Profile
Specifically I focus on how large pelagic fish utilize the open ocean around the Chagos Archipelago. My team and I have pioneered the successful development and deployment of electronic tags on tunas, billfishes and sharks in the Indian Ocean region and around the world.
Our team studies bluefin and yellowfin tunas from a whole organism to genome perspective with interests in physiology of migrations, thermogenesis, cardiac biology, energetics and reproduction. The combination of lab and field research has led us to increase our understanding of movement patterns, population structure, physiology and behaviors of pelagic fish and sharks, enabling us to better inform conservation management actions.
Human technology has made it to Mars. We are transmitting gorgeous pictures from it. Yet we have not explored our own planet. Two-thirds of it is covered with oceans that are still mysterious places.
Biography
My Projects
Other interests
I am the Founder of the Tag-A-Giant Foundation which aims to inspire the conservation of bluefin tuna while supporting scientific research informing fisheries management. Additionally I am running the Dr. Barbara Block Lab at the Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey Bay, where my team of researchers and I are involved in several projects such as the Blue Serengeti Initiative, the Animal Telemetry Network, the management of the Tuna Research and Conservation Center as well as the aforementioned Tag-A-Giant project.
My Publications
Pop-up Archival Tags Reveal Environmental Influences on the Vertical Movements of Silvertip Sharks (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Tickler, D.M., Carlisle, A.B., Meeuwig, J.J., Chapple, T.K., Curnick, D., Dale, J.J., Castleton, M.J., Schallert, R.J., Block, B.B. (2023). Pop-up archival tags reveal environmental influences on the vertical movements of silvertip sharks (Carcharhinus albimarginatus). Marine Ecological Progress Series.
Environmental DNA Helps Reveal Reef Shark Distribution Across a Remote Archipelago
Dunn, N., Curnick, D.J., Carbone, C., Carlisle, A.B., Chapple, T.K., Dowell, R., Ferretti, F., Jacoby, D.M.P., Schallert, R.J., Steyaert, M., Tickler, D.M., Williamson, M.J., Block, B.A., Savolainen, V. (2023). Environmental DNA helps reveal reef shark distribution across a remote archipelago. Ecological Indicators.
Emergent research and priorities for shark and ray conservation.
Jorgensen, S.J., Micheli, F., White, T.D., Van Houtan, K.S., Alfaro-Shigueto, J., Andrzejaczek, S., Arnoldi, N.S., Baum, J.K., Block, B., Britten, G.L., Butner, C., Caballero, S., Cardeñosa, D., Chapple, T.K., Clarke, S., Cortés, E., Dulvy, N.K., Fowler, S., Gallagher, A.J., Gilman, E., Godley, B.J., Graham, R.T., Hammerschlag, N., Harry, A.V., Heithaus, M.R., Hutchinson, M., Huveneers, C., Lowe, C.G., Lucifora, L.O., MacKeracher, T., Mangel, J.C., Martins, A.P.B., McCauley, D.J., McClenachan, L., Mull, C., Natanson, L.J., Pauly, D., Pazmiño, D.A., Pistevos, J.C.A., Queiroz, N., Roff, G., Shea, B.D., Simpfendorfer, C.A., Sims, D.W., Ward-Paige, C., Worm, B., Ferretti, F., (2022) Emergent research and priorities for shark and ray conservation. Endangered Species Research.
Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement
Curnick, D.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Jacoby, D.M.P., Coffey, D.M., Carlisle, A.B., Chapple, T.K., Ferretti, F., Schallert, R.J., White, T., Block, B.A., Koldewey, H.J. and Collen, B. (2020) Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement. Frontiers in Marine Science.
A Review of a Decade of Lessons From One of the World’s Largest MPAs: Conservation Gains and Key Challenges
Hays, G.C., Koldewey, H.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Attrill, M.J., Barley, S., Bayley, D.T.I., Benkwitt, C.E., Block, B., Schallert, R.J., Carlisle, A., Carr, P., Chapple, T.K., Collins, C., Diaz, C., Dunn, N., Dunbar, R.B., Eager, D.S., Engel, J., Embling, C.B., Esteban, N., Ferretti, F., Foster, N.L., Freeman, R., Gollock, M., Graham, N.A.J., Harris, J.L., Head, C.E.I, Hosegood, P., Howell, K.L., Hussey, N.E., Jacoby, D.M.P., Jones, R., Pilly, J.S., Lange, I.D., Letessier, T.B., Levy, E., Lindhart, M., McDevitt-Irwin, J.M., Meekan, M., Meeuwig, J.J., Micheli, F., Mogg, A., Mortimer, J.A., Mucciarone, D.A., Nicoll, M.A., Nuno, A., Perry, C., Preston, S.G., Rattray, A.J., Robinson, E., Roche, R., Schiele, M., Sheehan, E.V., Sheppard, A., Sheppard, C., Smith, A.L., Soule, B., Spalding, M., Stevens, G.M.W., Steyaert, M., Stiffel, S., Taylor, B.M., Tickler, D., Trevail, A.M., Trueba, P., Turner, J., Votier, S., Wilson, B., Williams, G., Williamson, B., Williamson, M.J., Wood, H. and Curnick, D.J. (2020) A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges. Marine Biology.
