Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Research Institute

Meet Our Researchers

Dr. James “Buddy” Powell

Chief Zoological Officer & Executive Director

LOCATION USA

QUALIFICATION Pew Fellow in Marine Science

For more than 40 years, Dr. James “Buddy” Powell has worked to conserve manatees and other endangered species around the world through science and education. With an integrated approach to unlock solutions for conservation issues, his efforts have resulted in coastal protected areas in Florida, West Africa, Central America and Cuba.

As native Floridian in the 1970s, Dr. Powell’s work began with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as a biologist and manatee specialist. In 1986, he moved to West Africa where he studied manatees and forest elephants for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). After a cultural adjustment and gaining experience in managing people and changing human behavior, he was pivotal in establishing several coastal protected areas. He moved to Belize in the 1990s to manage WCS’s Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station. Upon his return to Florida, Dr. Powell administered the state’s research program on marine mammals and sea turtles for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In 2001, he became a Vice President at Wildlife Trust where he oversaw the Aquatic and National Divisions.

In 2008, Dr. Powell co-founded Sea to Shore Alliance. The organization was created to improve the health and productivity of coastal environments for the endangered species and human livelihoods that depend on them through research, education and conservation. Dr. Powell joined CMA as VP of Research & Conservation when Sea to Shore Alliance merged with Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Dr. Powell received his BSc. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Florida, his Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington, and his PhD in Zoology from the University of Cambridge in England. He was the recipient of the prestigious Pew Award in Marine Conservation in 2000, has been featured on “Champions of the Wild” and National Geographic’s “Wild Chronicles” documentaries, and has been honored with multiple awards and certificates. Dr. Powell has authored two books, numerous scientific publications and popular articles.

Email

Publications:

Professional Journals, Chapters and Articles:

Campbell, Howard W., and J. A. Powell. 1976. Endangered Species: The Florida Manatee. Fl. Nat., 49:15-20.

Powell, J. A. 1978. Evidence of carnivory in manatees (Trichechus  manatus).  J. Mamm., 59:442.

Powell, J. A., D. Belitsky, and G.B. Rathbun. 1981. Status of the West Indian manatee in Puerto Rico. J. Mamm., 62:642-646.

Powell, J. A. 1981. The manatee population in Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida. In:  R. Brownell and Ralls, Eds.  The West Indian manatee in Florida. Fl. Nat. Res. 154 pp.

Powell, J. A. and J. Waldron. 1981. The manatee population in Blue Spring, Volusia County, Florida. In: R. Brownell and Ralls, Eds. The West Indian manatee in Florida. Fl. Nat. Res. 154 pp.

Scott, Michael D. and J. A. Powell. 1982. Commensal feeding of little blue heron with manatees. Wilson Bul. 94:215-216.

Powell, J. A. 1983. Mermaids: A special kind of animal. Fund for Animals. 5:26.

Rathbun, G. B., J.A. Powell, and G. Cruz. 1983. Status of the  West Indian manatee in Honduras.  Bio. Cons. 26:301-308.

Powell, J.A. and G. B. Rathbun. 1984. Abundance and distribution of manatees along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. NE Gulf Science. 7:1-28.

Powell, J.A. 1984. Observations of commensal cleaning by bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), a centrarchid. Copeia. 4:996-998.

Powell, J.A. 1984. The West African manatee in The Gambia and  potential impact of the Balingho Antisalt Dam. U.S.Agency for International Development. 86pp.

Etheridge, K., G. B. Rathbun, J.A. Powell, and H.I. Kochman. 1985. Consumption of aquatic plants by the West Indian manatee. J. Aquatic Plant Manag. 23:21-25.

Kochman, H. I., J. A. Powell and G.B. Rathbun. 1988. Use of  Kings Bay, Crystal River, Florida by the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). J. Wild. Management.

Powell, J. A. 1988. Analysis of agreements, treaties, conventions and U.S. laws pertaining to the management of living marine resources with respect to their biological objectives. In: W.S. Wooster, Ed. Fishery Management and Science: Objectives and Constraints. Springer – Verlag.

Lefebvre, Lynn and J.A. Powell. 1990. Effects of grazing by manatees on seagrasses in Hobe Sound, Florida. U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. NTIS 46 pp.

Powell, J.A. 1994. Korup National Park: Report on research and conservation activities of the Cameroon Biodiversity Project. Wildlife Conservation Society. Occasional Paper. 123 pp.

Rathbun, G.B., J.P. Reid, R.K. Bonde and J.A. Powell. 1995. Reproduction in free-ranging Florida manatees. Pages: 135-156 in T.J. O’Shea, B.B. Ackerman, and H.F. Percival, editors. Population biology of the Florida manatee. National Biological Service Information and Technology Report 1.

Powell, J.A. 1998.  The ecology of forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis Matschie 1900) in Banyang-Mbo and Korup forests, Cameroon with particular reference to their role as seed dispersal agents. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England. 334 pp.

Jefferson, T.A.,  B. E. Curry, S. Leatherwood and J.A. Powell. 1997. Dolphins and porpoises of West Africa: A review of records (Cetacea: Delphinidae, Phocoenidae). Mammalia, 61(22): 87-108.

