Jessica Montabaranom

Current work:

North East England Bottlenose Dolphin Project

Monitoring population dynamics and range expansion of bottlenose dolphins in England. Led boat-based fieldwork between Tynemouth and Bridlington Bay and processing of photo-ID data from this study area to help us understand their range expansion southward. 

East-Coast Bottlenose Dolphin Project

A long-term collaborative study monitoring the population dynamics and distribution of the bottlenose dolphin along the East-coast of Scotland using photo-ID methods. Assisted in boat-based fieldwork in the Firth of Tay, St Andrews Bay and Firth of Forth, and processing of photo-ID data from these areas in addition to data collected by the Lighthouse Field Station in the Moray Firth.

Previous work:

Monitoring potential environmental impacts of tidal turbines on harbour porpoises and seals (MeyGen, Simec Atlantis (Scotland) and Morlais Demonstration Zone (Wales))

Studied the fine scale movements and behaviour of marine mammals in tidally energetic environments using active and passive acoustics. Processed and analysed data to measure 3D distribution and interactions with tidal turbines, specifically harbour porpoises and seals and monitor the effects of the tidal energy industry. Assisted in passive acoustic data collection and deployment/retrieval of acoustics recorders, to establish baseline abundance and distribution of marine mammals at future tidal turbine sites.