A study conducted by the University of the Azores follows the route of some species of the largest mammals of the planet.
It is a pioneering study that aims to follow the migration routes of several specimens of whales that ply the seas around the Azores archipelago. The Program for Satellite Telemetry of Great Whales is part of a larger program to study the use of the habitat by large pelagic predators in development by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) and the Centre of IMAR of the University of the Azores. Both institutions want to gain information about the processes that influence the ecology of rorquals in the North Atlantic through the study of their movements. In a total of six species of this giant mammals are included in the study, the sei whale, the common, the fin, blue, small and in fewer passes the Bryde.
"The use of methods of individual marking with coded marks or by photo (photo-ID) has long been used to try to obtain information on the movement of marine organisms, but usually only provides data on where each individual was marked and re-sighted or where it was recaptured. However these methods do not provide information about the movement of specimens between these two points. This method allows for the detailed movement of animals over an extended period of time. It is also a tracking system and data collection that allows thru a transmitter attached to an animal, be located geographically.
The system used in the program Telemetry of the Great Whales of the Azores is based on the Argos satellite constellation and can calculate the position of the animals marked with an accuracy of up to 350 meters. The transmitters are placed in sub-dermal fat layer of whales and transmit an identification code every time you come to the surface. If during this broadcast a satellite is over the animal and receipts a sufficient number of messages, the position of the whale is calculated and relayed to earth. "as referred by the IntraDOP site. If you want to gain a more detailed roadmap of these magnificent mammals in the Atlantic simply click the link that appears at the end of this text and marvel at the results.
http://www.horta.uac.pt/intradop//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1093&Itemid=231