Lefebvre, L.L., J.P. Reid, W. J. Kenworthy & J.A. Powell. 2000. Characterizing manatee habitat use and seagrass grazing in Florida and Puerto Rico: implications for conservation and management. Pacific Conservation Biology. 5: 289-298.

Powell, J.A., T.A. Jefferson, B.E. Curry, S. Leatherwood and S. Pankhurst. 1996. Marine Mammals of West and Central Africa: A Report on Distribution and Status. UNEP/OCA. 98 pp.

Powell, J.A. 1996.  The distribution and biology of the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis Link, 1795). UNEP/OCA.  64 pp.

O’Shea, T.J. and J.A. Powell.  2001. Marine Mammals: Sirenians. In: J. Steele, S. Thorpe and K. Turekian (eds), Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences. Academic Press Ltd. London, UK.

Reynolds, J.E. and J.A. Powell. 2002. The manatees–Family Trichechidae (Trichechus manatus, T. senegalensis, and T. inunguis). IN: W.F. Perrin, B. Wursig, and H. Thewissen (eds.), Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.

Vianna, J. A., R. K. Bonde, S. Caballero, J. P. Giraldo, R. P. Lima, A. Clark, M. Marmontel, B. Morales-Vela, M. J. de Souza, L. Parr, M. A. Rodriguez-Lopez, A. A. Mignucci-Giannoni, J. A. Powell and F. R. Santos.  2006.  Phylogeography, phylogeny and hybridization in trichechid sirenians: implications for manatee conservation.  Molecular Ecology 15:433-447.

Edwards, H.H., K.H. Pollock, B.B. Ackerman, J.E. Reynolds III and J.A. Powell.  2007.  Estimation of detection probability in manatee aerial surveys at a winter aggregation site.  Journal of Wildlife Management 71(6):2052-2060.

Nchanji, A. C., Forboseh, P. F. and Powell, J. A. 2008.  Estimating the defaecation rate of the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) in Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, south-western Cameroon. African Journal of Ecology, 46: 55–59.

Alvarez-Alemán, A., C.A. Beck, and J.A. Powell. 2010. First Report of a Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Cuba. Aquatic Mammals 36(2):148-153.

Hunter M. E., N. E. Auil-Gomez, K. P. Tucker, R. K. Bonde, J. Powell, P. M. McGuire. 2010. Low genetic variation and evidence of limited dispersal in the regionally important Belize manatee. Animal Conservation 13:592–602.

Sulzner, K., C.K. Johnson, R.K. Bonde, N. Auil Gomez, J. Powell, K. Nielsen, M.P. Luttrell, A.D.M.E. Osterhaus, and A.A. Aguirre. 2012. Health assessment and seroepidemiologic survey of potential pathogens in wild Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus). PLos ONE 7(9):1-11.

Wong, A.W., R.K. Bonde, J. Siegal-Willott, M.A. Stamper, J. Colee, J.A. Powell, J.P. Reid, C. Deutsch, and K.E. Harr. 2012. Monitoring oral temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate of West Indian manatees during capture and handling in the field. Aquatic Mammals 38(1):1-16, DOI: 10.1578/AM.38.1.2012.1.

Siegal-Willott, J.L., K.E. Harr, J.O. Hall, L.C. Hayek, N. Auil-Gomez, R.K. Bonde, J.A. Powell and D.H. Heard. 2013. Blood mineral concentrations in manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris and Trichechus manatus manatus). Journal Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 44(2):285-294.

Hernández D., A. Álvarez-Alemán, R. K. Bonde, J.A. Powell, E. García-Machado. 2013. Diversidad haplotípica en el manatí Trichechus manatus en Cuba: Resultados preliminares. Revista de Investigaciones Marinas. 33(2): 58-61.

Alvarez-Alemán, A, J. Powell and E. García Alfonso. 2013. Protocolo para el monitoreo de poblaciones de manatí en áreas protegidas de Cuba. P 68. ISBN: 978-959-287-046-8.

Martínez, Damir & Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Bonde, Robert & Powell, James & García-Machado, Erik. (2013). Diversidad haplotípica en el manatí Trichechus manatus en Cuba: Resultados preliminaries. Revista de Investigaciones Marinas. 33. 58-61. 10.13140/2.1.2922.5601.

Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Valdes, Jorge & Alfonso, Eddy & Powell, James & Taylor, Cynthia. 2016. Occurrence of the Endangered Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus in a marine protected area, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Oryx. -1. 1-8. 10.1017/S0030605315001143.

Alvarez-Alemán, A., J. Angulo-Valdés, E. García Alfonso, J. Powell, & C. Taylor, 2017. Occurrence of the Endangered Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus in a marine protected area, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Oryx, 51(2), 324-331. doi:10.1017/S0030605315001143.

Alvarez-Alemán, A., Alfonso, E. G., Martin-Vianna, Y. F., Gonzalez, Z. H., Domenech, R. E., Hurtado, A., J. Powell, C. Jacoby, T. K. Frazer. 2018. Status and conservation of manatees in Cuba: historical observations and recent insights. Bull. Mar. Sci. 94, 313–327. doi: 10.5343/bms.2016.1132

Allen, Aarin Conrad & Beck, Cathy & Bonde, Robert & Powell, James & Auil Gomez, Nicole. 2018. Diet of the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Belize, Central America – CORRIGENDUM. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 98. 1841-1842. 10.1017/S0025315418000760.

