Gwen G. Lockhart, MS
Photo credit: VAMSC
LARGE WHALE SURVEY RESEARCH
Photo credits: VAMSC
Plane (right) and research vessel (left) used to conduct VAMSC marine mammal surveys.
Since 2011, the VAMSC research team has flown protected resource aerial surveys along 96 km transect lines that run from the east to the west, perpendicular to the Virginia coast. In addition, the VAMSC team has collected large whale photo identification data, via directed vessel surveys and whale watch cruises, within the same area. Together the surveys documented 375 sightings of humpback (n=301), fin (n=61), North Atlantic right (n=6) and minke (n=7) whales. The VAMSC Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog contains individual humpback whales (n=140), cataloged based on flukes and/or dorsal fin since 1990.
Over the past five years, as a VAMSC research team member I have lead the vessel and aerial survey trips as well as coordinated survey data management. As part of data management I have designed a photo ID GIS database that catalogs the sighting locations, dates, unique ID and other attributes for over 300 unique and 100o sightings. As part of the data dissemination process, I prepared the survey and other project data for display on OBIS-SEAMAP. This data can be viewed by following the link (provided below) and searching for Virginia Aquarium.
MAPS & PHOTOS FROM WHALE SURVEYS
Image credit: Gwen Lockhart
Data credit: VAMSC
Map shows vessle (purple lines) and aerial (green lines) marine mammal surveys conducted by VAMSC since 1990. The yellow semi-circle represents the 20nm radius North Atlatic right whale seasonal managemnt area. The orange boxes depict the Virgina wind energy area lease blocks. Map created by Gwen Lockhart on 12/05/2015.
Photographer: Gwen Lockhart
Photo credit: VAMSC
Photograph of a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) taken by Gwen Lockhart on a VAMSC aerial survey. Survey was conducted under under NMFS Permit #16437.
Image credit: Gwen Lockhart
Data credet: VAMSC
Locations of mystocete species sighted on VAMSC aerial surveys conducted from November 2012 through Decmeber 2015.
Image credit: Gwen Lockhart
Data credet: VAMSC
Locations of mystocete species sighted on VAMSC vessel surveys conducted from November 2011 through Decmeber 2015. Each grid represents the number of whales sighted in each 1x1 km grid.
