Marine Mammal Ecology Lab
seals lounging on a log

Current Undergraduate Students

Kameran at Whatcom Creek.

Kameran Rodriguez

(2023-present) Social behavior of foraging harbor seals.

Kameran will study the social behavior of foraging harbor seals at Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham, Washington State. In addition, Kameran and Maya will continue the long-term study on the foraging behavior of harbor seals on returning salmon at the creek.

Maya in a field of tulips.

Maya Mijares

(2023-present) Movement patterns of harbor seals.

Maya will work with Isabel and graduate student Alexandrea Otto to examine the variation in mtDNA and nuclear DNA among harbor seal haul-out sites to infer movement patterns between males and females in the Salish Sea. In addition, Maya and Kameran will continue the long-term study on the foraging hevbaior of harbor seals on returning salmon at Whatcom Creek.

Isabel kayaking.

Isabel Shier

(2023-present) Movement patterns of harbor seals.

Isabel will work with Maya and graduate student Alexandrea Otto to examine the variation in mtDNA and nuclear DNA among harbor seal haul-out sites to infer movement patterns between males and females in the Salish Sea.

Jasper at a dock.

Jasper McCutcheon

(2023-present) Surface behavior of harbor seals relative to in-air noise.

Jasper will examine the influence of in-air noise on the surfacing behavior of harbor seals. In addition, Jasper will continue the long-term study on the haul-out behavior of harbor seals in relation to human development in downtown Bellingham, Washington State.