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Caterina D'Agrosa
Caterina D'Agrosa is the second and current Constantine S. Niarchos Fellow in Marine Conservation. Her goal while the Niarchos fellow is to help the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Marine Program better achieve the conservation of marine wildlife by using spatial analytical techniques, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial statistics, in its field conservation programs.
Contact information:
Wildlife Conservation Society,
International Marine Program
2300 Southern Blvd.,
Bronx, NY 10460
email: cdagrosa@wcs.org
Background
Prior to becoming the Niarchos Fellow at WCS, Caterina was a Ph.D. student at Duke University. Her Ph.D. dissertation addressed the conservation of long-lived marine vertebrates by focusing on the U.S. pelagic swordfish longline fleet as a case study. She explored spatially explicit tools and approaches for reducing the bycatch of leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and blue sharks (Prionace glauca). To do this, she first used two reserve-selection approaches to assess the efficacy of reducing bycatches of leatherback sea turtles and blue sharks. Then, using the time-area closures selected by these approaches, she modeled the redistribution of fishing effort that would be displaced if these areas were closed. Finally, she analyzed the relationship between loggerhead and leatherback sea turtle bycatch, fishing effort and swordfish catches relative to environmental parameters (for example, sea surface temperature, sea surface height, depth, changes in depth) to see if there were specific conditions (within where the fishery operates) under which turtles were caught. These methods all offer managers objective and simple means to maximize conservation benefits while minimizing costs to a fishery.
Caterina received a Master of Science in Conservation, Ecology and Natural Resource Management. For her Master's, she estimated the incidental mortality of the vaquita (a small porpoise located only in the upper Gulf of California, and also the world's most endangered marine cetacean), in artisanal gillnet fisheries.
Education
- Ph.D. (Ecology) Duke University. May 2004. Dissertation title: “The application of spatial analytical techniques toward the conservation of long-lived marine vertebrates: The pelagic longline fishery as a case study.” Advisor: Dr. Andrew J. Read.
- M. Sc. (Conservation, Ecology and Natural Resource Management) Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM)- Campus Guaymas, Guaymas, Sonora, México. Dec. 1995. Thesis title: “Mortalidad incidental de la vaquita (Phocoena sinus) en actividades pesqueras del Alto Golfo de California, México, 1993-94.”
- B. Sc. (Biology) Tulane University, Dec. 1990.
Employment history
- 1996 Research Technician II, Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort, NC. Assisted with cetacean life-history procedures, strandings, necropsies; reports, workshops and presentations on marine mammal stock assessment and fisheries interactions; rapporteur for NMFS-SEFSC Program review.
- 1996 Community Education Program Coordinator, Intercultural Center for the Studies of Deserts and Oceans, Inc. (CEDO), Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, México. Responsible for developing and conducting science education programs and workshops; overall environmental education of the communities in the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve; worked with schools, tourists, city governments, scientists.
- 1992 Research Assistant, Wildlife and Fisheries Cooperative Research Unit, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Surveyed timber sales in the Siuslaw National Forest, OR, in search of endangered marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), their nests, and indications as to whether they occupied the survey area. Worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service in Mapleton, OR.
- 1991 Research Assistant/Volunteer, North Gulf Oceanic Society, Homer, AK. Assisted with the photoidentification of killer and humpback whales (Orcinus orca and Megaptera novaeangliae, respectively) in Prince William Sound, AK. Operated a hydrophone and recorded killer whale vocalizations.
- 1991 Research Assistant, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Cocodrie, LA. Researched grazing effects of krill and copepods. Calculated gut pigments and dry weights. Determined gut composition using epifluorescent photography. Created educational displays for public viewing.
- 1991 Director, Louisiana Pure Shellfish, Cocodrie, LA. Certified shellfish inspector. Set up laboratory to meet FDA specifications. Wrote Quality Assurance manual. Served as link between Louisiana enforcement offices and the plant.
Honors and Awards
- 2003 Robert J. Safrit, Jr. Fellowship
- 2002 Rachel Carson Fellowship
- 2001 Robert J. Safrit, Jr. Fellowship
- 1997-2000 Duke University Marine Lab Fellowship
- 1993-1995 Comisión Nacional para la Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT)Academic Scholarship
Professional Activities
- Co-coordinator: Workshop on the Use of Geomatic Technologies for Marine Mammal Scientists II for the 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. November 2001.
- Reviewer of abstracts: 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC, USA.
