OCS PUBLICATIONS

Scientific publications by Ocean Conservation Society

Why We Publish

OCS ongoing, long-term field research provides scientific information about marine mammals and other species that can be used for the conservation of these animals and their entire ecosystem. 

Peer-Reviewed Papers

Publishing peer-reviewed scientific papers helps us share what we’ve learned in the field with other scientists. The peer-review process ensures that findings in scientific journals answer important research questions and draw accurate conclusions based on professionally done experimentation.

Public Education

Using our research and resulting publications as a foundation, we share science-based information with other institutions, the media, and the public via our educational outreach campaigns. This helps us to engage decision-makers and inspire the public to take action toward the conservation of marine mammals and other species.

“Publishing with OCS allowed me to see for myself that I had the ability to enter into the scientific community as a colleague. I published my first paper with OCS and have since published 10 others with many more to come. This was possible because OCS invests in the community by building up its community members and paying special attention to those typically not recruited into academia. This leadership inspired me to do the same, as I also now work to create opportunities for communities traditionally not recruited into academia.” 

Mike Navarro

Former OCS Researcher, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska Southeast

PUBLICATIONS BY YEAR

30+

publications on marine mammals off California during 25 years of field research

2023

Keener, W, MA Webber,   TM Markowitz,  MP Cotter,  D Maldini,  RH Defran, M Rice, AJ Debich, AR Lang DL Kelly, AG Kesaris, M Bearzi, K Causey, D Anderson, L Shuster, and DW Weller. 2023. Northern Range Expansion of California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals, 49(1), 29-43.

2015-2021

Bearzi, M. 2017. Impacts of Marine Mammal Tourism. Pp. 73–96 in Ecotourism’s Promise and Peril. Springer.

Szczepaniak, I, K Keener, MA Webber, SJ Stern, D Maldini, M Cotter, RH Defran, M Rice, G Campbell, A Debich, AR Lang, DL Kelly, A Kesaris, M Bearzi, K Causey, and DW Weller. 2016. Coastal bottlenose dolphins move north to the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. In: Beyond the Golden Gate Research Symposium 2016. Tiburon, CA. 

Bearzi, M, D Checkley, D Caron, M Dojiri, J Gully, C Lowe, and E Miller. 2015. State of the Bay Report. Habitat Conditions: Coastal Pelagic. Urban Coast 5(1): 116-127.

Fandel, A, M Bearzi, and T Cook. 2015. Effects of ocean recreational users on coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Santa Monica Bay, California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, 114(2):63-75.

Cook, T, K James, and M Bearzi. 2015. Angler perception of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) depredation and marine policy in Southern California. Marine Policy Journal 51:573-583.

2010-2014

Hwang, A, RH Defran, M Bearzi, D Maldini, C Saylan, A Lang, K Dudzik, O Guzòn-Zatarain, D Kelly, and DW Weller. 2014. Coastal range and movements of common bottlenose dolphins off California and Baja California, Mexico. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, 113(1):1-13.

Bearzi, M. 2012. Cetaceans and MPAs should go hand in hand: a case study in Santa Monica Bay, California. Ocean and Coastal Management 60:56-59.

Kesaris, A, D Weller, Campbell G, Defran RH, Bearzi M, Maldini D, and J Hildebrand. 2012. California dolphin online catalog. (Abstract) Proceedings of The American Cetacean Society Conference “Whales and Humans: A Conflicted Relationship”, Nov 9-11, 2012. San Diego CA. 

Bearzi, M and C Saylan. 2011. Cetacean ecology for Santa Monica Bay and nearby areas, California, in the context of the newly established MPAs. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 110(2):35-51.

Bearzi, M and K Patonai. 2010. Occurrence of the barnacle (Xenobalanus globicipitis) on coastal and offshore common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Santa Monica Bay and adjacent areas, California. Southern California Academy of Sciences Bulletin 109(2):15-22.

Bearzi, M and C Stanford. 2010. A bigger, better brain. American Scientist 98:2-9.

2005-2009

Bearzi, M, C Saylan, and J Feenstra. 2009. Seabird observations during cetacean surveys in Santa Monica Bay, California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 108(2):63-69.

Bearzi, M, C Saylan, and A Hwang. 2009. Ecology and comparison of coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in California. Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 60:584-593.

Bearzi, M, S Rapoport, J Chau, and C Saylan. 2009. Skin lesions and physical deformities of coastal and offshore common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Santa Monica Bay and adjacent areas, California. Ambio 38(2):66-71.

