Behavioral Ecology of Goose-Beaked Whales
We are conducting a long-term study of the wonderfully strange goose-beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris off Cape Hatteras. Our research approaches include photo-identification, biopsy sampling, focal follows, and deployment of a variety of telemetry devices, including Digital Acoustic Tags and satellite-linked dive recorders. We are studying the remarkable diving behavior of this species, together with their social behavior and demography. We are particularly interested in understanding the effects of disturbance, such as the consequences of exposure to different sources of anthropogenic noice, on the population biology of these animals. This work is led by Read Lab alum Dr. Will Cioffi, and funded by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic.
Representative Publications:
Rogers, A.D., A. Lavelle, R.W. Baird, A. Bender, A. Borroni, G. Cárdenas Hinojasa, W.R. Cioffi, B.W. Elliott, C. Harms, A.E. Harshbarger, A.-M. Jacoby, K. Lienhard, S. Mantell, W.A. McLellan, G. Merrill, D.A. Pabst, K. Rittmaster, M. Rosso, G. Schorr, B.L. Southall, Z.T. Swaim, P. Tepsich, V.G. Thayer, K.W. Urian, D.M. Waples, D.L. Webster, J. Wisse, D.L. Wright & A.J. Read. 2024. A call to rename Ziphius cavirostris the goose-beaked whale: promoting inclusivity and diversity in marine mammalogy by re-examining common names. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/mms.13150.
Quick, N.J., W.R. Cioffi, J.M. Shearer, A. Fahlmann & A.J. Read. 2020. First estimates of behavioural aerobic dive limits in Cuvier’s beaked whales. Journal of Experimental Biology doi: 10.1242/jeb.222109.
Cioffi, W., N.J. Quick, H.J. Foley, D.M. Waples, Z.T. Swaim, J. Shearer, D. Webster, A.S. Friedlaender, B.L. Southall, R. Baird, D.P. Nowacek & A.J. Read. 2021. Adult male Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) engage in prolonged bouts of synchronous diving. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/mms.12799.
Population Structure of Bottlenose Dolphins
We are working to understand the complex patterns of stocks of bottlenose dolphins in waters along the U.S. east coast. For example, in North Carolina, at least four distinct stocks of dolphins overlap at various time of the year. Dolphins from all four of these stocks are at risk of entanglement in near-shore gill net fisheries; our research is designed to determine which of these stocks is most as risk. We employ photo-identification and biopsy sampling to determine the structure, distribution and boundaries of these stocks. This work is led by Kim Urian, who curates the Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Catalog. The work involves a collaboration with Dr. Tom Schultz to better understand molecular markers of these stocks.
Representative Publications:
Urian, K.W., R. Kaufmann, D.M. Waples & A.J. Read. 2018. The prevalence of ecotoparasitic barnacles discriminates stocks of Atlantic common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at risk of entanglement in coastal gill net fisheries. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/mms.125 22.
Urian, K.W., D.M. Waples, R.B. Tyson, L.E. Williams Hodge & A.J. Read. 2013. Abundance of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in estuarine and near-shore waters of North Carolina, USA. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Sciences 129: 165-171.
Read, A.J., K.W. Urian, B. Wilson & D.M. Waples. 2003. Abundance of bottlenose dolphins in the bays, sounds and estuaries of North Carolina, USA. Marine Mammal Science 19: 59-73.
Ecology of Humpback Whales Along the Antarctic Peninsula
We have been part of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) team, studying the the ecology of humpback and mink whales along the Antarctic Peninsula. This project is led by Read Lab alums Ari Friedlaender and Logan Pallin. Each austral summer, we study humpback and minke whales using telemetry, photo-identification and biopsy techniques, over a broad area of the Western Antarctic Peninsula.
Representative Publications:
Pallin, L., N. Kellar, D. Steel, N. Botero-Acosta, C. Baker, J. Conroy, D. Costa, C. Johnson, D. Johnston, R. Nichols, D. Nowacek, A.J. Read, O. Savenko, O. Schofield, S. Stammerjohn, D. Steinberg & A. Friedlaender. 2023. A surplus no more? Variation in krill availability impacts reproductive rates of Antarctic baleen whales. Global Change Biology https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16559.
