WEBVTT 00:00.533 --> 00:14.114 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (tranquil music) 00:14.114 --> 00:15.515 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [narrator] They are one of the oceans' 00:15.515 --> 00:18.818 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% long-distance travelers. 00:18.818 --> 00:21.955 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% undertaking some of the longest seasonal migrations 00:21.955 --> 00:27.027 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% in the animal kingdom. 00:27.027 --> 00:28.194 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - [adam] Humpback whales are found 00:28.194 --> 00:32.932 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% in all the major oceans on the planet. 00:32.932 --> 00:34.968 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - [lars] There are 14 different distinct population segments 00:34.968 --> 00:37.170 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% of humpback whales in the world. 00:37.170 --> 00:38.438 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% (camera shudder clicking) 00:38.438 --> 00:40.407 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - [adam] The focus of our work 00:40.407 --> 00:44.010 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% is on the Hawai i distinct population segment. 00:44.010 --> 00:46.913 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [stephanie] They breed in the Hawaiian Islands, 00:46.913 --> 00:54.487 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and they feed in Alaska, British Columbia. 00:54.487 --> 00:59.392 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [adam] They are migrating some 2,500, 3,000 miles 00:59.392 --> 01:00.627 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% up to their feeding grounds 01:00.627 --> 01:05.965 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and then back down to their breeding grounds. 01:05.965 --> 01:07.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [lars] The humpback whales get to Alaska 01:07.400 --> 01:09.169 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% usually around early April, 01:09.169 --> 01:12.338 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and then they stay up there until about late November 01:12.338 --> 01:14.040 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% while they're feeding all the time up there. 01:14.040 --> 01:15.308 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And then they turn around again 01:15.308 --> 01:18.211 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and usually start coming back in Hawaiian waters 01:18.211 --> 01:20.447 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% even in December, and peak in February. 01:20.447 --> 01:21.648 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% And then by end of March, 01:21.648 --> 01:24.651 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% it's slim pickings down here in Hawai i. 01:24.651 --> 01:25.985 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [jens] It's called a trickle migration 01:25.985 --> 01:28.321 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% because we don't have the entire population 01:28.321 --> 01:30.924 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% coming down at once. 01:30.924 --> 01:32.358 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - [stephanie] And while they're in the breeding grounds, 01:32.358 --> 01:33.660 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% they are not eating at all. 01:33.660 --> 01:36.496 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% They're just surviving off of their blubber. 01:36.496 --> 01:38.631 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% So it's very energetically costly 01:38.631 --> 01:42.569 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% to undergo that migration each year. 01:42.569 --> 01:45.772 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [narrator] Now scientists in Hawai i and Alaska 01:45.772 --> 01:48.441 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% have teamed up to better understand 01:48.441 --> 01:51.377 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% how this prolonged period of fasting 01:51.377 --> 01:57.117 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% is impacting the whales' body condition and overall health. 01:57.117 --> 01:59.586 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [andy] We now have these very nuanced tools 01:59.586 --> 02:02.689 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% that we can look not just at the health of the population, 02:02.689 --> 02:04.591 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% but of individuals. 02:04.591 --> 02:07.460 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's allowing us to see things we never did before. 02:07.460 --> 02:08.995 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - [lars] One of the main questions 02:08.995 --> 02:11.531 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% that we're trying to address is pretty simple. 02:11.531 --> 02:13.733 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% What does it cost to be a humpback whale? 02:13.733 --> 02:18.705 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% How much energy do these animals spend migrating, breeding, 02:18.705 --> 02:21.708 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and those are the costs which then they need to replenish 02:21.708 --> 02:24.844 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% while they're up in Alaska. 02:24.844 --> 02:26.679 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [martin] Unfortunately, we still don't really understand 02:26.679 --> 02:28.948 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% what a healthy humpback whale looks like. 02:28.948 --> 02:31.184 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% So for us to be able to figure out 02:31.184 --> 02:33.153 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% when a population is impacted, 02:33.153 --> 02:35.788 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% we need to know what the baseline is. 02:35.788 --> 02:36.923 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [stephanie] Which is quite important 02:36.923 --> 02:39.025 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% because this whale population 02:39.025 --> 02:41.394 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% is particularly vulnerable right now. 02:41.394 --> 02:45.565 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% In the last few years we've seen changes happening 02:45.565 --> 02:48.735 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% to the sighting rates here in Hawai i 02:48.735 --> 02:50.770 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and our colleagues in Southeast Alaska 02:50.770 --> 02:53.940 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% reported the same thing. 02:53.940 --> 02:58.144 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - [kristi] They are certainly sentinels of ocean health. 02:58.144 --> 03:02.849 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [shannon] They can be good bellwethers for change. 03:02.849 --> 03:06.352 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [adam] Scientists have studied humpback whales, 03:06.352 --> 03:09.055 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% since the 1970s, behaviorally. 03:09.055 --> 03:13.259 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% And so over the past almost 50 years now, 03:13.259 --> 03:14.761 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% we've learned a ton, 03:14.761 --> 03:20.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% but these types of questions that we are now trying to ask 03:20.600 --> 03:24.003 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% are showing us how much more we have to go. 03:24.003 --> 03:29.275 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [lars] This is a really exciting time to do research. 