The killer whales that roam the northeastern Pacific Ocean have been the objects of studies since the 1970s, making them the most well-studied population of orcas in the world. Three distinct ecotypes of killer whales (Orcinus orca), known as residents, transients, and offshores, share these waters. The ecotypes are morphologically and behaviorally distinct to the extent that some scientists consider them separate species, with residents eating salmon, transients specializing on marine mammals, and offshores preferring Pacific sleeper sharks and Pacific halibut. Resident populations have endeared themselves to the region's locals with their striking black and white markings and their tendency to frolic in waters near the shore. However, both of the two resident populations on the coast of British Columbia and Washington State are at risk, with northern residents numbering some 300 and southern residents at just 74 individuals as of December 2018. Three deaths in the span of four months in spring and summer of 2018 brought widespread attention to the southern residents' plight. Live captures of killer whales for aquaria heavily impacted the population in the 1960s and 1970s, and today they face a combination of prey shortages, pollution, and disturbance from vessel traffic. If southern resident killer whales are to persist, federal, local, and state agencies need to quickly take mitigative action.

When Marineland of the Pacific opened in 1954 on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in greater Los Angeles, it was the second oceanarium in the world and the first on the West Coast. An initial investment of $3 million by Oceanarium Inc., owners of the popular Marine Studios park located near St. Augustine, Florida, ensured that Marineland was built with the same state of the art facilities needed to produce an authentic representation of the ocean floor on land. Building on Marine Studios' success exhibiting bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Marineland's central draw was its performing cetaceans. During the park's early years, its collectors pioneered the capture of Pacific dolphin species, such as the Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), and were the first to capture a live killer whale (Orcinus orca) in 1961. By exposing audiences to previously unknown species through circus-like performances, Marineland played a central role in changing public perceptions of small cetaceans in the post-World War II era. However, with few prior studies to consult, Marineland curators experimented with their own methods of capture, husbandry, and veterinary care that often resulted in the harm or death of cetaceans under their care. Caretakers contended with animal aggression and sexual behavior, the refusal of animals to perform in show routines, and high mortality. Despite the difficulties posed by exhibiting cetaceans, advertisements, press interviews, and films advanced a contrary narrative that animals under Marineland's care enjoyed the conditions of captivity and performing for an audience. This thesis explores the tension between entertainment and animal care that defined the early years of cetacean captivity in North America.

South Pacific humpback whales were devastated by commercial whaling in their Antarctic feeding areas during the 20th century. Understanding migratory connections and current abundance of these isolated breeding stocks is crucial for the allocation of historical Antarctic catches in population dynamic models used to assess current recovery. However, only a small number of migratory connections have been documented between Oceania breeding stocks within the South Pacific and feeding areas in the Antarctic. In addition, little is known about abundance of these stocks which encompass a vast oceanic region. For this thesis I first used mixed-stock analysis (MSA) to allocate migratory connections from four Antarctic feeding areas (n=142) to seven South Pacific breeding stocks (n=1,373), including four in Oceania, based on genetic marker frequencies. The use of this method was justified by the breeding stocks showing genetic differentiation at the haplotype level with an F[subscript ST] value of 0.027 (p-value <0.001). The results showed a relatively strong connection of Western Australia to Antarctic Area IV, Tonga to the border of Antarctic Area VI/I, Colombia to the Antarctic Peninsula, and a split allocation of Eastern Australia and New Caledonia to Antarctic Area V. This study provides the first population-level information supporting previous individual-based studies that humpback whale migration may not necessarily be direct north south. Next, utilizing capture-recapture methodology of unique humpback whale fluke photographs, I estimated abundance of one of the least studied Oceania breeding stocks, French Polynesia, a stock which also showed no significant migratory allocation using MSA. Taking into consideration the possible advantages of using Quality Control (QC) photographs to minimize bias in matching, estimates were generated using the complete photo catalogue and also using only photographs adhering to QC criteria. I found that the choice of using QC has an effect on the abundance generated and discuss the implications of this finding. Despite