Noon Lecture: Aquatic Mammals and Coastal ONE Health

Overview

Aquatic mammals are valuable indicators for environmental health and MSU’s newest propgram, Coastal ONE Health, is studying the connections between environmental and wildlife and human health. Studies include bottlenose dolphins, west Indian manatees, near and offshore marine mammals, north American beavers, water quality, microbiomes and environmental pathogens.

BIO:

Holley Muraco, PhD

Assistant Research Professor, Coastal ONE Health

Dr. Holley Muraco has worked in the field of wildlife conservation for over 25 years with expertise in marine mammal health, behavior and reproduction. She received her PhD in Animal Physiology from Mississippi State University where she specialized in bottlenose dolphin reproduction. She is the primary author of 28 scientific publications including peer-reviewed journal articles on bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, Pacific walrus and spotted eagle rays.

Dr. Muraco has worked around the world helping to understand and conserve wildlife, and her award-winning research was the focus of a full-length documentary by the BBC (Walrus: Two Tonne Tusker). She is passionate about scientific communication and understands the importance of providing accurate, as well as understandable, science to the public.

Dr. Muraco is an Assistant Research Professor at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center where she is building a collaborative, multi-disciplinary Coastal ONE Health program with a focus on marine and aquatic mammals.