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):
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