. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. derived from land animals, there is a subconscious behavioral pattern to return to the land and lie down to rest. Another theory deals with continen- tal drift. Scientists postulate that ceta- ceans have in their subconscious some memories of past migration routes. When put under any kind of stress, those memories surface, and the marine mammals try to follow a path that would have been open 10 million years ago. But now it is blocked by a continent. However, Mead thinks a more plausible and simple explana
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. derived from land animals, there is a subconscious behavioral pattern to return to the land and lie down to rest. Another theory deals with continen- tal drift. Scientists postulate that ceta- ceans have in their subconscious some memories of past migration routes. When put under any kind of stress, those memories surface, and the marine mammals try to follow a path that would have been open 10 million years ago. But now it is blocked by a continent. However, Mead thinks a more plausible and simple explanation for the strandings is not a single reason, but a combination of reasons. Animals are led out of their normal distribution pattern and put under some kind of stress. "I feel that a marine mammal is not used to physical barriers," Mead says. "They don't understand that the ocean has sides and a bottom. They just don't recognize the beach as a barrier that will impede ; Mead says more information is really needed on what caused the animals to diverge Photo by Cassie Griffin. David Lee and sperm whale skeleton in the museum from their normal patterns in the first place. Research has provided some insights into strandings. Lee says individual strandings usually involve sick, in- jured, tired and weak specimens that are brought in by the current. "Sometimes a porpoise and her calf will strand together," he says, "because one is sick and the healthy one is staying with the ; Mass strandings seem to be more complex and can involve from several to several hundred animals. Such strandings may result from a reaction to fear, bad weather conditions, herd diseases or physiological problems that reduce the animals' effectiveness and survival. Potter says there is a tight social bond among members of species that strand in masses, and that mass strandings can be triggered by a catastrophic event in which species follow the leader of the
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