Research at Ketos Ecology is directed by Caroline Weir, a marine mammal biologist who has been conducting visual and acoustic studies of free-ranging cetaceans since 1994. Caroline was educated at Sheffield University (B.Sc. Hons Ecology) and the University of Wales, Bangor (M.Sc. Marine Mammal Science), including research into the schooling behaviour of cetaceans, classification of bottlenose dolphin vocalisations in Ireland, and analysis of sperm whale codas in the Gulf of Mexico. She has since conducted visual and acoustic cetacean surveys and consultancy work for many UK-based research organisations including the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Sea Mammal Research Unit, the University of Aberdeen, Bristol University, Qinetiq, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Sea Watch Foundation and Ecologic. In recent years her interests have particularly centred on the impacts of anthropogenic sound such as seismic airguns and military sonar on marine mammals, and she consequently provides marine mammal consultancy advice for environmental impact assessments for the oil and gas industry and advice towards mitigating the impacts of renewable energy developments such as offshore wind farms and tidal power. Caroline's current research interests are focused in Angola and Gabon in West Africa, where she is studying the habitat preferences of pelagic cetacean and marine turtle species and carrying out pioneering field research on the threatened Atlantic humpback dolphin as part of a PhD in Ecology at the University of Aberdeen.

Please contact Caroline for further information.