SFA students participate in first of its kind dolphin drone research project

Rachel Moore (sitting) and Callie Lynn, senior biology majors at Stephen F. Austin State University, conduct research at Dolphin Quest on the Big Island of Hawaii for project PHASM.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Flying airplane-like drones closely over the blowhole of a dolphin and collecting their breath is a new, innovative way for researchers to monitor the health of whales, dolphins and porpoises. This summer at Dolphin Quest on the Big Island of Hawaii, two Stephen F. Austin State University biology students got to be part of this groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind research.

Rachel Moore and Callie Lynn, senior biology majors from Salado and Rusk, respectively, were chosen by Dr. Jason Bruck, associate biology professor at SFA and founder of Bruck Lab, to assist in the project PHASM - Passive Health Assessment in Sea Mammals as well as help conduct a project to understand how noise impacts the transmission of specific dolphin whistles.

The students were selected because of their previous involvement with Bruck Lab and the expertise in dolphin acoustics and drone-based research they both received in SFA's mammalogy course.

"My time doing research at Dolphin Quest Hawaii was an incredible experience," Lynn said. "The acoustic project I had the privilege of working on is something a limited number of people around the world have the ability to do. Not only was I able to participate in the project, but I was empowered to execute each phase on my own, which is a skill that will set me apart from others in my field upon graduation."

SFA's mammalogy class prepared Moore and Lynn for the diverse and challenging tasks assigned to them in Hawaii. These included monitoring dolphins using drones and acoustics work both directly with the animals and using specialized software to help analyze the dolphin vocalizations.

The pair got to collaborate with drone specialists and instructors from the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education at Oklahoma State University, as well as veteran animal care specialists at Dolphin Quest Hawaii.

"Dolphin Quest was thrilled to host Dr. Jason Bruck and his team from SFA and Dr. Jamey Jacob along with his team from Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education to further their cutting-edge conservation research," said officials from Dolphin Quest's leadership team. "These scientific studies introduce novel and enriching experiences for our dolphins. Our crew members find collaborating with visiting scientists rewarding, and seeing science in action gets our guests jazzed about marine mammal conservation too."

Dolphin Quest said scientific discoveries like these are possible because of the incredible trust that exists between its dolphins and their caregivers. This relationship, coupled with large natural saltwater habitats, creates an ideal setting to develop and test new technologies that will help scientists better understand how to protect threatened and endangered dolphin species in the wild.

The PHASM project began in 2017 led by Bruck and researchers at OSU. The goal was to develop a drone that could allow for a comprehensive health assessment on dolphins and porpoises without causing handling stress through the collection of biological information in the animals' blow or breath rather than their blood.

Currently, these types of blow samples can only be obtained from large whales using standard propeller drones. The PHASM project uses a quieter airplane-style drone that acts as a vacuum syphon to pull in dolphin mucus from the air, which can later be analyzed for pathogens, DNA and hormones.

"Our training included getting our Part 107 - Small Unmanned Aircraft pilot's license and spending time in drone simulator system to get familiar with flying a fixed-wing drone system, like PHASM," Lynn said. "During our month in Hawaii, we also worked on an acoustic project using underwater speakers and hydrophones to learn more about the effect of anthropogenic (human) noise on dolphin communication."

These health assessments can give insight to a dolphin's stress levels and help biologists recognize what human-caused factors in the ocean cause stress on aquatic mammals, like industrial oil extraction, shipping noises or military sonar.

After years of collecting data and creating test models, the first successful PHASM collection occurred June 4 by SFA and OSU students and researchers.

Lynn is a veteran dolphin researcher, having gone to Bermuda in spring of 2023 to begin the early stages of testing the PHASM drone system and work with Bruck Lab graduate students on their research.

New to the world of dolphin research, Moore was excited to gain experience in the field of marine biology using new technology.

"I have always had a love for animals. Through my studies at SFA and my experience of scuba diving, that love has only grown," said Moore. "I have gained a stronger understanding for the importance of conservation and devotion to our fellow creations. For that reason, I am very thankful for the work that biologists like Dr. Bruck do and want to continue working beside them."

SFA's aquatic biology concentration offers courses in both freshwater and marine biology for a robust education in the behavior, biology, ecosystems and ecology of aquatic species. The program's research-focused curriculum gives students valuable career-building opportunities under the direction of SFA's biology faculty members, who are groundbreaking scientists in their fields.

Visit the Department of Biology website to learn more about aquatic biology at SFA.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers' college in Texas' oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges - business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor's degrees, more than 40 master's degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at the SFA website.