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Laura (Laney) White

Laura (Laney) White is a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center. 

Her work with the Seabird Studies Team currently focuses on the distribution, abundance, and species composition of seabirds and marine mammals in the California Current System.  She is interested in spatial ecology, applied conservation, and exploring new methods for effective ecosystem monitoring.

Research Interests:

  • Seabird Ecology and Breeding Biology
  • Tracking and Movement Ecology
  • Marine Conservation

 

Education and Certifications

  • BS, Conservation Biology, Tulane University 2009

  • BA, English, Tulane University 2009

Science and Products

Abundance and productivity of Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2020 and 2021 breeding seasons

Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “endangered” by the State of California and “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical for risk assessment, effective management, evaluation of conservation
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Josh Adams, Cheryl Horton, Emily C. Kelsey, Laney M. White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauaʻi in the main Hawaiian Islands. Despite the regional significance of KPNWR as one of the most important breeding sites for red-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), red-footed boobies (Sula sula), and wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) in the main Hawaiian Islan
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Emily C. Kelsey, Josh Adams, Jennilyn G. Stenske, Laney M. White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2019 breeding season

Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “endangered” by the State of California and “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical for risk assessment, effective management, evaluation of conservation
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Emily C. Kelsey, Josh Adams, Cheryl Horton, Laura (Laney) White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
link
Aerial view of five gulls, with grey backs and wings and white heads and tails, flying over the ocean

Birds, Bats, and Beyond: Networked Wildlife Tracking in the Southern California Bight

Seabird and bat researchers from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are teaming up to study how flying animals move through the marine environment. This Bureau of Ocean Energy Management supported project will add 25 remote telemetry stations to the existing global Motus Wildlife Tracking System, representing the largest single investment in coastal and offshore Motus infrastructure on...
By
Species Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
link

Birds, Bats, and Beyond: Networked Wildlife Tracking in the Southern California Bight

Seabird and bat researchers from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are teaming up to study how flying animals move through the marine environment. This Bureau of Ocean Energy Management supported project will add 25 remote telemetry stations to the existing global Motus Wildlife Tracking System, representing the largest single investment in coastal and offshore Motus infrastructure on...
Learn More
link
An enormous rock in the ocean viewed from above, with the coast behind and sunlight on the water.

Aerial Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions. The project is supported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and will inform planning in advance of potential offshore wind energy development along the...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
link

Aerial Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions. The project is supported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and will inform planning in advance of potential offshore wind energy development along the...
Learn More

Population Estimates for Selected Breeding Seabirds at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauai, in 2019

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauai in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Despite the regional significance of KPNWR as one of the most important breeding sites for Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula), and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) in MHI, robust and ac
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
A window showing blue ocean water, with 3 camera lenses pointed through the window, and a pair of feet near the window.
Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane
Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane
A window showing blue ocean water, with 3 camera lenses pointed through the window, and a pair of feet near the window.

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking through the belly port of a small airplane before an aerial photographic survey starts, Fall 2018.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

By
Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
A window showing blue ocean water, with 3 camera lenses pointed through the window, and a pair of feet near the window.

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking through the belly port of a small airplane before an aerial photographic survey starts, Fall 2018.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

By
Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Science and Products

Abundance and productivity of Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2020 and 2021 breeding seasons

Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “endangered” by the State of California and “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical for risk assessment, effective management, evaluation of conservation
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Josh Adams, Cheryl Horton, Emily C. Kelsey, Laney M. White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauaʻi in the main Hawaiian Islands. Despite the regional significance of KPNWR as one of the most important breeding sites for red-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), red-footed boobies (Sula sula), and wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) in the main Hawaiian Islan
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Emily C. Kelsey, Josh Adams, Jennilyn G. Stenske, Laney M. White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2019 breeding season

Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “endangered” by the State of California and “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical for risk assessment, effective management, evaluation of conservation
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Emily C. Kelsey, Josh Adams, Cheryl Horton, Laura (Laney) White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
link
Aerial view of five gulls, with grey backs and wings and white heads and tails, flying over the ocean

Birds, Bats, and Beyond: Networked Wildlife Tracking in the Southern California Bight

Seabird and bat researchers from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are teaming up to study how flying animals move through the marine environment. This Bureau of Ocean Energy Management supported project will add 25 remote telemetry stations to the existing global Motus Wildlife Tracking System, representing the largest single investment in coastal and offshore Motus infrastructure on...
By
Species Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
link

Birds, Bats, and Beyond: Networked Wildlife Tracking in the Southern California Bight

Seabird and bat researchers from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are teaming up to study how flying animals move through the marine environment. This Bureau of Ocean Energy Management supported project will add 25 remote telemetry stations to the existing global Motus Wildlife Tracking System, representing the largest single investment in coastal and offshore Motus infrastructure on...
Learn More
link
An enormous rock in the ocean viewed from above, with the coast behind and sunlight on the water.

Aerial Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions. The project is supported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and will inform planning in advance of potential offshore wind energy development along the...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
link

Aerial Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions. The project is supported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and will inform planning in advance of potential offshore wind energy development along the...
Learn More

Population Estimates for Selected Breeding Seabirds at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauai, in 2019

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauai in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Despite the regional significance of KPNWR as one of the most important breeding sites for Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula), and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) in MHI, robust and ac
By
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
A window showing blue ocean water, with 3 camera lenses pointed through the window, and a pair of feet near the window.
Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane
Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane
A window showing blue ocean water, with 3 camera lenses pointed through the window, and a pair of feet near the window.

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking through the belly port of a small airplane before an aerial photographic survey starts, Fall 2018.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

By
Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
A window showing blue ocean water, with 3 camera lenses pointed through the window, and a pair of feet near the window.

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking at the ocean through the bottom of a plane

Looking through the belly port of a small airplane before an aerial photographic survey starts, Fall 2018.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

By
Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)