Photo: During one of Torres' previous trips, a blue whale showed its fluke in the South Taranaki Bight.
Leigh Torres is an associate professor and marine ecologist in OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute in Newport, Ore., where she leads the Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab. Her work has taken her all over the world as she studies the behavior and environment of marine animals including blue whales. She recently returned from a research trip off the coast of New Zealand.
Where were you?
On the research vessel the Star Keys in the South Taranaki Bight of Aotearoa New Zealand, which is the bay between the two islands that make up the country.
Torres took a selfie with the Star Keys, the research vessel she lived on for three weeks this winter.
What languages are spoken there?
English and Te Reo, the native Māori language.
What was the focus of your work?
We were collecting data to assess the impacts of climate change on krill and blue whales. It’s a multidisciplinary effort using drones to assess whale body condition; cameras to identify individual whales; hydrophone (underwater microphone) deployments to record blue whale call rates; whale biopsy sampling to conduct genetic, stable isotope and hormone analysis; and krill collection to determine their caloric and lipid content and to conduct respiration experiments. The krill work is led by my collaborator and co-principal investigator Kim Bernard from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.
In years with poor environmental and prey conditions, we have found that blue whales reduce their amount of feeding effort and reproduction effort. Krill are important prey items for many marine animals, and blue whales are indicators of the ecosystem. So, by studying how these key prey and predators change their distribution, health and abundance relative to environmental change, we can better anticipate and recognize the response of marine ecosystems to climate change.
When was your most recent trip?
We were in New Zealand from Jan. 22 to Feb. 21, and of that time, on the vessel for three weeks from Jan. 27 to Feb. 17.
Torres, left, with fellow researchers aboard the Star Keys.
Who are your closest local colleagues?
The New Zealand Department of Conservation, and then Phil Sutton, Sarah Bury and Svenja Halfter at NIWA, New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
What’s the biggest challenge of working there?
The weather. I am constantly looking at the Windy app to find the pockets of low wind and low swell for us to work in. The South Taranaki Bight is a very windy and exposed place, which is why it’s such a productive place and good for blue whales and their main prey, krill. But working in bad, windy or swelly conditions makes everything harder, and worse, including the data. So, I am always watching the weather and working with the captain to find places we can work, and then run and hide (anchor) to wait out a wind event.
What’s the best food you had there?
The first mate’s baked pumpkin. Such an amazing combination of savory (onions and garlic) and sweet.
What’s the most non-touristy thing you got to do?
We anchored in Port Hardy on D’Urville Island, which is a remote and beautiful place we got to explore for a day.
What’s an important phrase you’ve learned in the local language?
“Tohorā” means “whale,” and whales are “taonga,” which means “treasured” or “sacred.”
A blue whale came to the surface to feed right next to the research vessel.
What’s one thing from your experience that you’ll take back to Oregon with you?
Looking eye-to-eye with a huge blue whale as it surface lunge-fed right in front of us in the small boat.
Being that close to a lunging, large blue whale was both scary and exhilarating. It was surprising to see the whale so close to us and moving so fast – I did not want to be in its way. But it was also amazing to see the krill jumping away from the on-rushing whale as it surged forward through the water with its ginormous mouth wide open. I’ve been close to large whales many times before, which is always awesome and humbling to feel so small, but this experience right next to the largest animal on earth feeding was just incredible.
What were you most surprised to learn?
How hard it is to catch krill. They are so fast and patchy. How do the whales do it?!
Besides family, what did you miss most from home?
My bed. The bunks and pillows on board are not that soft, and the boat is always moving.
What piece of advice would you give others who might travel there?
This is a hard place to get to, but if you are flying between the islands, look out the window and you might see a blow!
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