Powell J.A., K. M. Scolardi, and L. Keith-Diagne. 2019. Sirenians In Cochran, J. Kirk; Bokuniewicz, J. Henry; Yager, L. Patricia (eds.) Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 3rd Edition, vol.[2], pp. 641-650. Oxford: Elsevier.

Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Alfonso, Eddy & Powell, James & Jacoby, Charles & Austin, James & Frazer, Thomas. 2021. Causes of Mortality for Endangered Antillean Manatees in Cuba. Frontiers in Marine Science. 8. 10.3389/fmars.2021.646021.

Castelblanco-Martínez, Nataly & Slone, Daniel & Yauri, Sarah & Ramos, Eric & Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Attademo, Fernanda & Beck, Cathy & Bonde, Robert & Butler, Susan & Cabrias Contreras, Lesly & Caicedo-Herrera, D. & Galves, Jamal & Gómez-Camelo, I. & Gonzalez-Socoloske, Daniel & Jiménez-Domínguez, D. & Luna, F. & Mona-Sanabria, Y. & Morales-Vela, Benjamín & Olivera-Gomez, Leon & Mignucci-Giannoni, Antonio. 2021. Analysis of body condition indices reveals different ecotypes of the Antillean manatee. Scientific Reports. 11. 10.1038/s41598-021-98890-0.

Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Hunter, Margaret & Frazer, Thomas & Powell, James & Alfonso, Eddy & Austin, James. 2022. The first assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of the endangered West Indian manatee in Cuba. Genetica. 150. 10.1007/s10709-022-00172-8.

Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Hunter, Margaret & Frazer, Thomas & Powell, James & Alfonso, Eddy & Austin, James. 2022. The first assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of the endangered West Indian manatee in Cuba. Genetica. 150. 10.1007/s10709-022-00172-8.

Galves, Jamal & Galves, Celeshia & Auil Gomez, Nicole & Bonde, Robert & Powell, James & Alvarez Aleman, Anmari & Castelblanco-Martínez, Nataly. 2022. Analysis of a long-term dataset of Antillean manatee strandings in Belize: implications for conservation. Oryx. 57. 10.1017/S0030605321000983.

Erdsack, N., Galves, J. A., & Powell, J. E. 2023. Heat loss or heat uptake? Skin temperature in Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus, Sirenia: Trichechidae) in Belize. Revista De Biología Tropical, 71(S4), e57272. https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop.v71iS4.57272

 

 

Manatee Research

International Manatee Research

Dr. Anmari Alvarez Aleman

Caribbean Research Director

LOCATION USA / CUBA

Dr. Anmari Alvarez Aleman has been working with manatees, dolphins and the coastal communities that interact with these species for more than 15 years. Her passion for marine mammals and conservation began as a youth growing up in Cuba leading her to pursue academic studies and a career in this field as an adult. 

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Havana, Cuba, in 2006. After completing that degree, she worked with the Center for Marine Research at the University of Havana, with a focus on the conservation of the Antillean manatee. In 2010, she completed her master’s degree in Integrated Management of Coastal Zones. 

In 2015 she was granted an assistantship position at the University of Florida and became the first Cuban student to hold this opportunity in more than 50 years. She began to pursue a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Ecology with a concentration on Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. The core of her research was population genetics and the conservation of the West Indian manatee with a focus on Cuba. After four years of research and studies, and the birth of a baby boy, she graduated in December 2019. 

Her research has generated scientific knowledge to support governmental actions to benefit species and habitats on both local and regional levels. She has published her findings in scientific journals and presented at several workshops and international conferences.

She often collaborates with the scientific group of the Manatee Monitoring Program of the National System of Protected Areas, Cuba. She is the Meso-America Regional Co-Chair of the Sirenia Specialist Group, IUCN http://locus39.net/iucnssg/?page_id=75.

As the Caribbean Program Director at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, she designs, implements, and oversees research and conservation projects of marine megafauna and their habitats in the Caribbean region. Some of her current research includes understanding the connection between the Cuban and Florida manatee population and generating knowledge about the importance of Marine Protected Areas for manatee conservation in the Caribbean.

Publications:

-Anmari Alvarez-Alemán, Margaret E. Hunter, Thomas K. Frazer, James A. Powell,  Eddy Garcia Alfonso, James D. Austin. 2022. The first assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of the endangered West Indian manatee in Cuba. DOI: 10.1007/s10709-022-00172-8.

-Alvarez-Alemán, A. Angulo-Valdés, J. Powell, J. García, E. Taylor, C.K. 2016. Antillean manatee occurrence in a marine protected area, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. DOI: 10.1017/S0030605315001143.

-Alvarez-Alemán, A. García, E. Forneiro Martin-Viana, Y. Hernández González,  Z. Escalona Domenech, R. Hurtado, A. Powell, J. Jacoby, CA, Frazer, TK. 2018. Status and conservation of manatees in Cuba: historical observations and recent insights. Bulletin of Marine Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2016.1132.

-Alvarez-Alemán, A., Austin, JD. Jacoby, CA. TK. Frazer. 2018. Cuban Connection: Regional Role for Florida’s Manatees. Frontiers in Marine Science. 5 (294). doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00294.

