Marine Mammals

Does oceanic noise pollution cause dolphins and whales to strand?

Overview:

The marine mammal program is conducting comparative studies around the world on cetaceans (dolphins, narwhals), pinnipeds (Weddell seals, Hawaiian monk seals), and sea otters. Our goal is to examine the physiological and behavioral responses to anthropogenic disturbance.

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)

Elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) pup

Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)

Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi)

Narwhal (Monodon monoceros)

Primary Lab Member(s):

Jason John, PhD Candidate

Physiology of diving in marine mammals

jsjohn@ucsc.edu, Website

Jessica Kendall-Bar, PhD Student

Sleep and brain function in marine mammals

jkb@ucsc.edu, Website

Nicole Thometz, Postdoctoral Researcher

Physiological ecology of marine vertebrates

nthometz@ucsc.edu

Jen Maresh, Postdoctoral Researcher

Bioenergetics of foraging and locomotion in pinnipeds and cetaceans

jmaresh@ucsc.edu, Website

Robin Dunkin, Postdoctoral Researcher

Biophysical ecology and conservation physiology of large vertebrates

rdunkin@ucsc.edu

Shawn R. Noren, Associate Research Scientist (UCSC Institute of Marine Science)

Comparative physiological ecology of vertebrates

snoren@ucsc.edu, CV