The Alaska Whale Foundation’s Rapunzel Project: How Whales Communicate

Posted on July 13, 2012 by RSMAS

We have now had ample time to observe the Humpback whales and their many behaviors. Surprisingly, the whale’s behavior in Southeast Alaska has an entirely different purpose than when they sing in their mating grounds in Hawaii. This is due to their motives for remaining in Alaska and remaining in Hawaii for periods of time. A breach in Hawaii has a different purpose from a breach in Alaska. As the warm waters of Hawaii are used for mating, the cold productive waters of Alaska are used to forage.

The whales exhibit several different behaviors when they surface around the lighthouse. There are of course, whales breaching, during which they throw themselves into the air and splash into the water. This behavior is rumored to have several different functions ranging from intimidation to communication while the whales are in Alaska. In contrast, when the whales are in Hawaii breaching is used as a flashy behavior to attract mates.

The whales also perform peduncle throws: a whale at the surface throws its entire tail into the air and slams back into the water, and Pectoral slaps in which the whales swim on their sides on the surface and smack the water. Both of these behaviors are believed to be used in communication and feeding. The Peduncle throw sends such a forceful sound wave through the water and has the ability to scare nearby schooling fish. This works well in the Humpbacks favor as small schooling fish, such as Herring, form a more tightly knit group and become easier prey for the Humpbacks.

Bubble net feeding is also a common practice found in Alaskan waters. Bubble net feeding involves large groups of Humpbacks working together during a feeding frenzy. It begins when one whale gives a bubble net feeding call. It is an elongated note, as if the whale briefly sings and ushers the other whales into the area to begin feeding. One whale sinks deep into the water beneath the schooling fish and sends up bubbles that corrals the fish into ever-tighter circles. The other whales then simultaneously engulf the schooling fish in their mouths and beach the surface. From the surface, it has the appearance that the whales are bobbing on the surface in a giant circle of bubbling water.

This week also held our camping trip. We took a 45-minute boat ride to a nearby island and camped for a night. I was able to take a kayak out to a Sea Lion hollow and paddle to within about 20 feet of the Sea Lions. Sea Lion’s may appear to be sweet doglike mammals of the ocean, but in reality the Sea Lion’s are aggressive and have a bite stronger than a bears. When compared to each other, the skull of a Sea Lion and the skull of a bear are almost identical. The Sea Lions are also extremely inquisitive animals and have no problem swimming up to your kayak to check you out. An 1800-pound Sea Lion with the strength to crush your bones in a single bite can be somewhat daunting as you rock around in a small kayak.

In addition to paddling to the Sea Lion hollow, I also had the opportunity to hike through some of the Alaskan wilderness. The forest was unlike any I had ever seen. This Island, known as The Brothers, has no predators and is completely covered in moss. The moss floor proved to be quite comfortable as we set up camp. For the first night of the season we slept in darkness, as the trees sheltered us from the ever-persistent daylight.

-Ryan Meeder
RSMAS Undergraduate Student
Follow the Rosenstiel School on Twitter: @UMiamiRSMAS
“Like” the Rosenstiel School on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Rosenstiel School
Circle the Rosenstiel School on Google+ : Rosenstiel School

The Alaska Whale Foundation’s Rapunzel Project: Life as an Intern

Posted on June 29, 2012 by RSMAS

Seven days have now passed since I left my comfortable home in Chicago and departed for a month in the Alaskan wilderness. In these seven days I have had the opportunity to observe majestic humpback whales as they dive and surface all around the lighthouse, as well as poke around the intertidal zone searching for Anemones and Pycnopodia. And this is just the beginning.

The daily duties of marking whales with a theodolite, recording their locations, and dropping hydrophones in the water off a small skiff are divided between the other three interns and myself. We have access to electricity for about 7 hours a day and spend most of our time searching for whales and appreciating the Alaskan wilderness. The harbor seals, sea lions, bald eagles, porpoises, and sea otters that patrol the waters near the lighthouse also serve to keep us company.

A typical day in the life of a Rapunzel Project intern is spent at the top of the lighthouse tower with the theodolite, and out on the water dropping hydrophones off a small skiff. The skiff operator sits in the boat and records and listens to everything that is going on under the surface. The humpback whales around the island frequently Trumpet and send chills running up each of our spines. When time presents itself, we can also fish for 300-pound Halibut off the island.

This week we will also have the opportunity to board a passing cruise ship and give lectures and answer questions about the whales. We have been training up on all the protocol for observing the whales and learning how to recognize different whale behaviors. Today I cut up a piece of Bull Kelp that I found in the intertidal zone and under Michelle’s direction (Rapunzel Project Field Leader) made it into a horn. This is a common practice among children in Juneau, and will hopefully make for an entertaining story for the children in Chicago and at “The U.”

The Alaska Whale Foundation’s Rapunzel Project

Posted on June 22, 2012 by RSMAS

Five months ago I was sent an email about a research project and opportunity unlike any I had ever seen. Without hesitation, I applied for this tremendous opportunity and was fortunate enough to be accepted. The place: An isolated lighthouse in Alaska. The subjects: Humpback whales.

My name is Ryan Meeder and I recently completed my freshman year at RSMAS. This summer I will be spending four weeks (beginning June 21) living in a lighthouse with three other interns studying Humpback Whales. The project is known as The Alaska Whale Foundation’s Rapunzel Project, and has its own official blog, which I encourage you to check out. Each week I will be writing a post here on the RSMAS Blog about the experience and what I am doing at the lighthouse. Our research goal is to catalogue Humpback Whale sounds and determine the impact anthropogenic sound has on the oceans and the whales. If you have any questions about the project for me now, or at anytime during the field season please feel free to email me. I look forward to sharing more information about the internship as well as pictures in my next post.