03:29.275 --> 03:30.543 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - [narrator] How do scientists 03:30.543 --> 03:32.879 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% measure the whales' natural fluctuations 03:32.879 --> 03:35.982 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% in body size and overall health? 03:35.982 --> 03:39.819 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And what might that tell us about their ability to cope 03:39.819 --> 03:42.956 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% with future environmental stressors? 03:42.956 --> 04:04.844 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (dramatic music) 04:04.844 --> 04:06.679 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [announcer] Major funding for this program 04:06.679 --> 04:09.649 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% was provided by the Batchelor Foundation, 04:09.649 --> 04:11.718 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% encouraging people to preserve 04:11.718 --> 04:16.422 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and protect America's underwater resources. 04:16.422 --> 04:18.691 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Additional funding was provided 04:18.691 --> 04:25.665 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% by the Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education. 04:25.665 --> 04:28.601 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (majestic music) 04:28.601 --> 04:32.472 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - [narrator] Southeast Alaska. 04:32.472 --> 04:37.110 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Remote islands covered in dense temperate rainforest 04:37.110 --> 04:41.648 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% give way to scenic glacier-cut fjords, 04:41.648 --> 04:48.721 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that are bountiful feeding grounds for 04:48.721 --> 04:50.890 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% One group studying humpback whales 04:50.890 --> 04:55.695 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% in this rugged wilderness is the Alaska Whale Foundation. 04:55.695 --> 04:57.297 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Its remote field station 04:57.297 --> 05:03.703 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% is located in the small community of 05:03.703 --> 05:05.171 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% - Most of our work 05:05.171 --> 05:09.042 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% has focused on humpback whale populations here in Alaska 05:09.042 --> 05:11.644 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% by studying both the actual animals themselves 05:11.644 --> 05:13.680 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% and the underlying prey. 05:13.680 --> 05:15.682 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - [narrator] From April through October, 05:15.682 --> 05:19.819 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% a small but dedicated team of scientists and interns 05:19.819 --> 05:22.121 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% use the field station as their base 05:22.121 --> 05:29.395 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to conduct research in the surrounding waters. 05:29.395 --> 05:33.299 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - [andy] Our study area is a large portion 05:33.299 --> 05:36.836 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% of Northern Southeast Alaska; Frederick Sound, 05:36.836 --> 05:39.272 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% Chatham Strait, Icy Strait, 05:39.272 --> 05:41.174 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and the nearest towns would be 05:41.174 --> 05:43.643 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% Petersburg, Sitka, and Juneau. 05:43.643 --> 05:48.514 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% We probably cover about 50% of that area at this point, 05:48.514 --> 05:50.183 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% and we're still expanding. 05:50.183 --> 05:54.487 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% We have colleagues who are working in various other spots. 05:54.487 --> 05:55.722 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - And this is one of the key areas 05:55.722 --> 05:57.190 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that the humpback whales come up to feed 05:57.190 --> 05:59.125 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% throughout the summer and fall months. 05:59.125 --> 06:00.927 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% It's a very productive area. 06:00.927 --> 06:03.796 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [andy] The diet of these animals is about 80% krill. 06:03.796 --> 06:05.531 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - [martin] They're also feeding on different forage fish 06:05.531 --> 06:07.033 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% that are quite important to the area. 06:07.033 --> 06:08.501 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% Things like Pacific herring. 06:08.501 --> 06:12.338 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% - Juvenile salmon, increasingly at least in recent years, 06:12.338 --> 06:16.609 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% capelin, sand lance, all things that are small 06:16.609 --> 06:19.979 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and schooling or swarming that occur in abundance. 06:19.979 --> 06:22.682 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - It does vary a little bit throughout the season. 06:22.682 --> 06:25.385 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [narrator] Over the course of the summer whale season, 06:25.385 --> 06:29.055 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% the team conducts four to five multi-week surveys 06:29.055 --> 06:30.590 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% as part of the organization's 06:30.590 --> 06:34.427 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% comprehensive whale health and abundance program. 06:34.427 --> 06:36.195 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - We're using these point count surveys 06:36.195 --> 06:38.498 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% to systematically sample. 06:38.498 --> 06:40.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% This means sitting on different designated points 06:40.700 --> 06:42.869 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% for 15 minutes, looking for whales, 06:42.869 --> 06:44.404 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% counting every animal we see. 06:44.404 --> 06:46.739 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% How far away is it, what bearing is it? 06:46.739 --> 06:48.875 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And from that, we can calculate, A, how many animals, 06:48.875 --> 06:51.177 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% but B, where they're situated as well. 06:51.177 --> 06:52.779 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% Once these point counts are finished, 06:52.779 --> 06:54.514 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% we can then head over to the whales, 06:54.514 --> 06:58.017 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and we try and get a photo ID image of their flukes. 06:58.017 --> 06:59.986 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% This will then tell us who the animal is. 06:59.986 --> 07:02.688 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Is it a new animal to the catalog that we have, 07:02.688 --> 07:04.757 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% or do we know who it is already? 