Pallin, L. K.C. Bierlich, J. Durban, John; H. Fearnbach, O. Savenko, C. Baker, E. Bell, M. Double, B. de la Mare, J. Goldbogen, D. Johnston, N. Kellar, R. Nichols, D. Nowacek, A.J. Read, D. Steel, & A. Friedlaender. 2022. Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change. Royal Society Open Science 9: 220724 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220724.
Friedlaender, A.S., T. Joyce, D.W. Johnston, A.J. Read, D.P. Nowacek, J. Goldbogen, N. Gales & J.W. Durban. 2021. Sympatry and resource partitioning between the largest krill consumers around the Antarctic Peninsula. Marine Ecology Progress Series 669: 1-16.
Ecology of Short-finned Pilot Whales
We are conducting a long-term study of short-finned pilot whales off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. We employ a variety of methods, including photo-identification, biopsy sampling, satellite-linked depth recorders, and Digital Acoustic Tags (DTAGs) to study the behavior and ecology of these animals. We are particularly interested in their foraging behavior and interactions with the pelagic longline fishery in this area; some whales have learned to remove captured tuna – a behavior termed depredation – which leads to an economic cost to the fishery and a risk of entanglement to the whales. This research has been supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, North Carolina Sea Grant Fishery Resource Grant Program and the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction.
Representative Publications:
Blawas, A.M., L.E. Miller, J.M. Shearer, W.R. Cioffi, D.L. Webster, Z.T. Swaim, H.J. Foley, D.M. Waples, N.J. Quick, D.P. Nowacek & A.J. Read. 2024. Aerobic dive limit in short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus: an assessment of behavioral criteria. Marine Ecology Progress Series 744: 161–170.
Shearer J., F. Jensen, N.J Quick, A.S. Friedlaender, B.E. Southall, D.P. Nowacek, M. Bowers, H.J. Foley, Z.T. Swaim, D.M. Waples & A.J. Read. 2022. Short-finned pilot whales exhibit behavioral plasticity in foraging strategies mediated by their environment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 695: 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14132.
Stepanuk, J., A.J. Read, R.W. Baird, D. Webster & L.H. Thorne. 2018. Spatiotemporal patterns of overlap between short-finned pilot whales and the pelagic longline fishery in the Mid-Atlantic Bight: An assessment to inform the management of fisheries bycatch. Fisheries Research 208: 309-320.
Conservation of the Vaquita
The vaquita is the most endangered marine mammal and one of the world’s most endangered mammals. The remnant population now numbers fewer than a dozen animals and inhabits in a tiny area in the northern Gulf of California. The Government of Mexico is working to conserve the species, but it is threatened by an illegal fishery for the totoaba, an endangered sea bass also endemic to the Gulf of California. Totoaba swim bladders are dried and smuggled from Mexico to China. Andy is a member of CIRVA, the international recovery team for this species. In 2018, Andy was part of an international team that attempted to capture some of the last vaquitas and move them into a temporary sanctuary. We have also conducted photo-identification surveys of the vaquita and assisted in efforts to obtain skin samples via remote biopsy.
Representative Publications:
Aceves-Bueño, E., A.J. Read & M. Cisneros. 2020. Illegal fisheries, environmental crime and the conservation of marine resources in Mexico. Conservation Biology doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13674.
Taylor, B.L., R.S. Wells, P. Olson, R.L. Brownell, Jr., F. Gulland, A.J. Read, F.J. Valverde-Esparza, O.H. Ortiz-García, D. Ruiz-Sabio, A.M. Jaramillo-Legorreta & L. Rojas-Bracho. 2019. Likely annual calving in the vaquita, Phocoena sinus: A new hope? Marine Mammal Science. doi.org/10.1111/mms.12595.
Rojas-Bracho, L, F.M.D. Gulland, C.R. Smith, B. Taylor, R.S. Wells, P.O. Thomas, B. Bauer, M.P. Heide-Jørgensen, J. Teilmann, R. Dietz, J.D. Balle, M.V. Jensen, M.H.S. Sinding, A. Jaramillo-Legorreta, G. Abel, A.J. Read, A.J. Westgate, K. Colegrove, F. Gomez, K. Martz, R. Rebolledo, S. Ridgway, T. Rowles, C.E. van Elk, J. Boehm, G. Cardenas-Hinojosa, R. Constandse, E. Nieto-Garcia, W. Phillips, D. Sabio, R. Sanchez, J. Sweeney, F. Townsend, J. Vivanco, J.C Vivanco & S. Walker. 2019. A field effort to capture critically endangered vaquitas (Phocoena sinus) for protection from entanglement in illegal gillnets. Endangered Species Research 38: 11-27.
