Interests: Evolution, Behavior, Conservation

Born in Palmar Sur, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Lecturer and Research Associate at the Department of Biology, University of Vermont
Research Associate at CIMAR (Centro de Investigacion en Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia), Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
​Affiliated Professor at Universidad Maritima Internacional de Panama.

Phone: (802) 656-8646, Office: 102 MLS at UVM
Email: lmaycollado@gmail.com; lmaycoll@uvm.edu

CV

This field season our research team is busy! We are all away some in Brazil and others in Costa Rica. Here is one of the projects taking place at this moment:

Studying the acoustic behavior of a newly discovered river dolphin in Brazil. Project lead by Graduate Student Gabriel Melos. Visit Gabi's blog to learn more about what it takes to develop this kind of research

Photos by Gabriel Melos et al.

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Research

My main research interest is on the evolution of acoustic communication in marine mammals. I use a number of methods including phylogenetics, data mining, bioacoustics, and behavior to study how acoustic signals evolved in these animals and to understand how they respond to changes in their soundscape. I am also interested in the application of new technology such as UAS and recording systems to study underwater behavior and habitat use, and more recently in the application of molecular methods to the phylogeography of whip spiders in the Caribbean.

Awareness & Outreach

Habitat loss, overexploitation, and increasing noise levels are threatening the soundscape of many marine organisms,  including marine mammals. A significant part of my research career is to use monitoring data to address conservation concerns on marine mammals, provide  training, and develop awareness and outreach activities for the general public. 

Teaching

Teaching is an important part of what I do. I teach a number of courses including general biology, zoology, acoustic communication, evolution, and marine mammal field biology.