Faculty & Research Index

Collaborative Research

Cluster Groups

Marine Vertebrate Biology

The marine vertebrate biology cluster group is responsible for UCSC's status in the marine mammal research community and in predatory bird research. Scientists in this group have had great success and are internationally recognized for developing unique field and lab techniques to investigate wild populations of marine mammals, marine birds, and raptors. These birds and animals are difficult to study in the wild because they live in remote and often inaccessible environments.

The marine vertebrate cluster is one of the largest in the institute and includes researchers who study a broad range of birds and marine mammals including dolphins, whales, sea otters, seals, sea lions, peregrine falcons, eagles, and a variety of marine birds.

Their research efforts utilize innovative technology to study energetics and physiology of captive animals, hearing and vision of marine mammals in the field and lab, and foraging and diving behavior of wild animals outfitted with time-depth recorders and satellite telemetry devices. The Predatory Bird Research Group tracks golden eagles with radiotelemetry devices that follow their seasonal migration routes across entire continents.

These scientists and their students conduct research in the tanks and pools at Long Marine Lab and in distant field sites in Antarctica, Alaska, Mexico, South America, Australia, and Canada.