Hometown: Gustavus, AK

Degree seeking: M.S., Marine Biology, Fairbanks

Year of expected graduation: 2005

Major professor: Dr. Susan Hills

Previous university: Cornell University

Previous major: Natural Resources
 

Briefly describe your graduate project: Entanglement in fishing gear is recognized as a potentially significant source of serious injury and mortality for humpback whales, an endangered species, but to date no systematic efforts have been made to quantify this threat in Alaska. Humpback whales carry many natural scars, but those produced by entanglements are unique because they form binding, wrapping, and/or notch marks. By collecting and analyzing photographs of humpback whales' tailstocks, I will determine the minimum rate of nonlethal entanglement for humpback whales in Southeast Alaska (R/33-02).

Why did you choose UAF? I chose UAF because I love winter and because I wanted to stay networked in Alaska.

Favorite pastimes and hobbies: Sea kayaking, hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, contradancing, picking berries, and romping with my dog.

Most interesting educational experience so far: Disentangling a humpback whale calf from fishing gear near Kake in August 2004. It was fantastic to not only help the whale, but to also observe firsthand the types of injuries that entanglements can cause.

Future plans: I hope to be lucky enough to continue studying humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. In my free time, I'd like to expand my garden, learn how to do a handstand, and perhaps explore the world of indoor plumbing.

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