Area of Expertise:
Jared’s work mostly includes studies of the movements, abundance and ecology of cetacean populations using photo-identification and telemetry. Since 2006 he has conducted field research on Killer, Fin, Humpback, Grey, Minke and Blue Whales in the North Pacific and currently manages Bigg’s (Transient) and Northern Resident Killer Whale population datasets for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Jared has also been involved in studies on the movements, behaviour and genetics of Killer, Sperm and Sei Whales in the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans. He helps direct and advise several marine mammal research and policy initiatives in Canada and in addition to conducting conservation based field research also responds to cetacean incidents such as entanglements and strandings.
Select Presentation(s) / Publication(s):
Towers, Jared & J. Hallé, Muriel & K. Symonds, Helena & J. Sutton, Gary & B. Morton, Alexandra & Spong, Paul & P. Borrowman, James & Ford, John. (2018). Infanticide in a mammal-eating killer whale population. Scientific Reports. 8. 10.1038/s41598-018-22714-x.
Towers, Jared & Malleson, Mark & J Mcmillan, Christie & Cogan, Jane & Berta, Susan & Birdsall, Caitlin. (2018). Occurrence of Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus) Between Vancouver Island and Continental North America. Northwestern Naturalist. 99. 10.1898/nwn17-16.1.
Noel, Marie; Ylitalo, Gina; Hanson, Brad; Towers, Jared; and Ross, Peter, “PCB and PBDE levels in southern and northern resident killer whales: update on contaminant levels and related health effects” (2018). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 30. https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2018ssec/allsessions/30
Towers, Jared; McMillan, Christie; Malleson, Mark; Hildering, Jackie; Ford, John; and Ellis, Graeme, “New insights into seasonal foraging ranges and migrations of minke whales from the Salish Sea and coastal British Columbia.” (2014). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 69.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2014ssec/Day2/69
Towers, Jared, “Fin Whales in the Salish Sea ” (2014). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 136. https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2014ssec/Day2/136/
