Some Recent Uses and Potentials of Radiotelemetry in Field Studies of Cetaceans

  • Stephen Leatherwood
  • William E. Evans
Chapter

Abstract

In 1874, Charles M. Scammon, noted whaling captain/naturalist, observed:

It is hardly necessary to say that any person taking up the study of marine mammals, particularly the cetaceans, enters a difficult field of research, since the opportunities for observing the habits of these animals under favorable conditions are but rare and brief. My own experience has proved that observation for months and even years may be required before a single new fact in regard to their habits can be obtained. This has been particularly the case with the dolphins, while many of the characteristic actions of the whales are so secretly performed that years of ordinary observation may be insufficient for their discovery.

Keywords

Marine Mammal Killer Whale Humpback Whale Diving Behavior Gray Whale 
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Copyright information

© Plenum Press, New York 1979

Authors and Affiliations

  • Stephen Leatherwood
    • 1
  • William E. Evans
    • 2
  1. 1.Bioanalysis GroupNaval Ocean Systems CenterSan DiegoUSA
  2. 2.Hubbs/Sea World Research InstituteSan DiegoUSA

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