Adrian helped with the penguin census at Baily Head, Deception Island. Baily Head is one of the largest known chinstrap penguin colonies in Antarctica, but even here penguin numbers are declining.
For her dissertation research, Adrian examined ways to design a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Western Antarctic Peninsula Region. Her research used ecological modeling and spatial optimization techniques to ensure that that the MPA will meet conservation goals while minimizing the impact on dependent human communities. Additionally, the study considered the political implications and management needs of any proposed MPA. Prior to starting her PhD, Adrian had a background in Antarctic environmental policy and marine mammal behavioral ecology.
Publications:
Dahood A, Watters GM, de Mutsert K. 2019. Using sea-ice to calibrate a dynamic trophic model for the Western Antarctic Peninsula. PLoS ONE 14(4): e0214814. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214814
Site Inspection of Brown Bluff
Images of the area as its inspected by the Multi-national team, as part of research to see how its effected by people visiting the site.
Adrian visited the United States Antarctic Program’s Palmer Station in the Western Antarctic Peninsula region and learned about the long term ecological research conducted there.
Adrian was on the US delegation to the Antarctic Treaty from 2010-2013
Adrian thinking about the environment from the perspective of one of her modeled species, thee Weddell seal.
Antarctic amphipod, Eusirus prodentatus, caught during NOAA’s US AMLR program winter cruise
Photo David P Cohn. Adrian and members of NOAA’s US AMLR program sort through Antarctic zooplankton while on a winter cruise.