Hubbs Professor of Marine Mammalogy

Biology

University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)

My goal is to better understand marine ecosystem function, and ultimately ocean health, by examining the interrelationships between different species and how those species respond to natural and anthropogenic perturbations.

The ultimate goal of the Physiological Ecology and Bioenergetics Lab (PEBL) is to better understand marine ecosystem function, and ultimately ocean health, by examining the interrelationships between different species and how those species respond to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. To accomplish this goal we need to examine biological systems at a variety of levels. First, we need to understand how individual animals derive their nutritional needs from their environment by studying their energetics, growth, and nutrition. To achieve this we integrate laboratory and field based investigations to elucidate the capabilities of different species to withstand normal seasonal variation in their environment as well as understanding how human induced change can impact them. Ultimately we need to integrate information on individual needs up to a population or species level so we can understand the relationships between different species. To accomplish this, we use a variety of tools to look the feeding ecology and movement patterns of species which live and move across large spatial scales. The PEBL program includes ongoing investigations into the life history and physiological ecology of manatees, cetaceans, and pinnipeds at study sites around the world. We are also actively engaged in marine turtle research through studies of their metabolism and feeding ecology. Collectively, we have years of experience examining the metabolic needs and feeding ecology of several marine mammal species including killer whales, harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphins, manatees, California sea lions, Steller sea lions, harp seals, grey seals, Hawaiian monk seals, and elephant seals. Recently we have initiated investigations into several species of megaherbivores, such as giraffe and elephant. The lab is currently involved in studies using techniques such as indirect calorimetry, proximate composition analysis of prey, doubly-labeled water energetics, stable isotope analysis, alkane analysis, and fatty acid signature analysis. Many of these studies are facilitated by on-going partnerships with organizations such as Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Sea World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Vancouver Aquarium, National Marine Fisheries Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute, National Zoological Park, Centre for African Conservation Ecology (South Africa), Centre for Dolphin Studies (South Africa) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1991-present Hubbs-SeaWorld Professor of Marine Mammalogy

1991-present Provost’s Distinguished Research Professor of Biology