the photo catalogue used, the French Polynesia stock is estimated to number less than 1,900 individuals. Lastly, to provide additional information on the French Polynesia stock I used photo-identification to compare French Polynesia whales to whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and Strait of Magellan (Antarctic Area I), a possible migratory connection suggested by previous microsatellite genotyping. No conclusive matches were found. Although this does not discount the possibility of a few migrants traveling between these regions it does indicate the Antarctic Peninsula and the Strait of Magellan are not primary feeding areas of French Polynesia. This new information regarding abundance and migration of French Polynesia whales is important for the Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. This document is currently being completed as the International Whaling Commission considers the next critical steps in recovery for Oceania humpback whales stocks. / Graduation date: 2010

Dolphins, whales, and sharks are some of the world’s most iconic animals. Yet, many people will only ever see these animals via the media. The media, then, hold significant power in creating, modifying, or reaffirming the imaginaries around various species which, in turn, influences how much concern is given to matters related to their welfare and conservation. Given the environmental and ecological concerns presently facing the ocean, protecting, conserving, and preserving the marine ecosystem is vital, and time is of the essence. Through the work of activists, three specific marine wildlife issues have received a lot of publicity across various forms of mainstream media: the killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan for their meat; Antarctic whaling; and the practice of shark-finning. Three activist films, namely The Cove (2009), Whale Wars (2008-), and Sharkwater (2006), are centred on these issues, and filmmakers attempt to compel viewers to support the activists’ protectionist cause. In order for this goal to have a chance of coming to fruition, rhetorical arguments must be carefully crafted. Yet, the study of rhetoric in animal-focused activist films is still an understudied research area. This thesis contributes to this area of research by using the aforementioned films as case studies by applying Aristotle’s rhetorical proofs of ethos, pathos, and logos to analyse the rhetorical arguments. Ethos is demonstrable when the activists construct themselves as credible, moral heroes and the animals as possessors of positive traits worth protecting, and the hunters as immoral villains. The graphic imagery of animal death appeals to pathos to stir strong bodily and emotional responses such as sadness, and disgust in order to mobilize audience support for cause. Lastly, these films appeal to logos through the use of culturally authoritative discourses such as those of biology, western conventional medicine, and the legal system. This thesis essentially argues that these texts work rhetorically and discursively to persuade audiences to feel a connection with and sympathy towards the animals; to be supportive of the activists; and to prompt antipathy towards the hunters and industry spokespeople.

Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg) forage predominantly on hyper-benthic mysids (Mysidae) along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The role of mysids in the abundance and distribution of foraging gray whales prompted interest in this study. I relate the inter- and intra-annual foraging behaviour of gray whales to the number of mysid patches and biomass through boat based surveys of foraging whales, and the application of acoustic techniques for estimating mysid prey. I examine the spatial pattern of foraging gray whales and the 10 m isobath. The abundance and distribution of mysid patches are more common at a water depth of 10 m, and the likely mechanism driving the spatial pattern between foraging gray whales and the 10 m isobath. I examine whale abundance and distribution patterns during three consecutive foraging seasons. More whales forage in years when mysid prey are more abundant, and mysid patches are of larger size and higher in biomass. Whales have a considerable top-down effect on mysid populations. Years of heavy whale predation depletes mysid stocks. Mysid populations tend to increase in years of low whale activity. I examine whale abundance and distribution patterns of habitat use during a foraging season along the southwest coast of Flores Island and Nootka Sound. The abundance of mysid patches and biomass in Nootka Sound does not influence the whales’ use of Flores Island; rather the whales exploited both areas concurrently. This study expands the understanding of gray whale habitat use along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg) forage predominantly on hyper-benthic mysids (Mysidae) along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The role of mysids in the abundance and distribution of foraging gray whales prompted interest in this study. I relate the inter- and intra-annual foraging behaviour of gray whales to the number of mysid patches and biomass through boat based surveys of foraging whales, and the application