What we DO!

Interdisciplinary Conservation Science

I am an interdisciplinary, curiosity-fueled, and conservation-driven marine mammalogist. My students and I use emerging technology, field research, morphology, modern genomics, and natural history collections to characterize marine mammal diversity and answer questions for conservation management decisions.

Some of these questions we ask include: 1) How many species and populations are there? (delimitation), 2) How did species and population separate? (evolution), 3) What threats are facing these species (conservation)?

We also analyze science-policy interactions and public perspectives to improve natural resource management. Our approach to conducting biological and policy-directed research requires actionable results. Specific interests include international biodiversity agreements, protected and endangered species laws, public perceptions of nature, co-management, and structured decision-making. To date, I have published 36 peer-reviewed publications on these topics. Check out my Google Scholar profile.

 

False Killer Whale leaping - Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama

OUR APPROACH!

BIOLOGY: We combine ocean-going research, natural history collections-based work, and cutting-edge technologies to advance our biological research mission. Specifically, our goal is to test hypotheses of the evolutionary relationships and population structure of marine mammals using morphological and genomic data. Morphological data are collected from museum specimens and remote drone photogrammetry of live animals, and genomic data are collected using field sampling and DNA sequencing.

POLICY: We also actively examine the human dimensions of conservation to develop a truer understanding of how science impacts decision-making for biodiversity conservation (and vice versa). Specifcally, research on human dimensions of conservation focuses on the science-policy nexus, international biodiversity diplomacy, human perspectives on biodiversity, structured decision-making, and climate adaption.

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Invited Public Lectures:

2023 Smithsonian “Whales on the Brink” Symposium - Washington, D.C.

2020 Swarthmore College Alumni Weekend – (CANCELED DUE TO COVID19)

2017 American Association of Zookeepers – Washington, D.C.

2017 Smithsonian Latino Young Ambassadors – Washington, D.C.

2014 The Birch Aquarium – La Jolla, CA

2011 The Ocean Institute – Dana Point, CA

Selected Interviews and Media Coverage of our Research:

Original Online/Print Media:

SELECTED FIELD EXPEDITIONS

2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 – Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama – Panacetacea– humpback and Bryde’s whale research

2018 – South Georgia Island – British Antarctic Survey – Southern right whale research

2017 – Oman – Envir. Society Oman/Smithsonian – Arabian Sea humpback whale research

2017 – Patagonia, Chile – Woods Hole/MERI/Smithsonian - blue whale research

2013 – Mekong River, Cambodia – NOAA/WWF Irrawaddy dolphin research

2010 – Northwestern Hawaiian Islands – USA - NOAA HICEAS research Cruise

2009 – Tongue of the Ocean – Bahamas – beaked whale research

2003, 2004, 2006 – Antongil Bay – Madagascar – Humpback whale research

2001 – Houston Ship Channel - USA – bottlenose dolphin research

1999 – Byron Bay - Australia –humpback whale research