Photo Identification

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Photo Identification of Marine Mammals MARE
390 Dr. Turner
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Photo ID
Marked animals prereq. of behavioral studies in
1950s and 60s Identification of wild-animals
via natural marks Useful in long-term
studies Large long-lived vertebrates
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Photo ID in Marine Mammals
First record in marine mammals Orca from
Australia late 1800s Whalers Fishermen
documented 27 Many early records were
anomalously white animals Or severely damaged
fins
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Photo ID in Marine Mammals
Studies using subtle natural markings in fins
flukes began in early 1970s Killer whales,
Humpbacked Dolphins, Sousa, Bottlenose Dolphins,
Spinner Dolphins Humpback whales Right whales
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Photo ID in Marine Mammals
Real benefit of technique are long-term
studies can identify relationships social
sexual Photogrammetry measuring the size and
spacing of animals
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Photo ID Methods
Distinctive features trailing edge of dorsal
fin - works well in some species Tursiops
gt 50 identifiable - others (Spinner, Dusky,
Pilot, Porpoises) lt 20 Longevity and
Changeability of marks critical
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Photo ID Methods
Longevity and Changeability of marks
critical Wounds and Scars Wounds heal rather
quickly Scars last for life Cookie-cutter
shark bites Intra-specific agression
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Photo ID Methods
Viewing animals From Shore non-invasive,
inexpensive information on individuals
limited Camera or Theodolite tracking From
Airplanes Somewhat invasive expensive
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Photo ID Methods
Viewing animals From Boats Most practical,
most invasive Other formats Underwater
Cameras Video Cameras
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Photo Analysis
Negatives, prints, digital images Tracings, eye,
microscope Examine shape, markings,
leading/trailing edge
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Photo Analysis
Stored with similar fins/flukes in folders 1, 2,
3 notches Damaged fins Black, white, black
white flukes
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Dorsal Ratio
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Photo Analysis
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Photo Analysis
Beluga whale scars on body Killer whale
dorsal fin shape Saddle pigmentation
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Photo Analysis
Pilot whale nicks, scratches, scars, pigments
on body and back Humpbacked dolphin scars on
back, flank, dorsal fin
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Photo Analysis
Atlantic white sided dolphin scars and
nicks, on dorsal fins unusual pigment
patterns Dusky dolphin scars and nicks,
on Dorsal fins unusual pigment patterns
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Photo Analysis
Pacific white sided dolphin scars and
nicks, on dorsal fins white individuals Bottlen
ose dolphin nicks, scars and pigment spots on
dorsal fin
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Photo Analysis
Rissos dolphin pigment patterns, nicks on
dorsal fin, scars on back Spinner dolphin
scars and marks on dorsal fin
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Photo Analysis
Atlantic spotted dolphin fin and fluke
marks body spot patterns Pan tropical spotted
dolphin fin and fluke marks body spot
patterns
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Photo Analysis
Heavisides dolphin white animals, dorsal fin
marks Hectors dolphin dorsal fin nicks
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Photo Analysis
Harbor porpoise dorsal fin scars and nicks,
and pigment areas Dalls porpoise dorsal fin
pigmentation, color anomalies, dorsal fin
deformities
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Photo Analysis
Baiji dorsal fin scars and nicks, and pigment
areas Blainsvilles beaked whale dorsal fin
notches, white oval scars from cookie-cutter
sharks, linear scars from intraspecific
interactions
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Photo Analysis
Right whale pattern of callosities Bowhead
whale pigment patterns
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Photo Analysis
Sperm whale dorsal fin scars and nicks, and
pigment areas Blue whale dorsal fin scars and
nicks, cookie-cutter shark scars
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Photo Analysis
Humpback whale dorsal fin scars and nicks,
cookie-cutter shark scars
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