Chasing inter-species communication: what marine mammals are telling us about our oceans

摘要

I describe my path through a series of opportunities that provided stepping stones from childhood years in the landlocked US Midwest to a45-year-long career focused on cetacean behaviour and ecology. My early interest in the ocean and dolphins led me to switch from majoring injournalism to biology during my undergraduate years. While pursuing a master’s degree focused on bioacoustics, I was employed as a contractscientistwith the US Navy’s marine mammal laboratory. During 20 years there,mywork ranged from dolphin calling behaviour to marine mammaldistribution in Alaskan waters, culminating in a Ph.D. dissertation on cetacean habitats in the Alaskan Arctic. Subsequently, I enjoyed a 20-yearcareer with the US NOAA NationalMarine Fisheries Service. There, I developed and advanced the idea that marine mammals can act as sentinelsof ocean variability. To interpret the messages that marine mammals convey about the ocean, we must broaden science discourse to includeIndigenous Knowledge and lessons from the experiences of people whose livelihoods depend on the sea. My advice to students and youngprofessionals is to follow your passion while seeking the perspectives of colleagues from a variety of disciplines and people from all culturesand backgrounds. Coupled with a healthy dose of luck, this approach worked for me.