In Their Element: Physiology, Behavior, and Conservation of Aquatic Vertebrates: A Festschrift for Randall W. Davis

Author Biography

Prof. Bernd Würsig has been studying behavioral ecology of dolphins and whales since the early 1970’s. Work has been supported by the National Geographic Society, US National Science Foundation, US National Marine Fisheries Service, New Zealand Department of Conservation, and numerous other government and non-government agencies. He is perhaps best known for work on photographic recognition of dolphins by natural marks, the concept of social fluidity in dolphin societies, and introducing the technique of bubble curtain screening to protect marine animals from loud underwater human-made noises. Würsig has published 220 scientific papers and book chapters, and authored or edited 12 books. He was a participant in 14 marine mammal movies, including the Academy Award-nominated Imax movie “Dolphins” (2000), for which he served as senior advisor. He has mentored 65 graduate students in the US, Europe, Central and South America, Russia, China, Australia, and New Zealand. Würsig worked closely with Prof. Davis on a large-scale project studying cetaceans of the Gulf of Mexico, with fond memories. Prof. Terrie M. Williams is a wildlife eco-physiologist with over 40 years of research experience concerning the survival physiology of large mammals including sea otters, narwhals, dolphins, polar bears, African lions and Weddell seals. Through her Marine Mammal Physiology Project at the University of California, Santa Cruz, she and her students have explored the unique physiological adaptations necessary for living in a world that is constantly changing due to human impacts. Her research expeditions have taken her from Arctic and Antarctic ice to the savannahs of Africa and the mountainous California coast. As director of the Valdez Sea Otter Rescue Center, she worked with Dr. Davis on the rehabilitation of oiled sea otters during the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill as presented in this book. Williams has written over 120 scientific papers and books, as well as several popular books including The Odyssey of KP2, about her efforts to conserve endangered Hawaiian monk seals (2012 AAAS/Subaru Award winner for Science Book and Film).