07:04.757 --> 07:08.094 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% This tells us who is around at what periods of time. 07:08.094 --> 07:11.264 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [narrator] Scientists can identify individual whales 07:11.264 --> 07:13.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% by looking at their tail flukes. 07:13.800 --> 07:16.769 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% Each fluke has a distinct trailing edge 07:16.769 --> 07:18.404 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% as well as a unique pattern 07:18.404 --> 07:21.874 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% of black and white pigmentation on its underside 07:21.874 --> 07:27.647 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% that, like a human fingerprint, is unique to that animal. 07:27.647 --> 07:29.816 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - We also want to get some environmental information 07:29.816 --> 07:32.084 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% on the ecosystem around them. 07:32.084 --> 07:33.753 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] During their surveys, 07:33.753 --> 07:36.389 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% the scientists are collecting water samples 07:36.389 --> 07:38.324 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% so they can analyze the nutrients 07:38.324 --> 07:39.759 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% that are fueling the bottom 07:39.759 --> 07:43.830 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% of this very productive food chain. 07:43.830 --> 07:48.534 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% They also deploy devices known as CTDs. 07:48.534 --> 07:50.169 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - Which allow us to profile the temperature 07:50.169 --> 07:52.405 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and salinity of the water column. 07:52.405 --> 07:53.806 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% So we're tracking some of the sort of 07:53.806 --> 07:57.944 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% physical and chemical properties of the underlying ocean. 07:57.944 --> 07:59.412 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] Knowing the physical properties 07:59.412 --> 08:02.849 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% of the water column enables biologists to understand 08:02.849 --> 08:04.784 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% the base of the food chain, 08:04.784 --> 08:07.620 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% which can switch to less nutritious plankton 08:07.620 --> 08:13.226 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% as water temperatures rise. 08:13.226 --> 08:16.395 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% In recent years, a severe marine heatwave 08:16.395 --> 08:19.632 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% in the north Pacific had devastating impacts 08:19.632 --> 08:22.435 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% on animals up and down the food chain, 08:22.435 --> 08:26.305 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% including the humpback whales. 08:26.305 --> 08:29.041 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% Now the scientists' goal is to link 08:29.041 --> 08:31.878 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% what they see in the underlying ecosystem 08:31.878 --> 08:34.313 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% to the humpback's health. 08:34.313 --> 08:36.048 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% - [martin] Takeoff. 08:36.048 --> 08:37.450 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] As part of a partnership 08:37.450 --> 08:39.585 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% between the Alaska Whale Foundation 08:39.585 --> 08:42.355 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and the University of Hawai i at Manoa, 08:42.355 --> 08:45.424 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Ph.D. student Martin van Aswegen 08:45.424 --> 08:47.360 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% collects body condition measurements 08:47.360 --> 08:50.496 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% of the humpbacks from the air. 08:50.496 --> 08:52.031 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - We try and sample any and every whale 08:52.031 --> 08:53.866 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% that we come across up here. 08:53.866 --> 08:55.501 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% So we're using these drones 08:55.501 --> 08:58.204 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% to noninvasively get over the top of the whales 08:58.204 --> 08:59.705 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% as they're surfacing. 08:59.705 --> 09:01.741 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% And as they surface, we can get a video, 09:01.741 --> 09:04.911 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% a high-resolution image of their body contours. 09:04.911 --> 09:06.445 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% So we can see how long the whale is, 09:06.445 --> 09:09.849 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% but also how wide the animal is. 09:09.849 --> 09:12.752 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [narrator] The drones are equipped with flat lenses 09:12.752 --> 09:15.388 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and very precise height estimators, 09:15.388 --> 09:18.024 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% which make it possible to translate the pixels 09:18.024 --> 09:21.460 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% in an image into exact measurements. 09:21.460 --> 09:23.629 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - And using some software that we have, 09:23.629 --> 09:25.831 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% we can measure the total length of the animal, 09:25.831 --> 09:27.099 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% as well as the width, 09:27.099 --> 09:30.169 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% across 20 different points on the body. 09:30.169 --> 09:31.704 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% We can do this again and again and again, 09:31.704 --> 09:33.973 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% with the same animals and different animals. 09:33.973 --> 09:35.641 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% And this allows us to see how quickly 09:35.641 --> 09:38.477 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% these whales are gaining mass throughout the summertime 09:38.477 --> 09:40.746 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% while they're up here feeding. 09:40.746 --> 09:42.248 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Their job up here is essentially 09:42.248 --> 09:46.118 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% just to gain as much mass and weight as they can. 09:46.118 --> 09:47.353 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% It tells us a little bit 09:47.353 --> 09:50.189 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% about how productive the system is for one. 09:50.189 --> 09:51.591 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% And this is important 09:51.591 --> 09:53.559 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% because we can look at the variation on this 09:53.559 --> 09:55.261 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% across different years, 09:55.261 --> 09:57.863 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% but also looking at different environmental variables 09:57.863 --> 10:00.766 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% that may result in this variation. 