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.
Matt Leslie is the Secretary G. Wayne Clough Postdoctoral Research Fellow (via the James Smithson Fellowship Program) at the National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Institution. His research focuses on describing the diversity of whales and dolphins and blends field studies with applied conservation genetics. Before working at the Smithsonian, Matt studied at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and did research within the Marine Mammal and Turtle Division at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center. He also previously worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York where he managed the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, and the Wildlife Conservation Society where he managed the Cetacean Research and Conservation Program. Matt has done extensive fieldwork on whales in Madagascar, the western Hawaiian Islands, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, Australia and most recently Cambodia. In his free time, Matt enjoys being outdoors and spending time with friends and family.
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 of 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 Websites: 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
