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.
Dr. Matthew S. Leslie Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Swarthmore College. He conducts conservation-driven studies of marine mammals. The ultimate goal of his work is to provide information for targeted actions that conserve and recover marine mammals. Prior to joining the faculty at Swarthmore, Leslie 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. He received a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in affiliation with the Marine Mammal and Turtle Division at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Prior to his degree, Matt was the Manager of the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and managed the Conservation Genetics program for the Wildlife Conservation Society. He is originally from Oklahoma, and he now lives in Pennsylvania. 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 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
