Whalesound (Whale Inlet or Seno Ballena) is conformed by five scientists who are conducting research work at different institutions. Some students are also pursuing thesis work through Whalesound collective activities.
THE FIELD
TEAM FENOTYPICAL ANALYSIS (Juan Capella).
Juan Capella was born in Santiago, Chile.
He is Master of Science of the Universidad de Chile with
more than 50 publications and technical papers, as well
as conference and seminars presentations. He currently
works as Research Coordinator at Fundacion Yubarta, a
Colombian non-governmental organization partially funded
by WWF. Capella has accumulated a lengthy experience with
humpback whales having spent the last 11 winter seasons
in Colombia and the last six summer seasons in Patagonia using observation, photoidentification model and molecular markers to study population structure, sociology and humpback whale migratory variables.
THE GENETIC
LABORATORY TEAM GENOTYPICAL ANALYSIS (Yerko Vilina & Valeria Sabaj).
This group is conducting a genetical census
of humpback whales at Carlos III, determining the ADN
nucleonic sequences contained at their mitochondrial DNA
(mt DNA) aiming at obtaining the genetic structure of
the whales of the Strait as well as other southern hemisphere
areas.
SCIENTIFIC
COORDINATION (Jorge Gibbons).
Biologist dedicated to dolphins and whales research in Chile. He works in the
Magellian University (UMAG), in Punta Arenas.
LOGISTIC
COORDINATION (Carlos Valladares).
Marine Biologist with more than 15 years experience coordinating and navigating in the Patagonian Chilean fjords.
