Terrie M. Williams, Principal Investigator

williams@biology.ucsc.edu

Terrie M. Williams, PhD is a comparative wildlife physiologist at the University of California- Santa Cruz. She is the Director of the Center for Marine Mammal Research and Conservation at UCSC. For the past 30 years her research has investigated the physiology of large mammalian predators. Specifically, Dr. Williams and students are trying to understand “how animals survive” in a world that is constantly changing. By examining the functional relationships between animals and their environment, these researchers hope to understand the ecological significance of a species and the physiological adaptive changes that may be necessary for its survival. Her publication credits include over 100 scientific articles a recent book, “The Odyssey of KP2” (Penguin Press) detailing her efforts to save the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

Jason John, PhD Student

Physiology of diving in marine mammals

jsjohn@ucsc.edu, Website

I am interested in the physiology of diving in marine mammals. More specifically, I will examine the adaptations that allow them to not only survive, but also thrive in an environment that most mammals are incredibly ill-adapted for. Recently, new opportunities have emerged with breakthroughs in miniaturized accelerometer instrumentation that can be deployed on free-ranging mammals. These instruments will allow us to record and study how they move in an effort to understand how they maximize foraging efficiency through unique physiological adaptations. When combined with metabolic analysis through open-flow respirometry, we can also examine the energetic cost of both stroking and 3-dimensional maneuvering underwater.

Jessica Kendall-Bar, PhD Student

Marine Mammal Neuroscience

jkb@ucsc.edu, Website, LinkedIn, Research Gate, Google Scholar

I am very interested in the inner workings of the marine mammal mind. Specifically, I want to study sleep and brain function in freely diving marine mammals. Sleep is necessary for survival, and for many essential functions such as energy conservation, metabolism, immune function, memory, and learning. Marine mammals must physiologically recharge while sleeping in an environment where they are vulnerable to natural and increasing anthropogenic stressors. In order to fully understand the effect of anthropogenic stressors on marine mammal populations, we must characterize the patterns, function, and sensitivity of sleep in these species. To read more, visit my website.

Lilian Carswell, PhD Student

Carnivore neurobiology and behavior

lcarswel@ucsc.edu, Website

I am interested in the intersection between sensory biology, neuroscience, behavior, and conservation. Specifically, I am interested in how we can use information about how animals perceive their world to guide conservation interventions, such as re-establishing range connectivity with wildlife corridors or overpasses/underpasses; conducting reintroductions; or limiting human activities that may cause harm. Without understanding what matters perceptually and socially to individuals of the species we are trying to conserve, we may not fully appreciate how human activities are affecting them, and we may not understand how best to help them avoid human hazards. Read more at my website.

Emily Nazario, MA Student 

Physiology of recovery in marine mammals

enazario@ucsc.edu, Website

Emily studies how physiology can inform conservation approaches for marine predators, specifically in the context of spatial management. Through three case studies using distinct marine predators (odontocetes, elasmobranchs, and pinnipeds), Emily will examine the physiological requirements of each species and how that translates to their fine-scale spatial needs using both quantitative (hybrid species distribution models using telemetry data) and experimental approaches (observing dive recovery timelines in odontocetes). Emily will use these insights to develop mechanistically informed conservation methods to respond to the unique threats each group faces in their environment (human interaction through noise pollution and vessel presence, and climate change induced changes in temperature changes, hypoxia, and sea level rise).

Andrew Lankow, MA Student 

alankow@ucsc.edu, Website

Hello! I’m Andrew, a first-year master’s student in the Williams Lab, co-advised by Dr. Rita Mehta. I completed my B.S. in biology from the US Air Force Academy in 2013, and my M.S. in supply chain management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2018. For my master’s thesis, my research focused on how successful partnerships form to conserve natural resources and protect endangered species on military installations.

For my master’s work with Dr. Williams, I will be studying the ecological physiology of marine mammals, specifically their capacity to thermoregulate during an escape response caused by anthropogenic noise. In Dr. Mehta’s lab, I’ll be researching the ecological morphology of moray eels, along with the functional ecology of octopus arms.

Anthony Pagano, PhD

Ursid behavior, energetics, and conservation

ampagano@ucsc.edu, Website

I am interested in the ecology and physiology of polar bears. Specifically, I am quantifying the behaviors and energy demands of polar bears to examine polar bear habitat use and the effects of declines in summer sea ice in the southern Beaufort Sea. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and will be used to better understand how forecasted declines in Arctic sea ice will affect polar bear populations.

Nicole Thometz, Postdoctoral Researcher

Physiological ecology of marine vertebrates

nthometz@ucsc.edu, Website

My interests span both physiology and ecology and include understanding how physiological capacities impact the behavior and ecology of top predators. My research combines life-stage specific physiological, behavioral, and ecological data to examine the ability of individuals to forage within their environment and to assess proximity of individuals to physiological limits. Ultimately, these types of data can be used to better understand population level trends as well as inform predictions regarding if and how species will be able to respond to future environmental change and/or anthropogenic disturbance. For my dissertation, I examined the ontogeny of metabolic demands and diving ability in the southern sea otter and published the first estimate of the energetic cost of pup rearing in this species. Following completion of my PhD I continued my research on southern sea otters by examining lactation energetics and resulting impacts on adult females. Current research projects include: determining age-specific energetic requirements and diving capacities of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, examining the biochemical properties of cetacean vocal musculature, and assessing energetic demands and physiological thresholds in a number of ice-obligate (ringed & bearded seals) and ice-associated (spotted seals) Arctic seal species.

Robin Dunkin, Postdoctoral Researcher

Biophysical ecology and conservation physiology of large vertebrates

rdunkin@ucsc.edu, Website

I am interested in the intersection between physiology and ecology. My dissertation research focused on the ecological and conservation implications stemming from the interaction between climate, large body size, and water use in African and Asian elephants. My research spans a variety of disciplines from tissue level and whole animal physiology to the development of landscape models using physiological and ecological modeling tools. I am also keenly interested in science education and am part of the HHMI funded initiative at U.C. Santa Cruz to incorporate active learning and evidence based teaching methods into undergraduate education.

Caleb Bryce, Postdoctoral Researcher

calebmbryce@gmail.com, Website

My interests focus primarily on the physiological constraints of terrestrial carnivores, namely top canid predators like gray wolves (Canis lupus). My research is centered on how the elevated metabolisms of these wide-ranging carnivores structure the ecological communities they inhabit. I am calibrating and deploying an advanced wildlife collar, developed by collaborators at UCSC, to remotely monitor the behaviors and energetic needs of wolves. These data will provide both researchers and wildlife managers with a greater understanding of the links between free-ranging wolf habitat, prey thresholds, and movement patterns, all of which are critical for projecting the future abundance and distribution of wolves in increasingly altered landscapes.

Currently, Caleb & his wife Carli are research camp coordinators of Botswana Predator Conservation Trust in southern Africa.

Shawn R. Noren, UCSC Institute of Marine Sciences

Comparative physiological ecology of vertebrates

snoren@ucsc.edu, CV

My research focuses on the comparative physiological ecology of vertebrates, specifically, on developmental biochemistry, physiology, morphology, and whole animal energetics, with an emphasis on the respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculature systems. My aim is to elucidate the effect of ontogeny on the diving, thermoregulation, and swimming performance of immature animals in extreme environments using marine mammals as models. In light of habitat degradation we must understand the physiological limitations of the immature segments of populations because these groups are the most vulnerable to environmental perturbations.