Dear Marmam Community,
My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new paper:
Degollada, E.; Amigó, N.; O’Callaghan, S.A.; Varola, M.; Ruggero, K.;
Tort, B. A Novel Technique for Photo-Identification of the Fin Whale,
/Balaenoptera physalus/, as Determined by Drone Aerial Images. /Drones/
*2023*, /7/, 220.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7030220
Abstract: Drones have become a crucial research tool across marine
environments over the past decade, being specifically useful in marine
mammal research. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) have been monitored
feeding along the Catalan coast, Spain (NW Mediterranean), since 2014.
To overcome issues such as the distance between a whale and a research
vessel or the lack of distinctive dorsal fin features, an aerial
identification technique was developed. It uses the fin whales’
characteristic central chevron pattern (CCP) and blaze, which are
clearly visible from an overhead position. A total of 237 individual
whales were identified between 2015–2022 in this study area, of which
there were 35 interannual recaptures. While the dorsal fin may undergo
modifications over time, the CCP and blaze patterns did not naturally
alter over the years, with one whale displaying the same characteristics
8 years apart between the first and the most recent sightings. As such,
this coloration pattern provides a reliable identification feature to be
used for the interannual identification and population monitoring of fin
whales using drones. This novel technique aims to improve and unify this
species cataloguing overseas by using the CCP and blaze obtained from
UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) zenithal videos as a robust identification
tool.
Best regards
Eduard Degollada
———————-------------------
Eduard Degollada Bastos DVM PhD
President Associació EDMAKTUB
www.edmaktub.org <http://www.edmaktub.org>
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Email edmak...@edmaktub.org
Ph +34630038829
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