Student Work at College of the Atlantic

Distribution and Social Behavior of Newfoundland Killer Whales

Photo Credit: Stevens and Lawson DFO

By collecting and examining more than 1200 photographs and analyzing nearly 300 sighting events, Tara Stevens has compiled the most comprehensive analysis of killer whale life history in Newfoundland and Labrador waters.

For her 2008 senior project, Tara Stevens compiled the most comprehensive analysis of killer whale life history in the Newfoundland and Labrador region. By collecting and examining 1213 photographs, and analyzing 289 sighting events of killer whales, Tara has compiled a digital catalog of killer whale photographs to aid in the research of the specie’s behavior. Tara has already used the data she’s collected to research migratory movements, social grouping and organization, feeding habits, and anthropogenic effects on the killer whale population.

“Photographing animals is a minimally intrusive, cost effective way of studying animal populations. Photo-identification catalogues are often the foundation for work examining movement and residency patterns, social organization, and demographic parameters of a population, ” says Stevens.

Digital catalogues also create greater accessibility of information. In her report, Stevens says that, “Although photo-identification catalogues used to be housed in binders stored on shelves, digital media today allows for such catalogues to be stored efficiently on computers, digital networks, and in some cases, online.” Not only does this reduce the need for physical storage space and virtually eliminate traditional printing costs, but it also increases the ability to share catalogues. Having these catalogues available in a digital format encourages collaboration among researchers and gives the general public an easier option for submitting photographs.

Photo Credit: Arlene Erven

Stevens’ project also includes a guide to photographing killer whales, and an Atlantic Canada killer whales’ sighting sheet. These give whale watchers in the general community the opportunity to contribute to the scientific community, benefiting everyone.

Stevens’ has started building on this research, and is using it as the basis for her PhD studies in the Cognitive and Behavioural Program at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. Johns.