Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 27 september 2017

Researchers want to know why beluga whales haven’t recovered

By DAN JOLING measure stable isotopes
Associated Press to determine how feed-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ing patterns may have
— New research aims to changed during their lives.
find out why highly endan- “Like tree rings, teeth have
gered beluga whales in annual growth layers,”
Alaska’s Cook Inlet have Mat Wooller, chemical
failed to recover despite oceanography professor
protective measures. at the University of Alaska
The National Oceanic and Fairbanks, said in a state-
Atmospheric Administra- ment. “Measuring isotopes
tion has awarded more in these growth layers can
than $1.3 million to the reveal how whales’ feed-
state for three years of re- ing habits have changed
search involving the white over the life of an animal.”
whales. Chemical signatures in
“While we know what we teeth, Keogh said, can re-
believe caused the initial veal whether belugas ate
decline, we’re not sure fish in the water column
what’s causing the popula- In this August, 2009, photo provided by the Department of Defense, a Cook Inlet beluga whale or prey along the ocean
tion to remain suppressed,” calf, left, and an adult breach near Anchorage, Alaska. floor.Streams within Cook
said Mandy Keogh, a wild- Associated Press Inlet have unique stron-
life physiologist with the Subsistence hunting ended Belugas feed on salmon, The new research will sup- tium signatures that carry
Alaska Department of Fish in 1999 but the population smaller fish, crab, shrimp, plement ongoing NOAA over to the fish that hatch
and Game. remains at only about 340 squid and clams. Fisheries research and re- in them, such as salmon
A population of 1,300 be- animals. Dubbed “sea canaries,” view feeding patterns, and eulachon, a kind of
lugas dwindled steadily Cook Inlet belugas are one the whales make a wide social structure of whale smelt also known as hooli-
through the 1980s and ear- of five beluga populations range of whistles, grunts pods and the effects of gan.NOAA researchers last
ly ‘90s. in U.S. waters. Cook Inlet, and clicks, and use echo- noise.One new study will week deployed acoustic
The decline accelerated named for British explorer location to navigate under focus on beluga prey and equipment to record be-
when Alaska Natives har- Capt. James Cook, stretch- ice and find prey in murky habitat. Researcher will lugas feeding. The whales
vested nearly half the re- es 180 miles (290 kilome- water.Federal officials de- analyze teeth collected emit a specific buzz sound
maining 650 whales be- ters) from Anchorage to clared Cook Inlet belugas over the years from hunted after successfully foraging.
tween 1994 and 1998. the Gulf of Alaska. endangered in 2008. or stranded belugas and q
Trump directs Ed secretary

to prioritize computer science

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE schools can broaden ac- and that nearly 40 percent
Associated Press cess to computer science don’t offer physics.
WASHINGTON (AP) — education in particular. He said more widespread
President Donald Trump on During an Oval Office ap- access to such instruction
Monday directed his edu- pearance, where he was will help students develop
cation secretary to priori- surrounded by students the skills they need to com-
tize science and technol- from local schools, Trump pete and win in tomorrow’s
ogy education and spend said more than half of U.S. workforce.
at least $200 million annual- high schools don’t teach “Who likes to win?” Trump
ly on competitive grants so computer programming asked the students. “Who
likes to lose?” President Donald Trump signs a memorandum to expand ac-
Ivanka Trump, the presi- cess to STEM, science technology engineering and math, edu-
dent’s daughter and senior cation in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Sept. 25,
White House adviser on the 2017, in Washington.
workforce issues, told re- Associated Press
porters during a telephone She said exposure in grades in demand in the modern
briefing earlier Monday K-12 is vital. economy,” Ivanka Trump
that it is vital that students, “Today represents a giant said in the Oval Office be-
Tour to the Red Light Lipstixaruba@outlook.com especially girls and racial leap forward as we think fore the president signed
District with a Private minorities, learn how to about aligning the skills a directive instructing Edu-
Guide & a FREE bottle write computer code and that are taught in the class- cation Secretary Betsy De-
of wine... study computer science. room with the skills that are Vos to act.q