Humboldt State University

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General Information

Professor of Zoology
Director of the Marine Mammal Education and Research Program
HSU Stranding Coordinator for the Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (707) 826-4168
Office: Science B 236
Email: pdg1@humboldt.edu
Personal Website: N/A

Academic background

• B.S. University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• M.S. University of Victoria, British Columbia
• Ph.D. University of California, Santa Cruz
• Professor Dawn Goley, has taught at Humboldt State University since 1996. Having completed her Ph.D with Ken Norris at UC Santa Cruz studying the behavioural ecology of Pacific White-sided dolphins, she continued at UCSC with her post-doctoral work with Dr. Dan Costa. Her work focused on the design of the marine mammal research program associated with ATOC (Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate) project at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Prior to her doctoral work, she obtained her master’s degree in Biology from the University of Victoria in British Columbia studying the behavioural ecology of shore birds in the Yukon and Arctic. Her undergraduate training was in marine biology at the University of North Carolina.

Courses

• Mammalogy
• Biology of Marine Mammals
• Comparative Animal Behaviour
• Marine Mammal Field Techniques
• Desert Ecology
• Introduction to Undergraduate Research

Summary of research

Dr. Goley has been actively studying marine mammal biology in northern California since her arrival to Humboldt State in 1996.  Her research interests include the ecology and behavior of marine mammals; VHF/satellite-telemetry; marine mammal/fisheries interactions; oil spill and marine mammal interactions; marine mammal foraging ecology; and marine mammal stranding studies.

Currently, Dr. Goley’s research includes the population dynamics of Steller’s Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) (in collaboration with the National Marine Mammal Laboratory) and interactions of seabirds and pinnipeds on local rookeries (Common Murres and Stellers sea lions primarily).  Beginning in 1997, Dr. Goley has been conducting long-term monitoring studies on the ecology of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in and around Humboldt Bay; and behavioural ecology of gray whales (Eschrichtius robust) in northern California and Oregon.  As the coordinator for the marine mammal stranding  (NMFS) response in northern California, Dr. Goley is also actively engaged in studying the marine mammals that strand along the coast.

Sample publications

• Harvey, J. and D. Goley. 2009. Determining a correction factor for aerial surveys of harbor seals in California.             Submitted to Journal of Marine Mammal Science.
  
• Calambokidis, J. , J. D. Darling, V. Deecke, P. Gearin, M.l Gosho, W. Megill, C. M. Tombach, D. Goley, C. Toropova and B. Gisborne.   2002. Abundance, Range and Movements of a Feeding Aggregation of Gray Whales from California to Southeastern Alaska in 1998. Journal of Cetacean Research and management 4(3):267–276.
  
• Thibault, J, G.J. McChesney, R.T. Golightly, D. Goley, and H.R. Carter. 2010. Decline of the Common Murre colony at Redding Rock, California, and restoration options. Unpublished draft report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Newark, California and Humboldt State University, Departments of Wildlife and Biological Sciences, Arcata, California. 132 pp.
• Goley, P.D., R. Jenkinson*, C. Hudson*, M Niemeyer*, A. Mallo*, K. Bigham* , S. Deutsch*, A.Rushton*, M. Neimeyer*, S. Deutch*, N. Teeples*, J. Eberle*, S. Giordano*, A. Lui*, K. Korcheck*.2009. (abstract).Habitat Utilization and Feeding Ecology of Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Northern California. Western Society of Naturalists Meeting. Monterey, California.
• Fuller, A.* and D. Goley. 2009 (abstract). Spatial and Temporal Distribution, Abundance and Movement Patterns of Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Northern California. Western Society of Naturalists Meeting. Monterey, California.
• Korcheck, K.* and P.D. Goley. 2009 (abstract). Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Southern Oregon During the 2009 Summer Feeding Season. Western Society of Naturalists Meeting. Monterey, California.
• Goley, P.D., R. Jenkinson*, C. Hudson*. 2009 (abstract).. Distribution, Sighting Rates and Feeding Ecology of Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in northern California - 1999-2008. 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of marine Mammals. Quebec, Ontario.
• Harvey, J.T., and P.D. Goley. 2005 (abstract).. Estimating Actual Population Size of Harbor Seals in California Using a Correction Factor Based on Haul-out Behaviour of Radio-Tagged Individuals. 2005. 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, California.
  
  

Graduate students

Present:
Wiley Archibald
Ashley Donnell
Aicha Ougzin
Mary Beth Pacewicz

Graduated:
Allison Fuller - Steller Seal Lion Behavioural Ecology