Projects
PhD Research - Northern Bottlenose Whale Metapopulation Dynamics, Whitehead Lab
My doctoral studies examined the distribution, connectivity and persistence of northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) populations along the slope of the Canadian continental shelf in the western North Atlantic. Northern Bottlenose whales are currently listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in Canada as two genetically distinct subpopulations (the Scotian Shelf and Baffin Bay Davis Strait Labrador Sea populations). As chief scientist during five field seasons of data collection working aboard Balaena I conducted multi-year acoustic transects for beaked whales along 5000 km of the Canadian shelf edge, from the US border to Labrador. I documented a concentration of northern bottlenose whales in a region north east of Newfoundland, known as the Sackville Spur, which presents significant questions for managing the two known populations designated by Canada’s Species at Risk Act. To address this knowledge gap, I examined evidence for linkages and structure in northern bottlenose populations using multiple streams of evidence including photo-identification, stable isotopes, genetics, and habitat models.
Post PhD I have continued to collaborate with Hal Whitehead and graduate students in the lab to improve the scientific understanding of beaked whale population structure and support the conservation and management of northern bottlenose whales in Canada. I occasionally supervise undergraduate Honours projects and graduate students that fall under my research interests.
My doctoral studies examined the distribution, connectivity and persistence of northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) populations along the slope of the Canadian continental shelf in the western North Atlantic. Northern Bottlenose whales are currently listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in Canada as two genetically distinct subpopulations (the Scotian Shelf and Baffin Bay Davis Strait Labrador Sea populations). As chief scientist during five field seasons of data collection working aboard Balaena I conducted multi-year acoustic transects for beaked whales along 5000 km of the Canadian shelf edge, from the US border to Labrador. I documented a concentration of northern bottlenose whales in a region north east of Newfoundland, known as the Sackville Spur, which presents significant questions for managing the two known populations designated by Canada’s Species at Risk Act. To address this knowledge gap, I examined evidence for linkages and structure in northern bottlenose populations using multiple streams of evidence including photo-identification, stable isotopes, genetics, and habitat models.
Post PhD I have continued to collaborate with Hal Whitehead and graduate students in the lab to improve the scientific understanding of beaked whale population structure and support the conservation and management of northern bottlenose whales in Canada. I occasionally supervise undergraduate Honours projects and graduate students that fall under my research interests.