianecti) is species specific, meaning it will attach and develop only on gray whales (not like the barnacles seen on sea shells, boats, and wharf pilings). For review see page 20. Gray whale barnacles reproduce when the whales are in the warm lagoons of Baja California Barnacles go through several free-swimming larval stages, similar to the typical Crustacean larvae The last larval stage attaches to a whale with its head buried into the whale, secreting a strong cement from the base of its antennae. It then undergoes a complete change to adult, which produces the hard shell we know as the barnacle The adult barnacle will stay positioned with its head down and feed on plankton and organic debris that is swept into its mouth with its six pairs of feathery legs coming out through the opening in the shell A 19 th century scientist described barnacles as A little shrimp like animal, standing on its head in a lime-stone house, kicking food into its mouth. Barnacles are not considered to be parasites, since they only ride along on the whale, adding weight and drag, but do not feed off the whale. Whale Lice Whale Lice (Cyamid spp.) are crustaceans (related to shrimp and lobsters), not insects. For review see page 20. Gray whales are host to 3 4 species of whale lice, of which are specific to the gray whale Whale lice have direct development, there are no larval stages, young are born looking exactly like miniature adult whale lice Female whale lice have a brood pouch that hold their young Whale lice are passed from the mother whale to offspring through body contact Whale lice are mostly found around barnacles, skin folds, ventral grooves, the blowhole, eyes, wounds and genital slit Whale lice have sharp hooks on their lower 3 pairs of legs, which they use to hold on to the whale s skin or around the barnacles Whale lice do feed off the whale (a definition of a parasite), but some authorities assume that they are beneficial to the whale, because they clean up dead skin around wounds. 65

70 Baleen and Feeding Strategies Use the baleen to explain in detail how it is attached inside the animal s mouth; show an example of an amphipod, and describe how gray whales feed. For review see page 12. Gray whales, like all baleen whales, have no teeth; instead, they have baleen, which hangs down from the upper palate of the whale s mouth ( mystecites or moustache whales) Our specimen has 15 plates; an adult gray whale has a total of on either Baleen is a filter device with gray whale bottom feeder, the baleen helps to sift food from mud at bottom (demonstrate right or left sided whale dive and scoop at bottom of ocean) Baleen is made of keratin, the same substance as in our fingernails and hair (in water the keratin is much softer, like our hair and nails when bathing/swimming) The fringed part is on the inside Baleen plates act as a filtering mechanism, somewhat like a colander used for pasta All species of baleen whales, with the exception of the gray whale, take in huge amounts of water containing food items (plankton, krill and/or small fish), push out the water through the baleen with their tongues, and retain the food particles Gray whales are unique: they are bottom feeders In the Arctic, there are crustaceans called amphipods that live in the ocean sediment To feed, gray whales turn on one side, scoop up the sediment, filter it out through their baleen, retaining the amphipods, and using their large tongue, scrape the prey off the baleen and then swallow them While summer feeding in the Arctic, a 35-ton whale can consume 4,200 lbs of food per day, or 6% of its body weight daily Our amphipod specimen is a typical species of amphipod but not the one gray whales feed on Baleen was historically used for things we may use plastics for today. Umbrella stretches and ribs were made of baleen. Corset stays or stiffeners pushed into a sewn pocket used baleen. You may have heard of whalebone corsets. The baleen whale was called a whalebone whale. Dolphin Skull Model This is a model of a common dolphin skull Note the many conical teeth that all look the same The common dolphin has the most teeth (41 54 pairs in each jaw) of any of the dolphins The dolphin has two nasal passages (like humans) but only one blowhole The skull is hollowed out on the top where the melon is located Discuss the four types of dolphin seen off the San Diego Coast: Risso s, Common, Pacific White-sided, and Bottlenose Mention that Orcas are also dolphin 66

71 Conservation Message for Whalers The following should be used to construct a 2-minute conservation message as part of the presentations. You don t have to cover all the points under each part (pick 2-3 each to discuss). Part 1: Introduce why the health of the oceans is important (pick 2-3 to discuss) Humans and the ocean are inextricably linked. The ocean supplies 85% of Earth s rainfall through evaporation and is our greatest source of oxygen thanks to tiny ocean plants called phytoplankton that live near the ocean surface. Over 70% of the Earth s surface is ocean, more than 90% of life on Earth is aquatic, and nearly half of the world's human population lives within 50 miles of a coastline. From the ocean we acquire food, medicine, minerals, and energy resources. The ocean moderates the Earth s climate; influences weather patterns, and affects human health. There is a delicate balance to life in the ocean and when one species or plant vanishes, there are repercussions throughout the ocean and on earth. Part 2: Discuss Environmental and Human Impacts on the Ocean (pick 2-3 to discuss) Global Warming/Climate Change Entanglements (gill nets, crab/lobster traps) Pollution o All rivers lead to the ocean o Garbage (marine debris) o Plastic o Balloons o Fertilizers o Herbicides o Pesticides Noise pollution San Diego is a naval base (sonar on ships) Ships can disrupt the migration pattern Part 3: Give some Examples of What They Can Do to Help (pick 2-3 to discuss) Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and here are some examples of each: o Bring your own reusable bag o Use refillable water bottle o Decline straws or bring your own reusable straw o Learn about recycling options where you live Drive less (or carpool) Don t release helium balloons outside Take part in river and ocean clean-ups Chose reusable items over disposable ones 67

