{"id":5419,"date":"2023-11-20T12:37:27","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T19:37:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/?p=5419"},"modified":"2023-11-21T19:04:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T02:04:20","slug":"blue-whales-krill-and-climate-change-sapphire-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/2023\/11\/20\/blue-whales-krill-and-climate-change-sapphire-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue whales, krill, and climate change: introducing the SAPPHIRE project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/people\/dawn-barlow\">Dr. Dawn Barlow<\/a>, Postdoctoral Scholar, OSU Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/gemm-lab\">Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The world is warming. Ocean ecosystems are experiencing significant and rapid impacts of climate change. However, the cascading effects on marine life are largely unknown. Thus, it is critical to understand how \u2013 not just if \u2013 environmental change impacts the availability and quality of key prey species in ocean food webs, and how these changes will impact marine predator health and population resilience. With these pressing knowledge gaps in mind, we are thrilled to launch a new project \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/gemm-lab\/sapphire-synthesis-acoustics-physiology-prey-habitat-rapidly-changing-environment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marine predator and prey response to climate change: Synthesis of Acoustics, Physiology, Prey, and Habitat in a Rapidly changing Environment (SAPPHIRE)<\/a>.\u201d &nbsp;We will examine how changing ocean conditions affect the availability and quality of krill, and thus impact blue whale behavior, health, and reproduction. This large-scale research effort is made possible with funding from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/awardsearch\/showAward?AWD_ID=2308300&amp;HistoricalAwards=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Science Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAPPHIRE project takes place in the South Taranaki Bight (STB) region of Aotearoa New Zealand, and before diving into our new research plans, let\u2019s reflect briefly on what we know so far about this study system based on our previous research. Our collaborative research team has studied blue whales in the STB since 2013 to document the population, understand their ecology and habitat use, and inform conservation management. We conducted boat-based surveys and used hydrophones to record the underwater soundscape, and found the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blue whales in Aotearoa New Zealand are a unique population, genetically distinct from all other known populations in the Southern Hemisphere, with an estimated population size of 718 (95% CI = 279 \u2013 1926).<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blue whales reside in the STB region year-round, with feeding and breeding vocalizations detected nearly every day of the year.<sup>2,3<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wind-driven upwelling over Kahurangi shoals moves a plume of cold, nutrient-rich waters into the STB, supporting aggregations of krill, and thereby critical feeding opportunities for blue whales in spring and summer.<sup>4\u20136<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We developed predictive models to forecast blue whale distribution up to three weeks in advance, providing managers with a real-time tool in the form of a desktop application to produce daily forecast maps for dynamic management.<sup>7<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>During marine heatwaves, blue whale feeding activity was substantially reduced in the STB. Interestingly, their breeding activity was also reduced in the following season when compared to the breeding season following a more productive, typical foraging season. This finding indicates that shifting environmental conditions, such as marine heatwaves and climate change, may have consequences to not just foraging success, but the population\u2019s reproductive patterns.<sup>3<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2018\/05\/NZ-blue-e1525719005784.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2018\/05\/NZ-blue-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2061\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A blue whale comes up for air in the South Taranaki Bight. Photo by Leigh Torres. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Project goals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building on this existing knowledge, we aim to gain understanding of the health impacts of environmental change on krill and blue whales, which can in turn inform management decisions. Over the next three years (2024-2026) we will use multidisciplinary methods to collect data in the field that will enable us to tackle these important but challenging goals. Our broad objectives are to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"A\">\n<li>Assess variation in krill quality and availability relative to rising temperatures and different ocean conditions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Document how blue whale body condition and hormone profiles change relative to variable environmental and prey conditions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understand how environmental conditions impact blue whale foraging and reproductive behavior, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate these components to develop novel Species Health Models to predict predator and prey whale population response to rapid environmental change.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Kicking off fieldwork<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This coming January, we will set sail aboard the R\/V Star Keys and head out in search of blue whales and krill in the STB! Five of our team members will spend three weeks at sea, during which time we will conduct surveys for blue whale occurrence paired with active acoustic assessment of krill availability, fly Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS; \u201cdrones\u201d) over whales to determine body condition and potential pregnancy, collect tissue biopsy samples to quantify stress and reproductive hormone levels, deploy hydrophones to record rates of foraging and reproductive calls by blue whales, and conduct on-board controlled experiments on krill to assess their response to elevated temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/EM_0461-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The team in action aboard the R\/V Star Keys in February 2017. Photo by L. Torres. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The moving pieces are many as we work to obtain research permits, engage in important consultation with iwi (indigenous M\u0101ori groups), procure specialized scientific equipment, and make travel and shipping arrangements. The to-do lists seem to grow just as fast as we can check items off; such is the nature of coordinating an international, multidisciplinary field effort. But it will pay off when we are underway, and I can barely contain my excitement to back on the water with this research team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our team has not collected data in the STB since 2017. We know so much more now than we did when studies of this blue whale population were just beginning. For example, we are eager to put our <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/2021\/09\/15\/whale-forecast-models-for-conservation\/\">blue whale forecast tool<\/a> to use, which will hopefully enable us to direct survey effort toward areas of higher blue whale density to maximize data collection. We are keen to see what new insights we gain, and what new questions and challenges arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Research team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAPPHIRE project will only be possible with the expertise and coordination of the many members of our collaborative group. We are all thrilled to begin this research journey together, and eager to share what we learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Principal Investigators:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped has-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"222\" height=\"300\" data-id=\"5434\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/1.2-Torres.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5434\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/people\/leigh-g-torres\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leigh Torres (Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, OSU)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"983\" data-id=\"5435\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/2.2-Barlow-1024x983.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/2.2-Barlow-1024x983.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/2.2-Barlow-300x288.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/2.2-Barlow-768x737.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/2.2-Barlow-1536x1475.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/2.2-Barlow-2048x1966.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/people\/dawn-barlow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dawn Barlow (Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, OSU)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\" data-id=\"5455\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/3-Bierlich-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/3-Bierlich-1.jpg 220w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/3-Bierlich-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/people\/kevin-bierlich\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KC Bierlich (Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, OSU)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"968\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"5456\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Bernard-968x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Bernard-968x1024.jpg 968w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Bernard-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Bernard-768x812.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Bernard-1453x1536.jpg 1453w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Bernard.jpg 1516w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 968px) 100vw, 968px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ceoas.oregonstate.edu\/people\/kim-bernard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kim Bernard (Krillseeker Lab, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, OSU)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"942\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"5458\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/HolgerKlink-4x3-2-942x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/HolgerKlink-4x3-2-942x1024.jpg 942w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/HolgerKlink-4x3-2-276x300.jpg 276w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/HolgerKlink-4x3-2-768x835.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/HolgerKlink-4x3-2.jpg 1119w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 942px) 100vw, 942px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/people\/holger-klinck\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holger Klinck (K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell University)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Research partners and key collaborators:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-5 is-cropped has-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-id=\"5449\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/DOC-no-text-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/DOC-no-text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/DOC-no-text.png 256w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.doc.govt.nz\/our-work\/protecting-species\/protecting-marine-species\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Zealand Department of Conservation<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-id=\"5438\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Baker-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Baker-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Baker.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mmi.oregonstate.edu\/ccgl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scott Baker (Oregon State University)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"223\" height=\"300\" data-id=\"5446\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Carroll-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Carroll-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Carroll-760x1024.jpg 760w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Carroll-768x1035.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Carroll.jpg 1069w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/profiles.auckland.ac.nz\/e-carroll\" target=\"_blank\">Emma Carroll (Un<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/profiles.auckland.ac.nz\/e-carroll\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">i<\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/profiles.auckland.ac.nz\/e-carroll\" target=\"_blank\">versity of Auckland)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"5442\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Constantine-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Constantine-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Constantine.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/profiles.auckland.ac.nz\/r-constantine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rochelle Constantine (University of Auckland)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-id=\"5445\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Halfter-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Halfter-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Halfter-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Halfter-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Halfter.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/niwa.co.nz\/people\/svenja-halfter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Svenja Halfter (NIWA, Ltd.)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-id=\"5440\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Hunt-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Hunt-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Hunt-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Hunt.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.gmu.edu\/directory\/kathleen-hunt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kathleen Hunt (George Mason University)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-id=\"5441\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Kellar-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Kellar-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Kellar.jpg 211w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fisheries.noaa.gov\/contact\/nick-kellar-phd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nick Kellar (NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"5444\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Sutton-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Sutton-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Sutton.