10:00.766 --> 10:02.335 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% And that can be an indicator 10:02.335 --> 10:05.504 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% of how the population is fairing both within a season, 10:05.504 --> 10:07.807 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% but also across multiple years. 10:07.807 --> 10:09.275 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% Beautiful. 10:09.275 --> 10:12.511 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - And so, by incorporating all this physical, 10:12.511 --> 10:16.282 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% chemical, and biological oceanographic data 10:16.282 --> 10:18.618 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and simultaneously looking at 10:18.618 --> 10:21.687 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% how the population are responding in 10:21.687 --> 10:23.522 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% month to month, year to year, 10:23.522 --> 10:25.324 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% we're hoping we will be able to make those links 10:25.324 --> 10:34.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% between whale health and ocean health. 10:34.600 --> 10:36.335 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] As the whales migrate south 10:36.335 --> 10:39.805 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% in the winter months, so does the research. 10:39.805 --> 10:42.375 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - [martin] 3-2-1 takeoff. 10:42.375 --> 10:44.744 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [narrator] Hawai i's warm, shallow waters 10:44.744 --> 10:47.046 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% make for an ideal place to breed 10:47.046 --> 10:50.182 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and give birth to vulnerable calves. 10:50.182 --> 10:57.156 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (majestic music) 10:57.156 --> 11:00.693 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% While in Hawai i, Martin teams up with collaborators 11:00.693 --> 11:02.828 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% with the Pacific Whale Foundation 11:02.828 --> 11:05.164 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and the Marine Mammal Research Laboratory 11:05.164 --> 11:08.267 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% at the University of Hawai i at Hilo. 11:08.267 --> 11:11.037 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - Pacific Whale Foundation was founded in the 1980s 11:11.037 --> 11:13.773 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% with the focus of learning more about the humpback whales 11:13.773 --> 11:16.242 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that come to Hawai i each year. 11:16.242 --> 11:18.944 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [narrator] Each January, February and March, 11:18.944 --> 11:21.580 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% the scientists conduct regular whale surveys 11:21.580 --> 11:24.016 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% in the leeward waters off Maui, 11:24.016 --> 11:26.352 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% where most of the whales tend to congregate 11:26.352 --> 11:29.221 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% during the breeding season. 11:29.221 --> 11:30.489 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - The females are coming to give birth. 11:30.489 --> 11:32.291 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% The males are coming to compete and breed 11:32.291 --> 11:34.126 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% with those females. 11:34.126 --> 11:37.496 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The project is focusing specifically on mother calf pods 11:37.496 --> 11:39.498 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% as well as competition pods. 11:39.498 --> 11:41.467 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And so the first thing we always wanna try and get 11:41.467 --> 11:45.171 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% are those fluke identifications. 11:45.171 --> 11:47.206 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% Once we know who the individual is, 11:47.206 --> 11:49.208 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% we can link that back to archives 11:49.208 --> 11:51.711 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and begin to understand a bit more about that individual. 11:51.711 --> 11:53.412 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% Is it a male, is it a female? 11:53.412 --> 11:55.147 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% How reproductive was that female 11:55.147 --> 11:57.750 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% throughout its life history? 11:57.750 --> 12:01.187 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - We might know it's age or it's minimum age. 12:01.187 --> 12:03.189 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% If we have seen a whale as a calf, 12:03.189 --> 12:05.791 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% for example, and then watched it grow. 12:05.791 --> 12:07.960 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - When it comes to photo identification in Hawai i, 12:07.960 --> 12:11.130 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% there's two really long-term robust catalogs. 12:11.130 --> 12:13.099 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% There's the one that Adam Pack curates, 12:13.099 --> 12:16.001 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and there's the one that Pacific Whale Foundation curates. 12:16.001 --> 12:17.603 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% And if you put those two together, 12:17.603 --> 12:18.904 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% we have a really good understanding 12:18.904 --> 12:22.108 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% of the individuals that come here to Hawai i. 12:22.108 --> 12:24.009 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And then Alaska Whale Foundation of course 12:24.009 --> 12:29.115 align:left position:77.5% line:89% size:12.5% has its own Alaska humpback whale catalog. 12:29.115 --> 12:30.316 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - [narrator] To further supplement 12:30.316 --> 12:32.551 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% the sighting history of the whales, 12:32.551 --> 12:34.787 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% the team uploads the fluke shots 12:34.787 --> 12:38.758 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% to a unique online database called Happy Whale, 12:38.758 --> 12:41.727 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% which logs sightings worldwide. 12:41.727 --> 12:45.097 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - Happy Whale is a website 12:45.097 --> 12:48.667 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that has an automated fluke matching algorithm 12:48.667 --> 12:50.169 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% built into it. 12:50.169 --> 12:52.671 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So when you upload your photograph to Happy Whale, 12:52.671 --> 12:55.674 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% it compares against every other photograph 12:55.674 --> 13:00.212 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% on the Happy Whale system and returns results for you. 13:00.212 --> 13:03.182 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - A lot of people are now starting to use 13:03.182 --> 13:04.917 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% which now allows us to track animals 13:04.917 --> 13:10.055 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% across these large areas. 13:10.055 --> 13:11.724 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - [narrator] Once photo ID images 13:11.724 --> 13:14.593 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% of all the animals in the pod have been collected... 