72 Sample Script on Museum (to be read on the PA system) Good morning (afternoon): I am [name], a volunteer at The Nat, the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. Our museum is located on the east side of park at the corner of Park Boulevard and Village Place just south of the San Diego Zoo. I encourage you to visit Balboa Park where you will find 17 museums and many gardens. If you d like to learn more about whales and marine life, our museum is a great place to start. We have whale fossils, casts, and skulls as well as casts of other marine animals, including an extinct Megalodon, which was the largest predatory shark of all time. Seeing these exhibits up close gives you a perspective on the enormous size of these animals! There are many other exhibits to touch and see. We have something for everyone, including a 3D theater. But we are not just a museum. Our museum houses over 8 million specimens of plants, animals, and fossils. We are constantly researching our world. Come see what we ve learned. Suggestions for Engaging Visitors Don t be shy these folks are on a 3½-hour cruise and only see the whales for about ½ hour. Approach children and families. They are the easiest to engage. Introduce yourself immediately: Hi, I m, a volunteer naturalist from the San Diego Natural History Museum. We re here to help you enjoy your cruise and answer your questions about the marine life you will see. Ask them questions to get the ball rolling: First time seeing whales? Are you from out of town or do you live here in San Diego? Do you know how far these whales travel on their annual migration? Do you know how the whales feed? Add any interesting facts you remember from your training. Don t be afraid to say, I don t know, that s a great question. It s Okay to Not Know All the Answers This is from the Grandest of All Lives: Eye to Eye with Whales by Douglas H. Chadwick. It's something to keep in mind as you interact with passengers. "Whenever I asked experts about aspects of humpback natural history, at least 90 percent of the replies I got were variations of 'Beats me.' It was frustrating at first, given that this is the best studied of the great whales. The scientists were just being honest, letting me know that whale research is a terrific frontier in which to go looking for answers but a tough place to find any. When scientists spend countless hours among the waves, burning fuel and breaking equipment, getting sunburned, windblown, tossed around, beat up, and every so often scared to death, they really feel like they 68

73 ought to be coming away with some conclusions. But the best they get most of the time is the ability to speculate more intelligently about what they saw. The trick is not to confuse the two, succumbing to what I call the tour guide syndrome. Some of the folks employed as naturalists on whale watching boats have a terrible time saying, 'I don't know.' After all, they're supposed to be informative. So when someone asks what's going on with the whales in view, you can count on some guides to assemble their best guesses into a story line and present it as fact. For example: 'That male probably got run off by the bigger male over by the cow and calf we passed, so he's pretty wound up right now, and that's why he's sitting there lob-tailing.' It sounds plausible. It satisfies the customer. It might well be true. But if the teller of the tale has proof of a connection between frustration and lob-tailing, he or she ought to publish it, because no scientist has. We all contend daily with the difference between what we know and what we think we know. Whale researchers have to be ever vigilant." Remember this the next time you are tempted to say, "They put on a good show." We don't know if the whale is behaving in a particular way because it wants to entertain us or if it's just doing its natural behavior. Some Ways to Spice up Your Presentations Interesting Tidbits about the Gray Whale During the feeding season a gray whale typically consumes about 6% of its body weight daily. The fat content of gray whale milk is 40 50%. Cow s milk is about 4 5% fat. Beluga milk has 736 calories/cup (92 calories/ounce). A gray whale pregnancy lasts about 2 months longer than a human pregnancy, but by the time it s born, a calf weighs about 187 times as much as a typical human baby (1,500 lbs. versus 8 lbs.). During its lifetime of years, the total distance covered during migration by a gray whale may be 600,000 miles. This is greater than a trip to the moon and back or equal to 24 trips around the world (at the equator), or 170 trips from San Diego to Boston. Interesting Tidbits about Blue Whales They are believed to be the largest mammal ever to have inhabited the earth. Their heart is as large as a Volkswagen beetle. A child can crawl through the blue whale s aorta. Blue whales can consume up to 4 tons of food per day. During the nursing period, blue whale calves consume 100 gallons (379 liters) of the fat-rich mother's milk each day, gain 200 pounds a day, or 8 pounds an hour, and grow 1.5 inches in length a day. 69

