Erica Escajeda

Erica’s research uses passive acoustic data and spatial methods to study the behavior and presence of subarctic cetaceans in the Bering Strait and southern Chukchi Sea. With the sea ice retreating earlier and forming later in the year, it is unclear to what extent subarctic cetaceans such as fin whales and humpback whales are extending their residence in the Arctic during the open water season as a response. Through her dissertation research, Erica hopes to uncover how the presence of these whales correlates to oceanographic conditions in the Bering Strait region as well as characterize their vocal behavior. Erica completed her B.A. in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and her M.S. at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS). Her research is supported by the US National Science Foundation (GRFP) and SAFS.

 

 

In The News

Selected Publications

  • Escajeda, E., Laidre, K. L., Born, E. W., Wiig, Ø., Atkinson, S., Dyck, M., Ferguson, S. H., Lunn, N. J. (2018) Identifying shifts in maternity den phenology and habitat characteristics of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Baffin Bay and Kane Basin. Polar Biology DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2172-6

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