Personal profile
Research overview
I am a quantitative ecologist based in the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) and the School of Biology.
I work on multiple aspects of the ecology, behaviour, physiology and population biology of marine mammals and other marine predators, at the interface between biology and statistics. I am interested in developing and applying robust analytical tools to quantify the relationships of these species with their environment and their interactions with human activities. In particular, a lot of my research so far has focused on the assessment of the effects of both natural and anthropogenic stressors on marine mammals, ranging from individual responses through to consequences for populations.
I strive for my work to inform policy makers, managers, and the industry, and therefore to support the sustainable use of marine resources and the long-term conservation of marine wildlife.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
An experimental approach to assess the combined effects of multiple stressors on a large vertebrate species
Pirotta, E., Harris, C., Schwacke, L. H., Thomas, L., Allen, J. B., Barleycorn, A., Casoli, M., Crossman, J., Dias, L. A., Engleby, L., LaBrecque, E., Litz, J. A., McHugh, K. A., Miller, P. J. O., Moore, M. J., Photopoulou, T., Quigley, B., Smith, C. R., Southall, B. L. & Speakman, T. R. & 5 others, , 9 Feb 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Conservation Biology. Early View, p. 1-14 14 p., e70224.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
A synthesis of the effects of multiple stressors on a long-lived vertebrate population to inform effective conservation efforts
Pirotta, E., Thomas, L., Tyack, P. L., Harris, C. M., Smith, C. R., Wells, R. S., Allen, J. B., Allen, R. F., Barratclough, A., Gomez, F. M., Lovewell, G. N., Martinson, R., Ross, K., Speakman, T. R., Takeshita, R., Zolman, E. S. & Schwacke, L. H., 1 Mar 2026, In: Royal Society Open Science. 13, 3, 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Methods for analysing wildlife DNA methylation data
Photopoulou, T., Durbach, I., Pirotta, E., Barratclough, A., Schwacke, L. H., Takeshita, R., Himes Boor, G. K., Harris, C. M., Tyack, P. & Thomas, L., 25 Feb 2026, In: Conservation Physiology. 14, 1, 26 p., coaf091.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
A workflow of open-source tools for drone-based photogrammetry of marine megafauna
Bierlich, K. C., Hewitt, J., Bird, C. N., Johnston, D. W., Dale, J., Pirotta, E., Schick, R. S., Stewart, J. D., New, L., Chimienti, E., Goldbogen, J. A., Friedlaender, A. S., Cantor, M. & Torres, L. G., 12 Aug 2025, In: PeerJ. 13, p. 1-25 25 p., e19768.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Bayesian estimation of individual gray whale space use reveals differential exposure to stressors
Hildebrand, L., New, L., Pirotta, E., Stewart, J. D., Hildebrand, I., Newell, C., Bierlich, K., Bird, C. N., Fernandez Ajó, A., Turek, D. & Torres, L. G., May 2025, In: Ecology and Evolution. 15, 5, p. 1-15 15 p., e71330.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Datasets
-
Assessing variation in faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in gray whales exposed to anthropogenic stressors
Pirotta, E. (Creator), Fernandez Ajó, A. (Creator), Bierlich, K. (Creator), Bird, C. (Creator), Buck, C. L. (Creator), Haver, S. M. (Creator), Haxel, J. H. (Creator), Hildebrand, L. (Creator), Hunt, K. E. (Creator), Lemos, L. S. (Creator), New, L. (Creator) & Torres, L. G. (Creator), OSF, 2023
Dataset
-
The combined effects of multiple stressors in an endangered, long-lived species: lessons learnt and ways forward
Pirotta, E. (Creator), Tyack, P. (Creator), Adams, J. (Creator), Asaro, M. (Creator), Bouchet, P. (Creator), Crocker, D. (Creator), Durban, J. (Creator), Hall, A. (Creator), Harris, C. (Creator) & Knowlton, A. (Creator), OSF, 2025
Dataset
-
Discrete-space continuous-time models of marine mammal exposure to Navy sonar
Jones-Todd, C. (Contributor), Pirotta, E. (Contributor), Durban, J. (Contributor), Claridge, D. (Contributor), Baird, R. (Contributor), Falcone, E. (Contributor), Schorr, G. (Contributor), Watwood, S. (Contributor) & Thomas, L. (Contributor), Dryad, 14 Jun 2021
Dataset
-
Estimating the effects of stressors on the health, survival, and reproduction of a critically endangered, long-lived species
Pirotta, E. (Creator), Harris, C. M. (Creator), Photopoulou, T. (Creator), Tyack, P. L. (Creator) & Thomas, L. (Creator), OSF, 2022
Dataset
-
Decreasing body size is associated with reduced calving probability in critically endangered North Atlantic right whales
Pirotta, E. (Creator), Tyack, P. L. (Creator), Harris, C. M. (Creator), Photopoulou, T. (Creator) & Thomas, L. (Creator), OSF, 2024
Dataset
Activities
- 1 Participation in or organising a public festival/exhibition/event
-
Scottish Research Showcase 2023
Ross, K. (Organiser), Langford, S. (Organiser), Weijmans, A.-M. (Participant), Harris, C. M. (Participant), Reynolds, S. C. (Participant), Kidd, G. (Participant), Mccurry, A. (Participant), Zacarias, M. (Participant), Pirotta, E. (Participant), Marques, T. A. (Participant), Sumner-Kalkun, J. (Participant), Newton, J. (Participant), Messer, E. (Participant), Skipper, Y. (Participant), Robert, C. (Participant), Wang, B. (Participant), Tatham, R. (Participant), Mitchell, I. (Participant), Fotiade, R. (Participant), McCormack, M. (Participant), Mlcochova, H. (Participant), Duffin, K. (Participant), Ho, A. (Participant), Ben Hall, D. (Participant), Miall, N. (Participant), Williams, E. (Participant), Ferguson, V. (Participant), Banda, L. (Participant), Kamanga, M. (Participant), Nakanga, W. (Participant), Nkoka, O. (Participant), Nyirenda, G. (Participant) & Dube, A. (Participant)
8 Sept 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a public festival/exhibition/event