A new research initiative led by Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) has received a three-year, $666,910 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project will explore how environmental changes impact marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean.
The study is spearheaded by Lesley Thorne, an associate professor and associate dean of research at SoMAS. It aims to investigate the environmental factors affecting giant petrels' energetics, distribution, and population dynamics. These seabirds are significant predators in the rapidly changing Southern Ocean.
In collaboration with Richard Phillips from the British Antarctic Survey, the project titled “Environmental drivers of giant petrel energetics, and implications for population trends and predation pressure in the Southern Ocean” will examine how shifting wind patterns and Antarctic sea ice influence giant petrels’ behavior. These birds rely on wind for efficient navigation across vast marine environments and play a crucial role in food webs by preying on penguins and scavenging carrion.
Kevin Gardner, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Stony Brook University stated: “This important NSF-funded research truly embodies the spirit of the work we foster here at Stony Brook.” He highlighted that Thorne’s research aligns with their mission to produce impactful knowledge for a sustainable future.
Carl W. Lejuez, executive vice president and provost added: “Research efforts like Professor Thorne’s help us to better understand, and potentially protect, the delicate and interdependent ecosystems that make up this planet.”
The project will utilize various field tools such as drones, accelerometers, heart rate loggers, and 3D modeling to measure energetic costs associated with giant petrel flight. The team aims to uncover mechanisms influencing predator-prey interactions by studying how access to sea ice affects movement patterns.
Thorne's broader work integrates marine biology with cutting-edge technology to evaluate human activity impacts on marine mammals and seabirds. This study addresses gaps in understanding seabird ecology concerning environmental change.
Running from August 2025 through July 2028, this NSF grant contributes to international efforts under NSF-GEO-NERC collaboration aimed at understanding polar ecosystem changes due to environmental variability.
— Beth Squire