Dolphins and Drones
Photo Credit: Kirk Linaje
Does spending time on a boat researching wild dolphins with passionate marine conservationists, while also flying drones sound like a perfect day?
MORAES, a local, marine-science-based, non-profit organization in Miami, FL, has been leading research efforts of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida Bay. In partnership with the Dolphin Research Center (DRC), we have taken a new approach to studying these animals in the wild by utilizing some cutting-edge technology: DRONES! The popularity of drones over the past few years has increased tremendously. Whether it's for fun or even for making home deliveries, their versatility has provided us with amazing opportunities to improve our day to day lives, but also improve the efficiency of offshore data collection. For MORAES specifically, these unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have helped us to study dolphin populations for our Cetacean Aerial Survey Project, or CASP for short!
With dolphins’ sensitivity to environmental stressors such as climate change, pathogenic outbreaks, and more, studying their populations can be useful predictors to humans. MORAES and their aviator shades-wearing drone pilots have been surveying bottlenose dolphins in the Florida Keys now for over a year. The drone is being used to take photos and videos of natural dolphin behaviors, and through the analysis of these photos, we are establishing baseline body conditions, gathering length measurements, and even helping identify them on an individual basis. Unfortunately, as one might expect, following dolphins with a UAS is not the easiest of tasks, but the beautiful clear and shallow waters of the Florida Keys makes this work feasible. On most days, we have a crystal-clear view of not only where the dolphins are, but where (and when) they will be surfacing to breathe, allowing us to capture the perfect shot! However, the drone is capable of much more than just taking pictures.
Photo Credit: Kirk Linaje
MORAES has taken this approach one step further. With the assistance of incredibly skilled drone pilots, we’re using the UAS to attempt to gather dolphin DNA from the exhalations they give off when they surface. These breaths, or “blows”, send suspended particles up in the air, carrying with it valuable genetic information we can then use for various research endeavors. Essentially, a retrofitted drone with the ability to capture a portion of this “blow” is timed with the surfacing and breathing of these dolphins, ideally passing right through this genetic material as they exhale. The data collected can then tell us about dolphin family structure, diseases, and tons more information. Temporal observations may indicate if this population of resident dolphins is shifting its home range, foraging in new territories, or leaving this troubled estuary all together. Contrary to traditional methods, this approach to data collection has many upsides, including being less invasive for the dolphins and reducing expenses for the researchers.
For us, having the opportunity to combine the worlds of biology and robotics/technology in this study has been truly amazing. We believe this is not just a trend but the future of many forms of wildlife monitoring. The versatility of drones is paving the way for new methods of data retrieval and we are excited to be part of that journey. Our partners at DRC, along with the MORAES interns and volunteers dedicated to this study, have started the process of providing new insight as to how dolphins live, adapt, and interact with us (directly or indirectly). We hope to publish our findings soon and provide valuable data that would assist the community in protecting these animals and their homes.