Jul 16 2011
A very cool research program is underway in the Bahamas this summer. In an attempt to understand whether exposure to ocean noise sources creates stress in whales, a team from the New England Aquarium is collecting fecal matter for stress hormone testing (the photo at left shows Roz Rolland surfacing after a successful collection dive). Increased stress can lead to many secondary issues for any animal, including health impacts and reduced reproductive success. A series of blog posts from their two weeks on site is a fun read. The work is continuing in the Bahamas, though this team has headed home.
Here also is an MSNBC article on the research.