13:14.593 --> 13:17.663 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - [martin] 3-2-1 takeoff. 13:17.663 --> 13:19.331 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] Martin launches his drone 13:19.331 --> 13:22.935 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to take videos of all the animals from the air. 13:22.935 --> 13:25.604 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - And our focus with mother and calf groups 13:25.604 --> 13:27.606 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% is looking at that energy exchange 13:27.606 --> 13:29.408 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% between mothers and calves. 13:29.408 --> 13:32.545 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And so we know that mom is providing the energy 13:32.545 --> 13:35.481 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% for that calf solely. 13:35.481 --> 13:38.484 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - These mothers are under extreme, energetic stress. 13:38.484 --> 13:40.152 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% - So we expect mother's body condition 13:40.152 --> 13:43.589 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% to decrease and the calf's body condition to increase. 13:43.589 --> 13:45.825 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% What we're trying to answer with the drone work 13:45.825 --> 13:48.627 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% is how fast that energy exchange happens 13:48.627 --> 13:51.530 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and how much of it happens while they're here in Hawai i 13:51.530 --> 13:53.032 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and then how much is still going on 13:53.032 --> 13:55.167 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% when they're up in Alaska. 13:55.167 --> 13:57.169 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% And so if we're able to determine 13:57.169 --> 14:00.439 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% exactly how energetically costly that is 14:00.439 --> 14:02.474 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and how much time they need here to do that, 14:02.474 --> 14:06.545 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% we can begin to model or predict impacts of climate change, 14:06.545 --> 14:09.315 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% for example, on humpback whales' ability 14:09.315 --> 14:11.584 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to complete important life history cycles, 14:11.584 --> 14:15.788 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% such as birthing and calving. 14:15.788 --> 14:17.423 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% - [narrator] The scientists also study 14:17.423 --> 14:21.427 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% what are known as competitive groups. 14:21.427 --> 14:24.129 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - These are, you know, my favorite groups to encounter. 14:24.129 --> 14:27.132 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% You have a lot more whales in close proximity 14:27.132 --> 14:30.102 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and you have a female that is ready to mate. 14:30.102 --> 14:33.873 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And so you have males fighting or competing 14:33.873 --> 14:36.609 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% for the position next to the female. 14:36.609 --> 14:40.379 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And so you have a male that's called the principal escort, 14:40.379 --> 14:43.115 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% meaning he has the primary position next to a female, 14:43.115 --> 14:46.051 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% that's defending that position against secondary escorts 14:46.051 --> 14:48.787 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% that are coming in to try and take 14:48.787 --> 14:50.389 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% that primary position away 14:50.389 --> 14:53.626 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% from the current animal that holds it. 14:53.626 --> 14:56.028 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - The competition pods are very dynamic 14:56.028 --> 14:58.631 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and the composition is always changing 14:58.631 --> 15:00.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% where whales will come and join the group, 15:00.466 --> 15:04.603 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% whales will leave the group. 15:04.603 --> 15:08.507 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - That was a calf, fluke up dive. 15:08.507 --> 15:11.143 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [narrator] Also part of the team is Dr. Adam Pack, 15:11.143 --> 15:12.878 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% a longtime whale researcher 15:12.878 --> 15:15.915 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% from the University of Hawai i at Hilo. 15:15.915 --> 15:19.685 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Since 1976, when my mentor, Lou Herman, 15:19.685 --> 15:21.186 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% pioneered the scientific study 15:21.186 --> 15:23.088 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters, 15:23.088 --> 15:25.758 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% he and his students, which include myself, 15:25.758 --> 15:28.961 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% have studied the Humpbacks and the behavioral ecology 15:28.961 --> 15:37.236 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% both in Hawaiian waters and in Southeast Alaska. 15:37.236 --> 15:39.605 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [narrator] Once the team has gathered the photo ID 15:39.605 --> 15:41.106 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% and drone data, 15:41.106 --> 15:44.009 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Adam collects a small skin and blubber biopsy 15:44.009 --> 15:46.345 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% of each whale in the group. 15:46.345 --> 15:50.516 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - We do this using a technique which is well established, 15:50.516 --> 15:54.153 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% a cross bow, which fires an arrow 15:54.153 --> 15:56.388 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% with a little stainless-steel tip, 15:56.388 --> 15:59.458 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that's sterile on the end of it. 15:59.458 --> 16:00.960 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Let her commit. 16:00.960 --> 16:04.096 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% We will start paralleling each whale 16:04.096 --> 16:08.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and waiting patiently for that whale to come up 16:08.000 --> 16:09.802 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% in a high arch dive. 16:09.802 --> 16:12.905 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% We want to have the biggest profile we can 16:12.905 --> 16:14.139 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% of the whale's body. 16:14.139 --> 16:18.377 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And my goal is I want to go about a foot below 16:18.377 --> 16:21.947 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% the dorsal fin, plus or minus. 16:21.947 --> 16:24.516 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% It basically bounces off the whale 16:24.516 --> 16:28.087 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and extracts a small sample of skin and blubber. 