Guido Parra
Cetacean Ecologist, Lecturer in Marine Vertebrates
Areas of expertise
Biology and Ecology of Cetaceans
Cetacean conservation and management
Behavioural Ecology
Countries of work experience
Colombia, USA, Australia
Experience and qualifications
Dr. Parra is a Colombian biologist with broad research interest in population biology, behavioural ecology and wildlife conservation and management. Guido migrated to Australia in 1999 to conduct his postgraduate studies. He completed his PhD at James Cook University in 2005 on the behavioural ecology of Australian Snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at University of Queensland investigating different aspects of the ecology, behaviour and population genetics of coastal dolphins. Dr. Parra uses a variety of ecological and molecular methods to understand the demography, movement patterns, social organization, interspecific interactions and population structure of marine mammal populations. He has now join MISA through a joint position between SARDI - Aquatic Sciences and Flinders University where he acts as cetacean ecologist and lecturer, respectively. Guido is based at the Lincoln Marine Research Centre and aims to establish a strong research group on Marine Vertebrate ecology and behaviour.
Professional appointments
2009-present Senior Scientist, Cetacean Ecologist within the Marine Environment and Ecology Program at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI Aquatic Sciences).
2009-present Lecturer at Flinders University
2006–2009 Postdoctoral Fellow. School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland.
2005-2006 Research Fellow. School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography. James Cook University.
2003–2005 Demonstrator, Tutor and Lecturer, James Cook University
Selected publications
Parra, G.J. and Ross, G. 2009. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis. In: Encyclopaedia of Marine Mammals (Eds. Perrin, W., Würsig, B., and Thewissen, J.). Elsevier Press.
Parra, G.J. and Arnold, P. 2008. The Australian Snubfin Dolphin, Orcaella heinsohni. In: The Mammals of Australia (Ed. Van Dyck, S. & Strahan, R.).New Holland Publishers, Sydney, Australia.
Lawler, I., Parra, G. J., and Noad, M. 2007. Chapter 16 Vulnerability of marine mammals in the Great Barrier Reef to climate change. In: Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef: a vulnerability assessment (Ed. by Johnson, J. E. & Marshall, P. A.). Townsville, Queensland, Australia: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Greenhouse Office.
Parra, G. J. 2007. Observation of an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin carrying a sponge: object play or tool use? Mammalia, 71, 147-149.
Parra, G., J. 2006. Resource partitioning in sympatric delphinids: Space use and habitat preferences of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Journal of Animal Ecology 75:862-874.
Parra, G. J., P. J. Corkeron, and H. Marsh. 2006. Population sizes, site fidelity and residence patterns of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins: Implications for conservation. Biological Conservation 129:167-180.
Parra, G. J., R. S. Schick, and P. J. Corkeron. 2006. Spatial distribution and environmental correlates of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Ecography 29:396-406.
Parra, G. J., P. J. Corkeron, and H. Marsh. 2004. The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765), in Australian waters: a summary of current knowledge. Aquatic Mammals 30:197-206.
Parra, G. J., C. Azuma, A. R. Preen, P. J. Corkeron, and H. Marsh. 2002. Distribution of Irrawaddy dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris, in Australian waters. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 10:141-154.
Parra, G. J., and P. J. Corkeron. 2001. Feasibility of using photo-identification techniques to study the Irrawaddy dolphin, Orcaella brevirostris (Owen in Gray 1866). Aquatic Mammals 27:45-49.
Van Parijs, S. M., G. J. Parra, and P. J. Corkeron. 2000. Sounds produced by Australian Irrawaddy dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 108:1938-1940.
Research Projects (current)
- Population genetics and phylogeography of Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins
- Modelling habitat suitability of coastal dolphins along the QLD coast
- Comparative feeding ecology of Australian Snubfin and Indo-pacific humpback dolphins.
- Ecology and conservation of coastal dolphins in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia.
- Interspecific interactions among delphinids: chance or biological significance?
- The acoustic and surface behaviour of coastal dolphins in Queensland: implications for management.
Contact
Phone: +61 8 8683 2576
Fax: +61 8 8683 2525
Email: guido.parra@flinders.edu.au
Location: Lincoln Marine Science Centre, PO Box 2023 Port Lincoln SA 5606