What happens after you scoop the poop?

The Whale Museum is pleased to welcome Jessica Lundin as part of the 2014 Summer Lecture Series. Jessica will discuss “What happens after you scoop the poop? What the science of whale scat is telling us about Southern Resident killer whales” on Tuesday, August 19 at 7:00 p.m.

The Orca Scat Team has been collecting scat samples from the Southern Resident killer whales since 2006 with the help of Tucker and other Conservation Canines. These scat samples are being analyzed for toxins, hormones and DNA to help us better understand toxin loads, stress and nutritional condition, and pregnancy status across seasons and years. These important measurements can help us evaluate how different stressors affect this endangered population and help guide population recovery efforts.

Jessica Lundin is a graduate student in the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington with a focus in environmental toxicology. Jessica’s research dissertation project is to monitor and evaluate contamination in the Puget Sound ecosystem by using scat from the endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

The August 19th lecture event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (360) 378-4710 ext. 30, or check out this PDF flyer: Lundin Lecture.

The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First St. N. Founded in 1976, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. In addition to providing exhibits, the Museum also provides programs including the Marine Naturalist Training, Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline.

The Whale Museum can be found on-line at www.whalemuseum.org.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.