16:28.087 --> 16:31.623 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% In most cases, the whale just continues with its dive. 16:31.623 --> 16:35.094 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Occasionally a whale might do it a little tail flick, 16:35.094 --> 16:36.328 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% in those situations, 16:36.328 --> 16:39.465 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% it might be like a little mosquito bite. 16:39.465 --> 16:41.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [narrator] To date, Adam has collected 16:41.033 --> 16:45.037 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% nearly 500 biopsy samples as part of this project, 16:45.037 --> 16:47.873 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% which are sent to Dr. Shannon Atkinson's lab 16:47.873 --> 16:51.577 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for analysis. 16:51.577 --> 16:55.080 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - One of the big areas that we tend to focus on 16:55.080 --> 16:56.915 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% is the endocrine system, 16:56.915 --> 17:00.019 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and what that really is, is hormones. 17:00.019 --> 17:03.188 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Hormones are what drives behavior. 17:03.188 --> 17:06.291 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And so these hormones, we extract from the blubber 17:06.291 --> 17:09.628 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and then we run them through tests in our lab. 17:09.628 --> 17:11.463 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% They're really in two different categories. 17:11.463 --> 17:14.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Some of them, we call them the sex steroids 17:14.133 --> 17:16.902 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and they're related to sexual activity, 17:16.902 --> 17:20.239 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% sexual reproduction, everything that has to do with sex. 17:20.239 --> 17:23.876 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% We can start to look at things like pregnancy rates 17:23.876 --> 17:26.979 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and whether the pregnancy rate of animals 17:26.979 --> 17:30.883 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% is going up or going down, or is very stable. 17:30.883 --> 17:32.951 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% - We look at testosterone in males, 17:32.951 --> 17:35.287 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% how does that naturally fluctuate 17:35.287 --> 17:37.956 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% over the course of the reproductive season, 17:37.956 --> 17:41.593 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but also in conjunction with the various behavioral 17:41.593 --> 17:44.163 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% and social roles these animals take. 17:44.163 --> 17:45.831 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - And so is there a relationship 17:45.831 --> 17:47.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% in the testosterone level of the males 17:47.766 --> 17:50.035 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% that are at the principal escort position 17:50.035 --> 17:52.471 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and those that are further back that are just hanging out, 17:52.471 --> 17:53.739 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% is there a relationship 17:53.739 --> 17:56.041 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% with the amount of aggression we see? 17:56.041 --> 17:58.077 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [narrator] Shannon's lab also analyzes 17:58.077 --> 18:00.746 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% the whales' metabolic hormones. 18:00.746 --> 18:02.247 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - They tend to have more to do 18:02.247 --> 18:04.783 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% with the body condition of the animal, 18:04.783 --> 18:06.518 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% the health of the animal, 18:06.518 --> 18:10.589 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% in terms of its wellbeing or its state of stress. 18:10.589 --> 18:13.058 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - As they are using up these energy reserves, 18:13.058 --> 18:16.562 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% including mothers that are not only metabolizing their fat 18:16.562 --> 18:18.230 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% for their own needs, 18:18.230 --> 18:21.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but also for the needs of their newborn calf, 18:21.233 --> 18:25.737 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% how is that being translated into stress? 18:25.737 --> 18:28.507 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We really don't have a baseline 18:28.507 --> 18:34.680 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% of understanding the physical health characteristics 18:34.680 --> 18:36.448 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and the reproductive health characteristics 18:36.448 --> 18:38.484 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% of humpback whales, 18:38.484 --> 18:43.388 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% so that we have something to compare chronic stress to. 18:43.388 --> 18:45.057 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Once we establish that baseline, 18:45.057 --> 18:47.226 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% then we're better equipped to understand 18:47.226 --> 18:51.330 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% what happens when these animals experience 18:51.330 --> 18:54.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% non-natural stressors, or natural stressors 18:54.266 --> 18:57.369 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% that have to do with climate, like a warming ocean 18:57.369 --> 19:01.340 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% that may negatively impact food resources. 19:01.340 --> 19:04.943 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% - [shannon] 1-9-6 19:04.943 --> 19:07.012 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [narrator] A sub-sample of the biopsies 19:07.012 --> 19:09.715 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% goes to Dr. Kristi West and her team 19:09.715 --> 19:14.586 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% at the University of Hawai i Health and Stranding Lab. 19:14.586 --> 19:17.122 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - We're specifically looking at stable isotopes 19:17.122 --> 19:18.924 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% in effort to better understand 19:18.924 --> 19:22.094 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% the foraging of each individual. 19:22.094 --> 19:24.096 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] Stable isotope analysis 19:24.096 --> 19:25.998 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% lets scientists trace elements 19:25.998 --> 19:28.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% as they move up the food chain. 19:28.500 --> 19:31.937 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [kristi] And we focus on nitrogen as well as carbon. 19:31.937 --> 19:35.440 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And ultimately this is a signal in the whales' tissue. 19:35.440 --> 19:37.442 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% So in the skin samples that are collected 19:37.442 --> 19:39.311 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% from these live whales, 19:39.311 --> 19:41.780 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and we can match that signal to prey sources 19:41.780 --> 19:43.982 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that these whales may have foraged upon 19:43.982 --> 19:46.285 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% prior to the collection of the sample. 