Jamal Galves

Belize Program Coordinator

LOCATION Belize

A native of Belize, Jamal Galves has been passionate about protecting wildlife since childhood. From the age of 12, he knew he wanted to work with animals – specifically manatees.

In 1998, Jamal met Executive Director Dr. James “Buddy” Powell and USGS scientist Robert Bonde while participating in his first manatee health assessment. Working with these two renowned scientists influenced Jamal enormously; he was immediately hooked and soon found himself taking every opportunity to work with manatees. While most of his high school classmates were spending their weekends and holidays relaxing, Jamal was working with scientists, monitoring and feeding two manatees in their final stages of rehabilitation. He eventually helped with the tracking of those two manatees after their release.

After finishing high school, Jamal volunteered to work with Nicole Auil Gomez, an associate with Sea to Shore Alliance, now CMA Research Institute, and was eventually given a full-time position as coordinator of the manatee project., continuing his dream of protecting wildlife. Jamal’s responsibilities include addressing and responding to any manatee related incidents in the entire country of Belize; capturing, tagging, and tracking manatees; collecting data; rescue, release and monitoring of rehabilitated manatees in the wild; and educational outreach and awareness.

Jamal recently was awarded the prestigious Ocean Hero Award by Oceana Belize for his dedicated, passionate and heroic work with the endangered manatee. He has also been presented with the Belize National Hero Award (Meritorious Award” from the Belize Government for his conservation contribution to the country.  He have been named a National Geographic Explorer and Natgeo PhotoArk Edge Fellow. “These animals are in trouble and need our help – I have dedicated my life to helping this species,” he said upon accepting the award.

Publications:

Galves et al. 2023. Analysis of a long-term dataset of Antillean manatee strandings in Belize: implications for conservation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605321000983

Ramos EA, Galves J, Searle L, Walker Z, Walker P, Castelblanco-Martínez N, et al. (2024) Agonistic interactions initiated by adult bottlenose dolphins on Antillean manatee calves in the Caribbean Sea. PLoS ONE 19(1): e0295739. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295739

Celeshia Guy

Conservation Biologist

LOCATION Belize

Celeshia Guy has been involved with the programs of Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) for nearly a decade, during which she gained extensive experience in conservation and research. She has also worked with the Belize Zoo, the Belize Bird Rescue, and Oceana Belize, increasing her knowledge about the natural resources of her home country.

After graduating from the University of Belize with a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Resources Management in 2010, Celeshia eventually went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in Coastal Science and Policy from the University of California, Santa Cruz.  She graduated in 2020 after conducting a Capstone Research Project focused on manatee conservation in Belize utilizing data collected from CMARI. A publication, resulting from her Master’s Capstone project, entitled, “Increasing mortality of Endangered Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) due to watercraft collisions in Belize”, was published in June 2023 in the journal, Endangered Species Research. https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v51/p103-113/.

Upon graduation, Celeshia returned home to continue work with the Belize Manatee Conservation Program for which she plays an integral role in its maintenance and growth. Within the Program, she is responsible for organizing and implementing educational outreach, assisting with daily programmatic activities and financial planning, liaising with communities, and collaborating in and participating with research and conservation activities.

As a trained Conservation Biologist, Celeshia is an invaluable asset to the Belize team, providing keen insights into the education and research activities that are leading to long-lasting conservation change in the country.

Publications:

Endangered Species Research. https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v51/p103-113/.

U.S. Manatee Research

Monica Ross

Director of Manatee Research and Conservation
Senior Research Scientist

LOCATION USA

Monica has over twenty-five years of research experience studying manatee behavior and habitat use. She has worked for state, non-profit or private research organizations and has assisted organizations in developing manatee research projects. Her knowledge and skills have helped provide valuable input to state and federal agencies when developing or improving manatee habitat protection measures.

As a native Floridian always in or near the water, Monica grew up fascinated with how marine mammals interacted and learned from each other. Fresh out of college, Monica focused on marine mammal cognitive and adaptive abilities. She later worked on projects focusing on oyster larvae development, Florida game-fish stock enhancement, fish tag shedding/retention and fish population monitoring programs.

Monica found her passion when she first worked on a wild Florida manatee tagging project in the early 1990s. She found her niche in trying to understand how manatees learn and make choices in their day-to-day lives. She has focused her research on manatee behavior related to habitat selection. Currently research efforts spotlight documenting manatee use of springs along the St Johns River which do not have manatee protection plans and at industrial sites to determine the level of manatee site attraction during winter. 

Monica is also working with partners to determine manatee fringe habitat use within Alabama and Georgia while also conducting photo identification of encountered manatees. She has expanded her research to also include habitat health and enhancement under different management strategies. Healthy spring systems are vital for manatee survival and are directly associated with habitat selection. Monica has more than seven years of professional animal training experience with dolphins, birds, and terrestrial animals, along with 20 additional years of personal experience training dogs for competitive obedience, agility or herding competitions. Enjoying animal behavior is not just a job for her but a way of life.

Nicole Bartlett

Research Scientist

LOCATION USA

Nicole Bartlett is a Research Assistant for CMA Research Institute, conducting photo identification, behavioral observations, and monitoring of tagged animals from South Florida to South Carolina. This sometimes involves sailing a powerboat across a no-motor zone with a bimini, playing “Gator or Log” with locals, or finding wayward boat ramps via Google Earth.

