MMRP Heads to Puerto Rico for the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology ofMarine Mammals!

Written by Lars Bejder

The Marine Mammal Research Program is excited to be heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, taking place 19–23 October 2026!

This year, MMRP is leading 11 scientific presentations, including three posters, three speed talks, and five full oral presentations! Additionally, our team members are co-authors on 12 presentations lead by collaborators at other research institutions. 

This international gathering brings together marine mammal scientists, conservation practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the world to share discoveries, exchange ideas, and tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing marine mammals and their ecosystems.

For our team, the conference is an invaluable opportunity to learn about exciting new research, reconnect with colleagues and collaborators, forge new partnerships, and engage in discussions that advance marine mammal science and conservation.

We are equally excited to share our own research! Through our work, we aim to improve our understanding of marine mammal biology, ecology, and population health, while generating scientific knowledge that can directly inform conservation and management. We look forward to exchanging ideas, receiving constructive feedback, and exploring how our findings can contribute to meaningful conservation outcomes.

Below, we highlight our team's first-authored presentations, along with their abstracts, offering a glimpse into the diverse research we have been working on and the findings we are eager to share.

Whether you are a fellow researcher, conservation practitioner, resource manager, student, or simply passionate about marine mammals, we would love to connect! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, would like to discuss our findings, or are interested in potential collaborations.

We look forward to seeing you in Puerto Rico for an exciting week of marine mammal science, collaboration, and conservation!

Full Talks:

Gough, W., van Aswegen, M., Evans, L., Szabo, A., Currie, J., Fahlman, A., Christiansen, F., Hollers, A., Fish, F., West, K., Phipps, J., Hofmann, N., and Bejder, L. Hot wings: Quantifying the impact of large appendages on the heat loss potential and migratory decision-making of humpback whales. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Hollers, A., van Aswegen, M., Gough, W., Szabo, A., Evans, L., Currie, J., Blawas, A., Burslem, A., and Bejder, L. Decreasing maternal size constrains reproductive energetics in humpback whales. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

McPherson, L., Bejder, L., Eckert, L., Bloch, D., van Aswegen, M., and Szabo, A. Caviar on the menu: Gray whales achieve rapid energetic gains by targeting herring eggs during migratory stopover. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Nemeth, C., Gough, W., van Aswegen, M., Hollers, A., Evans, L., Szabo, A., and Bejder, L. Energetic scaling of propulsive costs across body sizes in humpback whales. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

van Aswegen, M., Bejder, L., Sharp, F., and Szabo, A. Energy acquisition rates in foraging humpback whales on their Southeast Alaskan feeding ground. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Short talks: 

Currie, J., Stirling, B., Olson, G., van Aswegen, M., Stack, S., Evans, L., McPherson, L., and Bejder, L. Detecting risk before decline: Body condition as an early warning signal for survival in endangered false killer whales. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Fertitta, K., Patton, P., Mahaffy, S., Baird, R., and Bejder, L. Abundance of short-finned pilot whales near Kauaʻi Island. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Parnell, K., Thompson, P., Currie, J., DuShane, T., Wilson, K., Robinson, S., Charrier, I., and Bejder, L.  Behavioral contexts of underwater vocalizations in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Posters:

Burslem, A., Szabo, A., van Aswegen, M., Evans, L., and Bejder, L. Size-specific fecundity in humpback whales: Implications for ecosystem functioning and conservation. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Evans, L., van Aswegen, M., Currie, J., Stack, S., Szabo, A., and Bejder, L. Energetic expenditure of male humpback whales on their breeding grounds. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION

Strasser, F., Bejder, L., Lacey, C., van Aswegen, M., Bloch, D., and Szabo, A. Fine-scale spatial and seasonal patterns of humpback whale density and distribution in Southeast Alaska. LINK TO TIME AND LOCATION