ORCID

0009-0000-2290-4092

Keywords

Orca, Florida Manatee, ABM, Anthropogenic Disturbance, Management, Habitat Utilization

Abstract

This dissertation details the construction and results from two agent-based models (ABMs) that quantify the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on very different marine mammals.  Most would agree the anthropogenic effects on animals are “bad”; the unknown is “how bad.”  Chapter 1 describes the ABM assessing the mortality risk from seagrass loss and the potential loss of a warm water refuge on manatees living in Florida ‘s Indian River Lagoon (IRL).  IRL manatees are at the northern habitat limit and susceptible to hypothermic mortality, and utilize natural and artificial warm water refuges to maintain core temperature.  Combined with reduced seagrass availability, the loss of any warm water refuge could be catastrophic.  Chapter 2 describes the 3D ABM quantifying the masking effects of noise on foraging by an endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) echolocating for salmon.  Since SRKW feed on reduced salmon populations, quantifying the impacts of noise on foraging is critical for recovery.  The ABMs presented here fill those knowledge gaps and quantify anthropogenic impacts as part of management decisions.  I integrated physiology and behavior into spatially explicit, highly detailed ABMs built as “management flight simulators” with policy levers.  The main finding from the SRKW foraging ABM is whale watching boats that follow the rules are less disruptive than cargo ships.  For IRL manatees, the synergistic effect of reduced seagrass coverage and refuge loss results in higher mortality than expected in adult manatees.  Also, the currently acceptable refuge temperature of 20° C may not be warm enough for sub-adult manatees.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Worthy, Graham

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Biology

Format

PDF

Document Type

Dissertation

Identifier

DP0053173

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