Humpback Whale Field Acoustic and Behavioral Data Collection Program in Puerto Rico

Featuring guest lectures by Dr. Bernd Würsig, Texas A&M University

February 5-11, 2012 and February 12-18, 2012

The Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center is pleased to announce two, week long sessions focusing on field methods for acoustic and behavioral data collection of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Puerto Rico.

The program structure will consist of data collection from land (theodolite and digital photography), boats (passive acoustic monitoring, photography, behavioral observations), and data analysis (fluke and fin matching, spectrogram analysis) during the day. Late afternoons and evening will be structured as a roundtable discussion aimed at integrating, interpretation and useful application of data.

MCERC’s Education Director, Mithriel MacKay, will be joined by Dr. Bernd Würsig who will be leading several field excursions and lectures, and Dr. Jose Rivera who will join us in a roundtable discussion to add insight into active acoustic monitoring.

The cost of the program covers room and meals, transportation to the field sites, all overhead associated with the program, and instruction. The fee for this program is $2800.00USD/person. Airfare to Ponce, Puerto Rico is not included.

For more information on the program or MCERC, an application packet, or questions, please email mithriel.mackay@gmail.com.

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Mithriel M. MacKay
Ph.D. Candidate
Marine Mammal Research Program
Department of Marine Biology
Texas A&M University, Galveston
(830) 688-9878

Director of Research and Education

Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center

HC02 6231 Guayanilla, PR

and

PO Box 63435 Pipe Creek, Texas 78063