Project Objectives

Assess the acoustic niche of marine mammal species and anthropogenic contributors to disturbance

Project Objectives

Assess behavioral response of beaked and pilot whales to mid-frequency tactical sonar

Project Objectives

Further our understanding of the Monitoring Questions: 1) What is the occurrence and estimated received levels of MFAS on 'blackfish', humpback, minke, sperm and Blainville's beaked whales within the PMRF instrumented range? and 2) What, if any, are the short term behavioral responses of 'blackfish,' humpback, minke, sperm and Blainville's beaked whales when exposed to MFAS/explosions at different levels/conditions at PMRF?

Project Objectives

Improve understanding of the long term trends in occurrence of marine mammals (e.g., minke, humpback, fin, Bryde's, Blainville's) on the PMRF range. Examine what, if any, acoustic and physical behavioral responses occur to Navy activities.

Project Objectives

Improve understanding of the long term trends in occurrence of marine mammals on the PMRF and SOAR ranges.

Project Objectives

Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of cetaceans in the offshore and continental shelf break region of the VACAPES OPAREA

Project Objectives

Conduct comprehensive investigations of stranded marine mammals throughout the Pacific Islands with emphasis on the Hawaiian and Mariana Island chains. This includes conducting necropsies of stranded animals, collecting and archiving samples, conducting disease screening, genetic testing, and analysis of historical data. The objective is to examine stranding patterns and causes of death for marine mammals in the Pacific Islands.

Project Objectives

Determine cause of death when cetaceans strand to ensure accurate public understanding of stranding cause, with focus on infectious diseases

Project Objectives

Determine what species of marine mammals, specifically beaked whales, are present in the Marianas and examine their spatial and temporal patterns of acoustic behavior. Calculate acoustic abundance and density of beaked whales in surveyed area. Analyze sonar detections in area.

Project Objectives

Identify acoustically distinct species of beaked whales, odontocetes, and baleen whales that occur in the Mariana Islands; develop a better understanding of marine mammal distribution, habitat use, and abundance

Project Objectives

Identify species of beaked whales, odontocetes, and baleen whales that occur in the Mariana Islands; Monitor marine mammal and sea turtle presence, distribution, and diversity in nearshore waters during key seasons (summer and winter); Develop a better understanding of marine mammal distribution, movement patterns, habitat use, population structure, and abundance; Develop reference library of visually-validated acoustic recordings of marine mammals.

Project Objectives

(1) define the spatial movement and habitat use patterns of species that are exposed to mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar (2) determine how these patterns influence exposure and potential responses