Nicole first started working with Sea to Shore in 2013 carrying out onsite survey and photo identification. Duties expanded from there to include assisting with manatee captures and rescues, vegetation surveys, temperature monitoring, animal verification, data entry, and drawing manatee cartoons for her favorite vendor (thanks Sonotronics!). 

Prior to working for CMA Research Institute, you were likely to find Nicole canoeing various Florida waterways with Outward Bound, or hiking in Texas. Originally from Arkansas, Nicole saw her first manatee while traveling through Mosquito Lagoon. Nicole spends her free time growing various hot peppers, riding motorcycles, and catering to the whims of the two cats and dog who insist she spoil them relentlessly.

Jennifer Galbraith

Research Scientist

LOCATION USA

In 2018 Jennifer joined Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute transitioning from rehab to post release monitoring of manatees once they have been released as a part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership.

As a Florida native, Jennifer has always had an interest in protecting the wildlife and places of her home. In 2002 she started volunteering with the manatee hospital at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. She earned a permanent position in the Florida Native Wildlife Department and David A Straz Jr, Manatee Hospital, working to rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned manatees. 

When not tracking manatees, Jennifer is a distance runner, running races to benefit her favorite nonprofit organizations. She also spends her time backpacking, kayaking and hiking with her husband.

 

Amanda Mathieu

Research Assistant

LOCATION USA

Amanda is a part of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and is responsible for tracking young, naïve manatees (mainly on the East Coast of Florida) who have been released into the wild after rehabilitation. In order to ensure released manatees are integrating into the wild population, she monitors their behavior, movements, and body condition and coordinates the rescue of any naïve manatee that fails to succeed in the wild. 

She previously served in the US Navy and simultaneously began working on her Biology degree. She later worked as a vet tech, a wildlife photographer, and a Hawaiian Monk Seal biologist where she gained an appreciation for field work and goofy marine mammals. She enjoys yoga, freediving, lengthy beach excursions, various creative projects, and pampering her pups, Fin and Coconut. 

Brianna Rock

Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership, Research Assistant

LOCATION USA

Bri is part of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and is responsible for tracking young, naïve manatees (mainly in Central Florida) who have been released into the wild after rehabilitation. In order to ensure released manatees are integrating into the wild population, she monitors their behavior, movements, and body condition and assists in the rescue of any naïve manatee that fails to succeed in the wild.

Bri is originally from Ohio, but has always had a passion for working with marine animals. She started her journey in this career field by interning at facilities like Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder and right here at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium! These research-focused experiences helped her to develop skills in studying marine mammal behavior.

After earning her biology degree, she went on to get a master’s degree in marine biology at Texas A&M University (Corpus Christi) where she researched the impacts of climate change on seagrasses. During this time, she also worked at the Texas State Aquarium, where she participated in animal encounters, aquarium diving, and animal behavior and welfare positions. After graduating, she moved to Florida where she worked as an aquarist at Discovery Cove and an education instructor at the Seas with Nemo & Friends in Epcot before joining the CMARI team.

When not tracking manatees, Bri enjoys reading, yoga, scuba diving, and spending quality time with her friends and loved ones. And of course, cuddling with her cats, Hiccup and Berlioz!

Julia Courville

Field Assistant

LOCATION USA

Julia joined Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute as a field assistant in Spring 2024. Originally from the San Francisco Bay area, she fell in love with freshwater springs and the gentleness and curiosity of manatees in Florida. Julia received her bachelor’s degree in marine science and biology at California State University, Monterey Bay. While an undergraduate student, she rescued numerous pinnipeds and photographed various cetacean species off the west coast. Julia obtained her Master of Science degree at Jacksonville University where her thesis research encompassed microplastic ingestion in odontocetes. She has also been a co-investigator for bottlenose dolphin observation surveys in the St. Johns River and a volunteer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Northeast marine mammal field station. Julia loves scuba diving, traveling, hiking, and hanging out with her friends and family, especially her pup, Roo. Her favorite animal is the Yangtze finless porpoise, the only freshwater porpoise in the world.

Dr. Sarah Farinelli

Postdoctoral Marine Mammal Scientist

LOCATION USA

Dr. Sarah Farinelli is a postdoctoral scientist at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, specializing in conservation biology and spatial ecology of aquatic mammals, particularly sirenian species. She earned her B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Environmental and Conservation Biology and a minor in Environmental Science from George Mason University in 2016. Sarah’s undergraduate research on the impact of conservation efforts on the Florida manatee population earned her the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Award for the College of Science.  

Following her undergraduate studies, Sarah pursued a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy at George Mason University, completing her degree in May 2023. Her dissertation focused on developing new detection methods for threatened and cryptic manatees, including the use of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) and environmental DNA. This research primarily focused on African manatees, one of the most understudied marine mammals in the world, in Nigeria and also included studying the Amazonian manatee in Peru. 

During her Ph.D. program, Sarah interned with several nonprofit conservation organizations and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the undergraduate course, Ecology and Evolution. She received the 2021 Innovative Teaching Award for her exceptional contributions to improving student learning in Biology courses through innovative teaching strategies. With colleagues, Sarah also conducted research independent from her dissertation, including using UAVs to survey hippo populations in northeast Nigeria and evaluating remote-sensing methods for assessing the risk of accidental capture in fishing nets for humpback whales and loggerhead sea turtles in Oman, among others.  

