Emma Beatson - BAYERBoost Scholarship Recipient

Emma graduated from Papatoetoe High School at the top of her year and received a full fee scholarship to undertake a Bachelor of Applied Science degree at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).  Whilst studying towards her bachelors degree she was fortunate to work part-time for Auckland’s Dolphin and Whale Safari, onboard marine mammal tourism and research vessel DOLPHIN EXPLORER – an experience that sparked her passion for marine mammal conservation. In her third year of BAppSc studies she was invited to do an honours degree. Emma accepted this offer, although first took a six month break to complete a diploma in marine studies at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic where she gained valuable practical experience, as well as commercial qualifications such as her Inshore Launchmasters and PADI open water instructor certification. She then returned to AUT to continue studying towards her honours degree, which she will complete in June of this year, whilst working for the university as a part-time marine field technician.

Her honours research involves investigation of the composition and size-class structure of squid and octopus in the diet of pygmy sperm whales, Kogia breviceps, in New Zealand waters, a project based on archived stomach samples collected from whale strandings between 1991 and 2003. Emma was recently awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand a BAYERBoost scholarship which funded her to work on this research over her summer break, thus enabling her to have sufficient results ready in time to present at the Cephalopod International Advisory Council (CIAC) Conference, in Hobart, Australia (Febuary 2006). She reports the diet of the pygmy sperm whale as including some fish and crustaceans, but to be comprised primarily of cephalopods.Emma also discusses perceived threats to this whale, particularly those affecting distribution and abundance of prey species. Her data is the first to report diet in this whale species in New Zealand waters.

At the completion of her honours degree, mid 2006, Emma plans to stay on at AUT to see out a full-year term as marine field technician. Duringthis period she hopes to secure funding to start a PhD study looking into diet and/or rehabilitation of the smaller toothed whales of New Zealand.