The Secret Lives of Harbor Porpoises
Harbor porpoises are one of the most abundant marine mammal species in the Salish Sea, but can often be shy, making them difficult to observe. Pacific Mammal Research has spent over 10 years uncovering the secret lives of these elusive animals. Through ground breaking photo-identification work we have tracked animals over time showing they, and their calves, return to this area regularly for up to 11 years! Our behavioral observations have helped to describe their exciting aerial mating behavior and better understand their foraging ecology, which includes unique behaviors like hunting salmon. Our new video drone work has revealed even more about the underwater behavior – social interactions, foraging techniques and more. Working with colleagues around the world PacMam’s research is helping to reveal the complex behaviors of harbor porpoises as a species, and how important they are to the Salish Sea.
About the Speaker
Dr. Cindy R. Elliser is the Founder and Research Director of Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) and also the Associate Director of the Salish Sea Institute (SSI) at Western Washington University. Her research with PacMam focuses on the behavioral ecology of harbor porpoises and harbor seals in the Salish Sea, and over the last decade, PacMam has become a leader in harbor porpoise photo-ID and behavioral research. Her research interests focus on knowing the individuals in a population to better understand their behavior, ecology and population structure. As Associate Director of SSI, Dr. Elliser supports and engages with the public, researchers, and policy makers. through science communication, research and education on a wide variety of topics in the Salish Sea, with a focus on the transboundary nature of this region. All her work aims to protect and conserve the Salish Sea and the marine mammals who call it home.
Environmental Speaker Series
The Environmental Speaker Series is hosted by the College of the Environment at Western Washington University.
The Series is free and open to the public. Talks are held each Thursday at 4:30 pm in Academic Instructional Center West room 204 - AW-204. Parking is available in lot C.