The goal of the workshop is to begin discussion among people studying harbor porpoises in different locations, with different techniques and foci to (1) discuss similarities and differences between locations (2) develop a framework to quantify how harbor porpoises integrate and are affected by natural and human-induced environmental change. (3) Perhaps see if there is a way to distinguish between responses of porpoises to these types of changes.
Talks will be 10 minutes, with time for discussion and questions. We are interested in topics ranging from, but not limited to: Individuals (energetics, movement, acoustics, mating, behavior), Population (size estimation, aging, genetics, reproduction, distribution, mortality), community (feeding, predation) and Ecosystem (oceanographic changes and regimes) levels. We are also interested in topics including human (fishery, by-catch, contaminant and noise) interactions, as well as larger climate change issues.
We hope that this will provide an opportunity for those who study harbor porpoises to interact and discuss their research and to put porpoises into a 21st century context where their environment is changing. We hope this will give us all a chance to exchange ideas and maybe set up future collaborations.
Date and time; Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015 830-1730.
Field Trip: Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. A trip led by Golden Gate Cetacean Research folks to see Harbor Porpoises from our local huge, stationary Drone (i.e. the Golden Gate Bridge). Details TBA
If you are interested, have any questions, or would like to submit an abstract (by Sept. 30, 2015), then send an email to: Jonathan Stern ([email protected]) or Christina Lockyer ([email protected]).
Cost: $80(US) Early bird, $90 (US) after Sept. 15, 2015.