Chloe Kotik

Chloe Kotik

She/her/hers

Ph.D. Student

Marine Biology


Fairbanks, AK
ckotik@alaska.edu

Education

University of California San Diego
B.S. Marine Biology
2019
 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
M.S. Marine Biology
2020

 

Advisor

 

Selected Publications

Kotik, C., J.W. Durban, H. Fearnbach, and L.G. Barrett-Lennard. 2022. Morphometrics of mammal-eating killer whales from drone photogrammetry, with comparison to sympatric fish-eating killer whales in the eastern North Pacific. Elmer E. Rasmuson Library.

 

Research Overview

My research focuses on anthropogenic threats to killer whale health and population dynamics. At ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ, I will use a multi-decadal sightings and photo-identification dataset to non-invasively assess the impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) upon the health and fitness of mammal-eating ‘Bigg’s’ or ‘Transient’ killer whales in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. As top marine predators, Bigg’s killer whales are extremely vulnerable to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants; they bear high levels of certain pollutants known to interfere with immune and reproductive function in mammals and are designated ‘Threatened’ under the Canadian Species at Risk Act as a result. My research will enable a better understanding of the long-term effects of accumulated contaminants in these important predators.

 

Affiliations

  • Bay Cetology
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada