We use cookies to improve your experience, some are essential for the operation of this site.

Drone directly over the Right Whale blow hole sampling the output.

Drone directly over the Right Whale blow hole sampling the output.
Drone directly over the Right Whale blow hole sampling the output.
Drone directly over the Right Whale blow hole sampling the output.
Drone directly over the Right Whale blow hole sampling the output.
Comments (0)
267160
LaCapra, Véronique
Drone directly over the Right Whale blow hole sampling the output.
Still Image
03/30/2015
graphics/Moore_whales/DSC_6686.jpg
Image Of the Day caption:
A remotely controlled hexacopter hovers above a North Atlantic right whale in Cape Cod Bay. Researchers at WHOI and NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center are collaborating to collect samples of whale blow, the moist breath a whale sprays out of its blowhole when it exhales. Because drones are small and relatively quiet, they can hover close enough to a whale to collect a sample without disturbing it. By analyzing genetic material in the blow, researchers can begin to identify the individual members of the microbiomethe bacteria, viruses, and fungiin a whales respiratory tract. Research approach of the whales using the hexacopter was authorized by NMFS permit #17355 and flights were authorized under an MOU between NOAA and the FAA. (Class G, #2016-ESA-3-NOAA).
Photo by Véronique LaCapra, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Research approach of whales authorized by NMFS permit #17355
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Labels
This item includes these files
Image
Image
Collections