Research

Polar

My research in Antarctica is focused on the effects of climate change on seabirds, particularly penguins. Seabirds are indicators of environmental change and variability, and this research examines key aspects of their life histories, such as breeding biology, foraging ecology, behavior and migration to understand mechanistic processes. Much of this work is part of the Palmer Station Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program. Here are two videos highlighting some of this work from Only One and Rutgers. This research was also featured in the BBC’s Frozen Planet II episode 6.

Current Projects: 

  • Collaborative Research: Linking Predator Behavior and Resource Distributions: Penguin-directed Exploration of an Ecological Hotspot (NSF ANT-1744859). 2019-2023.
  • Collaborative Research: Common Environmental Drivers Determine the Occupation Chronology of Adélie Penguins and Moss Peatbanks on the Western Antarctic Peninsula (NSF ANT-2012444). 2021-2024.
  • LTER: Ecological Response and Resilience to “Press-Pulse” Disturbances and a Recent Decadal Reversal in Sea Ice Trends Along the West Antarctic Peninsula (NSF ANT-2026045). 2021-2023.
  • Collaborative Research: Harvesting Long-term Survey Data to Develop Zooplankton Distribution Models for the Antarctic Peninsula (NSF OPP-2203176). 2023-2026

Collaborator:

  • EAGER: Censusing via acoustic energy (CVAE) for tracking animal phenology and population size (NSF DEB-2226886). PI: Laura Kloepper. 2022-2024.

Selected Media: NPR, Washington Post, Science 360, ESA Dispatches, IFLScience!, Technology.org, The Guardian, Nat Geo, ThinkProgress, Smithsonian, The Weather Channel, WHYY The Pulse Podcast

 

Mid-latitudes

My research off the U.S. West Coast is diverse, ranging from conducting coordinated fine-scale underwater robot surveys to investigating large-scale drivers of species distribution and abundance. Using ecological indicators, we can better understand and predict ecosystem state. Much of my current work is done in collaboration with the Climate & Ecosystems Group and the NOAA Environmental Research Division.

Current Projects: 

  • Near-Real Time Ecosystem Data for Risk Assessment and Mitigation of Whale Entanglements in California’s Dungeness Crab Fishery (OPC). 2021-2024.
  • The CeNCOOS MBON: Marine biodiversity information in support of a healthy Blue Economy in the central California Current (NASA). 2022-2027.

Collaborator:

  • Projecting changes to habitat suitability and connectivity for predators and prey in California sanctuaries (NOAA COM/MAPP/CSI). PI: Steph Brodie. 2022-2025.

Selected Media: EurekAlert, Science Times, Earth.com, New York Times

 

Other Selected Media: Hakai Magazine, Scripps News, Subsea 20|20, Science Daily

Links to my full list of publications: Google Scholar | Research Gate