Great Whites of Monterey Bay: Secrets Beneath the Surface

Wednesday, June 17
2:30 pm | Diment Hall | Free Refreshments Served | Open to the public

In fall and winter months white sharks consistently gather near seal and sea lion colonies along the Central California coast. These predictable gathering patterns have allowed researchers to collect valuable data as sharks move through coastal waters. More recently, dedicated seasonal surveys of juvenile white sharks within Monterey Bay have expanded our understanding to include this younger life stage. This presentation will showcase our survey methods and highlight key findings about white shark movement patterns, migration behaviors, population dynamics, and ecological interactions throughout California’s marine ecosystems. If you are a lover of Marine Biology, this is a program you don’t want to miss!

Dr. Samantha Andrzejaczek is a research scientist in the Block Lab at Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University. She specializes in the movement ecology and behavioral patterns of sharks and other large predatory fishes in coastal and pelagic ecosystems. Dr. Andrzejaczek joined the Block lab in 2018 after completing her PhD at the University of Western Australia.

Alexandra DiGiacomo, PhD candidate in Biology at Stanford University. Her dissertation research integrates remote sensing and biologging technology to investigate white shark movement ecology in Monterey Bay. She received a B.S. in Biology at Duke University and conducted research in Duke’s Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Laboratory.