Sarah is committed to collaborating with local partners to develop and implement innovative techniques for studying manatees and other threatened aquatic and semi-aquatic species in understudied areas worldwide. She is dedicated to working with key stakeholders to translate research findings into conservation actions and policies, as well as disseminating research results to the scientific community through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.  

Sarah is a National Geographic Explorer and a former recipient of the prestigious U.S. Fulbright Student Research Fellowship in Nigeria. Her research has also been featured in CNN’s Inside Africa alongside local experts.  

Publications:  

Farinelli, S., Keith-Diagne, L., Garnica, J., Keiman, J. and Luther, D., 2024. Quantifying minimum survey effort to reliably detect Amazonian manatees using an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) at an ex situ soft-release site. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals. 

LaDue, C.A., Farinelli, S.M., Eranda, I., Jayasinghe, C. and Vandercone, R.P., 2021. The Influence of Habitat Changes on Elephant Mortality Associated with Human–Elephant Conflict: Identifying Areas of Concern in the North Central Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. Sustainability, 13(24), p.13707. 

Luther, D., Beatty, C.R., Cooper, J., Cox, N., Farinelli, S., Foster, M., Lamoreux, J., Stephenson, P.J. and Brooks, T.M., 2020. Global assessment of critical forest and landscape restoration needs for threatened terrestrial vertebrate species. Global Ecology and Conservation, 24, p.e01359. 

Luther, D., Cooper, W.J., Wong, J., Walker, M., Farinelli, S., Visseren‐Hamakers, I., Burfield, I.J., Simkins, A., Bunting, G., Brooks, T.M. and Dicks, K., 2021. Conservation actions benefit the most threatened species: A 13‐year assessment of Alliance for Zero Extinction species. Conservation Science and Practice, 3(10), p.e510. 

Usman, A., Farinelli, S.M. and Baker, L.R., 2022. Observation of twins in hippopotamus in Nigeria. Oryx, 56(3), pp.333-333. 

Dr. Kerry McNally

Research Scientist and Rehabilitation Manager

LOCATION USA

Dr. Kerry McNally is a Research Scientist for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and the Rehabilitation Manager for the Animal Health Department at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. She has been working with sea turtles and a variety of marine animals for over 15 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Occidental College in 2005, during which she completed multiple internships in marine mammal and sea turtle care. After completing this degree, she spent time working in small animal veterinary clinics as a surgical technician, ICU nurse, and rehabilitation technician in both Florida and North Carolina.

In 2007, she moved to Massachusetts and began her career specifically working with stranded sea turtles, cetaceans, and pinnipeds. Her time began at the National Marine Life Center in Buzzard’s Bay, MA before starting as a biologist at New England Aquarium (NEAq) in 2008. Over the 13 years at NEAq, she worked with rehabilitating sea turtles, aquatic animals under managed care, and the rescue of pinnipeds and cetaceans. In 2015 while working at NEAq, she began a PhD program in the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her research focused on microbial communities across disease states in sea turtles. She graduated with a PhD in Environmental Sciences in 2020.

In 2021, Kerry began working as the Hospital Manager at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she continued her work in the aquatic veterinary field and managed the sea turtle rehabilitation program. Starting in 2022, she continues to manage the sea turtle and wildlife rehabilitation at CMA and began research on a variety of projects related to aquatic animal health and conservation.

Publications: 

McMurrer J, McElhiney A, McNally K, Innis CJ. 2022. Observations on the Use of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags in Teleosts and Elasmobranchs at a Public Aquarium, 728 Cases, 2007-2020. Zoo Biology. 1-6.

King K, Joblon M, McNally K, Clayton L, Pettis H, Corkeron P, Nutter F. 2021. Assessing North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) Welfare. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2(4): 278-739.

McNally KL, Bowen JL, Brisson JO, Kennedy A, Innis CJ. 2021. Evaluation of the Respiratory Microbiome and the Use of Tracheal Lavage as a Diagnostic Tool in Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). Animals 11(10): 2927.

McNally KL, Innis CJ, Kennedy A, Bowen JL. 2021. Characterization of oral and cloacal microbial communities in cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) during the time course of rehabilitation. PLOS ONE 16(5): e0252086.

McNally KL, Mott CR, Guertin JR, Bowen JL. 2021. Microbial communities of wild captured Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Endangered Species Research 45: 21-36.

McNally KL, Mott CR, Guertin JR, Gorham JC, and Innis CJ. 2020. Venous blood gas and biochemical analysis of wild captured green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) from the Gulf of Mexico. PLOS ONE 15(8): e0237596.

McNally KL and Innis CJ. 2020. Plasma biochemistry and hematologic values of cold-stunned loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Journal of Herp Medicine and Surgery 30(2): 88-95.