19:46.285 --> 19:49.321 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And we think that this gives us the timeframe 19:49.321 --> 19:53.725 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% of a month or more. 19:53.725 --> 19:56.361 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [narrator] Knowing what the whales have preyed upon 19:56.361 --> 20:00.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% gives scientists an idea about the health of the food chain. 20:00.966 --> 20:03.001 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - So it certainly has the power 20:03.001 --> 20:07.973 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to help us tease apart what changes have happened, 20:07.973 --> 20:09.808 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% in terms of looking at their foraging. 20:09.808 --> 20:11.510 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% And then of course, that next question is 20:11.510 --> 20:14.346 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% what drove that foraging change in the first place 20:14.346 --> 20:19.851 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% that may be negatively impacting the health of the whales. 20:19.851 --> 20:22.521 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - [narrator] Kristi's team is also developing a new method 20:22.521 --> 20:25.824 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% of analyzing the fat cells in a whale's blubber 20:25.824 --> 20:27.559 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% to correlate their size 20:27.559 --> 20:31.363 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% with the animal's body measurements from the drone. 20:31.363 --> 20:33.799 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% - This is an analytical tool 20:33.799 --> 20:37.803 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% to try and really quantify how much fat storage 20:37.803 --> 20:40.172 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% does each individual have on them. 20:40.172 --> 20:42.174 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% We're looking for those fat cells 20:42.174 --> 20:45.811 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% so that we can identify them and measure their size. 20:45.811 --> 20:47.746 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And then we ultimately are measuring 20:47.746 --> 20:50.182 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% maybe 100 of those in any individual slide 20:50.182 --> 20:53.552 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to get a really strong average of that fat cell size. 20:53.552 --> 20:58.390 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And then we are also using software to calculate for us 20:58.390 --> 21:01.126 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the degree of connective tissue in any given image, 21:01.126 --> 21:03.629 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% as opposed to those fat cells. 21:03.629 --> 21:07.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So that we have an idea of how much of that area 21:07.966 --> 21:12.938 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that we are examining is represented by 21:12.938 --> 21:16.208 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% which is probably only gonna have really small fat cells, 21:16.208 --> 21:19.978 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% versus a large number of nice, robust fat cells 21:19.978 --> 21:21.847 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and just a little bit of connective tissue 21:21.847 --> 21:26.018 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% serving the purpose of holding that tissue altogether. 21:26.018 --> 21:28.287 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [narrator] Data from stranded humpbacks 21:28.287 --> 21:30.255 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% has shown that emaciated whales 21:30.255 --> 21:32.791 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% tend to have much smaller fat cells 21:32.791 --> 21:36.728 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% than animals that have a robust body size. 21:36.728 --> 21:38.463 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - So really exciting to have a chance 21:38.463 --> 21:40.666 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to put the whole story together, 21:40.666 --> 21:43.302 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% through working with such a large and collaborative team 21:43.302 --> 21:46.505 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% across the ocean basin. 21:46.505 --> 21:47.739 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% - We certainly rely on each other 21:47.739 --> 21:50.042 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to be able to provide different datasets 21:50.042 --> 21:51.943 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% to fill in gaps where we can, 21:51.943 --> 21:56.615 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% in order to just keep working on this puzzle piece by piece. 21:56.615 --> 21:58.216 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We're starting to get a diverse, 21:58.216 --> 22:00.952 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% but long data set that encompasses 22:00.952 --> 22:02.688 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% And the idea is to keep this going 22:02.688 --> 22:05.724 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% so we can have a multi-decadal dataset over time, 22:05.724 --> 22:12.397 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% which is going to be a lot more powerful. 22:12.397 --> 22:14.199 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - [narrator] Between 2018 22:14.199 --> 22:17.703 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and the end of the 2022 breeding season... 22:17.703 --> 22:19.237 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% - Two more coming up. 22:19.237 --> 22:20.972 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [narrator] Martin captured approximately 22:20.972 --> 22:23.608 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% 6,300 drone measurements 22:23.608 --> 22:28.113 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% of over 5,000 humpbacks in Hawai i and Alaska. 22:28.113 --> 22:30.248 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% This includes repeat sightings 22:30.248 --> 22:35.187 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% of more than 120 individual animals, in both locations, 22:35.187 --> 22:39.057 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% within six months of each other. 22:39.057 --> 22:40.625 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - Some of the measurements 22:40.625 --> 22:42.094 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that we're getting are quite surprising, 22:42.094 --> 22:44.096 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% things like adults losing up to 22:44.096 --> 22:47.532 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% 28 inches of their body width while on the breeding grounds, 22:47.532 --> 22:49.167 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% for example, and that's without a calf, 22:49.167 --> 22:51.636 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% that's just a regular mature adult. 22:51.636 --> 22:54.239 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But also the calves have been really interesting, 22:54.239 --> 22:55.540 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% because we can sample calves in Hawai i 22:55.540 --> 22:56.975 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% throughout the season. 