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My work as a marine biologist
Hello, I’m Lara, a marine biologist passionate about ocean conservation and research. I graduated in Marine Biology from the University of Padova and I have field experience as a Marine Mammals Observer. This page is where I’ll share updates on my work, ongoing projects, and new research in the marine world.
My experiences
I recently graduated with honors in Marine Biology from the University of Padova, following a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Throughout my academic and personal journey, I developed a strong interest in cetaceans, which led me to complete my master’s internship focusing on cetaceans. During the internship, I trained as a Marine Mammals Observer, conducting surveys aboard ferries and catamarans across the Pelagos Sanctuary for nine months and participating also in 5-days surveys across the Western Mediterranean Basin. During these surveys we collected data on cetacean presence and monitored other marine species such as Caretta caretta (loggerhead sea turtles). My master’s thesis analyzed long-term trends in the presence of the four most frequently sighted cetacean species from ferries, within the Pelagos Sanctuary, which are fin whales, striped dolphins, sperm whales and goose-beaked whales.
I was lucky enough to present my work at the 36th European Cetacean Society Conference. You can read a summary of our analysis and results here:
Why cetaceans?
Cetaceans are whales, dolphins, and porpoises: long-lived vertebrates belonging to the Order Cetacea. But why is conservation work so important?
They are considered keystone species; this means that they can affect marine ecosystems’ structure and function. Additionally, they're what we define as bioindicators and/or sentinels, which means that they help us better understand the health of marine ecosystems. Because of their role, research on their abundance has increased in the last decades, and they have become one of the main targets of conservation work.
Unfortunately, many factors, like anthropogenic pressures, affect their presence causing an uneven distribution. Among different anthropogenic pressures, the main ones are pollution, entanglement in fishing gears and vessel strikes.
If you want to know more, you can contact me here:
