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Email liz.slooten@otago.ac.nz

Research Interests

Hector Dolphin at sea

  • Marine mammals
  • Marine conservation
  • Reproductive biology
  • Population biology
  • Population viability analysis
  • Individual-based (agent-based) models
  • Risk analysis

Current Projects

  • Population biology of Hector's dolphins, sperm whales and right whales
  • Population viability analysis for Hector's and Maui dolphins
  • Assessment of the effectiveness of marine mammal protected areas
  • Work with students on impacts of fishing, tourism, mining and noise in the marine environment

Publications

Bennington, S., Dillingham, P. W., Wickman, L., Webster, T., Brough, T., Slooten, E., Dawson, S. M., & Rayment, W. J. (2026). Multi-event modeling of Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) fecundity using four decades of monitoring: Implications for current management of bycatch. Conservation Science & Practice, 8(e70242). doi: 10.1111/csp2.70242 Journal - Research Article

Dawson, S. M., Slooten, E., & Rayment, W. J. (2025). Hector's dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori (Van Beneden, 1881). In T. A. Jefferson (Ed.), Ridgway & Harrison's handbook of marine mammals (Vol. 1): Coastal dolphins and porpoises. (pp. 395-419). London, UK: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-443-13746-4.00014-7 Chapter in Book - Research

Rayment, W. J., Bennington, S., Carome, W., Dillingham, P., Slooten, E., Wickman, L., & Dawson, S. M. (2024). Long- and short-term impacts of vessels on Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) at Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula [DOC Research and Development Series 372]. In N. Frances (Ed.)(pp. 1-62). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/series/doc-research-and-development-series/ Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Bennington, S. M., Bourke, S. D., Wilkinson, S. P., Englebert, N., Bond, D. M., Jeunen, G.-J., Dawson, S., Slooten, E., Dillingham, P. W., Rayment, W. J., & Alexander, A. (2024). New insights into the population structure of Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) revealed using environmental DNA. Environmental DNA, 6, e70024. doi: 10.1002/edn3.70024 Journal - Research Article

Bennington, S., Dillingham, P. W., Bourke, S. D., Dawson, S. M., Slooten, E., & Rayment, W. J. (2024). Testing spatial transferability of species distribution models reveals differing habitat preferences for an endangered delphinid (Cephalorhynchus hectori) in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Ecology & Evolution, 14, e70074. doi: 10.1002/ece3.70074 Journal - Research Article

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