**STAR-LITE 2007: NOAA Ship *David Starr Jordan***

**Weekly Science Report**

*Eric Archer, Cruise Leader*

*25 November 2007*

**[Science Summary: 18-24 November 2007]{.underline}**

This past week has proven to be a fitting close to what has turned out
to be a very successful cruise. Early in the week we finished passing
and closing mode on the final two transects, thus fully completing all
eight transects of our two diamonds. This left us with three days to
burn before we had to begin our five day transit back to San Diego. We
decided to use this time to repeatedly survey the last transect in
closing mode, which would give us five consecutive days on the same 90nm
stretch of the ETP, four of which were in closing mode. What a great
opportunity to examine variation in the distribution of marine mammals
as well as oceanographic heterogeneity on an even finer scale!

OK, so that might have been a minority opinion. It just so happened that
on that last transect we only had six sightings on the first closing
mode day. The prospect of a Groundhog Day scenario with no sightings
brought its share of groans. In the immortal words of Juan Carlos
Salinas on his first rotation, "I think I've got my numbers for the
day."

It looked like the prophecies of doom would come true when we finished
Wednesday, the second closing mode day, with only three sightings.
Thursday started off slowly as well, but as the day was winding down, a
tall blow was spotted. This turned out to be our first blue whale
sighting on a closing mode day and it was of a mother/calf pair which we
ended up snapping copious photos of until we ran out of sunlight. We
were in for surprise midday on Friday, when we bumped into the same mom
and calf heading down our trackline again. As if that wasn't enough, our
last sighting of the day and of the cruise was of two adult blue whales.
They were very cooperative for photos, but managed to stay just out of
range of our biopsiers.

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="4.997916666666667in" height="3.41875in"}

Blue whale (*Balaenoptera musculus*) mother and calf pair seen on
Thanksgiving. Photo: Adam Ü.

Our stewards - Art, Orcy, and Luke -- took care of us in grand style by
serving up a very tasty Thanksgiving meal. We also want to thank our
oceanographers and everyone involved in sending hordes of decorated cups
down on the CTD only to bring them back in their new pocket-sized form.
They'll make excellent mementos and gifts, and also serve to sow much
confusion among the creatures of the deep. Finally, congratulations to
Chief ET Jimmy Kintzele for landing a beautiful (and yummy) 8' sailfish
off the fantail.

And so we begin our five day transit back to San Diego. This has been
the finest group of people I've ever had the pleasure to sail with.
Command, crew and scientists alike have worked as a seamless team and
morale has remained high. Projects like these are impossible without the
coordinated efforts of countless people. My deepest thanks go to
everyone onboard and back at shore who have helped to put this survey
together. Most important of all has been the tireless work done by our
Survey Coordinator, Annette Henry. It's hard to imagine how we'd ever
leave the pier without her.

[**Sightings and Effort Summary for Marine Mammals** *(Richard Rowlett,
Juan Carlos Salinas, Suzanne Yin, Ernesto Vázquez, Adam Ü, and Dawn
Breese)*]{.underline}

+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| **  | **St   | **Position**      | *      | **Average | **Mode of |
| Dat | art/** |                   | *Total | B         | Ope       |
| e** |        |                   | nm**   | eaufort** | rations** |
|     | **Stop |                   |        |           |           |
|     | Time** |                   |        |           |           |
+=====+========+===================+========+===========+===========+
| 111 | 0655   | N14:59.11         | 57.6   | 1.2       | Closing   |
| 807 |        | W104:29.55        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1723   | N14:04.29         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W105:17.43        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 111 | 0710   | N14:49.97         | 99.8   | 3.1       | Passing   |
| 907 |        | W105:23.98        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1710   | N16:13.91         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W106:20.22        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 111 | 0655   | N14:59.11         | 57.6   | 1.2       | Closing   |
| 807 |        | W104:29.55        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1723   | N14:04.29         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W105:17.43        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 111 | 0710   | N14:49.97         | 99.8   | 3.1       | Passing   |
| 907 |        | W105:23.98        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1710   | N16:13.91         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W106:20.22        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 112 | 0701   | N14:50.24         | 88.9   | 3.6       | Closing   |
| 007 |        | W105:23.51        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1721   | N16:10.23         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W106:15.64        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 112 | 0657   | N14:50.17         | 82.8   | 4.0       | Closing   |
| 107 |        | W105:23.97        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1655   | N16:02.49         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W106:17.31        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 112 | 0705   | N14:50.10         | 84.2   | 3.5       | Closing   |
| 207 |        | W105:24.14        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1616   | N16:03.39         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W106:13.86        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
| 112 | 0700   | N14:50.17         | 66     | 2.9       | Closing   |
| 307 |        | W105:23.95        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+
|     | 1638   | N15:56.02         |        |           |           |
|     |        | W106:07.80        |        |           |           |
+-----+--------+-------------------+--------+-----------+-----------+

