Mason T. Weinrich

Whale Center of New England

P.O. Box 159, Gloucester, MA 01931

Phone 978-281-6351 Fax 978-281-5666

RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Education

B.Sc. Biology, Concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior 1982; Cornell University

Experience

Executive Director, Chief Scientist, Founder

*Whale Center of New England”: a non-profit organization dedicated to whale and marine research, conservation, and education in Eastern Massachusetts, Incorporated 1980.

  • Executive Director,Whale Center of New England (formerly The Cetacean Research Unit)inGloucesterJune 1982-Present, a preeminent research institution that has sponsored field-based, marine mammal studies in New England for 30 years—humpback, fin, right and other baleen whales. Designed and conducted all aspects of several research programs; fund raising, coordination and direction of research staff (11-15 people annually; data management and analysis; publication and presentation of results. Current Studies include humpback whale behavior, ecology, and natural history; fin whale identification and natural history; right whale distribution and behavior; white-sided dolphin ecology; local marine mammal distribution and its environmental correlates.
  • Research Chairman,American Cetacean Society ( September 1984-December 1990): involved with research issues for national organization dealing with all aspects of cetacean research and conservation. Duties include coordination of research effots; organizing conferences and workshops; soliciting and reviewing research proposals; serving on executive committee; organizing and holding international workshops.
  • Director of Education and Science, Boston Harbor Cruises, Cape Ann Whale Watch, Capt. Bill and Sons Whale Watch, and Salem Whale Watch ( May,1980-Present): Duties include coordination of naturalist coverage for up to 8 whale watching vessels off Cape Ann, Boston, and Salem. Involved in hiring practices; personnel management; insuring availability of qualified people, conducting staff training programs.
  • Field biologist, Head Naturalist, Captain Bill and Sons Whale Watch; primary captain of a research vessel.

Books/Authorship

Observations, the humpback whales of Stellwagen Bank, Mason T. Weinrich, Whale Research Press,2nd edition, 162 pp 1986
Beaked Whale Issue: Dedicated to John Heyning, Mason T. Weinrich, Uko Gorter, Bernardo Alps, Kaye Reznick, John Heyning, American Cetacean Society, 2009

Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Mark Carwardine, Peter Evans, Mason Weinrich, martin Camm, ISBN 1564586219(1-56458-621-9)

CallositiesbyMason T. Weinrich in theEncyclopedia of Marine Mammals.ISBN 0-12-551340-2.

Research Publications/Presentations/Articles

Allen, Jenny, Weinrich, Mason, Hoppitt, Will, Rendell, Luke,Network-Based Diffusion Analysis Reveals CulturalTransmission of Lobtail Feeding in Humpback Whales, Science, 485-488, April 2013.

Mason Weinrich, Ari Friedlaender, Danielle Cholewiak, Tom Hurst, Susan Parks, Michael Thompson, Colin Ware, and David Wiley, Underwater Behavior of Associated Humpback Whales on their Feeding Grounds in the Southern Gulf of Maine, Cooperation, Commensalism, or Parasitism?, 2011.

Wiley, David,Crain, Danielle,Weinrich,Mason,Ware, Colin,Nuessly, Kathryn,Canning, Claire,Hurst, Tom,Parks, Susan,Eaton, T. Scott,Friedlaender, AriPopulation-level lateralized feeding behaviour in North Atlantic humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Animal Behaviour 2011.

Susan Parks,Danielle Crain,Ari Friedlaender,David Wiley, Kathryn Nuessly,Tom Hurst,T Scott Eaton Jr,Colin Ware,Claire Canning,MasonWeinrich,Population-level lateralized feeding behaviour in North Atlantic humpback whales, (Megaptera novaeangliae), Animal Behaviour 10/01/2011.

Friedlaender, Ari,Thompson, Michael, Weinrich, Mason,Underwater components of humpback whale bubble-net feeding behaviour, Animal Behaviour, 06/01/2011.

Wiley, David,Parks, Susan E,Weinrich, Mason,Tackaberry, Jennifer,Bocconcelli, Alessandro,Friedlaender, AriVocal behavior of North Atlantic humpback whales during reunion events on Stellwagen BankThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2010.

