So you want to be a Marine Mammalogist?!
by Alex W.
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What is Marine Mammalogy? Marine Mammalogy is the study of aquatic mammals such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, whales, walruses and many more. These marine mammals are animals that spend most of their lives in or around the sea. Marine mammals are separated into three different orders. These orders are Pinnipedia, Cetacea, and Sirenia. Scientists study different aspects of marine mammals such as their ecology, behavior, anatomy, management and conservation, and population structure. |
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The study of physiology of these aquatic mammals is important in order to understand how they function and how pollutants may disrupt the mechanisms that keep them in good health, growth, development and reproductive conditions. Also, marine mammal scientists try to understand these animals' genetic, systematic, and evolutionary relationships; population structure; community dynamics; behavior and sensory abilities; geographic and microhabitat distributions; ecology; management; and conservation. |
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Marine mammal scientists are
hired because of their skills as scientists, not because they like or
want to work with marine mammals. A good academic background in sciences,
such as biology, chemistry, and physics, along with good training in
mathematics and computers, is the best way to prepare for a career in
marine mammal science. Persistence and different experiences create
the best qualified scientists for the job. By developing a scientific
skill or technique, such as acoustics analysis, biostatistics, genetic
analysis, or biomolecular analyses, provides a competitive edge. |
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However, most jobs relating
to marine mammals are not exciting as you may think. Marine mammal studies
often involve long, hard, soggy, sunburned days at sea, long hours in
a lab, extensive work on computers, hard labor such as hauling buckets
of fish to feed animals, hours of cleanup, numerous reports, tedious
grant applications and permit applications. Examples of marine mammal
jobs include researcher, field biologist, fishery vessel observer, laboratory
technician, animal trainer, animal care specialist, veterinarian and
more. |
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Related Links
This website presents studies
on marine mammals with focus on Physiology and Ecotoxicology. |
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This website conducts research on marine
mammals worldwide. |
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Here you will find information on whale
research trips as well as some general information about whales and
dolphins. |
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This website helps to increase knowledge
about marine mammals and helps save them before it's too late. |
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The Good Zoo Guide Online' provides official
descriptions of every good zoo, wildlife park, and animal collection
on the planet. |