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Code**    **Species**                         **Number of Sightings**
  ----------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------
  001         *Mesoplodon peruvianus*             4

  002         *Stenella attenuata* (offshore)     14

  010         *Stenella longirostris orientalis*  1

  013         *Stenella coeruleoalba*             10

  015         *Steno bredanensis*                 4

  018         *Tursiops truncatus*                3

  021         *Grampus griseus*                   4

  033         *Pseudorca crassidens*              4

  048         *Kogia sima*                        2

  049         Ziphiid whale                       5

  051         *Mesoplodon* sp.                    6

  061         *Ziphius cavirostris*               2

  070         *Balaenoptera* sp.                  2

  075         *Balaenoptera musculus*             3

  077         Unid. dolphin                       9

  177         Unid. small delphinid               16

  **Total**                                       **89**
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.3125in"
height="2.3868055555555556in"}**[Photography (Adam Ü)]{.underline}**

Given how this week went, I should say something like "we were saving
the best for last" or "it was the grand finale" or "it all came down to
the last minute" for the photographic effort of STAR-LITE 2007.
Whichever cliché you prefer, the simple fact is that, photographically
speaking, this past week has been the busiest by far. This is probably
due to the fact that every day of effort except for one has been in
closing mode and we were actually able to approach animals for
photographs.

For instance, last week we were barely able to squeeze off nine frames
on a blue whale that swam by us as we surveyed in passing mode. This
week, thanks to closing mode and an army of trigger-happy photographers,
we added 727 frames of four distinct individuals from three sightings,
including re-sighting a mom/calf pair on consecutive days. And that was
just the blue whales! We took approximately ¾ of our striped dolphin,
2/3 of our Steno (including a mahi mahi predation event), and 1/3 of our
*Grampus* and *Pseudorca* images for the entire cruise in this past
week.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="6.0055555555555555in"
height="3.1430555555555557in"}

Blue whale, *Balaenoptera musculus*, the grand finale for STAR-LITE
2007. Photo: Adam Ü

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Species**        **Common Name**    **Weekly                        **Total            
                                        photographs**                   photographs**      
  ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------
                                        **Individuals**   **Schools**   **Individualss**   **Schools**

  *Stenella          Offshore                             46                               491
  attenuata          pantropical                                                           
  (offshore)*        spotted dolphin                                                       

  *Stenella          Eastern spinner                                                       203
  longirostris       dolphin                                                               
  orientalis*                                                                              

  *Stenella          Striped dolphin                      60                               80
  coeruleoalba*                                                                            

  *Steno             Rough-toothed                        210                              316
  bredanensis*       dolphin                                                               

  *Tursiops          Bottlenose dolphin                                                    76
  truncatus*                                                                               

  *Grampus griseus*  Risso\'s dolphin                     66                               193

  *Feresa attenuata* Pygmy killer whale                                                    327

  *Pseudorca         False killer whale                   44                               133
  crassidens*                                                                              

  *Balaenoptera      Blue whale         727                             736                
  musculus*                                                                                

  **Total**                             727               426           736                1819
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**[Biopsy (Juan Carlos Salinas, Ernesto Vásquez, and Suzanne
Yin)]{.underline}**

