Profile
To address these questions, we employ a combination of tried and innovative techniques in wildlife telemetry (archival, acoustic, and accelerometery) and molecular genetics. It allows us to investigate stock structure, behavior, and short and long term movements within a variety of habitats (MPAs, open ocean, reef systems, etc) on a daily, seasonal and ontogenetic time scale.
We look to define the regions of the ocean that are important to these species; determine the oceanographic conditions that define their habitat; learn of their movement patterns within these areas; and investigate potential ecological implications of their endothermic physiology (if pertinent). Most of these animals are commercially important fish for international fisheries and effective management of existing biodiversity requires an understanding of their biology and population structure.
Tracking megafauna within BIOT, a Marine Protected Area that is larger than the US state of California, is a challenge. Thankfully with new technology, we are able to figuratively “peel back the ocean” to get a snapshot into where these animals spend the majority of their time...defining hot spots as well as migration corridors in order to inform management and enforcement.
Biography
My Projects
Other interests
The Tag-A-Giant Foundation is committed to maintaining a sustainable bluefin tuna fishery by supporting the scientific research necessary to develop innovative and effective policy and conservation initiatives.
My Publications
Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement
Curnick, D.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Jacoby, D.M.P., Coffey, D.M., Carlisle, A.B., Chapple, T.K., Ferretti, F., Schallert, R.J., White, T., Block, B.A., Koldewey, H.J. and Collen, B. (2020) Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement. Frontiers in Marine Science.
A Review of a Decade of Lessons From One of the World’s Largest MPAs: Conservation Gains and Key Challenges
Hays, G.C., Koldewey, H.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Attrill, M.J., Barley, S., Bayley, D.T.I., Benkwitt, C.E., Block, B., Schallert, R.J., Carlisle, A., Carr, P., Chapple, T.K., Collins, C., Diaz, C., Dunn, N., Dunbar, R.B., Eager, D.S., Engel, J., Embling, C.B., Esteban, N., Ferretti, F., Foster, N.L., Freeman, R., Gollock, M., Graham, N.A.J., Harris, J.L., Head, C.E.I, Hosegood, P., Howell, K.L., Hussey, N.E., Jacoby, D.M.P., Jones, R., Pilly, J.S., Lange, I.D., Letessier, T.B., Levy, E., Lindhart, M., McDevitt-Irwin, J.M., Meekan, M., Meeuwig, J.J., Micheli, F., Mogg, A., Mortimer, J.A., Mucciarone, D.A., Nicoll, M.A., Nuno, A., Perry, C., Preston, S.G., Rattray, A.J., Robinson, E., Roche, R., Schiele, M., Sheehan, E.V., Sheppard, A., Sheppard, C., Smith, A.L., Soule, B., Spalding, M., Stevens, G.M.W., Steyaert, M., Stiffel, S., Taylor, B.M., Tickler, D., Trevail, A.M., Trueba, P., Turner, J., Votier, S., Wilson, B., Williams, G., Williamson, B., Williamson, M.J., Wood, H. and Curnick, D.J. (2020) A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges. Marine Biology.
Mitochondrial Genome of the Silky Shark Carcharhinus falciformis From the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area
Johri, S., Chapple, T.K., Dinsdale, E.A., Schallert, R. and Block, B.A., (2020) Mitochondrial genome of the silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis from the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area. Mitochondrial DNA Part B.
Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus From the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area
Johri, S., Chapple, T.K., Schallert, R., Dinsdale, E.A. and Block, B.A., (2020) Complete mitochondrial genome of the whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus from the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area. Mitochondrial DNA Part B.
Shark Movement Strategies Influence Poaching Risk and Enforcement Decisions in a Large, Remote Marine Protected Area
Jacoby, D.M.J., Ferretti, F., Freeman, R., Carlisle, A.B., Chapple, T.K., Curnick, D.J., Dale, J.J., Schallert, R.J., Tickler, D. and Block, B.A. (2020) Shark movement strategies influence poaching risk and enforcement decisions in a large, remote Marine Protected Area. Journal of Applied Biology.
Individual Variation in Residency and Regional Movements of Reef Manta Rays Mobula aldredi in a Large Marine Protected Area
Andrzejaczek, S., Chapple, T.K., Curnick, D.J., Carlisle, A.B., Castleton, M., Jacoby, D.M.P., Peel, L.R., Schallert, R., Tickler, D.M. and Block, B.A. (2020) Individual variation in residency and regional movements of reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in a large Marine Protected Area. Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Evidence for Dynamic Resource Partitioning between Two Sympatric Reef Shark Species within the British Indian Ocean Territory
Curnick, D. J., Carlisle, A. B., Gollock, M. J., Schallert, R. J., & Hussey, N. E. (2019). Evidence for dynamic resource partitioning between two sympatric reef shark species within the British Indian Ocean Territory. Journal of fish biology, 94(4), 680-685.
Potential Detection of Illegal Fishing by Passive Acoustic Telemetry
Tickler, D. M., Carlisle, A. B., Chapple, T. K., Curnick, D. J., Dale, J. J., Schallert, R. J., & Block, B. A. (2019). Potential detection of illegal fishing by passive acoustic telemetry. Animal Biotelemetry, 7(1), 1.