Our Experts
Heather Pettis
Research Scientist
Kraus Marine Mammal Conservation Program, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean LifeEducation
MA, Biology, Boston University, 2001
BS, Biology, Bates College, 1997
About
Heather Pettis’ primary research interests are using visual health assessments to examine trends in right whale health at both the individual and population levels and to investigate the impact of anthropogenic injuries on right whale health and survival over time. She played an integral role in the development of the visual health assessment technique for right whales and has advised researchers in the development of assessments for other cetacean species.
She serves as the executive administrator for the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, a collaborative data sharing group committed to long-term research and management efforts to provide management, academic, and conservation groups with the best scientific advice and recommendations on right whale conservation. She is also interested in photo-identification and population monitoring.
Affiliations
Featured Research
Visual health assessment of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) using photographs
By Heather M. Pettis, Rosalind M. Rolland, Philip K. Hamilton, Solange Brault, Amy R. Knowlton, and Scott D. Kraus
Published January 2004
Body condition changes arising from natural factors and fishing gear entanglements in North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis
By Heather M. Pettis, Rosalind M. Rolland, Philip K. Hamilton, Amy R. Knowlton, Elizabeth A. Burgess, Scott D. Kraus
Published March 14, 2017
Recent Publications
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Assessing North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) welfare
Aquarium Affiliate Author(s): Heather Pettis
Published December 17, 2021 -
Assessing North Atlantic right whale health: threats, and development of tools critical for conservation of the species
Aquarium Affiliate Author(s): Philip Hamilton, Amy Knowlton, Heather Pettis
Published February 25, 2021 -
Cryptic mortality of North Atlantic right whales
Aquarium Affiliate Author(s): Scott Kraus, PhD, Amy Knowlton, Heather Pettis
Published February 02, 2021
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