BRDP

Karen Stockin

I am a British marine biologist based with the Coastal-Marine Research Group at the Institute of Natural Resources at Massey University, New Zealand. Awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship in 2002, I arrived in New Zealand to begin a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Mark Orams (Institute of Natural Resources) and Dr. Padraig Duignan (Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences) on ‘The biology and ecology of New Zealand common dolphins (Delphinus sp).’

Karen Stockin Prior to beginning my PhD, I worked as a consultant marine biologist for Fisheries Research Services at Aberdeen Marine Laboratory, Scotland. And undertook an MSc degree in Marine & Fisheries Science at the University of Aberdeen. For my research project I studied Bottlenose Dolphin under the supervision of Dr. Paul Thompson. My thesis entitled ‘Behaviour and habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Southern Moray Firth’ involved land-based surveys in Spey and Cullen Bay. After completion of my masters degree in 1999, colleagues and I undertook land- and vessel-based cetacean surveys along the Aberdeenshire coastline and subsequently established the Aberdeenshire Dolphin Project under the auspices of the University of Aberdeen (Click here to view the preliminary report from this research). This project in affiliation with the Sea Watch Foundation in the U.K continues to undertake research on Bottlenose Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in Aberdeenshire waters.

I undertook my initial degree (BSc Marine Biology with Ecology) at Plymouth University in England between 1995 and 1998. My honours project entitled ‘The effects of diel and seasonal cycles on the dive duration of minke whales in western Scotland’ investigated diving behaviour of Minke Whale, and was jointly supervised by Dr. David Sims (Plymouth University) and Dr. Jonathan Gordon (University of Oxford) (click here to view the dive time publication resulting from this study). Despite studying in New Zealand, I continue to be involved with northern hemisphere research. Current projects and affiliations include the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme and Aberdeenshire Dolphin Project.

PhD Research

My PhD research is examining the occurrence, distribution, behaviour and biology of the common dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Between 2002 and 2005, boat-based surveys were used to conduct focal group follows of Common Dolphin in this region. Behavioural data obtained are being used to describe the activity budget and habitat use of New Zealand Common Dolphin in the Hauraki Gulf. I have been using photo-identification to establish a catalogue of recognisable individuals. In addition to 3 years of field work, I have also been examining the biology of New Zealand Common Dolphin by the post-mortem examination of carcasses commercially bycaught in New Zealand fisheries or obtained from stranding events (Click here to view a publication on anomalous pigmentation in New Zealand Common Dolphin). This work has led to the examination of the taxonomic status, diet and life history of New Zealand Common Dolphin. This is the first study of Common Dolphin taxonomy and biology to be undertaken in NZ waters. Despite their incidental capture in commercial fisheries and growing exposure to ecotourism, this species currently has no management strategy in place.