Marine mammal research and conservation focuses on understanding the biology of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (known collectively as cetaceans) and other marine mammals (such as seals, sea lions, and the walrus). Many marine mammals are difficult to study in the wild. Some species spend their entire lives in the open sea and are difficult to find and observe.
Behavior
For many years, scientists learned about cetaceans primarily through examination of the carcasses that washed ashore or by strandings. Although much knowledge has been gained about the anatomy of whales in this way, little is know about their behavior. Today, research focuses on a variety of behaviors:
- communication (vocalizations, song, ecolocation)
- breaching, lobtailing, flipper sailing, fluking
- breeding behavior
Migration
Many species of whales migrate between feeding grounds located in cooler waters and breeding grounds located in warmers waters. Such migrations may span many thousands of miles.
Conservation
Many marine mammal species have been adversely affected by a range of human activities, forcing some to the brink of extinction. Whaling started several hundred years ago but in the mid-1800s became widespread and, with the introduction of specialized harpoons and processing ships, highly efficient. Fortunately, a worldwide ban on whale hunting was put in place in 1986. Sadly, recent efforts by pro-whaling countries such as Japan have brought about the possibility of the reintroduction of legalized commecial whaling.
Related Resources
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