About us

What is NGOS?

NGOS is a federally recognized non-profit research and education organization that specializes in long-term marine mammal research. Our members are scientists and educators currently active in the field of marine research.

Our supporters are individuals or foundations that have provided money or resources for our work. We also solicit contractual support from state and federal management agencies. Currently about 25% of our operating budget is derived from donations and foundation support and 75% is provided by research contracts.

Why the emphasis on long-term research?

A pod of killer whales off Montague Island
A pod of killer whales off Montague Island

NGOS is dedicated to long-term research because marine mammals are long-lived and difficult to study. Without an annual research program very little progress can be made in furthering our understanding and conservation of these unique mammals.

Our primary projects are the study of the killer whale population off the coast of Alaska and of the humpback whales in Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords, Alaska. Killer whales do not move to warm southern waters during the winter season. Humpback whales are generally migratory although some can be found in the Sound throughout the winter.

Both of these research projects had simple beginnings in 1977 and have since expanded into careful systematic studies. We hope they will continue for decades.

Without the assistance of the tour boat and charter boat industry and the many skilled skippers based in Seward, Whittier, Valdez, and Glacier Bay, the success we enjoyed in the field would not have been possible. We look forward to continuing our cooperative effort in the future.

What are the research methods?

Killer whales can be identified thanks to their unique dorsal fin shape and saddle patch features
An ID photo

We emphasize techniques that are not harmful to the animals. Our primary tool is photo-identification of individual whales.

Each killer whale has distinctive markings and nicks on it's dorsal fin and on the saddle patch (gray area behind the dorsal fin). We can follow individuals day to day and from year to year. We can determine when new calves are born and when old animals die. Any changes in the numbers or activities of the whales can detected. The movements and the behavior of the whales are plotted in a Geographic Information System (GIS) format.

Darts used to collect samples of skin and blubber
Darts used to collect skin and
blubber samples

We also use a darting system for taking small samples of skin and blubber from free-swimming whales. By extracting DNA from the skin we can study the genetics of individuals and of populations. The blubber is analyzed for contaminants such as DDTs and PCBs.

Individual humpback whales can be identified by the unique markings on the underside of their tails. We are part of a network monitoring humpback whale populations around the Pacific.

Listenning to the whales with an hydrophone
Listenning to the whale
with an hydrophone

Over the years a file is kept on each whale. Gradually the information is providing a more complete picture of the biology of these animals. Counts of humpback calves entering the population indicate that the numbers of this endangered species are starting to increase.

We can also track the movements of killer whale pods and humpback whales by listening to their calls on hydrophones. We recently discovered that humpbacks sing their eerie songs in our northern waters as well as on the Hawaiian breeding grounds.

 

 

What is the practical importance of our work?

Because we had baseline data on the numbers and distribution of killer whales and humpback whales prior to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, we were able to assess the damages wrought by that disaster. A total of 13 of 35 whales were lost from AB pod at the time of or shortly after the spill. AB pod was the most frequently seen and enjoyed resident pod in Prince William Sound at that time. It has yet to recover from these losses. The marine mammal-eating AT1 group of killer whales declined sharply after the spill. And the harbor seals they depend on for food, already sharply declining before the spill, continued their decline after the spill. We are now monitoring the numbers and movements of these whales as we hope for their recovery.
Most humpback whales had not yet returned to the feeding grounds at the time of the spill, and we recorded no immediate deaths. We are concerned about food chain effects and continue to monitor the population.
Our genetic studies have determined two distinct types of killer whales in our region that do not interbreed and behave like two separate species. One type eats marine mammals and the other type eats fish.
We have found high levels of PCBs and DDTs in marine mammal eating type of killer whales. These contaminants appear to be transported in weather systems from Asia and then accumulate in the food chain, concentrating in the killer whales. We are concerned that reproductive problems result from high levels of contaminants.

As human development continues we will provide information on the needs and possible effects of the whales and identify critical habitat so that, hopefully, man and animals can share the waters without conflict.

The NGOS research team produces scientific reports and publications, catalogues and books that present our findings and aid in the identification of individual whales. Our catalogues and whale watching guidelines are used throughout the Alaskan tour boat industry. A listing of these materials can be provided.

The presentation of slide shows and lectures both to scientific and lay groups and to schools (primarily in Alaska) is another of our functions.

We would appreciate your support.

September 2001 


Craig O. Matkin, Director 		 
Eva Saulitis, Director 

 
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