Research

My research program seeks to understand the drivers of individual animals’ behaviors, how social interactions mediate group-level behaviors, and how these individual and group-level processes result in population-level patterns of behavior. I further interrogate the adaptive capacity of individual and group-level behavioral strategies under ecosystem variation and change in the Anthropocene.

Select relevant publications:

• Oestreich, WK, Aiu, KMˆ, Crowder, LB, McKenna, MF, Berdahl, AM, Abrahms, B (2022) The influence of social cues on timing of animal migrations. Nature Ecology and Evolution. ˆstudent mentee

• Oestreich, WK, Abrahms, B, McKenna, MF, Goldbogen, JA, Crowder, LB, Ryan, JP (2022). Acoustic signature reveals blue whales tune life history transitions to oceanographic conditions. Functional Ecology.

• Ryan, JP, Benoit-Bird, K, Oestreich, WK, Leary, P, Smith, K, Waluk, C, Cade, D, Fahlbusch, J, Southall, B, Joseph, J, Margolina, T, Calambokidis, J, and DeVogelaere, A, Goldbogen, J (2022). Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind-driven resource tracking by blue whales. Ecology Letters.

• Dodson, S*, Oestreich, WK*, Savoca, M, Hazen, EL, Bograd, S, Ryan, JP, Fietchter, J, Abrahms, B (2024). Long-distance communication can enable collective migration in a dynamic seascape. Scientific Reports. *co-lead authors

A growing suite of tools allows for unprecedented detail and continuity in behavioral observations. Integrating these tools remains a challenge, but provides an extraordinary opportunity to expand the theoretical breadth and applied reach of behavioral ecology through the study of cryptic species and historically opaque ecosystems. For example, >95% of Earth's habitable space is in the open and deep ocean, yet we know little about the drivers of animals' behaviors in these ecosystems. I integrate bio-logging tags, acoustic recorders, oceanographic sensors, computer simulations, and more to unveil the processes driving patterns of animal behavior across ecosystems. 

Select relevant publications:

• Oestreich, WK, Oliver, RY, Chapman, MS, Go, MC, McKenna, MF (2024). Listening to animal behavior to understand changing ecosystems. Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

• Oestreich, WK, Benoit-Bird, KJ, Abrahms, B, Margolina, T, Joseph, JE, Zhang, Y, Rueda, C, Ryan, JP (2024). Evidence for seasonal resource-tracking migration by a top predator of the deep sea. Movement Ecology.

• Oestreich, WK, Fahlbusch, JA, Cade, DE, Calambokidis, J, Margolina, T, Joseph, J, Friedlaender, AS, McKenna, MF, Stimpert, AK, Southall, BL, Goldbogen, JA, Ryan, JP (2020). Animal-borne metrics enable acoustic detection of blue whale migration. Current Biology.

Human communities are not only important drivers of animal behavior in the Anthropocene, but also as critical partners in enhancing the efficacy and equity of both the scientific process and its application to ecosystem stewardship. I explore dynamic management strategies for human and wildlife needs, and critically examine ways to incorporate principles of equity and environmental justice in applications of conservation technology. I am also excited about the power of collective community engagement in the scientific process via participatory science (more coming in this space soon!).

Select relevant publications:

• Oestreich, WK, Chapman, MS, Crowder, LB (2020). A comparative analysis of dynamic management in marine and terrestrial systems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

• Chapman, MS*, Oestreich, WK*, Frawley, TH, Boettiger, C, Diver, S, Santos, BS, Scoville, C, Armstrong, K, Blondin, H, Chand, K, Haulsee, DE, Knight, CJ, Crowder, LB (2021). Promoting equity in the use of algorithms for high seas conservation. One Earth  *co-lead authors

• Oestreich, WK, Frawley, TH, Mansfield, EJ, Green, KM, Green, SJ, Naggea, J, Selgrath, JC, Swanson, SS, Urteaga, J, White, TD, Crowder, LB. (2019). The impact of environmental change on small-scale fishing communities: Moving beyond adaptive capacity to community response. Predicting Future Oceans.