Course Syllabus

Arctic Marine Mammals

Semester & Location:	Summer Session 2 2025 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core Course - 3 credits
Study Tours:	Iceland
Major Disciplines:	Biology and Environmental science
Prerequisite(s):	One year of Biology or environmental science at university level
Faculty Members:	Katja Vinding Petersen (current students please use the Canvas Inbox)
Time & Place:	TBA

Course Description

This summer course offers a comprehensive foundation of marine mammal biology. Students are offered an unparalleled opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and practical experience in marine mammal research. The course is a combination of lectures, exercises and hands-on field work. Students will participate in lectures and exercises, learn about taxonomy, general biology, characteristics, adaptations, anatomy, social organization, sensory systems, communication, behavior, monitoring of marine mammals, impacts of climate change, human interaction, diseases, management, and conservation of marine mammals. Students work with specific projects in collaboration with the University of Iceland and the local whale watching companies in Húsavík in northeast Iceland. Students will receive hands-on research skills training and undertake their own mini research project. These projects are designed to bridge the gap between theoretical study and real-world application. At the end of the course, the students will synthesize their newly obtained knowledge, mainly spending time analyzing the collected data and finalizing their projects. They will also learn about applied research conducted on marine mammals in captivity, in order for them to compare with what they learned about studying marine mammals in the wild.

Study Tour

Skjálfandi Bay, off the coast from the town of Húsavík in northeast Iceland, is considered as one of the best locations in the North Atlantic Ocean to watch and research whales. Hence, this is the base during our Study Tour, where we will engage in various projects, applying both theoretical and practical aspects of cetacean (whales and dolphins) and pinnipeds (seals) research methodologies. 

During the Study Tour in Húsavík, you will undertake your own small research project, collecting data in the wild and gaining hands-on experience with both traditional and modern field methodologies for studying free-ranging cetaceans and pinnipeds. There are different field research projects, including collecting and matching photo-ID, recording animal sounds, and behavior observations using drones.

Learning Objectives

Students participating in this course are expected to be able to have the following skills afterwards:

• Hands-On Research Skills:
  • Obtain skills and experience with hands-on research. Collecting data in the wild. Experience with traditional and modern field methodologies using photo-ID, sound recordings, and behavior observations to study free-ranging cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and pinnipeds (seals)
• Addressing Practical Challenges:
  • Develop and implement a manual for systematic data collection, related to the research project.
  • Navigate and manage practical challenges such as adverse weather conditions, equipment usage, animal presence, unforeseen changes, personal comfort, and similar logistical issues during fieldwork.
• Research Project Management:
  • Engage, contribute and work collaboratively within the research teams, demonstrating effective teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills including; planning, data collection to execution, analysis and presentation.
  • Manage large datasets effectively, ensuring accurate and organized data collection in the wild and safe storage of data.
  • Analyze collected data using appropriate software and methodologies, interpreting results to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Research Communication:
  • Write comprehensive reports summarizing research findings, demonstrating clear and effective scientific communication.
  • Present research results and findings to peers and instructors, developing strong oral presentation skills.
• Engagement with Local Researchers:
  • Engage with and learn from local researchers in Húsavík, understanding regional research practices, methodologies and human impacts on marine mammals.
• Understand environmental impacts:
  • Understand, analyze and discuss the impacts of climate change, diseases, and direct human interactions (such as hunting, underwater noise, pollution, and bycatch) on marine mammals.
  • Discuss and propose management and conservation strategies to mitigate these impacts. Apply and contextualize acquired knowledge to other geographic areas and marine mammal species, gaining insights into global marine mammal management and conservation issues.

Faculty

Katja Vinding Petersen: Ph.D. (Distribution, habitat use, behavior, and sound communication), Zoology Dept., Whale Unit, University of Pretoria, 2016. M.S. (Biology and Didactics), University of Copenhagen, 2007. Research associate at Statens Serum Institute, Denmark (2012-2016). TV presenter at “Physics at sea”, Galathea 3 Expedition (2008). Has worked with marine mammals in the field in, Iceland, Northern Norway, Greenland, and South Africa. Local stranding responsible In the Overstrand Region, South Africa (2010-2012). Founder of the Danish Maine Mammal Society (2003). With DIS since 2019.

Readings

The main text book for the class is:

"Marine Mammals, Evolutionary biology", by Annalisa Berta. (Author), James L. Sumich (Author), Kit M. Kovacs. (Author). Academic Press 2005.

Online link: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/DIS/detail.action?docID=1997681Links to an external site.

Various handouts and papers will also be used. Examples of additional literature:

Castellini, M. Thermoregulation. Pp 1166-1171. In Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 2nd. Ed. (W.P. Perrin, B. Würsig and J.G.M. Thewissen, eds.). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Costa. D. Energetics. PP. 383-390. In Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 2nd. Ed. (W.P. Perrin, B. Würsig and J.G.M. Thewissen, eds.). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Kooyman, G. Diving Physiology. PP. 327-332. In Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 2nd. Ed. (W.P. Perrin, B. Würsig and J.G.M. Thewissen, eds.). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Dudzinski, K.M et al. Communication. PP. 260-268. In Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 2nd. Ed. (W.P. Perrin, B. Würsig and J.G.M. Thewissen, eds.). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Field Studies

The field studies provide hands-on and experiential learning components of this course. These activities should be viewed as an integrated component of the lecture course and visits will illustrate and expand directly upon the content of the lectures and readings. Students will also visit field sites where research or nature monitoring is carried out. See the calendar below for field study dates and details.

• Go out to sea on a research vessel to collect data 
• Analyze newly collected data and compare with existing databases from active research projects
• Visit the exhibitions in the whale museum 
• Speak with local experts and participate in exercises on topics including human-animal interactions, underwater noise, tagging of marine mammals, hunting, impacts of climate change, and the management and conservation of marine mammals 

Approach to Teaching

The classes will involve lectures, class discussion, group work, field studies and student projects. Furthermore, there will often be questions presented for you to consider, discuss, and present in small groups.

The lectures will be taught in the order written in the calendar, unless you are told differently. The order of the lectures is to ensure that you know all of the basic concepts before we go on study tour and field trips that relate to your final projects.

Expectations of the Students

All students are expected to have completed the course readings before class, so we can discuss the material at the right level. It is important to be well prepared for class because I may randomly select students to give key points on the readings for that day.

Students are expected to participate actively in all classes and field studies and be open minded to your fellow student’s contribution to class. The aim is to establish an environment where we can learn from each other as well as from the texts and cases we engage with, and you are expected to actively support this approach. 

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on their ability to understand, discuss and communicate scientific concepts within marine biology as well as interpret them meaningfully. These skills will be the primary focuse of the evaluations. Group work in class and in the field as well as the student's ability to contribute to a group effort will be taken into account for the grade.

Grading

To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work. The overall grade will come from the following:

Assignment	Percent
Small assignments during class	10%
Assessment at end of course	30%
Field project: Hypothesis formulation Data collection, Data analysis Literature search & synthesis Abstract formulation Presentation at the end of the course	45%
Participation	15%

DIS Accommodations Statement 

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support acadsupp@dis.dk. 

Academic Regulations (Summer)

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 

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