Marie-Ana Mikus
Cetacean Conservation Research Program Technician
Marie-Ana is a research technician for the Raincoast Cetacean Conservation Research program. She holds a MSc Degree in Animal behavior from the University of Rennes (France) where she studied small-clawed otter acoustic communication. She has extensive experience in behavioral and acoustic field data collection and acoustic analysis of animal sounds, particularly cetaceans. Since 2016, she has assisted with the collection and acoustic analysis of field recordings of beluga whales from Cunningham Inlet (Canadian High Arctic), the Churchill River Estuary and the St. Lawrence River Estuary, and has been involved on studies of killer whale acoustics and underwater noise impacts on cetaceans.
As a field technician, Marie-Ana is experienced with the deployment and troubleshooting of digital hydrophones, a competent small-boat handler, and a certified drone pilot.
Peer reviewed publications
Aubin, J. A., Mikus, M.-A., Michaud, R., Mennill, D., & Vergara, V. (2023). Fly with care: belugas show evasive responses to low altitude drone flights. Marine Mammal Science, 1– 22. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12997
Vergara, V., Wood, J., Lesage, V., Ames, A., Mikus, M.A. and Michaud, R., 2021. Can you hear me? Impacts of underwater noise on communication space of adult, sub-adult and calf contact calls of endangered St. Lawrence belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Polar Research, 40, 5521. https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5521
Vergara, V. and Mikus, M.A., 2019. Contact call diversity in natural beluga entrapments in an Arctic estuary: Preliminary evidence of vocal signatures in wild belugas. Marine Mammal Science, 35(2), pp.434-465. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12538
Lemasson, A., Mikus, M.A., Blois-Heulin, C. and Lodé, T., 2014. Vocal repertoire, individual acoustic distinctiveness, and social networks in a group of captive Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea). Journal of Mammalogy, 95(1), pp.128-139
Lemasson, A., Mikus, M.A., Blois-Heulin, C. and Lodé, T., 2013. Social partner discrimination based on sounds and scents in Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus). Naturwissenschaften, 100(3), pp.275-279
Recent articles
Dozens of scientists, environmentalists urge B.C. to end grizzly hunt
Canadian Press July 29, 2008 VANCOUVER – Hunting grizzly bears…
Ban grizzly bear hunting, group pleads
Globe and Mail July 29, 2008 SUNNY DHILLON VANCOUVER —…
Column misses point, B.C. lacks endangered species legislation
Victoria News July 30, 2008 by Chris Genovali Re: “Protecting…
No drilling for oil on BC’s Pacific Coast
Montreal Gazette Published: July 21, 2008 by Chris Genovali Re:…
Campbell caught in carbon-tax contradiction
Premier claims to embrace California’s green shift — but only…
The Potlatch Journey
By Misty MacDuffee, Biologist, Wild Salmon Program Rivers Inlet, April…