Laura J May-Collado, Ph.D.

From the country of the Pura Vida!

"Science may be a career for some, but for most of us it is also a calling, a calling to uncover the beauty that lies hidden in the remarkable biology of organisms..." Dr. Leticia Aviles, Behavioral Ecology Scientist.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Vermont.
Chair of the Committee of Scientific Advisors, The Society of Marine Mammalogy.
Research Associate, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, SI.
Member of the UVM SACNAS Chapter
Phone: (802) 656-4138
Office: 215 MLS; Lab 224
Department of Biology, UVM
Email: lmaycoll@uvm.edu

Google Scholar Page

Dolphins of Bocas del Toro, one of our main study sites. Video by Ph.D. Candidate Betzi Perez & Panacetacea

Marine Mammal Summer Course in Panama 2019. Video by Ph.D. Candidate Betzi Perez.

Video source by Paulo Castro. https://peerj.com/articles/6670/

Interests: Evolution, Behavior, Conservation

I am an marine mammal evolutionary biologist researching the phylogenetic and ecological factors shaping the evolution of communication in aquatic mammals. My research involves the use of phylogenies, field observations, autonomous underwater recording systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles to study cetaceans and sirenians. My students work on projects involving the application of soundscape and machine learning tools to categorize the communicative signals produced by these animals in relation to their acoustic environment, behavior, and group social structure. As Costa Rican, supporting the next generation of Hispanic marine mammal scientists in Central America and elsewhere is one of the top priorities in my lab.

Logo created by the Smith Lab http://smithneurallab.weebly.com/

The May-Collado Lab is committed to equity, justice, and inclusivity in STEM.

Celebrating seven years of ONDAS!

In 2016 we started our ONDAS initiative with this SM2M+ recorder. Seven years later ONDAS consist of multiple autonomous recorders distributed across the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama. To celebrate this regional collaboration here is a video of our very first deployment lead by Costa Rican biologists Jose David Palacios.

Checking things are ok before cutting the extra plastic holding the recorder. You can hear a humpback whale on the background. Credit Jose David Palacios

Fish are a talkative bunch! Listen to their chatting in this video.
Credit Jose David Palacios

News/Noticias

Supporting the coastal communities where our research takes place: Covid-19 is having devastating economical impacts in Bocas del Toro (Panama) community. This is one of our research sites in Central America where we study the acoustic behavior of toadfish and bottlenose dolphins. Tourism fuels the economy of Bocas, the 6 month shutdown of the industry is having devastating effects on many families. Graduate student Betzi Perez and collaborators from Panacetacea, ran a fundraiser to provide food to the families of Bocas. We owe them, and this is our way to give back to the people of Bocas who have support our research for almost two decades.

Our ONDAS Project is a network of underwater recorders deployed throughout Central America to study marine mammals and their acoustic space. This type of work is made possible by collaborations with NGOs and governments. Here is the Director de Mar y Costas, of the Ministry of the Environment in Panama, discussing the value of this collaboration there efforts to protect marine biodiversity.

Recent Publications

Student Recognitions

Kate Ziegler is the recipient of the Joan M. Herbers Award in Biology. Congratulations Kate!!!!

From left top: Emma, Riley, Danielle, Natalia, Shelby. From left bottom: Kahlia, Laura, Betzi Riley received the Kurt Milton Pickett Award in Biology! congratulations!