I'm happy to share 2 new publications
Burnham, R.E. 2020. Whale Geography: A species-centric approach applied to migration' 44 (3): 419-434
It can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133320922417
Abstract:
Understanding the biogeography of a species begins by mapping its presence over time and space. The use of home ranges, breeding and feeding areas, migration paths and movement patterns between the two are also inherent to their ecology. However, this is an overly simplified view of life histories. It ignores nuanced and complex exchanges and responses to the environment and between conspecifics. Having previously advocated for a more species-centric approach in a discussion of ‘whale geography’, I look to better understand the driving factors of migrations, and the information streams guiding the movement, which is key to the biogeography of large whale species. First, I consider the processes underlying the navigation capacities of species to complete migration, and how, and over what scales, sensory information contributes to cognitive maps. I specifically draw on examples of large-scale, en masse migrators to then apply this to whales. I focus on the acoustic sense as the principal way whales gain and exchange information, drawing on a case study of grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calling behaviour to illustrate my arguments. Their consistent employment of far-propagating calls appears to be tied to travel behaviours and probably aids navigation and social cohesion. The range over which calls are being propagated to conspecifics, or perhaps being echoed back to the individual, underlies the distance over which the cognitive maps are being both formed and employed. I believe understanding these processes edges us closer to understanding species biogeography.
The second is adaptation of a paper myself and colleagues published on our glider research in the offshore waters of the Canadian Pacific that has been adapted for a younger audience in Frontiers for Young Minds.
Burnham R.E. 2020. Learning About Whales by Listening for Their Calls. Front. Young Minds. 8:55.
Accessed here: https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2020.00055
Abstract:
Populations of large whales have been reduced to very low numbers, primarily by hunting. As the number of whales became smaller, they became harder to find. In the past, whalers knew where to go to hunt, but now scientists who study whales can find it hard to know which areas whales use to feed, breed, or even travel through. We now realize how important whales are for keeping oceans healthy, so scientists are trying to learn as much as they can about large whales. Underwater sound recordings are helping us find some of the rarest whales in the northeast Pacific by listening for their calls. We use underwater microphones, called hydrophones, set on the ocean floor and on ocean gliders, which are small submarines, to help us learn about where whales are, when they are there, and most importantly, what they are doing.
The original article this is adapted from is:
Burnham, R. E., Duffus, D. A., and Mouy, X. 2019. The presence of large whale species in Clayoquot Sound and its offshore waters. Cont. Shelf Res. 177:15–23. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2019.03.004
If you would like a PDF of any of these papers feel free to contact me
Rianna Burnham, PhD.