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Species**          **Common Name**       **Weekly**                **Total**     
  -------------------- --------------------- ------------- ----------- ------------- -----------
                                             **Samples**   **Takes**   **Samples**   **Takes**

  *Pseudorca           False killer whale    1             3           4             14
  crassidens*                                                                        

  *Stenella attenuata* Pantropical spotted   0             0           5             19
                       dolphin                                                       

  *Tursiops truncatus* Bottlenose dolphin    2             2           4             10

  **Total**                                  3             5           13            43
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[**Acoustic Squeakly** *(Eric Archer with assistance from Suzanne Yin
and Sophie Webb*]{.underline}*)*

We want to thank Shannon Rankin for leaving us with such a solid
hydrophone setup. We were able to deploy the acoustic array and record
on every passing mode day of this leg without a hitch, which means a lot
when you realize that none of us even resemble an acoustician. Without
Shannon's easy-to-follow instructions, I'm sure we would have just been
surrounded by piles of parts and sparking wires.

[**Seabird Report** *(Michael Force and Sophie Webb)*]{.underline}

Displaced migrants are a feature of late fall, even out here in the
eastern tropical Pacific. They have been very much in evidence the past
three to four weeks, and this week is no exception. Lost southbound
migrants boosted our weekly total to 28 species. A confused American
Pipit circled the ship several times during a blue whale sighting. The
ocean certainly qualifies as an open, treeless area, descriptors usually
applied to American Pipit habitats. But, with respect to pipits, their
habitat is more aptly described as alpine tundra, barren fields and
coastal dunes. Equally out of habitat was a Barn Owl, circling the ship
during an evening net station. As for seabirds, who would have thought
that Juan Fernandez Petrels, one of the commonest seabirds when we began
the survey in late August, would be completely absent in the final nine
days? Their place in feeding flocks has been taken by Sooty Tern, now
much more common than it was two months ago. Two seabirds seen this week
were new for the cruise: Markham's Storm-Petrel and Sandwich Tern. In
total, we found 56 species of birds, 16 of which were lost passerines
while an additional eight were raptors, shorebirds and other non-marine
species.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.0479166666666666in"
height="2.939583333333333in"}

The immature Peregrine Falcon reported last week remained with us for
five days feeding primarily on storm-petrels and phalaropes. Meanwhile,
the adult male Hooded Warbler that arrived the same day as the falcon
quickly became a crowd favourite and, unfortunately for the warbler, a
falcon favourite as well.

We want to thank all those who provided assistance to the seabird
survey: marine mammal observers calling out feeding flocks and distant
birds well outside our 300 metre strip transect; and everyone
else---crew, officers and scientists alike---for reporting lost,
confused and stranded birds found on board.

[**Oceanographic Operations** *(Candice Hall and Ryan Driscoll with
assistance from Siri Hakala, Heather Judkins and Lisa
Schwarz)*]{.underline}

As mentioned above, STAR-LITE 2007 scientific operations have ceased and
we are on the transit home. As much as we all love being out here (just
the sunsets are worth it!), everyone is definitely looking forward to
spending the upcoming holiday season with our loved ones. And the
holidays have hit the ship in a big way -- our always entertaining Chief
Bosun initiated and carried out a day of decorating the Quarterdeck with
holiday cheer. We have our very own life-size Santa Klaus and North Pole
scene -- including Charlie Brown!

As we end this cruise, this report allows for a recap of data gathered
over the last three and a half months. Our average sea surface
temperatures (SST) have not varied greatly (see the table below). Leg 2s
temperatures were recorded at half a degree warmer that the other legs,
although the mean sea surface salinity (SSS) remained constant. The
deepest average mixed layer depths were documented during leg one, with
the shallowest means recorded this leg. The 20°C isotherm was, on
average, nearer the surface during leg three and deepest during leg one.
However, it is important to note that these last two variables are
contingent on location and it is not entirely correct to represent them
via their means. A definite deepening trend is noticeable in these mixed
layer and thermocline depths with travel towards the northwest. Once
data quality control has been implemented more vertical depth
information will be available.