of acoustic techniques for estimating mysid prey. I examine the spatial pattern of foraging gray whales and the 10 m isobath. The abundance and distribution of mysid patches are more common at a water depth of 10 m, and the likely mechanism driving the spatial pattern between foraging gray whales and the 10 m isobath. I examine whale abundance and distribution patterns during three consecutive foraging seasons. More whales forage in years when mysid prey are more abundant, and mysid patches are of larger size and higher in biomass. Whales have a considerable top-down effect on mysid populations. Years of heavy whale predation depletes mysid stocks. Mysid populations tend to increase in years of low whale activity. I examine whale abundance and distribution patterns of habitat use during a foraging season along the southwest coast of Flores Island and Nootka Sound. The abundance of mysid patches and biomass in Nootka Sound does not influence the whales’ use of Flores Island; rather the whales exploited both areas concurrently. This study expands the understanding of gray whale habitat use along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Beaked whales are comparatively unknown social mammals due to their deep-ocean distribution and elusive habits. The deep-ocean is the largest biome on Earth and the final frontier for human expansion. Since their first discovery, beaked whales have remained largely hidden from science. In this era of rapid technological advancement, genetic and genomic methods are key tools for population biologists and are particularly useful in describing rarely seen species. Using DNA-barcoding and nuclear markers, the publications in this thesis provide data on the distribution and external appearance of two species of beaked whale: the spade-toothed (Mesoplodon traversii) and Derinayagala’s whale (Mesoplodon hotaula). These whales were previously known from only a handful of tissue and bone specimens. Long-term efforts have facilitated the collection of samples of Gray’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi) and we have used shot-gun sequencing to characterise the mitochondrial genome and isolate species-specific nuclear microsatellite loci. Using genetic species and sex identification, together with museum specimens and multivariate analyses, we provide clear evidence of sexual dimorphism in cranial dimensions and geographic variation in external morphology. No genetic differentiation was evident in Gray’s beaked whales across a large study area (~ 6,000 km). With a large female effective population size (Ne) and genetic homogeneity, we hypothesise that gene flow is facilitated by large-scale oceanographic features, such as the sub-tropical convergence. Genetic kinship analyses within Gray’s beaked whale groups suggest that the whales that strand together are not related. Both sexes disperse from their parents and these groups are not formed through the retention of kin. These results are consistent with a ‘fission-fusion’ social system that has been observed in some oceanic dolphin species. Taken together, these data provide the first insights into the population dynamics, dispersal and social organisation in Gray’s beaked whales. These publications highlight the value of using genetics alongside other techniques to describe inter- and intraspecific diversity. For beaked whales, the dead can tell us much about the living.

This work is mainly based on the collection of Neogene (Miocene-Pliocene) odontocetes (toothed whales) from the area of Antwerp (northern Belgium, southern margin of the North Sea Basin) preserved at the Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique (IRSNB). <p> The systematic revision of members of the long-snouted dolphin family Eurhinodelphinidae leads to the description/re-description of five species in the genera Eurhinodelphis (E. cocheteuxi and E. longirostris), Schizodelphis (S. morckhoviensis), and Xiphiacetus n. gen. (X. cristatus and X. bossi). Furthermore, the systematic status of several eurhinodelphinid species from other localities in the world is revised. A cladistic analysis with the parsimony criterion is undertaken to highlight the phylogenetic relationships of several eurhinodelphinid taxa with other fossil and extant odontocetes. Eurhinodelphinids are more closely related to the beaked whales; the latter are distinctly separated from the sperm whales. A second analysis, with a likelihood criterion, reaches nearly identical results. Then a separate parsimony analysis investigates the relationships within the family Eurhinodelphinidae; the results suggest sister-group relationships between Schizodelphis + Xiphiacetus and Ziphiodelphis + (Mycteriacetus + Argyrocetus) and a more stemward position for Eurhinodelphis. After that, anatomical, palaeogeographic, and phylogenetic data allow several suggestions about the ecological features of the eurhinodelphinids. The extinction of this family, before the end of the Miocene, is commented, related to the changes in the biodiversity of other odontocete groups and to a contemporary major sea level drop. <p>\ / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie animale / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Paradox Interactive is a Swedish video game developer