Marine Animals

• The marine animals that are endangered in Hawaii are?

  A. Sperm Whales B. False Killer Whales C. Monk Seals
• Marine mammal research


  Provides important information about mammal species, the health of the environment, and contributes to the development of policies and laws
• Marine mammal research


  Can help create better sustainable policies that will protect marine life and the environment from human threats
• Marine mammal research


  Can help study new diseases that emerge within animal populations and develop new solutions to counter them
• Polar bears are classified as marine mammals
• Sperm whales, false killer whales, and monk seals are endangered species in Hawaii
• Necropsy


  1. Level A

  2. Morphometrics

  3. Dorsal fin imaging

  4. External and Internal Exam

  5. Fixed and Frozen Tissue

  6. Stomach Content Analysis

  7. Histopathology

  8. Teeth Aging

  9. Disease screening
• Sentinel species


  Biological monitors that detect risks to humans as a warning of danger
• Whales as sentinel species

  They typically travel far distances across ocean basins and interact with other marine species, allowing them to experience different environmental conditions. Whales who beach or strand themselves tell us that there may be potential environmental issues or disturbances to their health.
• Stranding


  Whales and dolphins that come on shore alive under abnormal circumstances (illness, injury, death). Can also happen to live animals or those that have died and float to shore.
• Unusual mortality event


  When the events surrounding a stranding are unusual or more than 1 animal is involved (includes mass strandings).
• If an animal has a peanut neck, that is a potential indicator of malnutrition.
• Marine mammals are mammals that are dependent on the aquatic environment to survive and have specific physiological and anatomical adaptations for aquatic living.
• Taxonomy of marine mammals

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phyla: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Order: Sirenia, Carnivora, Cetacea
• Marine mammals of Hawaii

  • 18 species of odontocetes (toothed whales)
  • 11 resident species
  • 8 species of mysticetes (baleen whales)
  • 1 pinniped, the Hawaiian monk seal
• Population assessment


  Surveys may occur on relatively large (HICEAS) or smaller scale (Cascadia Research Collective)
• Live animal data collection

  • Tagging – GPS, diving behavior
  • Biopsies – Genetics, stable isotopes, hormones
  • Drone imaging – Population structure, body condition
• Stranding response and sampling

  Coordinated effort involving state and federal agencies as well as cultural practitioners
• Management practices


  Use information on population numbers/health to inform action, policy and funding allocation
• Hawaiian islands examples


  • Entanglement response
  • Monk seal haul out response and monitoring
  • Longline fishery restrictions (false killer whales)
  • Hawaiian spinner dolphin approach rules
• Main Hawaiian Islands False Killer Whales

  Less than 200 individuals in MHI population, species is vulnerable to bycatch in the longline fishery, Pacific Islands Pelagic Fisheries; False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team puts into place policy to reduce take by the fishery, as of 2024 no longline fishing in MHI area, Southern exclusion zone closed if 3 observed mortalities or serious injuries
• Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin Harassment Rules

  Prohibits swimming with and approaching Hawaiian spinner dolphin within 50 yards, population and behavior assessments showed animals not being able to rest adequately with swimmers and boats present, fines given by DAR/DOCARE
• When a dolphin or whale comes to shore or "beaches" it is considered a stranding event. This can happen to live animals or those that have died and float to shore.
• Unusual Mortality Event (UME)


  When the events surrounding a stranding are unusual or more than 1 animal is involved, includes mass strandings
• Cultural Practitioner Involvement


  When a stranding occurs, local cultural practitioners are contacted by NOAA stranding coordinators
• Stranding Response Challenges

  • Remote areas – hard to access, no roads, rocky areas
  • Public beaches – heavily populated
  • Size of the animal
  • Number of animals
  • Environmental conditions
  • Minimal information prior to response
• Causes of Death (COD) Investigations

  • Predation
  • Nutritional stress
  • Disease
  • Anthropogenic causes
  • Entanglement
  • Boat strike
  • Debris ingestion
• Necropsy


  A post-mortem examination that may occur in the field or at the lab
• Necropsy Process


  • Level A
  • Morphometrics
  • Dorsal fin imaging
  • External and Internal Exam
  • Fixed and Frozen Tissue
  • Stomach Content Analysis
  • Histopathology
  • Teeth Aging
  • Disease screening
• Necropsy Disease Screening


  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Brucella
  • Morbillivirus
  • Herpes virus
  • Circovirus
• Stranding


  When a dolphin or whale comes to shore or "beaches" it is considered a stranding event. This can happen to live animals or those that have died and float to shore.
• Unusual Mortality Event (UME)


  When the events surrounding a stranding are unusual or more than 1 animal is involved
• Stranding Response is a coordinated effort involving state and federal agencies
• When a stranding occurs, local cultural practitioners are contacted by NOAA stranding coordinators
• Stranding Response


  • Each case is unique with own set of challenges
  • Remote areas – hard to access, no roads, rocky areas
  • Public beaches – heavily populated
  • Size of the animal
  • Number of animals
  • Environmental conditions
  • Minimal information prior to response
• Causes of mortality in Hawaiian cetaceans

  • Infectious disease
  • Anthropogenic impacts
• Goals of the Health and Stranding Lab

  • Determine causes of mortality in Hawaiian cetaceans
  • Identify threats to Hawaiian cetaceans
  • Investigate individual health
  • Investigate population health
  • Investigate ocean health
  • Education and outreach
• Cetacean Conservation Research


  • In-house investigations
  • Partnerships with other research institutions
• Necropsy: A typical case includes

  • Morphometrics
  • Dorsal fin imaging
  • External and Internal Exam
  • Fixed and Frozen Tissue
  • Stomach Content Analysis
  • Histopathology
  • Teeth Aging
  • Disease screening
• Necropsy: External Exam


  • Look for signs of trauma, entanglement, lesions, injuries etc.
  • Sample any injuries to look for sign of infection
  • Body condition– emaciation ("peanut head"), signs of trauma
  • Presence of parasites, lesions, bites