🎉 Excited to share our new paper on cooperative feeding in killer whales 🫍. Using animal-borne audio and video data, we investigated tail-slap feeding, found evidence of role specialisation, and developed a novel acoustic method to estimate group-level feeding rates. 📖 doi.org/10.1098/rsos... ⬇️

Characterization of cooperative feeding dynamics and a novel acoustic indicator of prey capture in herring-eating killer whales

Abstract. Group hunting is a widespread phenomenon, fundamentally shaping predator social dynamics and trophic interactions with their prey. The foraging b

doi.org

Kicking off part 2 of our general and physiology session, Ellen L. Hayward dives into the cooperative "tail-slap" feeding dynamics and role specialization of herring-eating killer whales in Icelandic waters. 🐋🐟 #UKIRSC2026 @ellenlhayward.bsky.social

A gorgeous morning to kick off #UKIRSC26 and what a view from the Plymouth University Marine Station! 🐬

🐬 Registration is now OPEN for the UKIRSC 2026 Marine Mammal Conference hosted @plymuni.bsky.social 🎓A FREE event bringing together students from across the UK & Ireland to share research, connect, and learn from leading marine mammal scientists. 👇Link below #UKIRSC2026 #MarineMammals

📣 SAVE THE DATE! 📣 The 20th UKIRSC Conference will take place 13 - 16th Jan 2026 at the University of Plymouth. A free event for students in marine mammal science to share research, network, and be inspired. More details coming soon! #UKIRSC #MarineMammals #StudentScience @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social

Are you an early career marine mammal scientist? We've created a list for you! Ask to be added ⬇️ and follow to keep up to date with marine mammal research, boost your science and connect with other PhD students/ECRs 🐬🐋🧪🌍 (If not - please still share widely!) bsky.app/profile/did:...

🌊 Introducing Our Committee for #UKIRSC2026 🐋 Up first is new committe member Ellen!

@ellenlhayward.bsky.social I’m a PhD student at the University of St Andrews. My research focuses on estimating orca feeding rates with acoustic, video, kinematic, and depth data from suction-cup tags. This helps explore feeding rate changes linked to prey behaviour, abundance, or human activities.