and publisher which has players all around the world. Paradox’s largest platform in terms of amount of players and revenue is the PC. The goal of this thesis was to make a churn predic-tion model to predict the probability of players churning in order to know which players to focus on in retention campaigns. Since the purpose of churn prediction is to minimize loss due to customers churning the focus was on big-spenders (whales) in Paradox PC games. In order to define which players are big-spenders the spending for players over a 12 month rolling period (from 2016-01-01 until 2018-12-31) was investigated. The players spending more than the 95th-percentile of the total spending for each pe-riod were defined as whales. Defining when a whale has churned, i.e. stopped being a big-spender in Paradox PC games, was done by looking at how many days had passed since the players bought something. A whale has churned if he has not bought anything for the past 28 days. When data had been collected about the whales the data set was prepared for a number of di˙erent supervised machine learning methods. Logistic Regression, L1 Regularized Logistic Regression, Decision Tree and Random Forest were the meth-ods tested. Random Forest performed best in terms of AUC, with AUC = 0.7162. The conclusion is that it seems to be possible to predict the probability of churning for Paradox whales. It might be possible to improve the model further by investi-gating more data and fine tuning the definition of churn. / Paradox Interactive är en svensk videospelutvecklare och utgivare som har spelare över hela världen. Paradox största plattform när det gäller antal spelare och intäk-ter är PC:n. Målet med detta exjobb var att göra en churn-predikterings modell för att förutsäga sannolikheten för att spelare har "churnat" för att veta vilka spelare fokusen ska vara på i retentionskampanjer. Eftersom syftet med churn-prediktering är att minimera förlust på grund av kunderna som "churnar", var fokusen på spelare som spenderar mest pengar (valar) i Paradox PC-spel.För att definiera vilka spelare som är valar undersöktes hur mycket spelarna spenderar under en 12 månaders rullande period (från 2016-01-01 till 2018-12-31). Spelarna som spenderade mer än 95:e percentilen av den totala spenderingen för varje period definierades som valar. För att definiera när en val har "churnat", det vill säga slutat vara en kund som spenderar mycket pengar i Paradox PC-spel, tittade man på hur många dagar som gått sedan spelarna köpte någonting. En val har "churnat" om han inte har köpt något under de senaste 28 dagarna.När data hade varit samlad om valarna var datan förberedd för ett antal olika maskininlärningsmetoder. Logistic Regression, L1 Regularized Logistic Regression, Decision Tree och Random Forest var de metoder som testades. Random Forest var den metoden som gav bäst resultat med avseende på AUC, med AUC = 0, 7162. Slutsatsen är att det verkar vara möjligt att förutsäga sannolikheten att Paradox valar "churnar". Det kan vara möjligt att förbättra modellen ytterligare genom att undersöka mer data och finjustera definitionen av churn.

Behavioural responses can reveal important fitness trade-offs and ecological traps in evolutionarily novel contexts created by anthropogenic stimuli, and are of increasing conservation concern due to possible links to population-level impacts. This thesis illustrates the use of proxies for energy acquisition and expenditure within multivariate and state-based modelling approaches to quantify the relative time and energetic costs of behavioural disturbance for a deep-diving marine mammal (Physeter macrocephalus) in foraging grounds in Kaikoura Canyon (New Zealand) and near Lofoten Islands (Norway). A conceptual framework is first developed to identify and explore links between individual motivation, condition and external constraints to behavioural disturbance [Chapter 1]. The following chapters then use data from behavioural response studies (BRS) to: 1) derive biologically relevant metrics of behaviour [all chapters], 2) investigate effects of boat-based focal follows and tagging procedures [Chapters 2-3], and 3) relate responses to specific disturbance stimuli (distance, approach, noise) from whale-watching [Chapter 2], naval sonar and playback of presumed natural predator (killer whale Orcinus orca) sounds [Chapter 4]. A novel hidden state model was developed to estimate behavioural budgets of tagged sperm whales from multiple streams of biologging (DTAG) data [Chapter 3]. Sperm whales traded off time spent at foraging depths in a non-foraging and non-resting state in response to both tag boat presence, 1-2 kHz naval sonar (SPL 131-165 rms re 1μPa) and mammal-eating killer whale sound playbacks, indicating that parallel non-lethal costs were incurred in both anthropogenic disturbance and presumed antipredatory contexts. While behavioural responses were highly variable by individual, biologically informed state-based models appeared effective to control for variability in energy proxies across different functional contexts. These results and Chapter 5 “linking buzzes to prey” demonstrate that behavioural context is a signal that can aid understanding of how individual non-lethal disturbance responses can impact fitness.