Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab
Duke University Marine Lab
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: 252-504-7570
Fax: 252-504-7648
Email: erin.labrecque@duke.edu
Advisor: Dr. Pat Halpin

Research Interests:
My research interests include the conservation and management of endangered and protected marine species, understanding the biological and physical processes that influence the distributions of upper trophic level marine predators, and spatial habitat modeling.

Education:

• MEM, concentration in Coastal Environmental Management and Certificate in Geospatial Analysis, Duke University, 2006
• B.S. Biology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, 1998

Bio:
The focus of my PhD is to determine how frontal zones influence cetacean distributions at multiple spatial and temporal scales.  My master's research investigated the spatial distributions of cetaceans and seabirds in relation to synoptic and dynamic oceanographic and static bathymetric variables. From this research, it was clear that assessing distribution patterns in conjunction with bathymetric and oceanographic variables alone did not provide a complete picture of these distributions; however, it has contributed valuable information about survey design and scale for the development of adaptive marine protected areas (MPA).  My PhD will expand upon this research, will lead to the development of successful cetacean management plans, and add to the growing body of knowledge on adaptive MPA management.

Awards:

• Nancy Foster Scholar; 2008 - 2012
  
• Duke University, Nicholas School Academic Scholarship; 2004 - 2006

Refereed Publications:

• LaBrecque, E., C. Fritz, J. Tober, P. J. Behr, and I. Valiela. 1996. Abundance and Age-Specific Growth Rates in Relation to Population Densities of Fundulus heteroclitus in Waquoit Bay Estuaries Subject to Different Nitrogen Loads. Biological Bulletin  (191):319-320
  
• Fritz, C., E. LaBrecque, J. Tober, P. J. Behr, and I. Valiela. 1996. Shrimp in Waquoit Bay: Effects of Nitrogen Loading on Size and Abundance. Biological Bulletin  (191):326-327
  
• Tober, J., C. Fritz, E. LaBrecque, P. J. Behr, and I. Valiela. 1996. Abundance, Biomass, and Species Richness of Fish Communities in Relation to Nitrogen-Loading Rates of Waquoit Bay Estuaries. Biological Bulletin  (191):321-322

Published Abstracts:

• Halpin, P., A. Read, B. Best, E. Fujioka, L. Hazen, B. Donnelly, E. LaBrecque, C. Kot. 2008. OBIS-SEAMAP 2.0: Improvements in Mapping Marine Megavertebrates. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS). Charleston, S.C.
• LaBrecque, E., G. Gawarkiewicz, P. Halpin, A. Read. 2007. Daily Movement of a Frontal Zone and Its Influence on Cetacean Distribution off Cape Hatteras, N.C. 17th Biannual Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa.
• LaBrecque, E., P. Halpin. 2007. OBIS-SEAMAP: Marine Mammal Data and Modeling. A Global Scientific Workshop on the Spatio-Temporal Management of Noise. Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.
• LaBrecque, E., G. Gawarkiewicz, P. Halpin, A. Read. 2006. Assessing the Influence of a Frontal Zone on the Distribution of Upper Trophic Level Predators off Cape Hatteras. Society for Conservation Biology 2006 Annual Meeting, San Jose, C.A.

Reports:

• Agardy, T., Aguilar, N., Cañadas, A., Engel, M., Frantzis, A., Hatch, L., Hoyt, E., Kaschner, K., LaBrecque, E., Martin, V., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Pavan, G., Servidio, A., Smith, B., Wang, J., Weilgart, L., Wintle, B. and Wright, A. 2007. A Global Scientific Workshop on Spatio-Temporal Management of Noise.
• Biggs, D.C, J. Gordon, N. Jaquet, R. Antunes, E. LaBrecque, D. Engelhaupt, J. Wormuth. Survey and Habitat Cruise Report: Second Year Sperm Whale Survey/Habitat Characterization Cruise. Sperm Whale Seismic Studies (SWSS). 31 May - 21 June 2003
  http://seawater.tamu.edu/SWSS/doc/sandhrpt/SWSS03SHcruisereport.pdf 
• Slay, C., C. Emmons, E. LaBrecque, A. Windham-Reid, M. Zani, S. Kraus, and R. Kenney. Early Warning System 1994-2001: Aerial Surveys to Reduce Ship/Whale Collisions in the North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Ground. 2001 Final Report Submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC

Hobbies:
Kayaking, photography, swimming, soccer, cycling - in general, playing outside.