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Volume 7
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10.3390/drones7010015
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Communication

Blowing in the Wind: Using a Consumer Drone for the Collection of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Blow Samples during the Arctic Polar Nights

by
Helena Costa
1,*,
Andrew Rogan
2,
Christopher Zadra
2,
Oddbjørn Larsen
1,
Audun H. Rikardsen
3,4 and
Courtney Waugh
1
1
Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 7713 Steinkjer, Norway
2
Ocean Alliance, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA
3
Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
4
Norwegian Institute of Nature Research (NINA), the Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Drones 2023, 7(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7010015
Submission received: 23 November 2022 / Revised: 17 December 2022 / Accepted: 23 December 2022 / Published: 26 December 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drone Advances in Wildlife Research)
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Abstract

Analysis of cetacean blow offers a unique potential for non-invasive assessments of their health. In recent years, the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) has revolutionized the way these samples are collected. However, the high cost and expertise associated with purpose-built waterproof UAVs, paired with the challenges of operating during difficult meteorological conditions, can be prohibitive for their standardized use worldwide. A pilot study was conducted in a Northern Norwegian fjord during winter, to assess the feasibility of using a minimally modified and affordable consumer drone to collect blow samples even during the polar nights’ challenging weather conditions. For each flight, six petri dishes were attached with velcro to a DJI Mavic 2 Pro. The flights were conducted under temperatures ranging from -1 to -18 degrees Celsius, wind speeds ranging from 9 to 31 km/h, and with the absence of the sun. During the 6-day-long boat survey, 16 blow samples were successfully collected from 11 distinct groups of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). With this study, we further validated the use of a consumer drone as a practical, affordable, and simplified tool for blow collection, functional under harsh meteorological conditions.
Keywords: exhaled breath; humpback whale; UAV; arctic; Norway exhaled breath; humpback whale; UAV; arctic; Norway

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MDPI and ACS Style

Costa, H.; Rogan, A.; Zadra, C.; Larsen, O.; Rikardsen, A.H.; Waugh, C. Blowing in the Wind: Using a Consumer Drone for the Collection of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Blow Samples during the Arctic Polar Nights. Drones 2023, 7, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7010015

AMA Style

Costa H, Rogan A, Zadra C, Larsen O, Rikardsen AH, Waugh C. Blowing in the Wind: Using a Consumer Drone for the Collection of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Blow Samples during the Arctic Polar Nights. Drones. 2023; 7(1):15. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7010015

Chicago/Turabian Style

Costa, Helena, Andrew Rogan, Christopher Zadra, Oddbjørn Larsen, Audun H. Rikardsen, and Courtney Waugh. 2023. "Blowing in the Wind: Using a Consumer Drone for the Collection of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Blow Samples during the Arctic Polar Nights" Drones 7, no. 1: 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7010015

APA Style

Costa, H., Rogan, A., Zadra, C., Larsen, O., Rikardsen, A. H., & Waugh, C. (2023). Blowing in the Wind: Using a Consumer Drone for the Collection of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Blow Samples during the Arctic Polar Nights. Drones, 7(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7010015

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