E. X. Ample gave a presentation on cetacean strandings around Scotland's coast. The presentation covered the causes of strandings, trends in increasing or decreasing numbers, environmental and human contributions to strandings, and media and public perceptions. Ample conducted research through journals, books, websites, and plans to continue comparing past and recent data through a questionnaire and contacting organizations. The presentation addressed challenges in access to information, availability of interview subjects, time management, and research techniques.

1. Presentation by E. X. Ample
21.03.2012

2. • My project is about
• Why I chose cetacean strandings
• What I already knew
• What I have learned
• Sources of information
• What is still to be done

3. • Cetacean Strandings Around Scotland’s
Coast
• The causes of Cetacean strandings
• The increase/decrease of strandings
• Environmental/non-environmental
contributors to strandings
• Media coverage of Strandings
• Public opinion

4. • Interest in Marine Biology.
• Not a widely discussed topic.
• Little known due to lack of public
attention.

5. • Strandings involve dead or alive animals,
caused by different reasons.
• Occur by accident or due to illness, injury
or death.
• Human contributions are to a large scale.
• Aware of the apparent increase in
strandings.

6. • Sociable strandings occur.
• Not many people are aware of strandings
even though there seems to be increased
media coverage.
• “Fishies Royal”
• Continuous increase in contributors to
strandings

7. Journals Such as:
• The Possible Impacts Of Military Activity On
Cetacean In West Scotland
Books Such as:
• The Mystery of Whale Strandings: A Cause and
Effect Investigation by Jody Sullivan
• The Whale Scientists: Solving the Mystery of
Whale Strandings by Fran Hodgkins
Websites such as:
• Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust
• Uk Strandings
• Natural History Museum

8. • Continue comparing information on past
and more recent strandings.
• Questionnaire.
• Contact Organisations.
• Adjust layout of report.

9. • Information was not as readily available as
I first thought.
• 700 years of records.
• Awareness seems to be low.
• Causes seem to be ever increasing.
• People can be very unhelpful.

10. • Limited access to information – Ample
information and new sources found.
• Lack of availability of people to interview and
meet – Try and contact people through
email/telephone for those unable to
meet.
• Time Management – Developed a
study/work plan and prioritised work.
• Research techniques – Looked at research
methods and picked one that suited me.

11. Uk Strandings – www.ukstrandings.org
HDWT – www.whaledolphintrust.org
Natural History Museum -
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-
curation/research/groups/nhm-cetacean-
strandings-project/index.html
The Whale Scientists: Solving the Mystery of Whale
Strandings by Fran Hodgkins (Book)
Google images

12. Thank you for listening.
Any Questions?