Parks, Susan E,Weinrich,MasonT,Wiley, David N, Bocconcelli, AlessandroBehavioral differences affect passive acoustic detectability of foraging North Atlantic right and humpback whalesThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2010.

Mason Weinrich,Cara Pekarcik,Jennifer Tackaberry The effectiveness of dedicated observers in reducing risks of marine mammal collisions with ferries: A test of the technique Journal:Marine Mammal Science - MAR MAMMAL SCI, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 460-470, 2010.

Mason Weinrich,Claudio CorbelliDoes whale watching in Southern New England impact humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) calf production or calf survivalJournal:Biological Conservation - BIOL CONSERV, vol. 142, no. 12, pp. 2931-2940, 2009.

Ari S. Friedlaender,E. L. Hazen,D. P. Nowacek,P. N. Halpin,C. Ware,M. T. Weinrich,T. Hurst,D. Wiley Diel changes in humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae feeding behavior in response to sand lance Ammodytes spp. behavior and distribution Journal:Marine Ecology-progress Series - MAR ECOL-PROGR SER, vol. 395, pp. 91-100, 2009.

EL Hazen,AS Friedlaender,MA Thompson,CR Ware,MT Weinrich,PN Halpin,DN WileyFine-scale prey aggrefigations and foraging ecology of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae Journal:Marine Ecology-progress Series - MAR ECOL-PROGR SER, vol. 395, pp. 75-89, 2009.

Weinrich, M.T., Corbelli, C. Whale-watching in southern New England does not affect humpback whale ( Megoptera novaeangliae) calving rates or calf survival, Paper SC/59/WW33 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 2007. 16 pp.

Weinrich, M.T., Pekarckik, C. 2007 The effectiveness of dedicated observers in reducing risks of marine mammal collisions with ferries: A test of the technique Paper SC/59//BC11 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 2007. 8 pp.

Simone Panigada,Giovanna Pesante,Margherita Zanardelli,Frédéric Capoulade,Alexandre Gannier,Mason T. Weinrich , Mediterranean fin whales at risk from fatal ship strikes(Citations: 28)

Journal:Marine Pollution Bulletin - MAR POLLUT BULL, Vol. 52, no. 10, pp. 1287-1298, 2006.

Weinrich, M.T., Rosenbaum, H.C., Baker, C.S., Blackmer, A.L. and Whitehead, H. The influence of maternal lineages on social affiliations among humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on their feeding grounds in the southern Gulf of Maine. J. Heredity: 97:3, 2006.

Sardi, K., Weinrich, M.T., and Connor, R.C. Social interactions of humpback whale (Mesaptera novaeangliae) mother/calf pairs on a North Atlantic feeding ground. J.Behavior: 142: 731-750, 2005.

Weinrich, M.T., A review of collisions between whales and whale watch boats, Paper SC/57/WW8 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, ( unpublished) 7 pp, 2005.

Weinrich, M.T., A review of worldwide collisions between whales and fast ferries, Paper SC/56/BC9 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee,(unpublished) 7 pp, 2004.

Rosenbaum, H.C., Weinrich, M.T., Stoleson, S.A. Gibbs, J.P. Baker, C.S., and DeSalle, R. The effect of differential reproductive success on population genetic structure: correlations of life history with matrilines in humpback whales of the Gulf of Maine, J.Heredity: 93:6, 2002.

Barco, S.G., McLellan, J.M., Allen, R.A., Asmutis-Silvia, R., Mallon-Day, Meagher, E.M.,PalSwingle, W.M., Weinrich, M.T., and Clapham, P.J. Population identity of humpback whales in the waters of the U.S. mid-Atlantic States. Journal Cetacean Res. Manage. 4: 135-141, 2002.

Baraff, L., Weinrich, M.T., Separation of humpback whale mothers and calves on feeding. Mamm. Sci. 9: 431-434, 2002.

Weinrich, M.T., C.r. Belt, and D. Morin,. Behavior and ecology of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Legenorhynchus acutus) incoastal New England waters, Marine Mammal Science 17: 231-248, 2001.

Weinrich,M.T., R.D. Kenney, and P.K. Hamilton, Right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) on Jeffreys Ledge: A habitat ofunrecognized importance? Marine mammal Science 16:326-337, 2000.

