Hi, I'm Tom Jefferson, one of the Principal Investigators for the project. I am looking forward to another exciting time in Monterey Bay this autumn, as our project enters its second year. We will again be collecting a wealth of information on bottlenose dolphins and sea otters of Monterey Bay, and this year we hope to do a bit more detailed work involving biopsy sampling and photogrammetry (measuring things with photos, that is).

We have put in several funding proposals and are now waiting to hear back the results. If we are successful in getting the additional funding, we will be able to do some very neat, state-of-the-art work with new biopsy equipment and special devices for our camera that will allow us to take measurements of dolphins' dorsal fins and get specific distance readings to the animals.

I have just finished the field work for a two-year project on Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Hong Kong . I am now in the process of analyzing all the data and writing up the final report. In this project, we biopsy-sampled 36 dolphins, mostly individual dolphins that we recognize by natural markings and have been observing for many years. Because we know these individuals so well, we are able to keep track of them after they are sampled, to see if there is any evidence of infection of the small wounds, or any changes in their range or behavior.

As we expected, the tiny biopsy wounds on the dolphins have healed fast, with no evidence of infection or any other adverse effects. Also, we have seen no indication of a change in behavior (other than a short-term reaction) of the sampled dolphins ñ they continue to hang out in the same areas, and sometimes approach our research boat, despite having been hit (sometimes more than once) with the biopsy dart! It seems that the procedure has little effect on the animals, and it is yielding a great jackpot of information about them and their environment.

On a personal note, I will be having major surgery on my left knee (injured in a mountain biking accident) in May, and will be slowly making my way back to full mobility and balance over the next few months. I should be fine by the time I begin fieldwork in SeptemberÖ

I am sure that this year in Monterey Bay, we will see some old friends (human, dolphin, and otter) and make some new ones as well. It promises to be very exciting and I know that the start of our field season will be here before we know it. I can't wait!

Take care,
Tom