Examining the feasibility of using photo-identification studies to assist in investigations of short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) strandings along the US Southeast Coast

Abstract

Pilot whales are an extremely social species, which is also associated with larger, more frequent strandings. Through intensive photo-identification efforts, the Duke University Marine Lab (DUML) has accumulated a catalog of over 1,700 individual pilot whales photographed off of Cape Hatteras, Jacksonville and Onslow Bay. The purpose of this study is to determine if two valuable research programs, photo-identification systems and marine mammal stranding procedures, can be used in union to contribute to a better understanding of marine mammal health and population dynamics. To identify this link, this research is comprised of three parts: 1) An overview of all recorded pilot whale strandings on the Southeast coast through statistical analysis of available stranding records; 2) Identification of possible overlaps in data by obtaining and matching photographs of stranded pilot whales to the Duke University Marine Lab’s catalog; and 3) Lastly, a review of best practices in the stranding and photo-identification protocols, in order to identify if this is a feasible and constructive data sharing initiative. Although no matches were made between the pictures of stranded pilot whales and DUML’s catalog, these data still offered many other important insights into this species’ tendencies and the systems we use to examine them.