Step 1:
Facilitate general discussion about whales.
Show the listeners Page 1 of the Visual Guide, which displays different types of whales.
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Ask: What is your favorite type of whale?
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Example talking point: I like Orca or Killer whales because they sleep with one eye open. They are also known for their intelligence and are one of the few animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror.
Step 2:
Step 3:
Use drone photos to study different whale species.
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Example talking point: While going through the images they captured, researchers came across these two images of Killer whales in the Puget Sound. Show listeners Page 2 of the Visual Guide, which shows aerial images of Killer whales.
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Ask: Can you spot the differences between the two whales?
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Whale on right has open saddle patches, dorsal fin has rounded tip, and is smaller in length.
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Whale on left has closed saddle patches, straight dorsal fin, and is longer in length.
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Example talking point: Congratulate listeners on discovering a new Killer whale species.
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The whale on the right is a Resident Killer whale (orcinus ater).
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The whale on the left is a Bigg’s Killer whale (orcinus rectipinnus).
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Aerial images comparing the sizes of adult male Bigg’s and Resident killer whales, both taken in the Salish Sea off southern Vancouver Island. Images are scaled to lengths calculated during health research by SR3 SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research. Images were collected by John Durban and Holly Fearnbach using a non-invasive drone authorized by research permit 19091 issued by the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Adapted from Morin et al. 2024 Royal Society Open Science, 11(3), p.231368.
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Until recently we thought both these Killer whales were the same species, but photo identification allows researchers to make discoveries, like the difference between Bigg’s and Resident Killer whales.
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*Canadian scientist Michael Bigg noted that certain pods of Killer whales did not mix, but it was not until recently that drone images provided sufficient evidence to prove that these whales are different species.
Step 4:
Meet a drone called SnotBot.
This drone here is called a SnotBot. (I named my drone SnotBot after the Ocean Alliance’s drone).
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Ask: Why do you think we call it that?
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Example talking point: Scientists also use drones to collect samples. Those drones are a little bit bigger than this one and are flown over a whales blowhole to collect its spray or snot when it exhales. Show Page 3 of the Visual Packet with a drone in the whale spray.
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The drone is equipped with six petri dishes like this one (show petri dish) which are velcroed to the top and bottom.
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A petri dish is a small dish that scientists use to grow cells including bacteria and molds.
Step 5:
How scientists collect and analyze whale snot samples.
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Example talking point: When the drone gets back to the research boat, which stays around 1,500 feet away from the whales, the researchers use swabs and cell scrapers to collect the blow from the petri dishes. They then place the swabs in sterile tubes which are frozen until they get to the lab.
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Ask: What do you think is in the spray/snot?
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Example talking point: Let's have a look at what scientists found when they analyzed the samples under a microscope.They found many groups of bacteria that makeup what's called the whale’s respiratory microbiome. Show Page 4 of the Visual Guide with the phylum guide.
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A microbiome is the group of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses that exist in a particular part of the body.
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Scientists are hoping that by analyzing whale microbiomes, they will learn more about a whale's health and habitat quality. Microbiomes are health indicators for all species. For humans, our gut microbiome helps us digest fiber from our food. The more we learn about whales and share research findings with the public and policymakers, the more effectively we can protect them and ocean habitat.
Step 6:
Lead craft activity.
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Example talking point: Now you scientists can create your own whale microbiome based on real bacteria the scientists found in the samples.
Hand out paper petri dishes, glue dots, and craft supplies.
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*The groups of bacteria (called phyla) were provided by researchers at the Ocean Alliance and were selected based on their variety of different shapes. Each phylum is represented by a craft supply, which is glued to a round piece of paper acting as a petri dish. Bacteriodota is represented by miniature plastic rhinestones, clostridia by sequins, actinobacteria by string, camplyobacterota by spiral shaped pipe cleaners, fusobacterium by curvy pipe cleaners, and mollicutes by larger plastic rhinestones.
Step 7 (Optional):
Recognize Student Scientists.
While creating their microbiomes, tell listeners that whale snot is very stinky, and offer them a Fish Dr. Stinky Scratch-N-Sniff Sticker.