Sonny Schoenhoft
Current Projects
Individual Identity in Beluga Whale Calls
Beluga whales have been studied for decades yet much is still unknown about their vocal repertoire and communication. I am currently working with the Georgia Aquarium and SFASU Bruck Lab to conduct underwater acoustic playback studies with belugas to determine if their calls hold individual identity.
Beluga Whale Repertoire Review
Within marine mammal literature, there is often discrepancies between researchers on the proper name for a specific behavior, vocalization, morphological trait, etc. This holds true for beluga whale literature as well, many researchers find the same call types but label them differently. I am currently working on a comprehensive review of the literature to gain cohesion in the field.
Beluga Whale Acoustic Enrichment
Belugas naturally exhibit fission-fusion dynamic social structures, where group composition changes over time and space. This means that the whales regularly encounter many different individuals throughout their lifetime. To help replicate this complex community system in professional care settings, where group structure may not vary as frequently, I am working on creating an interactive acoustic enrichment network. This will allow whales across facilities to acoustically interact, allowing the formation of new relationships, upkeep of existing relationships, and encouragement of species-specific behaviors.
Previous Projects
Previous research projects I've contributed to during my time as an undergraduate research assistant at Eckerd College
Rough Toothed Dolphin Ethogram
Horseshoe Crab Cognition and Memory: Maze Trials
Spotted Hyena Behavioral Syndromes and Ethogram
Dolphin-Visitor Interactions and Enrichment in Professional Care Environments
Florida Aquarium Sea Otter Enrichment


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