Whale Habitat, Ecology & Telemetry Lab

7^th International Bio-logging Science Symposium (BLS7)

With support from the Oregon Gray Whale License Plate program to cover registration costs, three members of the WHET Lab participated in the 7^th International Bio-logging Science Symposium (BLS7), 18-22 October 2021. BLS7 is a triennial international conference for researchers using animal-borne technologies to discuss their results and recent technical and analytical advances. This year's meeting was conducted entirely virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic so all presentations were pre-recorded. Our three presentations at BLS7 were (click on the linked titles to watch them on YouTube):

• Michaela Kratofil (MSc Student): More than just a fad? Endangered false killer whale movements in relation to fish aggregating devices (FADs) in Hawai'i
• Ladd Irvine (PhD Student): A novel model to predict whale feeding behavior from satellite-linked tags
• Daniel Palacios (Associate Professor): Broad-scale characterization of humpback whale diving behavior in the Hawaii breeding area from Argos-transmitting satellite tags

24^th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (SMM22)

Funding from the Oregon Gray Whale License Plate program also covered registration costs of WHET Lab members for the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 24^th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (SMM22). This biennial conference is the premier international conference on marine mammals, attracting scientists, managers, and policy makers from more than 60 countries to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue on the world’s most pressing science and conservation issues. SMM22 was originally scheduled for 13-17 December 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed for 1-5 August 2022. Our  presentations at SMM22 were (click on the linked titles to watch them on the WHET Lab's YouTube channel):

• Michaela Kratofil (Ph.D. Student): Spatial use of pantropical spotted dolphins in relation to stock boundaries and environmental features in Hawaiian waters
• Liam Mueller-Brennan (M.Sc. Student): Permeating the Soundscape: Seismic Surveys Audible Across Ocean Basins Impact the Marine Mammal Acoustic Environment
• Ladd Irvine (Ph.D. Student): A Novel Model To Predict Whale Feeding Behavior From Satellite-linked Tags
• Craig Hayslip (Faculty Research Assistant): Comparative Large Whale Occurrence And Habitat Use In The Gulf Of California, As Derived From Satellite Telemetry
• Barb Lagerquist (Senior Faculty Research Assistant): Use of Navy Training Ranges and NMFS’ Biologically Important Areas by Blue and Fin
  Whales off the U.S. West Coast

Dissemination of our research results to the scientific community at the BLS7 and SMM22 conferences serves a critical function in providing timely peer feedback on our work, guiding future research, training the next generation of scientists, creating key opportunities to foster international partnerships and collaboration, and providing valuable information to policy makers toward management and conservation. Through our participation in these conferences, the State of Oregon and the Hatfield Marine Science Center are highlighted as a places with a rich coastal ecosystem and world-renowned expertise in marine mammalogy. We deeply appreciate the support of the Oregonians who purchased or renewed their Coastal Playground license plate!