The MMI Ecophysiology Lab focuses on the intersection of marine mammal physiology and ecology. Through a combination of fieldwork and labwork, we seek to understand how individual marine mammals react and respond to ecological changes and human impacts at a physiological level and how those individual responses scale up to affect population trends.

We often use laboratory analyses of feces, baleen, blubber, respiratory vapor, teeth, whisker, and other samples to examine patterns across time of individual stress, health, reproduction and energetics. Our new laboratory at MMI has high-throughput capacity to quantify steroid and thyroid hormones, isotopes, and numerous other biomarkers in a wide variety of sample types, utilizing enzyme immunoassay (EIA, ELISA) as one of our primary tools.

We welcome new students, new collaborators, and new friends!