Sarah Perryman
I am a master's candidate in marine science with a background in ecology, policy, and marine mammal research. I earned my B.S. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University, where I developed an interdisciplinary foundation spanning climate change ecology, natural resource policy, and wildlife research. My early work included studying climate impacts on grassland ecosystems, contributing to stakeholder-informed policy research, and assisting with field studies on cryptic terrestrial species.
These experiences shaped my interest in research at the intersection of science and management and ultimately led me to marine systems. I have since worked with the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Hawai‘i and the Alaska Whale Foundation, where I contributed to projects examining the ecological and physiological impacts of environmental change on cetaceans.
My current research focuses on the foraging ecology of Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the California Current. Using stable isotope analysis, I examine variation in diet across time and environmental conditions.
More broadly, I am interested in how marine mammals navigate energetic trade-offs in dynamic environments, and how these relationships shape behavior. I aim to integrate diet, physiology, and oceanographic context to better understand the drivers of these decisions under changing environmental conditions.