  ----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
  **Variable**                        **Leg    **Leg    **Leg    **Leg
                                      1**      2**      3**      4**

  Mean SST                            28.81    29.62    28.77    28.82

  Mean SSS                            33.69    33.43    33.44    33.52

  Average mixed layer depth           30.08    25.97    26.03    25.72

  Average thermocline depth (20 °C    58.71    54.08    46.30    47.08
  isotherm)                                                      
  ----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------

In total this cruise we have completed 137 CTD casts (including test
salinity casts); 4 Yo-Yo CTD stations (approximately 13 casts per
session); 1315 water column chlorophyll samples; 262 surface chlorophyll
samples; 98 water column salinity samples; 270 XBT drops (including
eight comparative XBT/CTD drops); 62 Oblique Bongo and 61 Manta net
tows; deployed four ARGO buoys; recorded continuous acoustic backscatter
(0 -- 500m deep) and pCO~2~ levels in the surface water and atmosphere.
And this list does not include all the myriad meteorological data that
the ship gathers as per normal operations.

This is obviously a good haul for our time out here and we've had plenty
of help. Firstly, thanks go to our Super Survey Tech, Lacey O'Neal, who
operated the CTD with his usual dry wit. We had the normal CTD teething
issue but his perseverance paid off. This leg our visiting scientists
were Heather Judkins, Siri Hakala and Lisa Schwarz, and huge thanks go
to them for their irreplaceable help. To all the visiting scientists who
joined our team this cruise; thank you for the XBTs in the rain (leg's
one and two) and the heat (this leg); especially for allowing us to rely
on you during the Yo-Yo marathon aftermaths. Um, any of you busy next
year this time? Lastly, to the Command, Officers, Chief ET and crew on
the MacII, thank you so much for everything. It was an absolute pleasure
to sail with you again. Happy holidays to all!

  ------------ ------- -------- ----------------- ----------- -------------
  Date         CTD     XBT      Surface           Bongo tow   Manta tow
                                Chlorophylls                  

  111807a      2       4        4                 1           1

  111907       2       4        4                 1           1

  112007       2       4        4                 1           1

  112107       2       4        4                 1           1

  112207^a^    2       4        4                 1           1

  112307       2       5        4                             

  Total        12      25       24                5           5
  ------------ ------- -------- ----------------- ----------- -------------

\* Extra XBT drop to compare with CTD

[**Dipnet Report** *(Juan Carlos Salinas, Ernesto Vázquez, Adam Ü, Ryan
Driscoll, Suzanne Yin, Sophie Webb and Heather Judkins)*]{.underline}

This is our final report for the STAR-LITE cruise. Thanks to everybody
for your effort.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Fish collected**                               **Weekly    **Grand
                                                   total**     total**
  ------------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------
  Two-winged flyingfish (*Exocoetus* sp.)          7           347

  Four-winged flyingfish (*Cheilopogon,            6           180
  Hirundichthys, Prognichthys*)                                

  Short-winged flyingfish (*Oxyporhamphus*)        1           151

  Lantern fish (Myctophidae)                       2           13

  Unidentified fish                                9           21

  **Total**                                        **25**      **712**
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Stomach samples collected**                    **Weekly    **Grand
                                                   total**     total**
  ------------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------
  Two-winged flyingfish (*Exocoetus* sp.)          6           231

  Four-winged flyingfish (*Cheilopogon,            2           115
  Hirundichthys, Prognichthys*)                                

  Short-winged flyingfish (*Oxyporhamphus*)        0           35

  **Total**                                        **8**       **387**
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

![](media/image5.wmf){width="6.5in" height="8.422222222222222in"}

![](media/image6.wmf){width="6.5in" height="8.409722222222221in"}

![](media/image7.wmf){width="6.5in" height="8.4125in"}

![](media/image8.wmf){width="6.5in" height="8.411805555555556in"}