Atlantic Behavioral Response Study
This large and complex project is examining the behavioral response of goose-beaked whales to Naval Mid-Frequency Active (MFA) sonar. We are monitoring the response of individuals equipped with DTAGs and satellite-linked dive recorders to the sounds of tactical sonars deployed from Navy vessels during training exercises off Cape Hatteras. The project follows the SOCAL BRS project in southern California led by Brandon Southall and is funded by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic. Brandon is also the lead Principal Investigator on the Atlantic BRS project, with Doug Nowacek and Andy as co-PIs.
Representative Publications:
Cioffi, W.R., N.J. Quick, Z.T. Swaim, H.J. Foley, D.M. Waples, D.L. Webster, R.W. Baird, B.L Southall, D.P. Nowacek & A.J. Read. 2023. Trade-offs in telemetry tag programming for deep-diving cetaceans: data longevity, resolution, and continuity. Animal Biotelemetry https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-023-00334-1.
Quick, N., W. Cioffi, J. Shearer & A.J. Read. 2019. Mind the gap – Optimizing satellite tag settings for time series analysis of foraging dives in Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). Animal Biotelemetry doi.org/10.1186/s40317-019-0167-5.
Harris, C., L. Thomas, E. Falcone, J. Hildebrand, D. Houser, P. Kvadsheim, F.-P. Lam, P. Miller, D. Moretti, A.J. Read, H. Slabbekoorn, B. Southall, P. Tyack, D. Wartzok, V. Janik. 2017. Marine mammals and sonar: dose-response studies, the risk-disturbance hypothesis and the role of exposure context. Journal of Applied Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12955.
Responses of Humpback Whales to Approaching Vessels in Chesapeake Bay
Wet have been working to understand why humpback whales are struck so frequently by large vessels at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Each winter this area supports a concentration of juvenile whales that feed in the shipping channels that lead into and out of the busy ports of Norfolk and Baltimore. We equip whales with DTAGs to document their response to oncoming vessels. We hope that this work will inform future management efforts to reduce the number of whales killed in this manner. This research has been supported by Naval Facilities Atlantic Command Atlantic and the National Geographic Society.
Representative Publications:
Shearer, J., H. Foley, Z. Swaim, V. Janik & A.J. Read. 2024. Overwintering humpback whales adapt foraging strategies to shallow water environments at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, USA. Marine Mammal Science. http://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13184.
Adcock, D.L., J.M. Shearer, H.J. Foley, Z.T. Swaim & A.J. Read. 2024. Song fragments recorded on a tagged juvenile humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a winter feeding ground at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, USA. Marine Mammal ScienceDOI: 10.1111/mms.13110.
Bycatch Reduction and Fisheries Interactions
Our lab focuses on a variety of bycatch-related work. Recent and ongoing research focuses on understanding patterns of toothed whale depredation and bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries, including false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) that interact with the Hawai’i longline fleet and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in the pelagic longline fishery off the U.S. East Coast. We are interested in understanding the drivers of overlap between whales and fishing vessels and the efficacy of mitigation strategies employed to reduce depredation and bycatch. This work has been funded through the National Marine Fisheries Service Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program. Other research focuses on examining bycatch in regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), including attempting to assess the magnitude of bycatch and examining compliance with bycatch-related measures in RFMOs. We have also examined patterns of sea turtle bycatch in the North Carolina southern flounder gillnet fishery and pioneered the use of acoustic deterrent devices to reduce bycatch of small cetaceans, such as harbor porpoises, in gillnet fisheries.
Representative Publications:
Elliott, B., J.J. Kiszka, S. Bonhommeau, U. Shahid, R. Lent, L. Nelson & A.J. Read. 2023. Bycatch in drift gillnet fisheries: a sink for Indian Ocean cetaceans. Conservation Letters e12997.
Rogan, E., A.J. Read & P. Berggren. 2021. Empty promises: the European Union is failing to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries bycatch. Fish & Fisheries 22: 865– 869.
Thorne, L., R. Baird, D. Webster, J. Stepanuk & A.J. Read. 2019. Forecasting fisheries bycatch: A case study and field test for pilot whales in a pelagic longline fishery. Diversity and Distributions 25: 909–923.