- Conference Co-organizer: Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium 2001
- Conference Co-organizer: Duke University Mini-Symposium 2001.
- Coordinator: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Science/Duke University Marine Laboratory Seminar series (Fall 1999-Spring 2000).
- Developed a methodology to shift/georeference CoastWatch SST images in Arc/Info GIS for the southeast node of the NOAA CoastWatch Program.
Research experience
- 2000-2003 Research Assistant, Duke University Marine Laboratory (advised by Dr. Andrew J. Read) Dissertation research on the application of spatial analytical techniques to conservation issues regarding the U.S. pelagic longline fishery
- May 1997- Jul 1999 Research Assistant, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center (under Dr. Aleta A. Hohn) Conducted aerial and beach-based surveys to assess the distribution of bottlenose dolphins and gillnet fisheries; downloaded and edited survey and GPS data; created GIS databases of survey data
- 1996-2001 Research Assistant, National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center (under Dr. Aleta A. Hohn) Assisted with live captures, tagging, and tracking of bottlenose dolphins; created GIS database of tracklines; created various other GIS-based maps
- 1992-1995 Research Assistant, Centro de Conservación y Aprovechamiento de los Recursos Naturales (CECARENA), ITESM, Guaymas, Sonora, México (advised by M. Sc. Omar Vidal) Thesis research: monitored gillnet fishing activities of El Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora in to determine the incidental mortality of the endangered vaquita
- 1994 Primary Investigator, CECARENA, Guaymas, Sonora, México (in collaboration with Mariana Mateos and M.Sc. Omar Vidal) Conducted a photoidentification study of the bottlenosed dolphins of Bahía de Bacochibampo, Guaymas, Sonora, México
- Aug. - Sep. 1999 Marine Mammal Observer, R/V Oregon II, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center Second leg of NOAA research cruise to obtain minumum abundance estimates for and distributions of cetaceans in the Southeast U.S. EEZ; deployed XBTs and CTD
- Jan. 1995 Researcher, Mexican Navy vessel Patrulla P-10 Research cruise to investigate the cause of a mass mortality of cetaceans in the Upper Gulf of California; conducted necropsies of several common dolphins; collected water, plankton, bone and tissue samples for further analyses
- Mar. 1994 Researcher, ITESM-GUAYMAS II, R/V BIP IX Participated in a marine mammal survey of the lower Gulf of California
- Jun. 1991 Research Assistant, ZCCOAST Research Cruise, R/V Pelican, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (under Dr. Michael Dagg) Collected and processed CTD water samples for chlorophyll and nutrient analysis; deployed CTD
- Apr. and Jun. 1991 Assistant Educator/deck hand, R/V Acadiana, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Assisted with educational tours of Terrebonne Bay and Timbalier Island, LA; recorded bottlenose dolphin sightings for future research in Terrebonne Bay
- Jun-Aug. 1990 Primary Investigator, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. (advised by Dr. Gerald Gunning) Researched the mating behavior of long-eared sunfish in Audubon Park as part of an independent study
Select Publications
- In review D’Agrosa, C., K. D. Hyrenbach, L. B. Crowder and G. Rilov. Spatial analysis of sea turtle bycatch in swordfish longline fisheries. Ecological Applications.
- 2003 Torres, L.G., P.E. Rosel, C. D’Agrosa and A. J. Read. 2003. Improving management of overlapping bottlenose dolphin ecotypes through spatial analyses and genetics. Marine Mammal Science 19:502-514.
- 2000 D’Agrosa, C., C. E. Lennert-Cody and O. Vidal. 2000. Vaquita bycatch in México’s artisanal gillnet fisheries: Driving a small population to extinction. Conservation Biology 14:1110-1119.
- 1997 Hohn, A. A. and C. D’Agrosa. 1997. Vaquita conservation: Current science and management. International Marine Biological Research Institute Reports (Japan) 7:45-56.
- 1995 D'Agrosa, C., O. Vidal, and W. C. Graham. 1995. A preliminary analysis of the incidental mortality of the vaquita (Phocoena sinus) in gillnet fisheries during 1993-94. Reports of the International Whaling Commission (Special Issue 16):283-291.
Reports to Funding Agencies
- 2001 K. D. Hyrenbach and C. D’Agrosa. Spatial analysis of bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery. Pp 97-109 in Crowder, L. B. and R. A. Myers. A comprehensive study of the ecological impacts of the worldwide pelagic longline industry. First annual report to the Pew Charitable Trusts.