22:56.975 --> 22:59.044 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% They're typically there for 60 days. 22:59.044 --> 23:01.213 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% To be able to do it a few months later, 23:01.213 --> 23:03.048 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% once they get back to Alaska, 23:03.048 --> 23:05.050 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that's incredibly rare and difficult to do 23:05.050 --> 23:06.985 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% so those data points are really valuable. 23:06.985 --> 23:08.954 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% So for example, some of the calves 23:08.954 --> 23:10.889 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% that we sampled in Hawai i initially 23:10.889 --> 23:13.725 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% were 11 to 13 feet in length. 23:13.725 --> 23:15.160 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% And about four months later, 23:15.160 --> 23:18.263 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% they were about 28 feet in length. 23:18.263 --> 23:21.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And some of them were about 900% heavier 23:21.500 --> 23:24.336 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% in terms of the body volume, which is incredible. 23:24.336 --> 23:26.271 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% The amount of stress that must put on the female 23:26.271 --> 23:28.440 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% who at that point is 35% lighter 23:28.440 --> 23:31.376 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% than she was a few months earlier. 23:31.376 --> 23:34.813 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - Some of Martin's results are showing that on average, 23:34.813 --> 23:37.616 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% when a female is here in Hawai i and lactating, 23:37.616 --> 23:41.119 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% she loses about 100 kilograms per day. 23:41.119 --> 23:42.454 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% So I weigh 80 kilograms, 23:42.454 --> 23:45.957 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% so it's more than my weight every single day. 23:45.957 --> 23:50.695 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - [martin] Mothers are the rock stars of this population. 23:50.695 --> 23:53.098 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - [narrator] Martin's drone measurements also reveal 23:53.098 --> 23:55.801 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that humpback mothers with nursing calves 23:55.801 --> 23:58.103 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% don't regain all their lost weight 23:58.103 --> 24:00.539 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% once they return to the feeding grounds, 24:00.539 --> 24:03.809 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% but instead they are plateauing at best. 24:03.809 --> 24:06.645 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - In other words, all that food she's been eating, 24:06.645 --> 24:12.284 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% she's offloaded it to that calf as it's becoming a yearling. 24:12.284 --> 24:14.152 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Now, when we look preliminarily 24:14.152 --> 24:16.488 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% at the steroid hormone analysis, 24:16.488 --> 24:19.925 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% what we see is mothers of yearlings 24:19.925 --> 24:23.161 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% have significantly greater 24:23.161 --> 24:26.364 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% cortisol stress hormone concentrations 24:26.364 --> 24:28.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% than mothers of newborn calves. 24:28.366 --> 24:32.938 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% That's exciting because that piece of the puzzle 24:32.938 --> 24:35.907 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% is marrying very well with what we're finding 24:35.907 --> 24:37.275 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% with the body condition 24:37.275 --> 24:42.247 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and what we see behaviorally from these whales. 24:42.247 --> 24:43.515 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - [narrator] The scientists say 24:43.515 --> 24:45.550 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% understanding the natural changes 24:45.550 --> 24:48.653 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% in the humpbacks' body condition and stress levels 24:48.653 --> 24:52.057 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% is critical in the face of future climate change 24:52.057 --> 24:54.960 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and shifting prey availability. 24:54.960 --> 24:57.496 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - We're a lot more well equipped to identify 24:57.496 --> 25:00.832 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% when whales are under stress in the future. 25:00.832 --> 25:02.334 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - These long-term monitoring programs 25:02.334 --> 25:04.636 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and science projects are really, really important, 25:04.636 --> 25:07.506 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% particularly when it comes to management. 25:07.506 --> 25:10.809 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - If we're able to monitor the health of individuals, 25:10.809 --> 25:14.446 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% we're very quickly able to say if the population is healthy 25:14.446 --> 25:15.847 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and our oceans are healthy, 25:15.847 --> 25:18.016 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% or if humpback whales are unhealthy, 25:18.016 --> 25:19.618 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% the oceans are unhealthy, 25:19.618 --> 25:21.486 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and we need to look at what we can do 25:21.486 --> 25:25.490 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to reduce any potential impacts that we're seeing. 25:25.490 --> 25:28.059 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - We know that the ocean is going to warm. 25:28.059 --> 25:30.896 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% And so we are positioning ourselves 25:30.896 --> 25:35.066 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% to be able to respond more quickly. 25:35.066 --> 25:36.501 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% - And in that way, 25:36.501 --> 25:38.470 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I think our work can really make a difference. 25:38.470 --> 25:48.413 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (majestic music) 25:48.413 --> 26:19.177 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (tranquil music) 26:19.177 --> 26:21.012 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - [announcer] Major funding for this program 26:21.012 --> 26:23.982 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% was provided by the Batchelor Foundation, 26:23.982 --> 26:26.051 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% encouraging people to preserve 26:26.051 --> 26:30.789 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and protect America's underwater resources. 26:30.789 --> 26:32.824 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Additional funding was provided 26:32.824 --> 26:36.824 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% by the Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education.