Contact details
Office 310 Castle Street, room 209
Tel +64 3 479 7468
Email marta.guerra@otago.ac.nz
Academic qualifications
BSc (Environmental Biology) – Universidad Complutense de Madrid
PGDip (Wildlife Management) – University of Otago
MSc Thesis (Marine Science) – University of Otago
PhD (Marine Science) – University of Otago
Research interests
- Ecology, conservation biology and behaviour of marine mammals
- Species-habitat relationships
- Food webs
Postgraduate students
- Stella Simpson, MSc: Investigating the effects of oceanic conditions on sperm whales and their prey at Kaikōura
Publications
Dickson, T., Guerra, M., Rayment, W., & Dawson, S. (2023). Multi-decadal observations of the size structure of sperm whales at Kaikōura, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 57(1), 63-74. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2021.1960570
Hersh, T. A., Gero, S., Rendell, L., Cantor, M., Weilgart, L., Amano, M., Dawson, S. M., Slooten, E., … Guerra, M., … Whitehead, H. (2022). Evidence from sperm whale clans of symbolic marking in non-human cultures. PNAS, 119(37), e2201692119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2201692119
Palmer, E., Alexander, A., Liggins, L., Guerra, M., Bury, S. J., Hendriks, H., … Peters, K. J. (2022). A piece of the puzzle: Analyses of recent strandings and historical records reveal new genetic and ecological insights on New Zealand sperm whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 690, 201-217. Retrieved from https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v690/p201-217/
Bennington, S., Guerra, M., Johnston, D., Currey, R., Brough, T., Corne, C., … Slooten, E., Dawson, S., & Rayment, W. (2022). Decadal stability in the distribution of bottlenose dolphins in Dusky Sound/Tamatea, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2022.2038214
Somerford, T. R., Dawson, S. M., Slooten, E., Guerra, M., Childerhouse, S. J., Richter, C. F., van der Linde, M. L., & Rayment, W. J. (2022). Long-term decline in abundance of male sperm whales visiting Kaikōura, New Zealand. Marine Mammal Science, 38, 606-625. doi: 10.1111/mms.12886
Dickson, T., Guerra, M., Rayment, W., & Dawson, S. (2023). Multi-decadal observations of the size structure of sperm whales at Kaikōura, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 57(1), 63-74. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2021.1960570
Journal - Research Article
Bennington, S., Guerra, M., Johnston, D., Currey, R., Brough, T., Corne, C., … Slooten, E., Dawson, S., & Rayment, W. (2022). Decadal stability in the distribution of bottlenose dolphins in Dusky Sound/Tamatea, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2022.2038214
Journal - Research Article
Guerra, M., Dawson, S. M., Somerford, T. R., Slooten, E., & Rayment, W. J. (2022). Fine-scale habitat use of foraging sperm whales is driven by seafloor topography and water column structure. Marine Mammal Science, 38, 626-652. doi: 10.1111/mms.12881
Journal - Research Article
Hersh, T. A., Gero, S., Rendell, L., Cantor, M., Weilgart, L., Amano, M., Dawson, S. M., Slooten, E., … Guerra, M., … Whitehead, H. (2022). Evidence from sperm whale clans of symbolic marking in non-human cultures. PNAS, 119(37), e2201692119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2201692119
Journal - Research Article
Palmer, E., Alexander, A., Liggins, L., Guerra, M., Bury, S. J., Hendriks, H., … Peters, K. J. (2022). A piece of the puzzle: Analyses of recent strandings and historical records reveal new genetic and ecological insights on New Zealand sperm whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 690, 201-217. Retrieved from https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v690/p201-217/
Journal - Research Article
Somerford, T. R., Dawson, S. M., Slooten, E., Guerra, M., Childerhouse, S. J., Richter, C. F., van der Linde, M. L., & Rayment, W. J. (2022). Long-term decline in abundance of male sperm whales visiting Kaikōura, New Zealand. Marine Mammal Science, 38, 606-625. doi: 10.1111/mms.12886
Journal - Research Article
Bennington, S., Rayment, W., Currey, R., Oldridge, L., Henderson, S., Guerra, M., … Johnston, D., … Slooten, L., & Dawson, S. (2021). Long-term stability in core habitat of an endangered population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Implications for spatial management. Aquatic Conservation, 31, 665-676. doi: 10.1002/aqc.3460
Journal - Research Article
Guerra, M., Dawson, S., Sabadel, A., Slooten, E., Somerford, T., Williams, R., Wing, L., & Rayment, W. (2020). Changes in habitat use by a deep-diving predator in response to a coastal earthquake. Deep Sea Research Part I, 158, 103226. doi: 10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103226
Journal - Research Article
Guerra, M., Wing, L., Dawson, S., & Rayment, W. (2020). Stable isotope analyses reveal seasonal and inter-individual variation in the foraging ecology of sperm whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 638, 207-219. doi: 10.3354/meps13255
Journal - Research Article
