Aquatic Mammals - A Historical Perspective

Beginning in 1970, DeFran began a professorship in the Psychology Department at SDSU. Later, he worked with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, CA, assuming responsibility for an ongoing boat-based photo-ID project designed to assess the population size and range characteristics of bottlenose dolphins in north San Diego County. Since 1984, Defran has conducted, and directed the Cetacean Behavior Laboratory’s dolphin population studies along the Southern California and Baja California Norte’s Pacific Ocean coastline, in the coastal waters of Belize, within Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, in the estuarine and coastal waters near Charleston, SC, and more recently, in the coastal waters of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. 

Dr. Burney LeBoeuf is Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of California at Santa Cruz. With his background in Reproductive Endocrinology, Ecology, and Behavioral Biology, he has been a leader in research on marine mammals for many decades and known especially for ground-breaking studies of social behavior; diving behavior, diving physiology and migrations of seals, using wearable microcomputer, time-depth recorders, and satellite tags. 

Dr. Swartz graduated with his doctorate from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He's researched and published widely on gray whales and their breeding habitats in Baja California. Dr. Swartz has served as a consultant to the Mexican government’s Ministry for the Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries, and worked for Ocean Conservancy, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.

Dr. Boyd's research field is in marine ecology with a specialization in marine mammals and he has awards for his research in polar science, zoology and marine science. Dr. Boyd led a UK research program in Antarctica for 14 years, has led several international research projects as chief scientist, and advises the UK Government about issues concerning marine management. 

Dr. Ketten is an American senior scientist whose known for her work as a neuroanatomist. Her research combines biomechanics and acoustics to investigate hearing and noise issues affecting humans, and marine animals.

In this episode we learn a bit about the career path of one of the scientists who helped to shape the marine mammal field, Dr. James Buddy Powell.

Jim is a specialist in the role of apex predators in the marine environment and has conducted field research in Alaska, California, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Russia. He is known for studies of sea otters and kelp forest ecosystems, from which he studied influences of predators on the distribution and abundance of plants through what has since come to be widely known as a “trophic cascade.” 

Mr. Moore retired with 38 years of Federal Service with the Department of Defense and the Navy Marine Mammal Program, where he led the Scientific and Veterinarian Support Branch, Biosonar Program Office, and System Development Branch. His research specialized in psychoacoustics and biosonar. He co-edited Animal Sonar: Processes and Performance, organized and conducted many international meetings on marine mammals and echolocation, published over 80 peer-reviewed scientific articles, given hundreds of technical presentations and innumerable briefings for scientific, governmental, and sponsoring audiences.

Dr. Terhune is known for his research on communication and behavior of marine mammals with particular emphasis on underwater communication of seals. His research projects included examining aspects of harp and Wed- dell seal vocalizations to reduce masking effects of background noise, and influences of underwater sounds from acoustic harassment devices used at aquaculture cage sites in the Bay of Fundy. Jack is also honored within his community at the University of New Brunswick, where his has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award for service as chair of the Biology Department and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. 

Dr. Ralls is a zoologist, conservationist, and Senior Research Zoologist Emerita at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Her research interests are in behavioral ecology, genetics, and conservation of mammals, both marine and terrestrial.