Virtual Field Trip: Florida International University
Summary
Join EarthEcho International and Dr. Mike Heithaus as we go on a behind the scenes lab tour with the School of the Environment at Florida International University. In an area normally off limits to visitors, survey a collection of marine mammal skulls, examine predator-prey relationships and human impact, and get an inside look at the research FIU is doing to protect our environment.
Panelists
About Dr. Mike Heithaus
Dr. Mike Heithaus is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and the Executive Director of the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) at Florida International University (FIU). He received a B.A. in Biology from Oberlin, and completed his PhD under Larry Dill at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Heithaus initiated the research that grew into the Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project, and developed many of his interests in the role of non-consumptive predator effects on marine community dynamics. From 2001-2003, he was a postdoctoral scientist and then staff scientist in the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, FL).
In the Fall of 2003, Dr. Heithaus joined the Marine Biology Program at Florida International University. His lab has begun investigating the importance of individual foraging specializations on mediating the ecological impacts of predators. In addition, his lab has initiated studies of the potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea communities of the Gulf of Mexico, particularly large scavengers and upper trophic level predators, like sharks.
In addition to his work with FIU, Dr. Heithaus has traveled all around the world to study wild animals as host of the National Geographic Channel’s Crittercam series. He has successfully deployed more than 100 remote imaging devices on marine animals. As one of the world’s leading shark experts, Dr. Heithaus has used Crittercam to discover how tiger sharks influence their prey’s habitat use and other behavior.