Research Unit

• Marine Mammal Research Unit (MMRU)

Research Interests

My primary interest is how marine vertebrates affect coastal ecosystems on an ecological and evolutionary scale. I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects which have included applied fisheries biology as well as academic studies of cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea otters, invertebrates, fish and marine algae. This background has given me a broad view of marine community structure and function, something that I feel is important in both my research and teaching. My principal area of research is in sea otter community ecology. Specifically I am interested in the ecological effects that sea otters have on the structure of nearshore ecological communities. For the past 20+ years I have been working off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island studying the effect that the growing sea otter population is having on coastal ecosystems, particularly those found in rocky areas. As a community ecologist my research is conducted above and below the ocean’s surface.

Biography

Please see Jane Watson's Malaspina Biology Department profile or her Marine Mammal Research Unit page for more biographical information and details on research activities.