My research focuses on “stress” including environmental
stressors (e.g. exposure to noise; changing environmental
temperatures) and the impact on aquatic animal health and
human health. At Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration,
we have the ability to set up controlled studies given our
collection of marine mammals, fish and invertebrates; are
able to study stranded marine mammals that we rescue and
rehabilitate; and are studying multiple marine animals in
the wild using their environment as a “living laboratory”.
The integrated aquatic animal health research program at
the aquarium brings together the disciplines of immunology,
infectious disease and veterinary science to learn as much
as we can about the health status of marine animals, what
factors impact their health as well as ways to “boost”
the immune system and maintain health. Our current studies
in oceans and human health focus on the impact of marine
origin Brucella on multiple marine species worldwide and
the impact on human health. We are also participating in
a study looking at beluga whales as indicators of climate
change. Specifically, we are investigating impacts on wild
beluga health such as immune status, general overall health
and disease exposure as well as implications on human health
for the people that rely on belugas as a food source.
For more information on the Research Program at Mystic
Aquarium & Institute for Exploration visit www.mysticaquarium.org/index.cgi/1323.
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