Bearzi, M and C Saylan. 2008. A hand-held, PDA based system for seabird data collection during cetacean surveys. Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology (1)1:9-11.

Bearzi, M, C Saylan, and C Barroso. 2008. Pinniped ecology in Santa Monica Bay, California. Acta Zoologica Sinica 54(1):1-11.

Navarro, MO and M Bearzi. 2007. Effects of marine mammals on sport fishery in the Santa Monica Bay, California. Southern California Academy of Science Bulletin 106 (3):215-217

Bearzi, M and C Stanford. 2007. Dolphins and African apes: comparisons of sympatric socio-ecology. Contributions of Zoology 76(4):235-254.

Blumstein, DT and C Saylan. 2007. The failure of environmental education (and how we canfix it). PLoS Biology Vol. 5, No. 5, e120.

Bearzi, M. 2006. California sea lions use dolphins to locate food. Journal of Mammalogy 87(3):606–617.

Bearzi, M. 2005. Habitat partitioning by three species of dolphins in Santa Monica Bay, CA. Southern California Academy of Science Bulletin 104(3):113-124.

Bearzi, M. 2005. Dolphin sympatric ecology. Marine Biology Research 1:165-175.

Bearzi, M. 2005. Aspects of the ecology and behavior of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Santa Monica Bay, California. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 7(1):75-83.

2000-2004

Bearzi, M. 2003. Behavioral ecology of the marine mammals of Santa Monica Bay, California. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles. 239 pp.

Bearzi, M. 2001. Observations on two species of common dolphins in the Santa Monica Bay, CA. (Abstract) Proceedings of The 15th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, May 6-10, Rome, Italy.

Bearzi, M. 2001. Observations on two species of common dolphins in the Santa Monica Bay, CA. Abstract, 2001 Biology Research Symposium, UCLA Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, May 14, Los Angeles, CA.

Bearzi, M. 2001. Spatial habitat partitioning between three dolphin species in Santa Monica Bay, CA. (Abstract) Proceedings of The XIV Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, November 28-December 4, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Bearzi, M. 2000. First contribution to the knowledge of marine mammals in the Santa Monica Bay, California. Biology Research Symposium, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, University of California, May 9, 2000, Los Angeles, CA.

Bearzi, M and B Steinmetz. 2000. Preliminary observations on marine mammals in the Santa Monica Bay, California. Southern California Academy of Science, 2000 Annual Meeting, May 19-20, 2000, Los Angeles, CA.

1996-1999

Bearzi, M. 1999. The Los Angeles Dolphin Project. Preliminary Report, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project. 2 p.

Bearzi, M. 1999. Data on marine mammals collected during inshore surveys in the Santa Monica Bay, California. Preliminary Report, Chambers & Ass. 8 p.

Bearzi, M. 1999. Preliminary observations on marine mammals in the Santa Monica Basin, California. (Abstract) Proceedings of The XIII Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, November 27-December 3, Maui, Hawaii.

Bearzi, M. 1996. Sea turtles in the El Palmar Reserve, Yucatan: A preliminary study. Marine Turtle Newsletter, 75: 18-20.

Bearzi, M. 1996. Sea turtle surveys to evaluate the human impact in the influence area of salt extraction industry (Rio Lagartos, Yucatan, Mexico). Final Report, Industria Salinera de Yucatan, Mexico. 5 p.

Bearzi, M. 1996. The El Palmar Project in the Yucatan Peninsula. Universidad Campechana, IX Taller Regional sobre Programas de Conservacion de Tortugas Marinas en la Peninsula de Yucatan, 7-10 February 1996, Campeche, Mexico.

Bearzi, M. 1996. Bottlenose dolphins in El Palmar and Rio Lagartos Reserves (Yucatan, Mexico): a preliminary study. Proceedings of The American Cetacean Society Conference, 8-11 November 1996, San Pedro, CA.

HELP US KEEP PUBLISHING!

Science is at the core of wildlife conservation

Our scientific work never stops!

We spend a lot of time studying dolphins, whales, and other species in the wild. Our research team spends even MORE time in the lab analyzing data and writing scientific and educational publications. This part may feel less glamorous, but is critical for keeping the scientific community and public informed, and affecting change for the protection of marine mammals and their environment.

Your tax-deductible donations enable us to continue publishing the research we’ve been conducting since 1996.

OCS BOOKS

Featured educational books written by OCS staff

By OCS President, Dr. Maddalena Bearzi

By OCS Executive Director, Charles Saylan and Dr. Daniel Blumstein

By OCS President, Dr. Maddalena Bearzi and Dr. Craig Stanford

EXPLORE

Learn about our active research projects