Hunt KE, Merigo C, Burgess EA, Buck CL, Davis D, Kennedy A, Lory L, Wocial J, McNally K, and Innis C. 2020. Effects of Ground Transport in Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Turtles. Integrative Organismal Biology 2(1):

Woodhams DC, Bletz MC, Becker CG, Bender HA, Buitrago-Rosas D, Diebboll H, Huynh R, Kerns PJ, Kueneman J, Kurosawa E, LaBumbard BC, Lyons C, McNally K, Schliep K, Shankar N, Tokash-Peters AG, Vences M, and Whetstone R. 2020. Host-associated microbiomes are predicted by immune system complexity and climate. Genome Biology 21:23

 

North Atlantic Right Whale Research

Melanie White

Research Scientist, Georgia Team

LOCATION USA

Melanie White is the CMARI project manager for the North Atlantic right whale conservation program. She manages three field teams that conduct aerial surveys on the only known calving grounds for this critically endangered species. Each winter, Melanie is based in Saint Simons Island, Georgia where she participates in survey flights off the coast of Georgia and northeast Florida.

Melanie has been flying North Atlantic right whale surveys since December 2005 and has been based in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia. She works as an observer, survey coordinator and field supervisor monitoring the location, individual identification and real-time vessel mitigation for right whales.

Melanie grew up in upstate New York surrounded by lakes and forests, so her love for the ocean only surfaced thanks to a family trip to Acadia National Park, Maine. The variety of marine creatures found in countless tide pools captivated her and triggered the start of her fascination to learn about the world below the vast ocean’s surface. She is a graduate from Ursinus College, Pennsylvania and holds a B.S. in Biology.

Melanie has spent time studying large whales on both coasts. She has monitored the gray whale population in British Columbia, Canada and now spends her time in both the northern and southern sectors of the U.S. eastern seaboard. During the summer Melanie can be found on the whale watching vessel, M/V Granite State, in Rye, New Hampshire where she works as a naturalist and research associate with the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. Melanie then heads south in the winter coordinating right whale aerial surveys for the CMA Research Institute each calving season.

When she is not in the field searching for whales, Melanie tends to gravitate to the environment surrounding her. She enjoys hiking, aquatic birding, searching for treasures on the beach and nature photography.

Irissa Danke

Research Scientist, Georgia team

LOCATION USA

This is Irissa’s second season with the Georgia North Atlantic Right Whale team. Having grown up near the waters of Puget Sound, WA and racing kayaks all through high school, Irissa has always been drawn to the water. She earned a B.S. in marine biology from the University of Washington and is thrilled that her past education and experiences have led to being an aerial observer. While in school she assisted a graduate student tracking gray whales in Puget Sound, analyzed acoustic data of Southern fin whales, and worked in a marine parasite lab. She was also an intern with both Cascadia Research Collective where she focused on conducting photo ID of gray, blue, and humpback whales, and NOAA’s Marine Mammal Lab where she analyzed aerial survey footage of ice seals in the Beaufort Sea and quantified their reactions to the survey aircraft. After graduating, she worked as a marine mammal technician collecting both behavioral and acoustic data on the Cook Inlet beluga whales up in Alaska. Most recently, she has been an intern with SR3, Washington’s only marine mammal rehab center, and an instructor at CIMI’s marine focused summer camp on Catalina Island.

When not involved with marine mammal research, Irissa loves to do pretty much anything outdoors (especially scuba diving!), travel, do yoga, and read murder mysteries.

Mikeelee Brink

Research Scientist, Georgia team

LOCATION USA

Mikeelee is excited to be returning for her second field season as a North Atlantic Right whale aerial observer with the Georgia team. She grew up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, home of Punxsutawney Phil! Yet, with no ocean nearby, she has always been fascinated by it and its wonderful creatures. At a young age she made it her goal to contribute to ocean conservation.

Mikeelee obtained a B.S. degree in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston. While pursuing her degree, she completed an undergraduate thesis investigating the physiological effects of pollutants on marine organisms. Upon completion of her degree, she worked as a fishery observer conducting surveys on Alaskan groundfish populations for NOAA. She completed over 20 trips onboard commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Mikeelee went on to intern with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) rescuing dolphins and seals on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. During this time, she responded to 31 dolphins and 3 large whales. In the off-season, she works as a Protected Species Observer on hopper dredge vessels.

When not in the field, she enjoys painting, photography, hiking, snowboarding, and going on adventures with her adorable dog, Goose.

Courtney Caccamo

Research Scientist, North Carolina team

LOCATION USA

Courtney is excited to be joining the North Carolina team for the upcoming 2024-2025 field season as an aerial observer for North Atlantic Right Whales. While she has taken a bit of a windy road to working in the marine mammal world, each step in her journey has deepened her commitment to conservation.  

Courtney spent her undergraduate years at Providence College studying the foraging behavior of bees, which ignited her love for fieldwork and the natural world. This passion led her to a summer internship at Mystic Aquarium, where she worked with California sea lions. To further her marine journey, Courtney spent a year as both a fisheries field technician and a groundfish observer for commercial fisheries in Rhode Island. She then worked a season with Allied Whale and the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. as a research assistant. This experience fueled her enthusiasm for large whale research and photo identification, which she is eager to continue this winter. 

When she’s not in the field, Courtney loves being outdoors and can often be found hiking, swimming, running, or relaxing on the beach with a good book. 

Hannah Gricks

Research Scientist, North Carolina team

LOCATION USA

This is Hannah’s first season as a North Atlantic Right Whale aerial observer with the North Carolina team.  Hannah grew up in south-central Pennsylvania, yet gained a love for the ocean thanks to her family’s summer trips to Maryland beaches.

