photo identification of whales
DESCRIPTION
Photo Identification of Whales. Justin Clarke. What is Photo Identification. First began in 1960’s and 70’s. 35mm slide film or high resolution black and white. Programs evaluated negatives to find matches. Photographs taken of dorsal fin and tail flukes Each individual is unique - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Photo Identification of Whales
Justin Clarke
What is Photo Identification
• First began in 1960’s and 70’s.– 35mm slide film or high resolution black and
white.– Programs evaluated negatives to find matches.
• Photographs taken of dorsal fin and tail flukes– Each individual is unique– Niches, tears, coloration patterns.
How is it Beneficial?
• A safe way to study whales– Non-Invasive
• Catalogs can be created identifying individuals.– Helps study migration, feeding patterns, life
history, and population estimates.– Names are based on unique characteristics– “Family trees” can be created.
Stellwagen Banks Photo-Identification
• Humpback Whale– Black and white pigmentation and scars on tail flukes– Rounded– Scalloping
• Fin Whale– Slightly concaved bottom edge– Distinctive notch– Sickle shaped dorsal fin
• Minke Whale– Very small dorsal fin– Curved dorsal fin– Doesn’t show dorsal fin when diving
• Northern Right Whale– Large Broad Flukes– Symmetrical– Distinctive Notch
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_peF4r8eKk
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UTiWr_HD0o
ANY QUESTIONS?
Works Cited• http://www.whaleresearch.org/projects/humpback_researchmethods.php• http://www.northatlantickillerwhales.com/index.asp?pageid=100041• http://marinelife.about.com/od/watchingandphotography/a/photoid.htm• http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/sister/pdfs/sbnms_fs_id_2011_1.pdf• http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/nmml/pdf/NMMLDigitalPhotoProtocol.pdf• http://www.whalewatchingtravelguide.com/whale-tail.html• http://wildwhales.org/minke-whale/