DUML Lab 5, Room 3
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: (252) 504-7582
E-mail: meagan.dunphy-daly@duke.edu

Research Interests:

• Marine conservation
• Animal behavior
• Predation risk
• Trophic cascades
• Public outreach

Education:

• M.S. Biology (Florida International University, 2008)
• B.A. Biology and Studio Art (Oberlin College, 2004)

Bio:
I am interested in how upper trophic level predators directly and indirectly influence their prey. I am currently working on a research project investigating the abundance and habitat use of bull sharks in the Neuse River estuary. I hope to use this data to help explain bottlenose dolphin habitat use decisions in the Neuse River.

My Master’s Degree research focused on the spatio-temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale habitat use and group size off of Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Since then, I have conducted research in the seagrass ecosystem of Shark Bay, Western Australia to study the non-lethal effects of tiger sharks on multiple prey species (dolphins, marine turtles, dugongs, stingrays, cormorants, sea snakes). I also carried out research in the Florida Everglades to study factors driving the distribution of bull sharks. I am currently analyzing data from a laboratory experiment to study the influence of diving behavior under the risk of predation.

Publications:

• Heithaus, M.R., B.K. Delius, A.J. Wirsing, and M.M. Dunphy-Daly. 2008. Physical factors influencing the distribution of a top predator in a subtropical oligotrophic estuary. Limnology and Oceanography 54(2): 472-482.
• Dunphy-Daly, M.M., M.R. Heithaus, and D.E. Claridge. 2008. Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. Marine Mammal Science 24: 171-182.
• Scheidler, L.C., M.M. Dunphy-Daly, B.J. White, D.R. Andrew, N.Z. Mans, and M.C. Garvin. 2006. Survey of Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Cilicidae) for LaCrosse encephalitis virus and West Nile virus in Lorain County Ohio. Journal of Medical Entomology 43 (3): 589-593.

Hobbies:
I love surfing, running, art, and traveling.