Endangered southern resident killer whales return to a quieter Salish Sea
Ocean Networks Canada
Published: 31 July 2020
73 endangered southern resident killer whales returned to the Salish Sea in 2020, including a pregnant J-pod member. Experts hope quieter COVID-era seas may improve their foraging and birth success, but long-term recovery hinges on salmon availability.
Keywords: southern resident orcas, Salish Sea, J pod, COVID-19, salmon, photogrammetry, underwater noise
Hushed seas: monitoring underwater noise during COVID-19
Ocean Networks Canada
Published: 13 May 2020
Ocean Networks Canada’s hydrophone data shows a 4–5 decibel drop in underwater noise during COVID-19 shutdowns. This quieter ocean may benefit endangered southern resident killer whales by easing communication, navigation, and hunting.
Keywords: underwater noise, southern resident killer whales, Ocean Networks Canada, hydrophones, acoustic monitoring, marine soundscape, quiet ocean
Craig Smith on whale falls Researcher in Residence: Craig Smith on whale falls
Ocean Networks Canada
Published: 8 April 2020
Craig Smith, ONC’s researcher in residence, is studying deep-sea whale falls to understand benthic ecology. His work uses seafloor cameras to explore how whale carcasses fuel deep-sea life and boost biodiversity.
Keywords: Whale fall, deep-sea ecology, benthic communities, Ocean Networks Canada, biodiversity hotspot, organic fall experiments, marine research
