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Dr Marta Guerra

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

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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

More publications...