The Erebus Bay Weddell Seal Population Dynamics Project Principal Investigators and 2011 Field Team:
Dr. Robert Garrott, Co-Principal Investigator
Bob is a Professor in the Ecology Department at Montana State University and director of the MSU Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program. His work focuses on the abiotic and biotic ecological processes that influence mammalian populations and communities, in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and contributing to basic science as well as applied wildlife management and conservation through collaborations with state and federal natural resource agencies. Bob received his PhD in Wildlife Conservation, University of Minnesota, 1990. More info on Bob.
Dr. Jay Rotella, Co-Principal Investigator
Jay is a Professor in the Ecology Department at Montana State University and member of the MSU Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program. His work focuses on animal population ecology, modeling and estimation of population parameters, and effects of abiotic and biotic factors on population dynamics. Jay's research includes both basic and applied topics that span from management of wild populations to life-history evolution. Jay received his PhD in Wildlife Biology, University of Idaho, 1990. More info on Jay.
Dr. Donald Siniff, Co-Principal Investigator
Don is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota where his work has centered on the population dynamics of large mammals. Don's research has focused on the population characteristics of three species of Antarctic seals, concentrating on a long-term program on Weddell seals with shorter term studies on the crabeater and leopard seals of the Antarctic. He has also studied sea otters in Alaska and California since 1975. Don received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, 1967. More info on Don.
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Thierry Chambert, Weddell seal project field team leader
Thierry is a PhD Candidate in the Ecology Department at Montana State University, and has been working on the Weddell seal project since 2010. His current research focuses on the expression of individual differences, in terms of survival and reproduction abilities, in wild animal populations. He is interested in how 'latent individual heterogeneity' interacts with environmental variability to eventually give rise to differences in individual fitness observed in nature. This research is based on the Weddell seal as a biological model. More info on Thierry.
Jesse DeVoe, Weddell seal project research technician
Jesse is a research assistant at Montana State University, and has been working as a research technician on the Weddell seal project since 2010. His ecology work includes field data collection techniques and analyses, developing research projects, writing scientific papers, digital imaging and science communication. He is also working on the Greater Yellowstone Area Mountain Ungulate Project. Jesse received his BS in Biological Sciences, Fish and Wildlife Management from MSU, 2009. More info on Jesse.
Jessica Farrer, Weddell seal project research technician
Jessica has been working as a research technician on the Weddell seal project since 2009, and is considered a "super-tech" in the field. She has worked as biotechnician and research assistant on projects involving harbor seals in Washington and Steller sea lions in Alaska, and has served as a North Pacific Groundfish Observer on fishing boats out of Alaska. She has worked as a camera/research assistant for the BBC, and is an avid photographer, videographer, and scuba divemaster. Jessica received her BA in Biology from Western Washington University, 2008.
Mary Lynn Price, Weddell seal project digital production specialist
Mary Lynn has been working with the Weddell seal project since 2010 as an education and outreach video and multimedia producer and video podcaster. Her digital production background includes short format videos for news and science organizations, education institutions, travel groups and scuba diving operations, film festivals, art galleries, and internet projects. For the Weddell seal project, she developed a Weddell Seal Science multimedia web portal in 2011, and produces short videos for public outreach and informal science communication. More info on Mary Lynn.
Darren Roberts, Weddell seal project research technician
Darren has worked as a biological research and field technician for numerous projects, including studies of monk seals, crocodiles, odontocetes, turtles, and fish. He has boating and research diving skills, including SSI Dive Control Specialist certification. He also provided field support for the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems on tests aimed at lunar and martian exploration. He is an avid digital imager and music composer. Darren received his BA in Marine Science from the University of Hawai'i, Hilo, 2009.
Colleen Siudzinski, Weddell seal project research technician
Colleen has worked as a research technician on numerous wildlife projects, including three seasons working with the National Marine Fisheries Service Hawaiian monk seal program on two different NWHI remote field camps, a season in California on Southeast Farallon Island working with northern elephant seals, and a summer as a Steller sea lion remote field technician in Alaska. She has also worked as a field research technician on projects involving numerous species of birds, small mammals, and turtles. Colleen received her BS from the University of Texas, Austin, 2006.
Michael Yarnall, Weddell seal project research technician
Michael has worked as a research assistant and field technician for wildlife projects involving ungulates, mammalian predators, birds, and fish. Most recently he worked as a fisheries technician for Utah State University on several projects in Utah, Nevada, and Oregon. He has extensive backcountry experience, including glacial travel, winter camping in snow shelters, and high altitude mountaineering. Michael received his BS in Ecology and Evolution and Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University, 2011.