Weinrich, Mason, Behavior of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeanliae) upon entanglement in a gill net. Marine Mammal Science, 1999.

Weinrich, Mason, Early experience in habitat choice by humpback whales ( Megaptera novaengliae). Journal of Mammalogy 79:163-170, 1998.

Weinrich, M., M. Martin, R. Griffiths, J. Bove, and M. Schilling. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae) shift their distribution in response to prey in the southern Gulf of Maine, Fishery Bulletin 95: 826-836, 1997.

Weinrich, M.T., Abandonment of an entangled conspecific by Atlantic white-sided dolphins ( Logenorhyncus acutus), Mar. Mam. Sci. 12:223-228, 1996.

Weinrich, M.T., Humpback whale competitive groups observed on a high-latitude feeding ground, Marine Mammal Science 11:251-254, 1995.

Hain, J.H.W., Ellis, S.L., Kenney, R.D., Clapham, P.J., Gray, B.K., Weinrich, M.T., and Babb, I.G., Apparent bottom feeding by humpback whales on Stellwagen Bank, Mar. Mamm. Sci. 11: 464-479, 1995.

Lambertsen, R., Baker, C.S., Weinrich, M.T., and Modi, W., An improved whale biopsy system designed for multidisciplinary research in Fossi, M.C.and Leonzio, C. (eds) Nondestructive biomarkers in vertebrates. Lewis Publishers, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 219, 1994.

Bakers, C.S., Slade, R.W. Bannister, J.L.,. Abernathy, R.B., Weinrich, M.T., Lien, J. Urban, J. Cork Vasquez, P. and Palumbi, S.R., Hierarchical structure of mitochondirial DNA gene flow among novaenaglia, worldwide. Molecular Ecology 3: 313-327., 1994.

Weinrich, M.T., Bove, J., and Miller, N. Return and survival of humpback whale ( Megaptera novasengliae) calves born to a single female in three consecutive years, Marine Mammal Science 9: 325-328, 1993.

Baker, C.S., Perry, A., Bannister, J.L, Weinrich, M.T., Abernathy, R.B., Calambokidis, J., Lien, J. Vasquez, R.H. Clapham, P.J., Alling, A., O’Brien, S.J. , and Palumbi, S.R., Abundant mitochondrial DNA population structure in humpback whales, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 9: 1993.

Baker, C.S., Gilbert, D.A., Weinrich, M.T., Lambertsen, R., Calambokidis, J., Mchurdle, B., Cham, Population characteristics of DNA fingerprints in humpback whales (Megaptera Novaeanglia), 1993.

R.C. Griffiths, J.M. Lapseritis, and M.T. Weinrich.. Acoustic characteristics of and

conspecific reactions to aerial behavior in humpback whales, on their feeding groundsin the

southern Gulf of Maine. 10th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals,

Galveston, Texas, USA. (poster) 1993.

Weinrich, M.T., Schilling, M.R., and Belt, C.R.. Evidence for acquisition of a novel feeding behavior: lobtail feeding in humpback whales, (Megaptera novaeangliae), Anim. Behav. 44:1059-1072, 1992.

Schilling, M.R., Seipt. I., Weinrich, M.T., Frohock, S.E., Kuhberg,A.K., and Clapham, P.J. Behavior if Individually identified sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis during an episodic influx into the southern Gulf of Maine in 1986, Fishery Bulletin 90: 749-755, 1992.

Weinrich, M.T., Lambertsen, R.H. Belt, C.R., Schilling, M.R. Iken, H.J. and Syrjala, S.E. Behavioral reactions of humpback whales Meoptera novaeangliae to biopsy procedures, Fishery Bulletin, U.S. 90: 558-598, 1992

Weinrich, M.T., Schilling, M.R., and Belt, C.R. Behavioral Development of Humpback Whales ( Megaptera novaeanglia) in the Southern Gulf of Maine, Proceedings of the 1992 European cetacean Society Conference, 1992.

Baker, C.S., Lambertsen, R.h., Weinrich, M.T., Calambokidis, J., Early, G., and O’Brien, S.J. Molecular genetic identification of the sex of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Rep. Int. Whal. Comm. (Spec. Iss. 13) 105-111, 1991.

