Students News!
Jessa Houghton graduated this Spring 2019 and she is now in Yellowstone! pit-tagging hundreds of fish.
Dalia Barragan-Barrera earned her Ph.D. this year. She just came back from an expedition from the Antarctica! She is continuing her work with isotopes and mercury bio accumulation.
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Shelby Rosten (with the head in the water listening a male sing :) graduated this Spring 2019 and now she is in Panama working with humpback whales! Shelby is finally meeting the whales she has been listening to for months!
Doctoral student Eric Ramos in Gloucester, Massachusetts with Ocean Alliance (NMFS Permit 18636-01) @oceanalliance @kmccabe24 @themuddymammal#science #marinemammals #fieldwork #dji #drones4good #humpback#humpbackwhales #drone #dronestagram #flir #gloucester #nature #ocean#discover_earth @ Gloucester, Massachusetts
Emma Cherenski is currently working at the Atlantic Whale and Dolphin Foundation in Tenerife, Spain coordinating the use of acoustics to study cetaceans. She has been recording the sounds of pilot whales,and other amazing animals! |
Students
Eric Ramos, University of New York
Eric is studying the acoustic and spatial behavior of bottlenose dolphins and manatees in Belize. He is combining UAS technology and acoustic. This Ph.D. is at NY University and co-advise with Dr. Diane Reiss.
Publications Ramos et al. 2018. Bottlenose Dolphins and Antillean Manatees Respond to Small Multi-Rotor Unmanned Aerial Systems.Front. Mar. Sci. | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00316 Adriana Arce, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
Kahlia Gonzalez, University of Vermont
Nikki Samuelson, University of Vermont
Nikki is studying the acoustic activity of dolphins along the Pacific coast of Central America. She is using long term monitoring data from autonomous underwater recorders deployed in Cano Island (Costa Rica), Coiba and Secas Islands in Panama. This is Nikki's Honor Thesis
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Betzi Perez, McGill University, Montreal Canada
Betzi is interested in how stress associated to dolphin watching activities may affect cetaceans health. She currently studying how changes in dolphin soundscape due to boat traffic may impact dolphin communication and their health for her Ph.D. McGill University co-advise with Dr. Andrew Henry.
Stefania Diaz Melo, Universidad de Antoquia, Colombia
Stefania is studying the acoustic whistle repertoire of Guiana dolphins in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombia. While the whistle acoustic structure of Guiana dolphins is well understood in Brazil, populations outside Brazil are understudied. In this project Stefania will study the acoustic structure of the whistles and the context at which they are produced in this population. This B.Sc. is co-advice with Dr. Maria Camila Rosso Londono, Universidad de Antoquia.
Amanda Jones, University of Vermont
Amanda is using capture-recapture data to study the viability of a small population of bottlenose dolphins in Panama that is regularly expose to high boat traffic. This is Amanda's Honor Thesis.
Kate Ziegler, University of Vermont
Kate is studying the singing activity and song structure of southern hemisphere humpback whales wintering off the coast of Panama using passive acoustic monitoring. This is Kate's Honor Thesis.
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Former Graduate Students
Gabriel Santos, Universidade Federal do Para, Brazil
Gabriel is studying the acoustic behavior of a recently described species of boto and leading a regional effort to obtain recordings of Sotalia species across their distribution to learn about signal variation at different geographical scales.
He is currently a Postdoc at the Janik's Lab in St Andrews University under the Pubs Gabriel Melo-Santos, Angélica Lúcia Figueiredo Rodrigues, Rodrigo Hipólito Tardin, Israel de Sá Maciel, Miriam Marmontel, Maria Luisa Da Silva, Laura Johanna May-Collado. 2019.The newly described Araguaian river dolphins, Inia araguaiaensis (Cetartyodactyla, Iniidae), produce a diverse repertoire of acoustic signals. https://peerj.com/articles/6670/ Emma Cherenski, University of Vermont
Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whale Song in Pacific Central America
Emma developed her Honor's thesis studying the acoustic activity and song structure of humpback whales from the Southern Hemisphere wintering in Costa Rica and Panama. Thesis. Shakira Quiñones Lebrón, University of Puerto Rico
Shakira recently finished her M.Sc. at University of Puerto Rico. She studied how different levels of engine noise affects signal emission in dolphin communication of groups with calves.
Update: She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Slovenia on spider behavior. Thesis pdf Publications May-Collado, L.J. and S. Quinones-Lebron. 2014. Dolphin changes in whistle structure with watercraft activity depends on their behavioral state. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. EL 135, EL193-198. |
Dalia Barragán Barrera, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
Population Genetics of the bottlenose dolphins of Bocas del Toro
This year 2015, Dalia will continue her work in Bocas del Toro, studying the genetic structure of bottlenose dolphins of Bocas del Toro as part of her thesis work at the University of the Andes, Colombia under Dr. Susana Caballero. Pubs Barragan-Barrera, D. C., May-Collado, L. J., Tezanos-Pinto, G., Islas-Villanueva, V., Correa-Cardenas, C. A., and S. Caballero. 2017. High genetic structure and low mitochondrial diversity in bottlenose dolphins of the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama: a population at risk? https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189370 Ashely Sitar, George Mason University, USA
Ashley did her dissertation at GMU under Dr. Chris Parson. She studied how the local community and stakeholder perceived dolphins and dolphin watching activities. Ashley also assessed if boat operators follow or not current guidelines and the potential impact on dolphin behavior.