74 Sample Story Script: Migration We ve already mentioned that the gray whales undertake one the longest migration of any mammal on earth. Do you wonder why? In fact several species of whales are long distance migrators. As we ve said, the gray whales spend the summer feeding in the rich, productive waters of the arctic. Why not just stay there all year? These areas in winter have little food and are cold and dark for many months. And they also ice completely over, cutting the whales off from the surface where they must breathe. So the whales swim southward to the lagoons of Baja California, where the days are sunny and the water is 30 degrees warmer than in the arctic. But you might ask why do they swim so far? Nobody knows for sure, but it s interesting to note that the whales must constantly swim to stay afloat. So if their summer home freezes over in winter and they have to swim constantly anyway, they might as well swim to a place such as the lagoons where it is an ideal location to mate and give birth. That leads us to one last question. If the lagoons are such great places, why not stay there year round? The answer, quite simply, is that there is not enough food in the lagoons to sustain the whales. They consume about 6% 8% of their body weight per day. 70

75 Section 12: Facts You Should Know You ve encountered much of this information in other parts of this manual. You ve heard much more in the lectures. You should know at least the information below. Whales in General Whales belong to a group of related animals called cetaceans. Other members of this group are dolphins and porpoises. For review see page 11. There are two basic groups of cetaceans: o Those with teeth (odontocetes) o Those with baleen plates instead of teeth (mysticetes) Moby Dick (a sperm whale) was an odontocete; other members of this group include Orcas (killer whales) and other dolphins Gray whales are mysticetes Other baleen whales now seen regularly in Southern California waters are blue, fin, minke and humpback whales At a maximum length of about 100 ft., the largest animal on earth is the blue whale Gray Whale Gray whales are baleen whales. For review see Section 4 beginning on page 15. They are ft. and typically weigh between tons Gray whales, like other mysticetes, use baleen plates to filter their food. However, unlike other baleen whales, they usually feed on the bottom, taking in mouthfuls of sediment and straining out small crustaceans, called amphipods, and tubeworms Gray whales undertake what may be one of the longest migrations of any mammal on earth. They spend summers feeding in the Arctic, and starting in fall, travel to lagoons on the Pacific side of Baja California to give birth and mate during the winter months The round trip is between 10,000 and 12,000 miles long and each leg of the journey takes about 2 2 ½ months Gray whales were once close to extinction. Through protection offered by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, their numbers have increased to around 19,000 animals according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) counts from In 1994, they were taken off the Endangered Species List. Rorquals All rorquals are baleen whales, but not all baleen whales are rorquals. For review see Section 5 beginning on page 23. The gray whale is not a rorqual (it is an Eschrichtius robustus) The 4 species most often seen in our area are: o Blue whale (Not only the largest baleen whale, but the largest animal that ever lived) o Fin whale (The fastest of the baleen whales [ Greyhound of the Sea ] can swim bursts of up to 25 knots) o Humpback whale (Best known for their powerful displays of breaching, spyhopping, tail and flipper slapping, and the haunting songs of males) o Minke whale (The smallest of the rorquals, the elusive whale with only a faint blow) 71

76 All rorquals are characterized by throat grooves or pleats (There are typically throat grooves which allow them to greatly expand the lower part of their mouth for lunge or gulp feeding; Feeding is further explained under whale feeding strategies below) Rorquals make seasonal movements (They follow food sources; though they do not do a coastal migration like gray whales, therefore, sightings are less predictable) Minke whale Humpback whale Blue whale Gray whale Fin whale Size comparison of the mysticetes in our area; The gray whale averages 45 feet long. Unlike the other whales in this picture, the gray whale is not a rorqual. Whale Feeding Strategies All baleen whales use their baleen plates to strain their food. For review see page 13. Three different techniques: o Skimmers (Right and Bowhead whales swim with their mouth open, filtering out food) o Gulpers, also called Lunge Feeding, the whales expand their throat grooves accordion style; Rorquals lunge against swarms of krill or fish, take in huge amounts of water, contract the throat grooves, pushing out the water, retaining and swallowing the food; Lunge feeders we typically see are blue whales, fin whales, and humpbacks off the coast of San Diego o Bottom Feeders gray whales feed at the ocean bottom. They take in sediment containing prey items, and filter out through the baleen. Bubble Net Feeding is a special strategy used by humpback whales. It is a form of lunge feeding, done individually, or cooperatively as a group. Food Preferences Blue whales: krill Other rorquals: krill and also small schooling fish Gray whales: the most versatile, mostly feed on amphipods and tube worms at ocean bottom, but also can skim for krill, and lunge feed on mysids (small shrimp-like crustaceans) in the water column 72

