History
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Researcher Information
- Biography
My research interests are focused on the ecology of marine birds, specifically the influence of oceanographic variability and prey dynamics on seabird foraging behavior, diet, energetics, and demography. I am also interested in anthropogenic impacts to seabird and prey populations, the use of marine top predators as indicators of environmental change, and applications to conservation biology.
At UCSC, I am currently investigating the oceanographic habitat use of Laysan (Phoebastria immutabilis) and black-footed albatrosses (P. nigripes) breeding on Tern Island in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This study is part of the Tagging of Pacific Predators project, a multi-disciplinary research program aimed at understanding the migration patterns of large, open-ocean animals in the North Pacific.
For my Ph.D. thesis, I plan to investigate (1) inter-annual variation in oceanographic habitat use of Hawaiian albatrosses, (2) individual variation in foraging behavior and movement patterns of albatrosses in relation to age and/or prior experience, and (3) comparative foraging energetics of three species of albatrosses.
Prior to landing at UCSC, I worked with NOAA's Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, investigating reproductive ecology, demography, diet, and foraging ecology of chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and gentoo (P. papua) penguins on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. This work is part of a larger ecosystem-monitoring project aimed at assessing potential fisheries impacts to Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) populations and dependent predators in the Southern Ocean.
My master's research focused on the breeding and foraging ecology of Caspian terns (Sterna caspia) in the mid-Columbia River, specifically in relation to their predation impacts to ESA-listed juvenile salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.). This information is now being used by state, federal, and tribal resource managers to help make decisions regarding management of tern predation in the region.
Contact Information:
Long Marine Lab
100 Shaffer Rd.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 459-2786- Website URL
- http://bio.research.ucsc.edu/people/costa
- Title
- Ph.D. student
- Selected Publications
Robinson, P. W., Y. Tremblay, D. E. Crocker, M. A. Kappes, C. E. Kuhn, S. A. Shaffer, S. E. Simmons, and D. P. Costa. 2007. A comparison of indirect measures of feeding behavior based on ARGOS tracking data. Deep-Sea Research Part II 54:356-368. PDF
Antolos, M. , D. D. Roby, D. E. Lyons, S. K. Anderson, and K. Collis. 2006. Effects of nest density, location, and timing on breeding success of Caspian terns. Waterbirds 29:465-472. PDF
Antolos, M. , D. D. Roby, D. E. Lyons, K. Collis, A. F. Evans, M. Hawbecker, and B. A. Ryan. 2005. Caspian tern predation on juvenile salmonids in the mid-Columbia River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 134:466-480. PDF
Antolos, M. , D. D. Roby, and K.Collis. 2004. Breeding ecology of Caspian terns at colonies on the Columbia plateau. Northwest Science 78:303-312. PDF
Antolos, M. 2003. Breeding and foraging ecology of Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) in the mid-Columbia River: Predation on juvenile salmonids and management implications. M.S. thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. PDF
Jodice, P. G. R., D. D. Roby, M. Antolos , D. E. Lyons, D. J. Rizzolo, S. K. Wright, C. D. Anderson, S. K. Anderson, S. K. Nelson, A. E. Gall, and L. Wennerberg. 2003. Book review: Biology of Marine Birds. Auk 120:240-245. PDF
Roby, D. D., K. Collis, D. E. Lyons, M. Antolos , and D. P. Craig. 2003. Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia). In D. Marshall, M. Hunter, and A. Contreras [eds.], Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Santa Cruz
