ALLIED WHALE College of the Atlantic 105 Eden Street Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 7 288-5644 207 288-2328 FAX ALLIED WHALE BACKGROUNDER Allied Whale is the marine mammal research group at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was founded in 1972 by Dr. Steven K. Katona, Professor of Biology, and students and staff of the College. Since its beginning, Allied Whale has been at the forefront of modern whale research and is recognized as a leader in the development of scientific techniques used by whale biologists. Whales, like humans, are mammals at the top of the food chain. In this context, the health of whale populations serves as an indication of the health of their habitat--and ours. Our continuing mission is to conduct research important to effective conservation of marine mammal populations and their habitats. Because whales roam the seas without regard to political boundaries, we are dedicated to participation in collaborative research and the exchange of scientific information world-wide. In 1973, with the cooperation of the U.S. Coast Guard, Allied Whale opened a research facility at Mt. Desert Rock, Maine, the site of the most remote lighthouse on the eastern seaboard. "The Rock", a three acre island nearly 25 miles off shore, is now the oldest land-based marine mammal research station on the East Coast. Identification and censusing of the whales inhabiting this part of the Gulf of Maine, the photo-identification of individuals, and studies of the behavior and respiration of whales are all part of the work done here. Inventories of migratory land birds, seabirds, seals, invertebrates and plants as well as extensive environmental monitoring also take place at Mt. Desert Rock. Allied Whale is involved in field research projects that are far ranging, both scientifically and geographically. Our biologists and students study whales not only in the Gulf of Maine, but often work in many other areas of the world on joint projects with both American and foreign institutions. In recent years our researchers' studies have taken them to Mexico (finback and blue whales), Canada (finback, humpback and right whales in the Bay of Fundy), the Antarctic (hump- back and right whales), New Zealand (Hector's dolphins), the Dominican Republic (breeding and calving grounds for humpback whales) and Bermuda (halfway point in humpback whale migration in the Western North Atlantic). In addition to field research, Allied Whale houses the largest collection of information on photo-identified humpback and finback whales in the world. Photo-identification is a technique that enables scientists to follow an individual whale anywhere it may travel throughout its life by comparing natural color patterns, fin shapes and other distinguishing marks that appear in it's photographs. Allied Whale researchers were among the first to successfully use this technique to study whales. Allied Whale houses the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue, the North Atlantic Finback Whale Catalogue and the Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalogue. These collections include photographs and information on over 5000 individual whales. Such cataloguing efforts have provided more information about the population size, ecology and behavior of whales than has been learned in any other way. Allied Whale solicits funding for its work in the form of government and foundation grants, but our primary means of support comes from charitable donations from individuals. Tax deductible contributions can be made to College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, in support of Allied Whale. mt. desert rock marine research station gulf of maine whale sighting network north atlantic humpback whale catalogue north atlantic finback whale catalogue antarctic humpback whale catalogue bermuda humpback research caribbean humpback research Printed on 100% recycled paper