Hidden Markov models reveal complexity in the diving behaviour of short-finned pilot whales

Dr Nicola J. Quick is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment and a Lecturer in Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth, UK. Dr Quick holds a PhD in animal behavior and acoustics from The University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK. Dr Quick conducts research on the acoustic behavior of marine mammals and the effects of anthropogenic noise on cetaceans. Dr Quick has produced a number of high level reports and peer reviewed publications for a range of sectors including the US, German and UK military, large oil and gas producers, the wind and wet renewables industries, the British and Scottish governments, statutory regulators and academic institutions.

Sound propagates very efficiently through sea water, and marine mammals take advantage of this medium to communicate and explore their environment. My research is focused on the link between acoustic and motor behavior in marine mammals, primarily cetaceans and manatees, specifically, how they use sound in ecological processes. The cetaceans, or whales and dolphins, are divided into two main groups, the toothed whales (odontocetes) and the baleen whales (mysticetes). One of my specific areas of research is the use of echolocation and foraging behavior in one of the odontocetes, the bottlenose dolphin. Another focus of my current research is the effect(s) of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals.

I study the conservation biology of long-lived marine vertebrates, particularly marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles. My work, and that of my students, documents the effects of human activities on populations of these species. Our work involves field work, experimentation and modeling. I am particularly interested in the development and application of new conservation tools.