Guerra, M., Hickmott, L., van der Hoop, J., Rayment, W., Leunissen, E., Slooten, E., & Moore, M. (2017). Diverse foraging strategies by a marine top predator: Sperm whales exploit pelagic and demersal habitats in the Kaikōura submarine canyon. Deep Sea Research Part I, 128, 98-108. doi: 10.1016/j.dsr.2017.08.012
Journal - Research Article
Brough, T. E., Henderson, S., Guerra, M., & Dawson, S. M. (2016). Factors influencing heterogeneity in female reproductive success in a critically endangered population of bottlenose dolphins. Endangered Species Research, 29(3), 255-270. doi: 10.3354/esr00715
Journal - Research Article
Guerra, M., & Dawson, S. M. (2016). Boat-based tourism and bottlenose dolphins in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand: The role of management in decreasing dolphin-boat interactions. Tourism Management, 57, 3-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.05.010
Journal - Research Article
Brough, T. E., Guerra, M., & Dawson, S. M. (2015). Photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins in the far south of New Zealand indicates a 'new', previously unstudied population. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 49(1), 150-158. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2014.984728
Journal - Research Article
Guerra, M., Dawson, S. M., Brough, T. E., & Rayment, W. J. (2014). Effects of boats on the surface and acoustic behaviour of an endangered population of bottlenose dolphin. Endangered Species Research, 24(3), 221-236. doi: 10.3354/esr00598
Journal - Research Article
Guerra-Bobo, M., & Brough, T. E. (2011). Neighbour density, body size and anti-predator hiding time in the New Zealand mud-crab Austrohelice crassa. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 91(3), 691-694. doi: 10.1017/S0025315410001049
Journal - Research Article
Fumagalli, M., Guerra, M., Brough, T., Carome, W., Constantine, R., Higham, J., Rayment, W., Slooten, E., … Dawson, S. (2021). Looking back to move forward: Lessons from three decades of research and management of cetacean tourism in New Zealand. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 624448. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.624448
Journal - Research Other
Guerra, M., Rayment, W., Wing, L., Slooten, L., & Dawson, S. (2016). Trophic interactions in the Kaikōura submarine canyon: From primary productivity to sperm whales. Proceedings of the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) and Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference: Sharing Ocean Resources: Now and in the Future. (pp. 41). Retrieved from https://innovators.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/nzmss-amsa-2016/home/Agenda
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Brough, T., Henderson, S., Currey, R., Guerra, M., & Dawson, S. (2013). It matters who your mum is: Variation in female reproductive success and calf survival in the bottlenose dolphin population of Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. Proceedings of the 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. (pp. 33). Retrieved from http://www.marinemammalscience.org/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Guerra, M., Dawson, S. M., & Brough, T. E. (2013). Impacts of tourism on bottlenose dolphins in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand: Management success and next steps for mitigation. Proceedings of the 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. (pp. 86). Retrieved from http://www.marinemammalscience.org/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Hickmott, L. S., van der Hoop, J., Rayment, W., Slooten, E., Guerra, M., Fahlman, A., … Miller, B. S., & Moore, M. (2013). New Zealand sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus): From an eye in the sky, to insights in the abyss, a multi-disciplinary study of the sperm whales of Kaikoura Canyon. Proceedings of the 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. (pp. 94). Retrieved from http://www.marinemammalscience.org/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Guerra, M. (2021, July). Offshore surveys reveal a hotspot for oceanic megafauna off the Northland coast. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) Conference: Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamua/Looking back, to move forward, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Guerra, M. (2019, July). Inter-annual variability in abundance of sperm whales at Kaikōura in relation to ocean conditions. Verbal presentation at the NZ Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) Joint Meeting with the Oceania Chondrichthyan Society, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Guerra, M. (2018, July). Environmental drivers of the fine-scale foraging distribution of sperm whales. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) Conference: Weaving the Strands, Napier, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Guerra, M. (2018, July). The effects of the Kaikōura earthquake on sperm whales. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) Conference: Weaving the Strands, Napier, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Guerra Bobo, M. (2019). Foraging ecology of sperm whales at Kaikōura (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/9189
Awarded Doctoral Degree