Weinrich, M.T., Long term stability in grouping patterns of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Southern Gulf of Maine. Can.J. Zool. 69:3012-3019, 1991.

Weinrich, M.T. and Kuhlberg, A.K. Short-term association patterns of humpback whale (Mesaptera novaeangliae) groups on their southern Gulf of Maine Feeding Ground Can. J. Zool. 69: 3005-3011, 1991.

Weinrich, M.T., Lambertse, , R., Baker, C.S., Schilling, M.R. and Belt, C.R. Behavioral Reactions of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southern Gulf of Maine to biopsy sampling, Rep. Int. Whaling Comm (Spec. Issue 13: 91-98, 1991.

Belt, C.R., Weinrich, M.T., and Schilling, M.R. Effects of prey density on humpback whale distribution in the Southern Gulf of Maine, Abstracts of the 9th Biennial Conference on Mammals, Society for marine Mammology, Chicago, Ill, pp 6, 1991.

Weinrich, M.T., Stable social associations among humpback whales (Megaptera novaeanglia) in the southern Gulf ofMaine, Can J. Zool. 69:3012-3019, 1991.

Baker, C.S., Palumbi, S.R., Lambertsen, R.H., Weinrich, M.T., Calambokidis, J., and O’Brien, S.J. Influence of seasonal migration on geographic partitionihaplotypes in humpback whales, Nature 344: 238-240, 1990.

Belt, C.R., Weinrich, M.T., and Schilling, M.R. Behavior Development of humpback whales of Maine, Abstracts of the 8th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Soc, Monterey, CA, 1989.

Schilling, M.R., Weinrich, M.T., and Ladder, T.L, Reaction of humpback whales to vessel approaches in New Englandwaters in: Abstracts of the Eighth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Monterey, CA Society for Marine Mammalogy, 1989.

Weinrich, M.T., Belt, C.R. Lambertsen, R.H. Schilling, M.R. and Iken, H.J., Behavioral reaction of humpback whales to biopsy darts: Reaction to an applied stimulus. Final report to Habitat Protection Branch, National Marine Fisheries Service ( Northeast Region), Gloucester, MA 18pp, 10 tables, 7 figures, 1987.

Weinrich, M.T., Management priorities of baleen whales based on field data. Coastal Society Bulletin 15(4):6-9

Weinrich, M.T., Belt, C.R., Schilling, M.R., and marcy, M, Behavior of sei whales on the Gulf of Maine, J. Americanican Cetacean Society, 20 (4), pp 4-7, 1986.

Weinrich, M.T., Belt, C.R., Schilling, M.R., and Cappellino, M.E. Habitat use patterns as a function of age and reproductive status in humpback whales. Abstract in Abstracts of the 6th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 1985.

Weinrich, M.T., Managing human impacts on whales in Massachusetts Bay: Countering information limitations throughthe use of field data. Coastal Society Bulletin 10(3): 11-13, 1987.

Weinrich, M.T. (ed), Humpback whales of the southern Gulf of Maine: Recent findings on habitat use, social behavior, and feeding patterns, Special Report of the casino Poland Whale Center of New England of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Museum, Incl, #2, Available from Whale Center of New England, P.O. Box 159, Gloucester, MA 42 pp, 1985.

Weinrich, M.T., The humpback whales of Stellwagen Bank revisited, Whalewatcher 18(3): 7-9, 1984.

Media/Forums

  • 2004 WGBH/Forum Network
  • NPR interviews
  • Multiple educational/academic lectures
  • print media, online and newspaper interviews

Organizations/Professional Affiliations

  • Technical Advisor/Steering Committee, Northeast Large Whale Recovery Plan Implementation Team, 1993-2005
  • Appointed Member, Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team, 1996-Present
  • Appointed Member, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, 1995-Present
  • Invited Participant, Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, 2000-Present
  • Charter Member, Society for Marine mammalogy
  • Charter Member, North Atlantic Marine Mammal Association
  • Served on the Board of Directors of the American Cetacean Society since 1983, Member-at-Large, 1987 Research Chair, Vice President
  • Chair of Massachusetts Coastal Advocacy Network
  • Animal Behavior Society