- 2001 Hohn, A. A. and C. D’Agrosa. Integration of disparate NOAA data sets: Using GIS to characterize marine mammal-fisheries interactions. Accomplishment report to ESDIM.
- 2001 D’Agrosa, C. and A. J. Read. Assessing the effects of time-area closures on the bycatch of sea turtles, marine mammals and overfished highly migratory species in the U. S. pelagic swordfish longline fishery: and ecosystem approach. Report to World Wildlife Fund, U.S.
- 1994 D’Agrosa, C. and O. Vidal. Monitoring and evaluation of the incidental mortality of the vaquita, Phocoena sinus, during fishing activities in the Upper Gulf of California. Final Report to Conservation International.
Select Presentations
- 2003 D’Agrosa, C., P.N. Halpin, A. Friedlaender, K.D. Hyrenbach and A.J. Read. Looking under the hood: an overview of the assumptions behind habitat models and environmental data. Oral presentation, Workshop on the Application of GIS Spatial/Temporal Prediction Models for Marine Mammal Scientists and Management, 15th Biennial Marine Mammal Conference, Greensboro, NC, USA. December.
- 2003 D’Agrosa, C., K. D. Hyrenbach, L. B. Crowder and G. Rilov. Is sea turtle bycatch inevitable in pelagic longline fisheries? Oral presentation, 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, Duluth, MN, USA. June.
- 2002 D’Agrosa, C., K. D. Hyrenbach, G. Rilov and L. B. Crowder. Sea turtle bycatch in U.S. pelagic longline fisheries: the significance of oceanic habitats and fishing practices. Oral presentation, Symposium entitled “The Ecological Impacts of Pelagic Longline Fisheries”. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Summer Meeting, Victoria, B.C., Canada. June.
- 2002 D’Agrosa, C., A. A. Hohn and P. N. Halpin. Spatial analysis of dolphin and gillnet distribution along the mid-Atlantic coast. Poster presentation, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium, Conway, SC, USA. April.
- 2001 D’Agrosa, C., A. A. Hohn and P. N. Halpin. Spatial analysis of dolphin and gillnet distribution along the mid-Atlantic coast. Oral presentation, 14th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. November.
- 2001 D’Agrosa, C., A. A. Hohn and P. N. Halpin. Spatial analysis of the distribution of dolphins and gillnets. Oral presentation, Workshop on Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins in the Atlantic: Review of data on stock structure, abundance and mortality and development of working hypotheses for the Take Reduction Team, Beaufort, NC, USA. February.
- 2000 D’Agrosa, C., P. N. Halpin and C. L. Roden. Assessing the physical habitat of cetaceans in the southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean using GIS, remote sensing and CART analysis. Poster presentation, Eighth annual Atlantic Coastal Dolphin Conference, Wilmington, NC, USA. March.
- 1999 D’Agrosa, C., P. N. Halpin and C. L. Roden. Assessing the physical habitat of cetaceans in the southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean using GIS, remote sensing and CART analysis. Poster presentation, workshop on the Use of Geomatic Technologies for Marine Mammal Scientists during the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Maui, HI, USA. November.
- 1995 D'Agrosa, C., O. Vidal, and W. C. Graham. Análisis preliminar de la mortalidad incidental de la vaquita (Phocoena sinus) en redes agalleras durante 1993-1994. Oral presentation, XX Reunión Internacional para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Marinos, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México, April.
- 1994 D'Agrosa, C., O. Vidal, and W. C. Graham. Preliminary analysis of the incidental mortality of the vaquita (Phocoena sinus) in gillnet fisheries during 1993-1994. Working Paper SC/46/SM8. Invited oral presentation, Small Cetacean sub-committee, 46th annual meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, PuertoVallarta, Jalisco, México, May.
- 1993 D'Agrosa, C., O. Vidal, and W. C. Graham. 1993. Incidental mortality of the vaquita (Phocoena sinus) in gillnet fisheries. Invited oral presentation, Symposium entitled “Research and Conservation Efforts with the Vaquita”. Tenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Galveston, TX, USA, November.
- 1993 D’Agrosa, C. Preliminary report on the incidental mortality of the vaquita. Invited oral presentation, Workshop on progress of the Conservation International initiative on the “Fragile ecosystem of the Upper Gulf of California.” Guaymas, Sonora, México, May.
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