COURSE SAMPLE OUTLINE

Marine Wildlife of the Gulf of the Farallones

American Cetacean Society SF/Bay Chapter Online Course

The Farallon Islands are 27 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge and located

in the Gulf of the Farallones.

This is a sample outline of the 2025 Marine Wildlife of the Gulf of the

Farallones.

October 1: (Day 1) 

6:00pm: Introduction & Welcome to the course

Goals and purpose:  Susan Sherman and Marc Webber  

  • Digital Handout: Overview of Lectures 

  • Digital Handout: List of resources - Books, Scientific Papers 

 

Session 1: 6:15 - 7:30pm:  Nicole Meyers, Geology Lecturer, Sonoma State 

Geologic History and Formations:

  • Farallon rocks, tectonic history, volcanic past, & island formation

  • Coastline Evolution: sea level fluctuation, current gyres, upwelling

  • El Nina/La Niña, & how sea level has changed location of the Farallons relative to the mainland coast over millions of years, and future sea level predictions

  • 7:30pm - 7:45pm:  Question & Answer Discussion: 

  • BREAK:  7:45 - 7:55pm 

  

Session 2: 7:55pm - 9:10pm:  Peter Winch, Farallons Association Educator, And Master Birder 

Gulf of the Farallones Seabird Identification & Seasonal Population Biology and Behavior:

  • General description of the breeding summer species i.e. 5 species of Alcids (Tufted puffins, Pigeon guillemots) 3 species of Cormorants, Storm Petrels, Albatrosses

  • General descriptions of some of the common Fall migratory species in the Gulf (i.e. 3 species of Jaegers, Terns, Shearwaters, 2 species of Phalaropes) 

  • 9:10 - 9:25pm Questions & Answers Discussion

  • End of Day 1:   9:25pm

 ________________________________________________________________

October 8th   (Day 2)

Session 1: 6pm - 7:15pm: Jamie Jahncke Ph.D., Director of Point Blue California Conservation Sciences 

Marine Ecology; Birds, Fish, Invertebrates and Their Prey:  

  • Definition and importance of ocean productivity

  • Primary production: phytoplankton blooms & their role in the food web

  • Seasonal and spatial variability in productivity

  • Influence of upwelling on nutrient availability and productivity

  • Importance of these prey items in the diet of seabirds and marin mammals

  • Zooplankton, Fish (anchovies, herring, sardines), & Squid

  • 7:15pm- 7:30pm: Question & Answer Discussion

  • BREAK: 7:30pm – 7:40pm

Session 2: 7:40pm – 8:50: Ken Goldman, Ph.D. White Shark Researcher University of Alaska

  • Great white sharks and pinnipeds biology, ecology, and predator/prey dynamics

  • Ecology of blue sharks, thresher sharks, basking shark

  • 8:50 – 9:10pm: Questions & Answers Discussion

  • End of Day 2:   9:10pm 

 ________________________________________________________________

October 15 (Day 3)

Session 1:  6:00pm - 6:45pm:   Scott Benson, PhD, Marine Turtle Specialist

Pelagic Turtles Traveling the East Pacific Ocean:

  • Pacific Leatherbacks, Green Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles 

  • Seasonal Abundance along the California Coast

  • Migration Routes, Biology and Behavior

  • 6:45pm - 7:00pm: Questions & Answers Discussion

  • BREAK:  7:00pm - 7:10 pm

Session 2:   7:10pm - 7:55pm:  Marc Webber, ACS SF Bay Chapter; The

Marine Mammal Center, Cetacean Field Associate; California Academy of Sciences

General Marine Mammal Biology:

  • What is a marine mammal and global biodiversity overview

  • Physical & behavioral adaptations, & diving physiology

  • 7:55pm - 8:10pm: Questions & Answers Discussion

  • BREAK: 8:10pm - 8:20pm    

Session 3: 8:20pm - 9:05pm: Marc Webber

  • Pinniped Biology, Evolution, Behavior & Identification 1

  • Otariids – Northern Fur seals, Calif. Sea Lions, Steller Sea Lions

  • Seasonal Abundance along the California Coast

  • Migration Routes, Diet

  • 9:05pm - 9:20pm: Questions & Answers Discussion

End of Day 2:   9:20pm 

 ________________________________________________________________

Other Topics Included in the 6 day Course:

Biology, behavior, distribution, threats, & current data.

Mustelid:  Sea otters - Jane Rudebusch, PhD

Phocids:  Elephant Seals & Harbor Seals - Sarah Codde, Point Reyes Ranger

Baleen Whales: Blue whales & Fin whales - Eric Yee, Marine Mammal Center, Cetacean Field Associate

Baleen Whales:  Humpback whales - Bekah Lane, Research Associate, Center for Coastal Studies, Massachusetts

Baleen Whales: Gray whales - Josie Slaathaug, Research Associate, Marine Mammal Center

Tooth Whales:  Orcas – Nancy Black, Monterey Marine Biologist & author of the Guide to Alaska/Eastern Pacific Oraca

Tooth Whales:  Harbor Porpoises - Karin Forney, PhD & Field Associate 

Toothed Whale: Dall’s porpoises, Risso dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Right whale dolphins - Bill Keener, PhD, Marine Mammal Center; Scientist Cetacean Conservation