BRUCE MATE

Bruce Mate is a Professor of Fisheries & Wildlife and Oceanography at Oregon State University where he directs the Endowed Marine Mammal Program. His Ph.D. (University of Oregon) determined the migration habits of Pacific Northwest sea lions, followed by a post-doctorate in biochemistry (Oregon State University) studying heavy metal metabolism in sea lions. He has studied sea otters, manatees, numerous dolphin species, and most of the large whales. He pioneered the development of satellite-monitored radio tags for cetaceans which he and his students use primarily to determine the critical habitats (breeding, calving, and feeding areas), dive behavior, and migration routes of endangered whales (including blues, grays, humpbacks, rights and bowheads). His research program is funded by conventional grants and generous private and corporate gifts to the Oregon State University Endowed Marine Mammal Program.

ABSTRACT

"Critical Habitats of Eastern Northern Pacific Blue Whales." Blue whales summering off California were tracked with satellite-monitored radio tags up to 241 days, showing some whales winter near the Costa Rican Dome. Sea surface temperatures and primary productivity estimates were collected from satellite images. Winter use of traditionally krill-rich areas suggests winter feeding by blue whales. unlike winter fasting by gray and humpback whales. During an El Nino (1998), many blue whales were emaciated. Poor feeding conditions appear to change migration timing and foraging range. Critical habitats are not just geographic areas but functional environments which vary, affecting whale distributions.