Understanding what a species eats – and how that changes over time – not only gives us a window into the lives of wild animals, but also gives us the power to be responsible stewards of their ecosystems.
Genetic metabarcoding is changing the way we look at diet and foraging ecology in whales. With each new sample, we gain new insight into the feeding behavior of these enigmatic species. Learn more about how the Whale And Dolphin Ecology Lab (WADE), led by SAFS Assistant Professor Amy Van Cise, is using genetic metabarcoding to understand and conserve southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea.
Video produced and edited by the UW Whale And Dolphin Ecology Lab. Interviews with the Lummi Nation, The Center for Whale Research, and SeaDoc Society. Funding provided by the Rose Foundation.