Hannah graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and her coursework at the Chincoteague Bay Field station shaped her love for marine science and field work. Hannah returned to CBFS to work as an Educator leading participants of all ages on marine science field excursions.  Most recently, Hannah worked in Seattle, Washington as a Deckhand and Educator aboard a 90-year-old sailboat, Orion, with an organization called Deep Green Wilderness. While on multi-week sailing voyages, Hannah taught high school students about Salish Sea ecology, research techniques, and whale observation methods.

One of Hannah’s favorite lessons to teach was about endangered species policy, specifically as it related to her organization’s second mission, Save the North Pacific Right Whale. As a true whale nerd, Hannah is so excited to jump back into the research field with CMARI and contribute to the protection of right whales. 

Meghan Bradley

Research Scientist, North Carolina team

LOCATION USA

Meg is North Carolina’s Team Lead for North Atlantic Right Whale aerial surveys. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Merrimack College, North Andover, MA and a M.S. in Marine Mammal Science from University of St Andrews, Scotland.

Meg’s passion for whales was sparked in her undergraduate years, when a professor nudged her towards an internship at Blue Ocean Society, where she cultivated a deep appreciation for these ocean giants aboard a whale watch vessel. Her interest led her to serve as a deckhand at Granite State Whale Watch, in Rye, NH, and subsequently a naturalist at Boston Harbor City Cruises, where she shared her enthusiasm for marine life with eager audiences.

Between aerial survey seasons, Meg works as a Research Technician at the Duke University Marine Lab, participating in offshore research trips and analyzing whale tag data to further inform conservation strategies.

When not navigating the air or seas, you’ll find Meg on land, indulging in her love for running, yoga, and ice cream. Expanding her skill set, Meg is currently soaring to new heights—literally—as she works towards obtaining her pilot’s license. 

Bailey Windhausen

Research Scientist, South Carolina team

LOCATION USA

Bailey is thrilled to join CMARI for the 2024-2025 field season as a North Atlantic Right Whale Aerial Observer for South Carolina. Bailey worked as an aerial observer for the Florida-based team in 2023-2024 and is excited to continue her journey working with Right Whales! Bailey was born and raised in upstate New York surrounded by beautiful wildlife that inspired her passion for environmental conservation. She recently moved to coastal South Carolina and is excited to explore a new beautiful place to call home with her partner John and 6 month old puppy Scout.  

Bailey obtained a Master’s of Science in Marine Science and Environmental Science from Prescott College in 2022. She worked on board a whale watching boat in Reykjavik Iceland as a research assistant while writing her master’s thesis on “Estimating the Residence Times of Recurring Humpback Whales in the Faxafloi Bay, Reykjavik Iceland”.

Bailey was invited to present her masters thesis at New Castle University in the UK.  She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science in 2021 and studied three semesters at the Prescott College Kino Bay Center in the Gulf of California, Sonora Mexico studying the diversity of marine life. Bailey completed research at the Kino Bay Center on the “Preliminary Analysis of the Anomalous Coloration of Long-Beaked Common Dolphins in the Midriff Island Region of the Gulf of California”.  

When she is not studying whales, Bailey can be found baking, and creating recipes to try with friends and family. She enjoys crocheting, board games, and playing hide and seek with her puppy.  

Juli Fetkewicz

Research Scientist, South Carolina team

LOCATION USA

Juli is joining the Right Whale South Carolina team for her first season as an aerial observer of the North Atlantic Right Whales. She couldn’t be more excited. Although she grew up land-locked in Colorado, her passion for marine biology flourished during the summers she spent by the sea with family in Cape May, New Jersey. 

After earning a B.A. in Conservation Biology from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, Juli ventured to the Pacific Ocean to contribute to endangered species management initiatives with US Fish and Wildlife, NOAA, and the University of Hawaii. She has spent three seasons living on remote islands within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, studying albatrosses, Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, and a variety of other species. Through these experiences, Juli developed a profound interest in ocean conservation and is eager to expand her knowledge with the Right Whale Aerial Observer teams. 

 When not in the field, Juli enjoys hiking, drawing, reading, and spending time with family.  

Renee LaGarenne

Research Scientist, South Carolina team

LOCATION USA

Renee is excited to be returning for her third season as an aerial observer for CMARI, this time as the South Carolina team lead. The previous two seasons, Renee had been an observer on the North Carolina team. After graduating in 2017 from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Marine Biology, Renee worked as a research lab tech studying phytoplankton, while simultaneously interning at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, working with California sea lions.

After completing two internships at Mystic, she interned with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at MOTE Marine lab in Florida. There she performed photo ID on the local resident bottlenose dolphins. Having caught the photo ID bug, she then went on to intern with the Aquarium of the Pacific in California, doing their photo-ID internship working on board whale watching vessels. In 2021, Renee began working at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut as an assistant animal trainer with their beluga whale pod. After a year though, she missed working in the field and couldn’t pass up an amazing opportunity to work protecting North Atlantic Right Whales. Now she can’t imagine doing anything else! 

When Renee is not working she enjoys expressing herself creatively through art, and is currently pursuing an online masters degree in Conservation Biology.”