Northern Bottlenose Whales

The Whitehead Lab and Northern Bottlenose Whales

Since 1988, the Whitehead Lab northern bottlenose whale research program has collected acoustic, visual, genetic and photographic data focused on the endangered Scotian Shelf population residing in the area of the Gully submarine canyon, a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the northwest Atlantic. Our long term research program has been acknowledged as contributing information vital to the conservation and management of the Gully MPA and northern bottlenose whales in Canada.

Current Projects

Sam Walmsley (Ph.D. Candidate): Drawing primarily from the Whitehead lab’s long-term photographic dataset, I aim to provide new insights into the social lives of individual northern bottlenose whales. Using social network analysis, I will parse out causes and consequences of observed associations (i.e., who hangs out with who), and consider the extent to which whales are cooperating with one another. Understanding the extent of social interdependence in this population has implications for its vulnerability to demographic change and its ongoing management. Furthermore, by characterizing how patterns of affiliation in Northern bottlenose whales differ from other species (both at sea and on land), I hope to piece together testable predictions about the causal factors underlying the diversity of mammalian societies.

David Gaspard (M.Sc. Student): I am a master's student in the Whitehead Lab at Dalhousie University, Halifax. For my thesis, I will use drone imagery to measure the body condition of northern bottlenose whales in three core areas of abundance: the Scotian Shelf, offshore Newfoundland, and the Arctic, using a comparative framework. Body condition is an effective indicator of individual health. I will also examine the severity of anthropogenic markings (scars from entanglements and vessel strikes). Together, these efforts aim to establish the health status of northern bottlenose whale populations in Atlantic Canada and evaluate anthropogenic threats.

More about me: I am passionate about addressing data gaps through research and using science to enhance the conservation of species and their environments. To pursue this passion, I co-founded an NGO dedicated to research and conservation, the Whale Research Collective. As an outdoor enthusiast, I have a deep love for oceans, water, and mountains. I enjoy surfing, sailing, climbing, split-boarding, and mountain biking, and I thrive on adventure and exploration.

Dr. Laura J. Feyrer (Research Associate & Adjunct): Laura is currently leading collaborative research on whale-fishery interactions in the Eastern Canadian Arctic and offshore wind impacts on marine mammals. She is working with partners across government and academia. Her work integrates diverse data streams—including acoustic, photo-ID, UAV imagery, and diet analyses—to assess population trends and conservation risks for marine mammals. Laura completed her PhD in the Whitehead Lab, is an adjunct in the Biology department at Dalhousie University, and has research roles with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Garroway Lab at the University of Manitoba.

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