About

I am a quantitative ecologist specializing in applied, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research on marine mammal populations.

I work within CREEM, where I use my interdisciplinary skills and experience in biology, ecology, oceanography, and statistics to develop and apply quantitative methods for assessing the population size, status, trend, and impacts of anthropogenic activities on cetaceans (beluga whales, beaked whales, harbour porpoise) and pinnipeds (harbour seals, grey seals, walrus).

I specialize in research that has direct applications to marine mammal conservation and management. My particular areas of statistical contribution include maximizing the utility of existing, imperfect datasets through innovative modelling approaches and developing statistical methods to utilize novel data sources generated through technological advances.

You can watch a recent seminar on my research here.

I am committed to building an inclusive research culture and actively work to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion within and beyond the University.

I live in Scotland, where I enjoy hiking, yoga, reading, crafts, board games, and spending time with my dogs Juniper and Phoenix, cat Fern, and partner Dave.

Publications

  • Schaub, M., M. N. Maunder, M. Kéry, J. T. Thorson, E. K. Jacobson, and A. E. Punt. 2024. Lessons to be learned by comparing fisheries stock assessment models (SAMs) with integrated population models (IPMs). Fisheries Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2023.106925. PDF.
  • Warlick, A. J., G. K. Himes Boor, T. L. McGuire, K. E. W. Shelden, E. K. Jacobson, C. Boyd, P. R. Wade, A. E. Punt, S. J. Converse. 2024. Demographic and environmental drivers of population dynamics and viability in an endangered top predator using an integrated model. Animal Conservation, https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12905. PDF.
  • Hin, V., A. M. de Roos, K. J. Benoit-Bird, D. E. Claridge, N. DiMarzio, J. W. Durban, E. A. Falcone, E. K. Jacobson, C. M. Jones-Todd, E. Pirotta, G. S. Schorr, L. Thomas, S. Watwood, J. Harwood. 2023. Using individual-based bioenergetic models to predict the aggregate effects of disturbance on populations: a case study with beaked whales and Navy sonar. PLoS One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290819. PDF.
  • Jacobson, E. K., E. E. Henderson, D. L. Miller, C. S. Oedekoven, D. J. Moretti, and L. Thomas. 2022. Quantifying the response of Blainville's beaked whales to U.S. naval sonar exercises in Hawaii. Marine Mammal Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12944. PDF.
  • Jacobson, E. K., C. Boyd, T. L. McGuire, K. E. W. Shelden, G. K. Himes Boor, and A. E. Punt. 2020. Assessing cetacean populations using integrated population models: an example with Cook Inlet beluga whales. Ecological Applications, https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2114. PDF.
  • Jacobson, E. K., K. A. Forney, and J. Barlow. 2017. Using visual survey data to estimate passive acoustic detection parameters for harbor porpoise abundance estimates. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4973415. PDF.
  • Jacobson, E. K., K. A. Forney, and J. T. Harvey. 2015. Acoustic evidence that harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) avoid bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Marine Mammal Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12154. PDF.

Reports

  • Jacobson, E. K., K. P. B. Merkens, K. A. Forney, and J. Barlow. 2017. Comparison of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) echolocation clicks recorded simultaneously on two passive acoustic monitoring instruments. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-583. DOI: 10.7289/V5/TM-SWFSC-583. Download PDF.
  • Jacobson, E. K., K. A. Forney, and J. T. Harvey. 2016. Evaluation of a passive acoustic monitoring network for harbor porpoise in California. California Energy Commission. Publication Number CEC-500-2016-008. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2282.9680. Download PDF.
  • Jacobson, E. K., T. M. Yack, and J. Barlow. 2013. Evaluation of an automated acoustic beaked whale detection algorithm using multiple validation and assessment methods. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-509, 26 pp. Download PDF.

About