WEBINAR: Marine Mammal Stranding and Research

Dr Eduardo Morteo and Dr Robert Bonde provide insight into the environmental challenges marine mammals face that also affect human populations, as well as the importance of proper marine and coastal conservation policies. These presentations were followed by a joint Q&A session with our speakers and hosts.

About the Speakers

Dr Robert Bonde is Scientist Emeritus and a Research Biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center. With over 40 years of experience with the Sirenia Project, Dr Bonde talks about manatee pathology examinations to better understand the requirement for stringent conservation. Manatees are an imperilled species and require our help as they struggle to coexist with human populations and compete for environmental resources. We discuss their challenges, how they adapt, and what measures are necessary to understand them and aid in their recovery.

Dr Eduardo Morteo is the Founder of the Institutional Marine Mammal Laboratory (LabMMar, UV) and current Director of the Institute of Biological Research, both at Universidad Veracruzana (UV). Dr Morteo has over 20 years of experience in population ecology, evolution, behaviour, life strategies, social organisation, and strandings of marine mammals. The climatic regime, coastal geomorphological features and ocean currents in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico provide suitable conditions for many marine species; however, there is notably a scarceness of marine mammal sightings and stranding events in the area, and the reasons for this are explored during the presentation.