Publications: Sitar, A., May-Collado, LJ., Wright, A. J., Peters-Burton, E., Rockwood, L., and E.C.M. Parsons. 2017. Tourists’perspectives on dolphin watching in Bocas del Toro. Tourism in Marine Environments. 12:79-94 https://doi.org/10.3727/154427316X14820977775343 Sitar, A., May-Collado, LJ., Wright, A. J., Peters-Burton, E., Rockwood, L., and E.C.M. Parsons. 2016. Boat operators in Bocas del Toro, Panama display low levels of compliance with national whale-watching regulations. Marine Policy. 68: 221-228. Ayshah Kassamali-Fox, Antioch University, New England
Ayshah is studying the individual reactions of bottlenose dolphins of Bocas del Toro to dolphin watching interactions. She concluded field work and is now working on data analysis and publications.
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Jose Aristides Ponce Santamaria, Universidad Maritima Internacional of Panama
Jose, was a M.Sc. student at the program of Marine and Coastal Resources of the Universidad Maritima Internacional of Panama. His assessed the potential implementation of dolphin watching activities in the National Park of Portobelo, Panama.
Dalia Barragan
Dalia did her thesis work in Bocas del Toro, Panama. She studied the effect of dolphin-watching activities on the spatial distribution of bottlenose dolphin behavior.
Update: Dalia is currently a Ph.D. student in the lab of Dr. Susana Caballero. Thesis: DISTRIBUCIÓN Y USO DE HÁBITAT DEL DELFÍN NARIZ DE BOTELLA Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) (CETACEA: DELPHINIDAE) EN BOCAS DEL TORO, COSTA CARIBE DE PANAMÁ (pdf) |
Evelyn Taubitz
Evy did her thesis work in Bocas del Toro, looking at the effect of dolphin watching boats engine power and mode of approach on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins.
Thesis:/uploads/6/6/8/1/6681148/diplom_thesis.pdf |
Jose David Palacios
Pala did his Lic. in Golfo of Nicoya, Costa Rica where he study the interactions between shrimp trawling boats and two sympatric dolphinspecies: Stenella attenuata and Tursiops truncatus. Pala played a significant role in the Bocas Dolphin Project during 2006 to 2009. U
Update: Pala is a co-founder of KETO an non-profit organization dedicated to study marine mammals of Costa Rica. Thesis: PRESENCIA Y COMPORTAMIENTO DE DOS ESPECIES DE DELFINES EN EL PACÍFICO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA (pdf) |
Monica Gamboa Poveda
Mo did her M.Sc. thesis in the caribbean coast of Costa Rica, looking at the spatial interactions and behavior of two sympatric dolphin species: Sotalia guianensis and Tursiops truncatus.
Update: Mo is back in Costa Rica, is a co-founder of Tuaneme (dolphin in bribri) an NGO dedicated to the study and conservation of aquatic mammals in Costa Rica. Thesis: TAMAÑO POBLACIONAL, DISTRIBUCIÓN Y USO DE HÁBITAT DE DOS ESPECIES SIMPÁTRICAS DE DELFINES EN EL REFUGIO NACIONAL DE VIDA SILVESTRE GANDOCA-MANZANILLO, COSTA RICA Download here |
Andrea Cordero
Andre did her M.Sc. thesis in Golfo Dulce studying the effect of whale-watching boats on the distribution, abundance, and behavior of spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins.
Uptade: Andre is now working with Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre (Oficial Marina). Thesis: COMPORTAMIENTO DEL DELFÍN MANCHADO STENELLA ATTENUATA (CETACEA: DELPHINIDAE) EN AUSENCIA Y EN PRESENCIA DE BOTES TURÍSTICOS: EVALUACIÓN BIOLÓGICA Y SOCIO-ECONÓMICA EN BAHÍA DRAKE E ISLA DEL CAÑO (pdf). Publications: Montero-Cordero A. & J. Lobo.2010. Effect of tourist vessels on the behaviour of the pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata, in Drake Bay and Cano Island, Costa Rica. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 11:285-291. Martinez-Fernandez, D., Montero-Cordero, A. and L. J. May-Collado. 2011. Cetaceos de las aguas costeras del Pacifico norte y sur de Costa Rica. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 59 (1): 283-290. |
Jose Damian Martinez
'Washan' did his M.Sc. in Golfo of Cuajiniquil and Golfo Dulce. He evaluated the effect of several environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of various cetacean species, including the humpback whale, false-killer whales, spotted dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins.
Uptade: Washan works for Consolidación de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas PNUD-SINAC-GEF (Coordinador Nacional) Publications: Martinez-Fernandez, D., Montero-Cordero, A. and L. J. May-Collado. 2011. Cetaceos de las aguas costeras del Pacifico norte y sur de Costa Rica. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 59 (1): 283-290. |