Ottawa Riverkeper Speaker Series
Mountain Equipment Coop, 7:15PM - Wednesday, November 15, 2006
In our efforts to develop educational programs to increase the public’s understanding of the Ottawa River system, we are proud to host the Ottawa Riverkeeper Speaker Series. The presentation is open to all and free of charge.
HOW POLLUTION IN THE OTTAWA RIVER IMPACTS WHALES OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC
Pollution of aquatic ecosystems is of increasing concern to both scientists and the general public. Because they are sensitive to these disturbances, whales are considered “sentinel” species for the conservation of marine habitats. Blue whales, for instance, were recently designated as “Endangered” in Canada because new anthropogenic threats might be preventing the population from recovering to pre-whaling numbers. The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence constitute an essential feeding ground for whales from all over the North Atlantic. From both a geographic and an ecosystemic point of view, the St. Lawrence is a crucial link between our watersheds and the oceans. Its exceptionally high diversity of whale species makes it a unique heritage that we must strive to understand and protect. Thomas Doniol-Valcroze will draw from current research on blue whales to address how important environmental issues at the level of our watersheds, like the Ottawa River, can severely affect many cetacean species and through them most marine ecosystems.
Photo credit: T. Doniol-Valcroze
Taking of a biopsy sample from a blue whale
Guest Speaker: Thomas Doniol-Valcroze
Although born in France, Thomas Doniol-Valcroze was lured to Canada by his passion for whales. Eleven years ago, Thomas started working at the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), a non-profit research station located on the Quebec North Shore. He was fascinated by the biological richness and diversity of the St. Lawrence, and quickly fell in love with the area. Having immigrated to Canada, Thomas continued to work at MICS where he became senior research assistant while obtaining a M.Sc. degree from McGill University. Now a PhD candidate, his research focuses on trying to better understand and predict the relationships between whales and their preferred habitat, in order to propose better conservation measures. Thomas has worked as a consultant on impact assessments of human activities on cetaceans and he is also involved in the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network as part of the special disentanglement team for whales caught in fishing gear.
For more information, please contact Delphine Hasle at 613-864-7442 or outreach@ottawariverkeeper.ca
Please register at the MEC Member Services Desk at 613-729-2700.
Donations to Ottawa Riverkeeper are encouraged.
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