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The Secrets of Whale Poop
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In this episode of Charted Waters, we dive into what whales leave behind—both the majestic breath from their blowholes and, yes, their poop—and what these “gifts” reveal about their lives.
Biologist Kait Yehle and adventure guide Alina Andrushko join Maureen Gordon to explore what DNA in whale feces can tell us about stress, diet, family connections, and even biodiversity. Later, we hear from Éadín O’Mahony about groundbreaking research using whale breath.
It’s a deep dive into the wild science of scat, snot, and the secrets of cetaceans.
Featured Guests:
· Kait Yehle, Biologist, Skeena Wild
· Alina Andrushko, Expedition Guide, Maple Leaf Adventures
· Éadín O’Mahony, PhD Candidate, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews
Resources & Links:
· Learn more about Skeena Wild and BC Whales
· Support the work of the North Coast Cetacean Society
· View photos from Alina’s whale poop encounter [link to photo gallery or blog post]
· Explore our boutique expedition cruises:
Like what you heard?
Please subscribe, leave a review, and share Charted Waters with fellow nature lovers.
Other Sources and Resources:
https://www.raincoast.org/2024/01/using-poop-identify-individual-killer-whales/
A youtube talk on this research:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYTj3twGekw
A blog post on a "typical day collecting killer whale poo":
https://ocean.org/blog/just-another-day-collecting-whale-poo/
A piece written on whale poo, the carbon pump, and climate change:
https://ocean.org/blog/can-whales-mitigate-climate-change-whales-and-the-carbon-cycle/
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/persons/%C3%A9adin-nora-anna-omahony
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