Research Interests

I have always had a clear idea of what I wanted to do when I grew up.   I became determined quite young that I was going to be a marine biologist and study whales. This determination has been a useful trait, from finding interesting and unique field experiences to completing graduate school!

My research focuses on animal behaviour and how animals respond to human activities. I have studied the impacts of coastal and offshore industries on marine mammal populations in the Arctic, USA, Canada and Scotland.

Specific projects have included:

• Marine mammal behavioral responses to tidal turbine sound
  
• Historical indigenous whaling of Washington Coastal Tribes
  
• Bowhead whale behavioural reactions to seismic survey operations
  
• Minke whale foraging ecology
• Polar bear reactions to icebreaker activity
• Harbor porpoise interactions with fish farms
• Impacts of vessel presence on Southern Resident killer whales
• Impacts of vessel presence on Northern Resident killer whale usage of an ecological reserve

Curriculum Vitae

Ellie 2008 (NOAA permit # 4481856)

Links of interest

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• SMRU Consulting
  
• Marine Mammal Research Unit, UBC
  
• Society for Marine Mammalogy
• European Cetacean Society
• Bowhead whale satellite tracking project
• North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management
• Northeast Pacific Minke Whale Project

• Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia
• Biological Sciences, Aberdeen University
• Sea Mammal Research Unit
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• RBMBER Warden Program
• BC Parks - Robson Bight Ecological Reserve
• Chelonia Ltd, Cetacean monitoring systems