Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory

My research explores the dynamic relationships between oceanographic processes, cetaceans, and their prey. As climate change alters marine ecosystems, prey species are shifting in both availability and distribution, with cascading consequences for marine mammal foraging behavior, habitat use, and population health. Understanding these ecological linkages is essential for predicting how marine mammals will respond to ongoing environmental change and for informing effective conservation and management strategies.

I earned my Master of Science degree from the College of Charleston, where my research examined the distribution of estuarine bottlenose dolphins in relation to water temperature and salinity. Using drone-based surveys, I investigated dolphin movements upriver to identify the environmental and behavioral drivers influencing their use of low-salinity (i.e, typically unsuitable) habitats.

As a member of the GEMM Lab, I am advised by Dr. Leigh Torres as part of the SAPPHIRE Project (Synthesis of Acoustics, Physiology, Prey, and Habitat in a Rapidly changing Environment). This project integrates oceanography, prey ecology, and whale physiology to investigate how shifting environmental conditions influence krill availability and blue whale health in Aotearoa New Zealand.