Since 1994 I have collaborated on a variety of research projects in the North Pacific from ship, land and air on both cetacean and pinniped species. I first came to Central America in collaboration with Cascadia Research in 1995 to investigate humpback whales migrating from the North Pacific to Central America. We then discovered whales from the southern hemisphere were also migrating to Central America. I received my MSc from Moss Landing Marine Labs and San Francisco State University in 2005 with a thesis project comparing these two populations. E-mail: krill@aol.com
MATT LESLIE, Ph.D. USA Branch
I am a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Swarthmore College. I conduct conservation-driven studies of marine mammals. The ultimate goal of my work is to provide information for targeted actions that conserve and recover marine mammals. Prior to joining the faculty at Swarthmore, I spent two years at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and National Zoological Park as a Secretary’s Distinguished Postdoctoral Research Fellow and a Secretary G. Wayne Clough Postdoctoral Fellow. Email: matt.s.leslie@gmail.com website: http://www.matthewsleslie.com/
FRANK GARITA Biólogo, USA Branch
I am a biologist, specialist in marine mammals. I started this adventure in 1995 as part of Cascadia Research Collective investigating the humpback whales in the Pacific of Central America, and other cetaceans. I also was the coordinator for the Humpback whale program of VIDA Environmental Association of Costa Rica and member of the scientific committee of Costa Rica for CBI. I work on photo identification, behavior and distribution of humpback whales, as well as with false killer whales. Email: frankgarita@gmail.com
LAURA J. MAY-COLLADO, Ph.D. Vice-President USA Branch
My current research focuses on the evolution of acoustic communication in cetaceans. I am also interested on the effect boat engine noise on dolphin behavior and communication. I use a combination of tools from areas such as phylogenetics, behavior, population dynamics, and bioacoustics to approach many of my questions. Other Affiliation: Research Associate University of Vermont, CIMAR-Universidad de Costa Rica. E-mail: lmaycollado@gmail.com Website: http://lauramay-collado.com/
BETZI PÉREZ ORTEGA, M.Sc. President Panama Branch
I have been working with marine mammals since 2007, when I started my M.Sc, in Marine Biology in Baja California Sur, Mexico, working with humpback whales. I am currently working on my PhD degree at McGill University, studying the effects of dolphin-watching on stress levels of local bottlenose dolphins. I am also studying the effects of noise associated to dolphin watching boats on dolphin habitat use and communication. Email: betziperez@yahoo.com
Daniel Palacios, PH.D. Co-Founder, USA BRANCH
Daniel Palacios co-founded Panacetacea and continues to collaborate on projects in the Gulf of Chiriqui. He is currently an Associate Professor at Oregon State University where he leads the WHET lab (Whale Habitat, Ecology and Telemetry). Daniel's background is in oceanography, with a primary interest in understanding the environmental factors that influence the ecology of marine megafauna in pelagic ecosystems. Website: mmi.oregonstate.edu/people/daniel-m-palacios
