LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES

“Define how spatial and temporal variability in the physical and biological environment influence cetacean species in order to determine those processes in the marine ecosystem which best predict long-term changes in cetacean distribution, abundance, stock structure, extent and timing of migrations and fitness.”
These are the stated goals of the collaboration between the International Whaling Commission and SO GLOBEC
With this directive in mind, I am interested in trying to use the data that were collected to define or characterize habitat for cetaceans in this part of the world.
 The GLOBEC data will support this effort at a range of spatial scales during fall and winter months.
To do this, we will be using GIS and I’ll spend the rest of  the time briefly going over the methods that we will use and the questions that we are trying to answer