Prof Louise Chilvers BAgrSc(Hons), PhD

Contact details

• Location: 2.07, Wildbase
  Campus: Palmerston North

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) - Lincoln University (1994)
• Doctor of Philosophy - James Cook University (2002)

Research Interests

1. Seabird and Marine Mammal: Population biology and management; 
2. Behavioural, foraging ecology and diet and;
3. Conservation biology. 
4. Oiled wildlife research: biological, economic, and social consequences;
5. Risk assessment and management.
6. Compassion fatigue in emergency responders.

Thematics

Resource Development and Management, Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Animal Behaviour (060801): Behavioural Ecology (060201): Biological Sciences (060000): Ecology (060200):
Environmental Sciences (050000):
Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) (060205): Population Ecology (060207): Terrestrial Ecology (060208): Vertebrate Biology (060809): Zoology (060800)

Keywords

My research addresses broad scale questions at the both ecosystem and marine wildlife levels including marine ecology, ecosystem integrity, population biology and management, behavioural and foraging ecology, conservation biology and oiled wildlife response.  Research species include New Zealand sea lion, NZ fur seal, dolphins, dugongs, beaked and baleen whales, penguins and seabirds. My research has a strong academic focus, with an application to applied marine conservation management and international management of marine species. For example, I have led the New Zealand sea lion management program for the last 12 years providing science, policy and management advice and the international management of New Zealand cetaceans as the Head of Delegation for New Zealand for the International Whaling Science Committee and Science advisor for IWC Commission.

I incorporate a range of scientific techniques in my research (e.g., satellite tracking, time-depth recorders, GIS, remote sensing, genetics, fatty acid analysis, stable isotope analysis) in both laboratory and field based experiments, observations and analyses to produce research that examines issues such as marine species foraging ecology, diving behaviour, population ecology, abundance, reproduction, climate change, population viability analysis, social structure, mating systems, maternal and parental investment, behaviour, disease transmission, serological, parasitology, growth and diet. 

Completed Projects

Teaching Statement

Postdoctoral Fellows Supervised

 Dr Laureline Meynier 2010 – 2013. Foraging behaviour and diet of New Zealand fur seals. NZ Foundation for Research Science & Technology Fellowship, Massey University

 Dr Federico G. Riet-Sapriza 2009 – 2011. Foraging behaviour of lactating South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) and spatial–temporal resource overlap with the Uruguayan fisheries.   Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Universidad de la República de Uruguay & UC Santa Cruz, USA.

 Completed Students

 Stefan Meyer, PhD, 2016, Otago University, Statistical analysis of New Zealand sea lion population ecology.

Elaine Lunge, PhD, 2013, Otago University, Juvenile foraging ecology of New Zealand sea lions.

 Amelie Auge, PhD, 2010, Otago University, Foraging ecology of New Zealand sea lions.

 Laureline Meynier, PhD, 2009, Massey University, Diet of New Zealand sea lions, stomach and fatty acid analysis.

 Federico G. Riet-Sapriza, PhD, 2007, Massey University, Milk composition New Zealand sea lions.

 Aurelie Castinel, PhD, 2006, Massey University, Causes of neonatal mortality in the New Zealand sea lion.

 Amanda Hodgson, PhD, 2004, James Cook University, Dugong behaviour and social structure.

Rebecca French, MSc, 2018, Massey University, Behavioural consequences of human disturbance on subantarctic yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes).

Sarah Michael, MSc, 2014, Massey University, Disease prevalence in recolonising New Zealand sea lions.

 Matthew Taylor, MSc, 2012, Otago University, Genetic population structure of New Zealand sea lions.

 Amelie Auge, MSc, 2006, Otago University, 20New Zealand sea lions: Terrestrial Spatial Ecology.

 Cheiko Azuma, MSc, 2002, James Cook University, Fine Scale movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island, Australia.

 Hamish McMillan, Honours, 2012, Otago University, New Zealand sea lion habitat mapping, GIS.

 Vanessa Heibel, Honours, 2001, James Cook University, Mother and calf behaviour of bottlenose dolphins.

 Current Students

 Chris Muller, PhD, Massey University, Population ecology, foraging behaviour and impacts of tourism on yellow-eyed penguins on the subantarctic Auckland Islands.

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

• Al Hall - Doctor of Philosophy
  Population dynamics and anthropogenic risks to the New Zealand fur seal in Canterbury

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

• 2023 - Alexandra Egan - Doctor of Philosophy
  Direct Economic Losses of Oil Spills in Populated and Remote Locations within New Zealand
• 2023 - Christopher Muller - Doctor of Philosophy
  Population ecology and foraging behaviour of yellow-eyed penguins in New Zealand’s subantarctic Auckland Islands

Co-supervisor of:

• 2009 - Laureline Meynier - Doctor of Philosophy
  Feeding ecology of the New Zealand sea lion (phocarctos hookeri)
• 2008 - Federico Riet Sapriza - Doctor of Philosophy
  Milk Composition of the New Zealand sea lion and factors that influence it
• 2007 - Aurelie Castinel - Doctor of Philosophy
  Causes of neonatal mortality in the New Zealand sea lin (Phocarctos hookeri)

Media

• 26 Sep 2023 - Online
  Ship carrying 10,000 litres of diesel runs aground
  Massey University's advice in Oiled Wildlife Response
• 24 Nov 2015 - Newspaper
  Rehabilitating oiled birds worth cost
  
• 23 Oct 2015 - Magazine
  Oiled wildlife detergent story
  A story about Dawn detergent its avalibility in NZ during Rena as it is the detergent most used during oil spills and not avalible in NZ
• 22 Jun 2023 - Television
  NZ fur seals sillly season
  TV3 News interview
• 18 Nov 2015 - Newspaper
  New insights into recovery efforts post Rena
  
• view more...
• 17 Nov 2015 - Online
  Rena rehabilitation effective long-term
  Quoted as saying : "Opponents of oiled wildlife response argue that rehabilitation is an expensive anthropogenic need to lessen the stress of oiled wildlife and has very little or no conservation valu
• 15 Oct 2015 - Newspaper
  Little blue penguins on the mend after oil spill
  used as a source for the W University of wahington Conservation article.
• view less...

Other Links

• Researchgate profile - B. L. Chilvers Researchgate profile