I am a PhD candidate at Texas A & M University. I am broadly interested in the behavioral ecology of cetaceans, in wildlife policy and management, and in the effective and accurate communication of science to the public. My research interests deal primarily with predator-prey dynamics in marine mammals, specifically, the effects of non-lethal predation on the behavioral ecology of dolphins. My doctoral research will focus on the extent and effect of predation risk on habitat selection, movement patterns, social organization & group size of dusky dolphins (
Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in the Kaikoura Canyon, New Zealand and the pacific white-sided dolphins (
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in the Monterey Canyon, United States. These
sister dolphin species exhibit similar lifestyles and behavior. They are also exposed to similar predators, the killer whale (
Orcinus orca) and large sharks, with varying influence of other factors, such as food, oceanographic factors, and environmental parameters. Using new and existing data, I propose to develop an individual-based spatial model to mimic the system, and to test a set of
a priori hypotheses. The overall goal is to acquire a preliminary understanding of the role predators play in determining dolphin choices, in differing conditions.
