welcome to the Marine Mammal Institute

The OSU Marine Mammal Institute integrates research, graduate education, and public outreach to advance our knowledge of marine mammals, train the next generation of professionals, and engage with stakeholders to ensure that these animals and their ecosystems are always healthy.

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Where the Whales Are:

Identifying Prey Hotspots Supports Ecosystem-Based Management

Research associate Angela Szesciorka is the first author on a new paper that explores the relationship between humpback whales and their primary prey in the California Current Ecosystem. Previously, few studies had identified strong linkages between cetaceans and prey, especially across large geographic areas with patchy aggregations of prey. This new research uses metrics that provide means of identifying the prey species that whales may be targeting. Climatic variations are also considered. These findings can help inform the conservation and management of humpback whales within an ecosystem-based management framework.

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OSU Marine Mammal Institute Highlights.

Cetacean Conservation and Genomics Laboratory

The Cetacean Conservation and Genomics Laboratory explores the genomes of whales and dolphins to understand the past, assess the present, and conserve the future.

Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory

The Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory focuses on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of marine megafauna including cetaceans, pinnipeds, seabirds, and sharks.

Laboratory for Animal Behavioral Interaction Research in the Ocean

The Laboratory for Animal Behavioral Interaction Research in the Ocean integrates animal behavior, ecology, and human dimensions.

Marine Mammal Bioacoustics and Ecology Laboratory

The Marine Mammal Bioacoustics and Ecology Laboratory uses passive acoustic monitoring to study the underwater soundscape around the globe.

Ocean Ecology Laboratory

The Ocean Ecology Laboratory studies animal movement, foraging ecology, health, and population dynamics to support the science-based management of threatened species.

Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network

The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network documents occurrences and investigates the causes of marine mammal strandings in Oregon. Learn what to do if you find a marine mammal ashore.

Whale Habitat, Ecology, & Telemetry Laboratory

The Whale Habitat, Ecology, and Telemetry Laboratory develops tag technology, advances ecology, and informs conservation of the largest animals on earth.

Marine Offshore Species Assessments to Inform Clean Energy

A federally funded institute-wide project to survey cetaceans and seabirds off the US West Coast to inform the responsible development of offshore wind energy.