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Researcher Information
- Biography
My research interests focus on seabird foraging ecology and variation in sea movement patterns between birds from widely separated breeding colonies. Ultimately my work seeks to understand the consequences of range expansion in the Laysan albatross. I compare tracking datasets collected from Laysan albatrosses breeding at a newly founded colony on Isla Guadalupe off the coast of Mexico and on an old colony on Tern Island, Hawaii. These colonies are surrounded by markedly different oceanographic habitats that, I expect, significantly influence albatross foraging ecology.
A secondary objective of my work is to examine whether spatial variation in foraging range affects the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in these wide ranging top marine predators. I will create a mechanistic model of the threat of persistent bioaccumulative toxins to pelagic predators by combining data on albatross movement patterns, diet, and trophic status.
An important component of my project is collaboration with two non-profit organizations: Island Conservation and Ecology Group (http://www.islandconservation.org/) in the United States, and Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas in Mexico. Since 2002, we have worked on an island conservation project on Guadalupe to protect the albatross colony from feral cats and to remove introduced goats from the island. These restorative efforts have resulted in an astounding resurgence in native island flora and fauna.
Contact Information:
Long Marine Lab
100 Shaffer Rd.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 459-4581- Title
- Ph.D. student
- Selected Publications
Henry, RW, Aguirre A. Popular Article. Maestro del Aire, El albatros de Laysan. Pronatura (2007)
Jones, HP, Henry RW, Howald GR, Tershy BR, Croll DA. Predation of Artificila Xantus’s Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus scrippsi) nests before and after black rat (Rattus rattus) eradication. Environmental Conservation (2006)
Keitt BS, Henry RW, Tershy BR, Mendoza LML The Impact of Introduced Cats (Felis catus) on Guadalupe Island. in Isla Guadalupe, Restoration and Conservation. Editors: Karine Santos del Prado, & Eduardo Peters, Ensenada, MX. SEMARNAT (2005)
Magnolia LML, BC Daniel., KE Kindquist, RW Henry. Birds of Guadalupe Island in Isla Guadalupe, Restoration and Conservation. Editors: Karine Santos del Prado, & Eduardo Peters, Ensenada, MX. SEMARNAT (2005)
Shaffer SA, Y Tremblay, JA Awkerman, RW Henry, SLH Teo, DJ Anderson, DA Croll, BA Block, and DP Costa Comparison of light- and SST-based geolocation with satellite telemetry in free-ranging albatrosses. Marine Biology (2005) 147: 833-843.
Barton DC, KE Kindquist, RW Henry, LML Mendoza. Landbirds and Waterbird Notes From Isla Guadalupe, MX. Western Birds (2004) 35 (4): 186-196.
Henry RW Growth Rate and Diet of the Glaucous Gull. B.A. Honors Senior Thesis, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA USA (1995).
- Affiliations
- Center for Ocean Health, Long Marine Laboratory, UC Santa Cruz
