Mark H. Deakos
President, Founder, Treasurer, and Chief Scientist
publications

Mark was fortunate to experience living in various countries around the globe during his early years. A common thread in his life has always been water.  At one time a competitive swimmer and water polo player, Mark now spends much of his time in saltwater as an avid scuba diver, free diver, kayaker, and mariner.  His chosen career working in wildlife biology and marine research is an extension of his passion for the natural world and his marvel of the ocean environment.  Mark obtained his biology degree from the University of Waterloo in Canada where he began pursuing his interest in wildlife biology.  After working with several avian and reptile species, his interests rapidly returned to the ocean and towards marine mammals, which eventually led him to Hawaii in 1996.  At the University of Hawaii, he completed his master’s degree in Animal Behavior and is currently completing his Ph.D. work focusing on manta ray ecology.  Over the past decade in Hawaii, Mark has worked alongside top researchers in the world gaining familiarity with over 20 species of marine mammals ranging from elusive beaked whales to fearless false killer whales.  As a result of his participation in these various projects, Mark has developed invaluable research skills.  Some of these include: satellite and suction cup tag deployment, aerial surveying, photo-identification, biopsy collection, acoustic monitoring, theodolite tracking, underwater videogrammetry, and behavioral data collection.  Mark was the project field coordinator for the University of Hawaii’s Humpback Whale Research Program for seven consecutive years.  His experiences have taught him the necessity of understanding our environment in efforts to better protect it from ecological or man-made threats. 

In 2004, Mark founded The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research (HAMER), a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation with the mission of better understanding and protecting Hawaii’s marine resources.   Mark devotes his time pursuing the mission of HAMER, giving talks to the general public, and contributing his expertise as a marine mammal observer on marine mammal survey cruises.

As the director, Mark will continue to oversee that HAMER continues to fulfill its mission. As chief scientist, Mark will identify and coordinate the types of marine research that will be undertaken.

Publications

Deakos M (2010) Paired-laser photogrammetry as a simple and accurate system for measuring the body size of free-ranging manta rays Manta alfredi. Aquatic Biology 10:1-10
Abstract  Full PDF (link)

Deakos M.H., Branstetter, B.K., Mazzuca, L., Fertl, D., Mobley J.R.Jr. (2010) Two unusual interactions between a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hawaiian waters. Aquatic Mammals 36(2):121-128
Abstract  Full PDF (836 kb)

Pack A, Herman L, Spitz S, Hakala S, Deakos M, Herman E (2009) Male humpback whales in the Hawaiian breeding grounds preferentially associate with larger females. Animal Behavaviour 77(2):653-662
Abstract  Full PDF (385 kb)

Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D.J. McSweeney, A.D. Ligon, M.H. Deakos, D.L. Webster, G.S. Schorr, K.K. Martien, D.R. Salden, S.D. Mahaffy. (2008). Population structure of island-associated dolphins: evidence from photo-identification of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the main Hawaiian Islands. Marine Mammal Science, 23(2): 251--274
Abstract  Full PDF (500 kb)

Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, D.R. Salden, M.H. Deakos, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr, J. Barlow and S.D. Mahaffy. (2008). False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) around the main Hawaiian Islands: long-term site fidelity, inter-island movements, and association patterns. Marine Mammal Science, 24(3): 591-612.
Abstract  Full PDF (336 kb)

Au, W. W. L., Pack, A. A., Lammers, M. O., Herman, L. M., Deakos, M. H., Andrews, K.(2006). Acoustic properties of humpback whale songs. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 120(2), 1103-1110.

Full PDF (618 kb)

Au, W. W. L., Pack, A. A., Lammers, M. O., Herman, L. M., Andrews, K., & Deakos, M. H. (2003). The acoustic field of singing humpback whales in the vertical plane. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 113(4), 2277.
Abstract

Deakos, M. H. (2002). Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) communication: The context and potential functions of pec-slapping behavior on the Hawai'ian wintering grounds. Masters Thesis, University of Hawaii, Manoa.
Abstract    Full PDF (860 kb)

Spitz, S. S., Herman, L. M., Pack, A. A., & Deakos, M. H. (2002). The relation of body size of male humpback whales to their social roles in the Hawaiian winter grounds. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80(11), 1938-1947.
Abstract  Full PDF (216 kb)  

Pack, A. A., Herman, L. M., Craig, A. S., Spitz, S. S., & Deakos, M. H. (2002). Penis extrusion by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeanglieae). Aquatic Mammals, 28(2). 131-146.
Abstract    Full PDF (1991 kb)

Reports

Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D. L. Webster, D.J. McSweeney, J.W. Durban, A.D. Ligon, D.R. Salden, and M.H. Deakos. 2004. False killer whales around the main Hawaiian islands: an assessment of inter-island movements and population size using individual photo-identification. Report prepared under Order No. JJ133F04SE0120 from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822
Abstract   Full PDF (886 kb)

Conference Proceedings

Deakos, Mark, Jason Baker, Allan Ligon, Jonathan Whitney, Tim Clark (2008).  Demographics of an Island-Associated Manta Ray (Manta birostris) Population in Maui, Hawaii, and Implications for Management.  Abstract, 88th annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada
Abstract

Deakos, Mark (2008). Using Paired-Laser Photogrammetry for Measuring Manta Ray (Manta birostris) Sizes. Are Maui's Mantas Horizontally Challenged?  Abstract, 88th annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada
Abstract
 

Pack, A. A., Herman, L. M., Deakos, M. H., Hakala, S., Craig, A. S., Olson, J.R., Spitz, S. S., Herman, E., Goetschius, K., & Lammers, M. O. (2005). First report of sounds recorded from individual humpback whale calves on the Hawaiian wintering grounds. Abstract, 16th Biennial conference on the biology of marine mammals, San Diego, CA.

Abstract

Adam A. Pack, John R. Potter, Louis M. Herman, Mark H. Deakos, Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt (2003) Determining source levels and sound fields for singing humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the Hawai'ian wintering grounds. Talk presented at the Environmental Consequences of Underwater Sound (ECOUS) Symposium
Abstract

Pack, A. A., Au, W.W.L., Lammers, M. O., Herman, L., & Deakos, M. (2003). Determining the acoustic field and transmission characteristics for singing humpback whales on the Hawaiian winter grounds.  Abstract, 15th Biennial conference on the biology of marine mammals, Greensboro, NC

Abstract

Deakos, M. H., Pack, A. A., Herman, L. M., Spitz, S. S. (2001). Why do humpback whales slap their pectoral fins in competitive groups? Abstract, 14th Biennial conference on the biology of marine mammals
Abstract

Deakos, M. H., Pack, A. A., Herman, L M., Spitz, S. S., Craig, A. S. (1999). Survival and recovery of a humpback whale calf with a grievous propeller wound. Abstract, 13th Biennial conference on the biology of marine mammals, Maui, HI
Abstract

Talks and Lectures 

Humpback Whales and the State of our Planet (2007), Kamehameha Elementary School, Lahaina, Hawaii

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2006), Sea Grant & Malama Kai Foundation, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2006), Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Waelea, Maui

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2006), Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Lihue, Kauai

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2004), Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Lihue, Kauai

Hawaii's Marine Mammals - Do you know what you are watching? (2004), Training lecture, Radisson Beach Resort, Lihue, Kauai

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2004), Hanauma Bay Education Program, Hanauma Bay, Oahu

Hawaii's Marine Mammals - Do you know what you are watching? (2004), Training lecture, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Office, Hawaii Kai, Oahu

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2004), Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Hawaii's Marine Mammals - Do you know what you are watching? (2004), Training lecture, Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Humpback Whales: Their Past, Present, and Future (2004), Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Office, Kihei, Maui

Hawaii's Marine Mammals - Do you know what you are watching? (2004), Training lecture, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Office, Kihei, Maui

Hawaii's Humpback Whales (2003), Hanauma Bay Education Program, Hanauma Bay, Oahu

Humpback Whale Behavior and Biology (2003) High-School Teacher Continuing Education Credit, Kihei, Maui

Humpback Whales: Current Research Findings (2002), Ocean Arts Festival, Lahaina, Maui

Studying Humpback Whales (2000), Island Marine Institute Internship program, Lahaina, Maui