https://www.oceanexpert.org/expert/kforney

PhD, MSc, BA

Research
Natural Resource Management

Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology
Fisheries, Aquaculture

Dr. Karin Forney is a Research Biologist with the Marine Mammal and Turtle Division at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center.  Since 1987, she has conducted research on the abundance, distribution, ecology, fishery bycatch, and status of over 20 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) in the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean, with special emphasis on harbor porpoise, false killer whales, and other small cetaceans. She has also collaborated on studies of endangered leatherback turtles off California.  Research interests include 1) ocean variability and its effect on marine mammals and other marine vertebrates, 2) habitat-based predictive models of cetacean distribution and abundance, 3) assessment and mitigation of human-caused mortality and injury of protected species, and 4) the development of improved methodology for estimating marine animal abundance and evaluating population trends.  Results of her studies have been published in scientific journals and technical reports, and presented at national and international scientific conferences.  Additional responsibilities include writing or co-authoring annual Stock Assessment Reports for Pacific Marine Mammals, and conducting field research in small aircraft and aboard oceanographic research vessels.

North Pacific Ocean

• Quantitative methods in marine ecology, including Distance Sampling, habitat-based models of species distribution and abundance, statistical modeling and analysis, and bycatch estimation.
• Aerial and shipboard marine wildlife surveys
• Supporting management and conservation of species through science.
  

English
German

https://https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/science-data/california-current-marine-mammal-assessment-program