Research Interests
 

          Broadly speaking, I am interested in the foraging ecology, demography, and migratory behaviors of populations of marine predators. The majority of my research has focused on marine mammal populations in the North Pacific and the Alaskan Arctic, including humpback whales and Pacific walruses. I am particularly interested in research questions that pair individual-level observations (e.g., satellite tagging, photo-ID, etc.) with population-level data (e.g., pregnancy rate, sex ratio, etc.) to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of wildlife populations. I have used a variety of tools to address these research topics, including analysis of stable isotope ratios, steroid hormone concentrations, genetic population structure, and trace element concentrations. My most recent research, conducted as part of my PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is focused on understanding the impacts of climate change on Pacific walruses by examining how previous changes in climate affected walrus foraging and movement patterns.