Researchers Mapped Whale Prey With New Drifter
A new acoustic drifter has successfully tracked zooplankton density around whales along the Oregon coast.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Environmental
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Oregon State University researchers recently completed a pilot study using an ASL Environmental Sciences drifter to map zooplankton behavior in the water column. This research-stage effort provided real-time acoustic data on prey availability around foraging whales.
Why it matters
Understanding the fine-scale predator-prey dynamics between massive marine mammals and localized zooplankton is essential for modeling ecosystem health in the Pacific Northwest. This pilot demonstrates a method for tracking those interactions without needing permanent, costly moorings.
The AZFP-nano system utilizes a 200 kHz scientific echosounder to characterize zooplankton density. It operates on standard D-cell batteries, enabling free-floating data collection compared to traditional fixed-mooring sensing arrays.
The players
Oregon State University
A public research university with a focus on marine science, oceanic studies, and large-scale coastal monitoring.
ASL Environmental Sciences
A manufacturer of acoustic monitoring instruments, including sensors designed for water column profiling.
The details
The device maps the water column by analyzing acoustic backscatter, the reflection of sound waves off biological organisms, to identify zooplankton swarms. By coupling these echosounder readings with data from a separate hydrophone—a device used to record underwater sounds—the team correlated specific whale calling behaviors with local food availability. This approach allows researchers to observe foraging animals in their natural environment without the continuous support of a research vessel.
Timeline
September 2026: Researchers reported the successful conclusion of the pilot survey.
The Tech Race
This effort builds upon existing efforts by the Oregon State University marine biology and ecosystem research programs to better understand habitat utilization. The study represents a transition from stationary acoustic sensors to agile, mobile platforms that can follow foraging animals in real time.
This pilot technology is currently limited to specialized research applications rather than commercial or public consumer use. The study results provide data that may eventually influence how state and federal agencies manage protected coastal waters and whale migration corridors.
The takeaway
The study validates that a battery-powered, drifting echosounder can successfully capture biological data in complex ocean environments. Researchers will now move toward analyzing the acoustic datasets to refine their models of whale foraging preferences.
Further reading
For more research on coastal marine health and monitoring, visit Environmental.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ocean News & Technology.
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