[CINC] Fwd: Whale Breath article by Susan Scott

[Catherine French]

I asked John Calambokidis if he had the definitive answer about the odor from a humpback spout, see his response below. I also spent some time trying to get a positive answer and have been unsuccessful. I am going to ask Dr. Rennie if he has the answer.



Sincerely, 
Catherine French
cfrench1366 at aol.com 
805.815.3523
805.570.0432 mobile




-----Original Message-----
From: John Calambokidis <Calambokidis at cascadiaresearch.org>
To: 'Catherine French' <cfrench1366 at aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Jul 22, 2010 3:26 pm
Subject: RE: [CINC] Whale Breath article by Susan Scott



I certainly cannot resolve this. I was involved in helping to sample whale breath many years ago and some of this was used in the results Tom Ford is mentions but like the writer of the article I thought some leaps were being made in interpreting those results. 
 
My own observations are that there is a great deal of variability in the odor associated with whale blows with some individuals clearly much smellier than others at least on some days. I never thought it smelled particularly like rotten fish or krill so was not convinced it came directly from that. I think it most likely is related to bacteria or in the cases of non-feeding whales, ketosis. Hope that helps. I will be down there next week so may see you on the water.
 
John
 

From: Catherine French [mailto:cfrench1366 at aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:58 AM
To: John Calambokidis
Subject: Fwd: [CINC] Whale Breath article by Susan Scott

 

Hi John:

 

I wonder if you can clear something up for me or point me in the right direction. There seem to be different theories about the smell from a humpback whale's spout. I had been under the impression that it came from the oil that surrounds the blowholes, but his article suggests something else. It is best for us in the Channel Islands Naturalist Corps to have the correct answer and for all of us to say the same thing. This is a difficult challenge.

 

I was doing some Internet research to try to find a definitive answer, but failed. Can you help?

 

Hope all is well in your world. The blues and humpbacks are putting on a great show in the SB Channel to the delight of all. Thanks for you help.


Sincerely, 

Catherine French

cfrench1366 at aol.com 
805.815.3523

805.570.0432 mobile


 

-----Original Message-----
From: Susie <susiewilliams at sbcglobal.net>
To: CINC <channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org>
Sent: Thu, Jul 22, 2010 7:53 am
Subject: [CINC] Whale Breath article by Susan Scott

Marine biologist Susan Scott writes the newspaper column, "Ocean Watch", for the 
 
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
http://www.susanscott.net/OceanWatch2010/jul-19-10.html
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