Cetacean Research Group
The Cetacean Research Group (CRG) works with local stakeholders to fill key knowledge gaps in a collaborative effort to conserve marine species and habitats at ocean frontiers. The CRG uses a combination of passive acoustic monitoring, photo-identification, genomics, modelling and environmental DNA to better understand the behaviour and population status of whales. These animals are key indicators of ocean health and can be impacted by widespread ocean change. We work on all cetaceans, but have particular expertise in the deep diving whales, such as sperm and beaked whales.
Dr Kirsten Young
Kirsten’s work focuses on understanding the population ecology of marine species, particularly in the current era of rapid environmental change and industrialisation of human activities in the oceans. She uses cross-disciplinary techniques, such as population and conservation genomics, behavioural observations, photoidentification, acoustics and morphological analyses to investigate marine mammal populations. Her most recent research has focused on deep diving whales, including sperm whales and beaked whales, and she is group lead for the Exeter Cetacean Ecology Group.
Kirsten works in primary research and provides science writing and advice for governments (for example, New Zealand Department of Conservation), inter-government institutions (for example, South Pacific Regional Environment Programme) and non-governmental organisations (for example, Greenpeace, International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Centre for International Environmental Law).
