Mikhaila Estwick Data

 

Introduction
  • Mikhaila Estwick did her semester at CMAST project on marine mammal stranding diversity in North Carolina. She analyzed a paper publised by Barbie Byrde on stranding data in North Carolina 1997-2008 and the stranding data 2009-2020, Dr. Vicky Thayer (Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator of North Carolina Marine Fisheries) gave her. From this she observed marine mammal strandings have overall decreased. However, Dwarf and pygmy sperm whale stradnings increased 17%, Bottlenose dolphin strandings increased by 7%, seal strandings decreased 20%, and harbor porpoises strandings decreased 55%.
  • What does this mean? Mikhaila Estwick observed fewer stranding cold water species, i.e. harbor porpoise and seals. Strandings of species within temperate and tropical waters increased, i.e. bottlenose dolphins. Strandings of migratory species, i.e. baleen whales increased.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zjCXBMFXjaYKdQXjgcpcQBfg3Mq_lNSFc_2Fh7D3E6M/edit#slide=id.g11b73d209a7_2_7. (This link will take you to Mikhaila Estwick and Emilee Cooper’s Independent Research Project; scroll to page 28 for Mikhaila Estiwick’s project. Slide 40 and 42 have graphs that we will be talking about on this website)

North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate meaning NC has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. Having less cold water species could indicate the water is getting warmer so less cold water species are coming to North Carolina and stranding. Having more temperate and tropical water species stranding could mean the water is becoming warmer so more of the warmer species are stranding here. Lastly, having more migratory species strandings could mean the waters are warmer than they are used to when traveling and it is affecting their metabolism, or function since these species need specific temperature to thrive.