77 Dolphins Dolphins belong to the odontocetes, toothed whales. For review see Section 6 beginning on page 31. The 4 species most often seen in our area are: o Common dolphin, often encountered in huge pods, will bow ride o Pacific white-sided dolphin, also seen in large pods Falcate dorsal fin with a white wash No pronounced beak o Bottlenose dolphin, somewhat larger than the first two species Individuals trained by Navy seen in bay Offshore bottlenose dolphins are larger and further offshore than coastal bottlenose o Risso s dolphin, the largest of the four species High dark dorsal fin, blunt snout, characteristic scratches Seen around 9-mile bank Dolphins feed on squid and fish Very sophisticated special sense of echolocation for orientation and finding food Highly social, use sound and touch to communicate Difference between dolphins and porpoises: o The only true difference is the shape of their teeth: Dolphins have conical teeth; Porpoises have spade-like (flat) teeth o Generally, porpoises are small and don t have a pronounced beak (this is also true of some dolphins) o No porpoises in our immediate area o Vaquita in Sea of Cortez is the most endangered porpoise Sea Lions and Seals (Pinnipeds) For review see Section 7 beginning on page 41. Main Differences between Sea Lions and Seals California Sea Lion Harbor Seals Outer Ear flaps No outer ear flaps Long front and hind flippers Short flippers Can rotate hind flippers forward to Hind flippers cannot rotate forward walk on land Move on land with undulating motion of the body Swim with rowing motion with front flippers Swim with sideways motion with rear end and hind flippers 73

78 On Hornblower cruises we mostly see California sea lions: o On the buoys o Swimming; they porpoise, looking almost like dolphins o At the bait dock Sexually mature male California sea lions are more than 3 times as heavy as females and have a distinctive lighter colored sagittal crest on their head All 3 species of pinnipeds (California sea lions, harbor seals, and elephant seals) in our area have breeding colonies on the Los Coronados Islands, Mexico Pupping season for: o Harbor seals and elephant seals is in the winter o California sea lions is in June July Pinnipeds feed on different kinds of fish and squid Seabirds Review Section 9 beginning on page 49, you should be able to identify: Great blue heron (seen on the bait docks) large gray bird with long legs Snowy egret (seen on the bait docks) solid white bird with black legs and yellow feet Brown pelican (can be seen anywhere) large soaring, gray-brown bird with large bill Differences between a double-crested cormorant and a Brandt s cormorant (mostly Brandt s cormorant out to sea); double-crested cormorants have orange around bill and chin; Brandt s cormorants have brown around the chin Western gull (large gull, most common gull in winter) Differences between a tern and a gull (terns are almost all white, red/orange tapered bill) Surf scoter (black duck sitting on the water in the harbor; males with bright orange bill, and white patch on back of head) Recognize the flight pattern of a shearwater (series of wing flaps, then a glide) A large group of birds flying about and sitting on the water in one spot often indicates the presence of fish, and maybe dolphins. Know all the Points to Mention in your Presentation (See page 64.) The topics are: Vertebrae (See page 64.) Barnacles and Whale Lice (See page 20.) Baleen and Feeding Strategies (See page 12.) Conservation Message (See page 67.) Some Questions We Have Been Asked in Past Seasons Do whales sleep? Some scientists believe that whales "catnap" so that at least part of their brain is aware of what is going on around them. Since whales and dolphins have to breathe consciously (humans are "unconscious" breathers we breathe even in our sleep), they also have to wake up to take a breath. Some scientists have postulated that dolphins and whales sleep with half a brain half their brain rests while the other half stays alert. Recently, though, other researchers have come to doubt this. Source: Gulf of Marine Aquarium 74

