Susan Chivers

Research Interests:

My research focuses on cetacean life history and population structure. I am particularly interested in conservation biology and how these two disciplines allow us to improve conservation plans for cetacean species by better understanding their natural history and ecology. Data collected by scientists aboard our research cruises, by observers aboard fishing vessels, and by participants in the stranding networks, contribute information about species distributions and their oceanographic habitats. These also give us tissue material to quantify life history parameters and to identify population subunits using molecular genetic tools. My research is primarily focused on understanding the:

* population structure of harbor porpoise, false killer whales and short-finned pilot whales

* population structure and ecology of common dolphins

* life history characteristics of small delphinid species

Education:

Selected Publications:

• Scott, M. D., S. J. Chivers, R. O. Olson, P. C. Fiedler, and K. Holland. 2012. Pelagic predator associations: tuna and dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 458:283-302 (doi 10.3354/meps09740.)
• Chivers, S. J. 2009. Cetacean Life History. Pages 215-220 In: Perrin, W. F., B. Wursig, and J. G. M. Thewissen (eds). Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 2nd edition. San Diego: Elsevier Press. 1316 pp.
• Chivers, S. J., R. W. Baird, D. J. McSweeney, D. L. Webster, N. M. Hedrick, and J. C. Salinas. 2007. Genetic variation and evidence for population structure in eastern North Pacific false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). Canadian Journal of Zoology 85(7):783-794.
• Chivers, S. J., R. G. LeDuc, K. M. Robertson, N. B. Barros, and A. E. Dizon. 2005. Genetic variation of Kogia spp. with preliminary evidence for two species of Kogia sima. Marine Mammal Science 21(4):619-634.
• Larese, J. P. and S. J. Chivers. 2009. Age estimates for female eastern and whitebelly spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) incidentally killed in the eastern tropical Pacific tuna purse-seine fishery from 1973-1982. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10(2):169-177.
• Larese, J. P. and S. J. Chivers. 2009. Growth and reproduction of female eastern and whitebelly spinner dolphins incidentally killed in the eastern tropical Pacific tuna purse-seine fishery. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87(6):537-552. doi:10.1139/Z09-038.
• Scott, M. D., and S. J. Chivers. 2009. Movements and diving behavior of pelagic spotted dolphins. Marine Mammal Science 25:137-160. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00241.x.
• Ylitalo, G. M., R. W. Baird, G. K. Yanagida, D. L. Webster, S. J. Chivers, J. L. Bolton, G. S. Schorr, and D. J. McSweeney. 2009. High levels of persistent organic pollutant in blubber of island-associated false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) from the main Hawaiian Islands. Marine Pollution Bulletin (Available on line 9/2009).
• Dalebout, M. L., K. M. Robertson, S. J. Chivers, and A. Samuels. 2008. DNA identification and the impact of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing on rare whales in Micronesian waters. Micronesica 40: 139-147.
• Danil, K. and S. J. Chivers. 2007. Growth and reproduction of female short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in the eastern tropical Pacific. Canadian Journal of Zoology 85:108-121.
• Danil, K. and S. J. Chivers. 2006. Habitat-based spatial and temporal variability in life history characteristics of female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the eastern tropical Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series 318:277-286.
• Perrin, W. F., M. L. L. Dolar, S. J. Chivers, and C. M. Chan. 2005. Length-weight relationships in the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Marine Mammal Science 21(4):765-778.

Additional Information:

Full list of Publications

Cetacean Health and Life History Program