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Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program

Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program

Conserving Texas Dolphins

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About Us

The Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program (GDRP) aims to better understand the bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops trucantus) that live in the Galveston Bay estuary, off the Gulf Coast of Texas. Primarily through boat-based surveying, we study the ecology, behavior, and health of this population. We also raise public awareness about Galveston Bay dolphins through various outreach and education initiatives.

our research
education & outreach

Our Team

The GDRP was established in 2014 as a partnership between the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (EIH-UHCL).

Principal Investigators

Vanessa Mintzer, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Galveston Bay Foundation

Vanessa is a Research Scientist with the Galveston Bay Foundation, founder of Wildlife Research Partnerships, and a Courtesy Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on understanding and evaluating the interactions between humans and wildlife, with a specialization in small cetaceans. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida (SNRE-UF), a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and B.S. in Environmental Science from SNRE-UF.

Kristi Fazioli, M.S.

Research Associate, Environmental Institute of Houston

Kristi is a Research Associate with the Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Her research experience focuses on studying population biology, behavior and ecology, specializing in marine mammals. She has worked extensively with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program and on a variety of other projects in places ranging from Brownsville, Texas, to Kwajalein Atoll. She holds a M.S. in marine science from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a B.S. in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston.

Scientific and Program Advisors

George Guillen, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Environmental Institute of Houston

Jenny Oakley, Ph.D.

Environmental Scientist, Environmental Institute of Houston

Bob Stokes

President, Galveston Bay Foundation

Randall Wells, Ph.D.

Program Director, Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program

Program Support

Casey Blair

Database and Administrative Coordinator, Galveston Bay Foundation

Jacob Doyal

Equipment and Maintenance Technician, Environmental Institute of Houston

Claire Everett

Communications and Marketing Manager, Galveston Bay Foundation

Emily Ford

Community Programs Manager and Chief Safety Officer, Galveston Bay Foundation

Patti Koch

Senior Business Assistant, Environmental Institute of Houston

Nicole Scanlin

Director of Development, Galveston Bay Foundation

Cindy Wilems

Director of Education, Galveston Bay Foundation

Students

Mackenzie Farrell

Graduate Student, Environmental Science and Biology, University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Project: Assessing activity patterns and spatial variations among bottlenose dolphins in Galveston Bay using Passive Acoustic Monitoring

Sherah McDaniel

Graduate Student, Environmental Science and Biology, University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Project: Foraging Ecology of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Galveston Bay, Texas

Interns and Volunteers

Student interns and citizen science community volunteers are an integral part of our team. These hard working team members spend long days in the field and long hours in front of a computer sorting photos and matching fins. We post new volunteer and internship opportunities here and in our newsletter.

Summer 2021 Research Internship Opportunity

UHCL Graduate student Sherah McDaniel
Interns Heidi Malizia and Shelby Yahn

Partners and Sponsors

Our team cannot work without the many partners, sponsors and individuals that support our program.

our supporters

Scientific Collaborators

The GDRP believes that science is best accomplished by working together toward a common goal and is proud to collaborate with organizations and agencies committed to conserving dolphins and their habitats.

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Frequently asked questions
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Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program

Activities are conducted under a NMFS Scientific Research Permit

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