A whale measuring over 14 meters in length was found dead in southern Chile. Such discoveries are becoming increasingly common, raising growing concern within the scientific community. What is happening in our oceans?

A team of researchers is diving into the cold waters of southern Chile in an effort to understand the causes behind these deaths. This region, once considered a pristine natural paradise, is now under threat.

Paulina Bahamonde, a researcher at the MERI Foundation, explains that there is still very limited knowledge about blue whales, making it difficult to determine the exact causes of these fatalities. In Chile, only recently have dedicated expert teams begun to form to study this species in depth.

To advance the research, scientists must closely track the blue whale until the exact moment arrives to attach a small sensor. This device is equipped with a hydrophone to record the whale’s vocalizations and also collects data on environmental temperature and dive profile — that is, how deep the whale is capable of diving during its immersions.

2017

BLUE WHALES RESEARCH

¿Who is Matthew S. Leslie?

He is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Ursinus College, where he teaches a wide range of courses and mentors students conducting both local and international research. He also serves as a board member and researcher with Panacetacea.

He is a member of the NOAA-NMFS Pacific Ocean Science Review Group, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission’s Science Advisory Board for Dolphin Conservation, and a founding steering committee member of a newly established Rice’s Whale Research Collective.

Recent experience: With the support of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), he recently served the US Geological Survey's National Climate Adaptation Science Center as a Climate and Biodiversity Policy Fellow. In this role, he contributed to the development of international conservation agreements and to shaping a national approach to biodiversity assessment.