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/niwa.co.nz\/people\/philip-sutton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Phil Sutton (NIWA, Ltd.)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-id=\"5443\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Wolff-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Wolff-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Wolff-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/Wolff.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/about-us\/who-we-are\/our-people\/nick-wolff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nicholas Wolff (The Nature Conservancy)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2115\/files\/2023\/11\/SAPPHIRE-announcement-logos-1-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Did you enjoy this blog? Want to learn more about marine life, research, and conservation? Subscribe to our blog and get a weekly alert when we make a new post!&nbsp;Just add your name into the subscribe box below!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"emaillist\" id=\"es_form_f1-n1\"><form action=\"\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419#es_form_f1-n1\" method=\"post\" class=\"es_subscription_form es_shortcode_form  es_ajax_subscription_form\" id=\"es_subscription_form_69fd00af1d208\" data-source=\"ig-es\" data-form-id=\"1\"><div class=\"es-field-wrap\"><label>Name*<br \/><input type=\"text\" name=\"esfpx_name\" class=\"ig_es_form_field_name\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" required=\"required\" \/><\/label><\/div><div class=\"es-field-wrap ig-es-form-field\"><label class=\"es-field-label\">Email*<br \/><input class=\"es_required_field es_txt_email ig_es_form_field_email ig-es-form-input\" type=\"email\" name=\"esfpx_email\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"\" required=\"required\" \/><\/label><\/div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_lists[]\" value=\"e75fbcad40a2\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_form_id\" value=\"1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"es\" value=\"subscribe\" \/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_es_form_identifier\" value=\"f1-n1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_es_email_page\" value=\"5419\" \/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_es_email_page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/2023\/11\/20\/blue-whales-krill-and-climate-change-sapphire-project\/\" \/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_status\" value=\"Unconfirmed\" \/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"esfpx_es-subscribe\" id=\"es-subscribe-69fd00af1d208\" value=\"7f2e745a49\" \/>\n\t\t\t<label style=\"position:absolute;top:-99999px;left:-99999px;z-index:-99;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span hidden>Please leave this field empty.<\/span><input type=\"email\" name=\"esfpx_es_hp_email\" class=\"es_required_field\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"-1\" value=\"\" \/><\/label><input type=\"submit\" name=\"submit\" class=\"es_subscription_form_submit es_submit_button es_textbox_button\" id=\"es_subscription_form_submit_69fd00af1d208\" value=\"Subscribe\" \/><span class=\"es_spinner_image\" id=\"spinner-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-content\/plugins\/email-subscribers\/lite\/public\/images\/spinner.gif\" alt=\"Loading\" \/><\/span><\/form><span class=\"es_subscription_message \" id=\"es_subscription_message_69fd00af1d208\" role=\"alert\" aria-live=\"assertive\"><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barlow DR, Torres LG, Hodge KB, Steel D, Baker CS, Chandler TE, Bott N, Constantine R, Double MC, Gill P, Glasgow D, Hamner RM, Lilley C, Ogle M, Olson PA, Peters C, Stockin KA, Tessaglia-Hymes CT, Klinck H. Documentation of a New Zealand blue whale population based on multiple lines of evidence. Endanger Species Res. 2018;36:27\u201340.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">2. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barlow DR, Klinck H, Ponirakis D, Holt Colberg M, Torres LG. Temporal occurrence of three blue whale populations in New Zealand waters from passive acoustic monitoring. J Mammal. 2022;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barlow DR, Klinck H, Ponirakis D, Branch TA, Torres LG. Environmental conditions and marine heatwaves influence blue whale foraging and reproductive effort. Ecol Evol. 2023;13:e9770.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">4. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barlow DR, Klinck H, Ponirakis D, Garvey C, Torres LG. Temporal and spatial lags between wind, coastal upwelling, and blue whale occurrence. Sci Rep. 2021;11(6915):1\u201310.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barlow DR, Bernard KS, Escobar-Flores P, Palacios DM, Torres LG. Links in the trophic chain: Modeling functional relationships between in situ oceanography, krill, and blue whale distribution under different oceanographic regimes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. 2020;642:207\u201325.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">6. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Torres LG, Barlow DR, Chandler TE, Burnett JD. Insight into the kinematics of blue whale surface foraging through drone observations and prey data. PeerJ. 2020;8:e8906.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">7. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barlow DR, Torres LG. Planning ahead: Dynamic models forecast blue whale distribution with applications for spatial management. J Appl Ecol. 2021;58(11):2493\u2013504.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By&nbsp;Dr. Dawn Barlow, Postdoctoral Scholar, OSU Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences,&nbsp;Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab The world is warming. Ocean ecosystems are experiencing significant and rapid impacts of climate change. However, the cascading effects on marine life are largely unknown. Thus, it is critical to understand how \u2013 not just if \u2013 &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/2023\/11\/20\/blue-whales-krill-and-climate-change-sapphire-project\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Blue whales, krill, and climate change: introducing the SAPPHIRE project<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8072,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[188686,712807],"tags":[1310805,1237832,112,140586,712899,1310804,1310729,1310803,712836,635712,513,5],"class_list":["post-5419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-projects","category-new-zealand-blue-whales","tag-aotearoa-new-zealand","tag-blue-whales","tag-climate-change","tag-conservation","tag-dawn-barlow","tag-holger-klinck","tag-kc-bierlich","tag-kim-bernard","tag-krill","tag-leigh-torres","tag-marine-mammals","tag-science"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8072"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5419"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5471,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5419\/revisions\/5471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/gemmlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}