79 What is the closest living relative to the whale? Hippos are the closest living relatives of whales, but they are not the ancestors of whales. Hippos are large and semi-aquatic, but their ancestors were small and terrestrial, as were the ancestors of whales. The ancient relatives of hippos, called anthracotheres, were not large or aquatic. Hippos likely evolved from a group of anthracotheres about 15 million years ago. Source: Understanding Evolution University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved: 9 December 2014 ( Anthracotherium magnum, the hippo s ancestor Dmitry Bogdanov - dmitrchel@mail.ru How many vertebrae does a gray whale have in comparison to a human? The vertebral formula for the gray whale, based on a skeleton in the British Museum consists of 7 cervical, 14 thoracic, 14 lumbar, and 21 caudal for a total of 56 vertebrae. Typically, these vary somewhat from one individual to another. Source: phillip.clapham@noaa.gov A human has 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, plus the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae) and the coccyx (4 fused vertebrae) for a total of 33 vertebrae. The coccyx is analogous to the caudal vertebrae in whales. How do gray whales get fresh water if they live in an ocean full of salt water? Gray whales and all other whales get fresh water (drinking water) from their food. They will also get some of their drinking water from ocean water they swallow. The kidneys of whales are extremely well developed, and are able, to some extent, to filter out the salt from the water. Source: oceanlink.island.net Do whales eat while in their winter breeding grounds? Not much. During the months in the lagoons of Baja California, gray whales survive mostly on fat reserves built up in the summer feeding grounds. They can feed on krill and mysids during migration, if the opportunity is available. Do gray whales lose a lot of weight while migrating? A 30-ton whale will expend so much energy on the migration to the Baja lagoons that it may lose fully eight tons of blubber. By early summer, most gray whales are back at their northern feeding grounds. Over the next five months they will gain back an estimated 16 to 30 percent of their total body weight. Source: Southbound Pregnant Female Photo: courtesy of Wayne Perryman Northbound Cow and Calf Cow and calf northbound Photos courtesy of Wayne Perryman 75

80 Rorqual and Gray Whale Comparisons BLUE FIN HUMPBACK MINKE GRAY Length Weight Northern Hemisphere to 85' Southern Hemisphere to 100' 78 85' 40 48' 26 35' tons tons tons 10 tons tons Blow 30' 20' 15' bushy May not be visible To 15', heart shaped Fluke 25' Identical to blue but rarely seen 18' 5 6 rarely flukes 10 12' Throat Grooves N/A Baleen Lunge Feed Gestation Calf Speed Population each side Usually black length Krill up to 4 tons/day (40 million krill) mo. Nurse 7 8 mo. 23', 3 tons eat 100 gal/day gain 8 lbs/hr Usually 12 mph with bursts to 30 mph 2 3,000 in Northern Hemisphere each side blue-grey on left white on right length 36 Krill & schooling fish 2 tons/day mo. Nurse 6 8 mo ' 2 tons Up to 23 mph (greyhound of the sea) each side black length 30 Krill, fish up to 1.5 tons/day (bubble net) 12 mo. Nurse 1 year 10 15' one ton each side yellowish length 11 Krill, fish mo. Nurse 6 mo. 10' 1000 lbs each side off white Bottom feed on amphipods mo. Nurse 7 9 mo 15' lbs. Slow moving mph 3 5 mph N/A 30 40,000 >1 million ~18,000 76

81 Section 13: Volgistics and Sightings Log Using Volgistics Volgistics allows volunteers to view and manage schedules; sign-up for vacant schedule openings; print schedules; receive news and messages from the volunteer office; log volunteer hours; check service records; print service reports; and change passwords. To Access Volgistics Go to You can also find a link at sdnhm.org/sdnatvolunteers or on the museum s website at sdnat.org/volunteers The first time you login, your temporary password is welcome. Once you enter your temporary password you will be asked to change it. Make it something you will not forget and don t worry about something complicated. It can be as simple as password. Do not use special characters. 77

82 Scheduling Cruises Use the My Schedule tab to sign up for an opening in the schedule. Click any Help Wanted link and then click Schedule Me. It will ask you to confirm your choice. Once you do, it s now viewable on the calendar. You ll notice at the bottom of the screen is a Printable View. This could come in handy. Sign ups are on a first comefirst served basis. If you don t see Help Wanted there are no more openings. You may remove yourself from the schedule up to 4 days prior to your shift. If it is after 4 days, you will need to jmorris@sdnhm.org to remove you from the calendar. You should also notify at least one other person who has signed up for that day. Note that you can see who else has signed up once you click on the Help Wanted sign. Logging Hours Logging your hours is simple. Go to Time Sheet or click on Post Your Hours at the Home screen. Only the assignments that you are eligible for will show in the Which assignment did you serve in? field. Enter the number of hours and the roundtrip miles if you wish to keep track. Click Continue. It will ask you to confirm. 78

83 Sightings Log Instructions/Guidelines *Please Print Clearly! Gray Whales Count whales only once not the same whale seen multiple times Record northbound or southbound movement When counting moms and calves, count each pair once don t count the individual animals Behavior Check the behaviors seen during cruise Specify details (ie. which species of whale fluked) Dolphins No Ranges Estimate ~ for every one seen at surface multiple x5 79