Journals 2004/2005

Katie Roberts
Hingham Middle School, Hingham, Massachusetts

"Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance,and Status of Humpback whales (SPLASH)" NOAA Ship McArthur II June 27-July 26, 2004

Journal Index: June Intro - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 July 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10       11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18       19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25

July 15, 2004

Photo: Protected Resouces Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California. swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/PRD/

Another first today, as I made my first sighting of a group of beaked whales known as Mesoplodon. While on watch I called over Richard Rowlett to take a second look at a group of mammals that were unlike any of the species I had seen to date. Though small in size, the rolls were slower than other porpoise and dolphins that I had previously viewed. Upon viewing them, Richard excitedly explained that my mystery cetaceans were in fact Mesoplodon, a species rarely seen on mammal surveys. Mesoplodon abundance has been difficult to document as their time spent at the surface is brief between their characteristically long dives. Furthermore, their presence at the surface is difficult to see in rough weather, due to their low profile.