MICHAEL HEITHAUS
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
 

"Animals Wearing Cameras: A New Way to Study the
Behavior of Marine Animals"

 

Professor Michael Heithaus's  primary research interests are in the factors influencing behavioral decisions of animals, particularly large marine taxa including marine mammals, sharks and sea turtles, and how they may in turn influence behavioral decisions of other individuals and species, population dynamics, and community structure. He is also interested in exploring how predictive models based on behavioral ecological theory can be used to generate effective conservation strategies. By answering the questions outlined above Dr. Heithaus uses a variety of approaches including 1) theoretical modeling, 2) specific field or laboratory tests of theory, and 3) large-scale field research that uses theory to better understand natural systems. His current research focuses primarily on the influences of food availability and predation risk on diving and habitat use decisions of large marine vertebrates, and the influence of these decisions on community structure.  He has applied and helped to develop new technologies and methods to provide insights into the behavior and ecology of difficult to study marine organisms such as  sharks, marine mammals and sea turtles. Ultimately, he hopes to integrate the findings of his, and other, research to create models that will help make predictions about how animals and communities are likely to respond to environmental change including anthropogenic effects.