Physiological Ecology and Bioenergentics Lab
Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX
Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph.D., Director
From the Director:
My research interests relate to understanding the physiological ecology of marine mammals
through the study of their energetics, growth, and nutrition. My research program integrates
laboratory and field based investigations in an attempt to elucidate the capabilities of
different species to withstand normal seasonal variation in their environment. I am also
interested in integrating lab and field information to more appropriately define suitable
criteria for the husbandry of animals in captivity.
My program includes ongoing investigations into the life history and physiological ecology of
manatees, cetaceans, and pinnipeds at study sites around the world. The main thrust of my
research program centers around determining the energy requirements of marine mammals and how
the availability and quality of food impacts their survival and growth. My lab is currently
involved in studies investigating the thermoregulatory capabilities, lactation energetics,
water balance, feeding ecology, and free-ranging energetics of several important species of
marine mammals using techniques such as indirect calorimetry, proximate composition analysis
of prey, doubly-labeled water energetics, carbon/nitrogen isotope analysis, and fatty acid
signature analysis, amongst others.
Selected Publications and Presentations:
- WORTHY, G.A.J. 1998. Physiological constraints on the ecology of the West Indian manatee:
potential ramifications for the release of long-term captive manatees. Oral presentation to
the Captive Manatee Reintroduction/Release Workshop, 26-27 May 1998. *ABSTRACT*.
- ORTIZ, R.M., G.A.J. WORTHY, AND D.S. MACKENZIE. 1998. Osmoregulation in wild and captive West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus). Physiological Zoology 71(4):449-457. *ABSTRACT*
- ORTIZ, R. M., G.A.J. WORTHY, AND F.M. BYERS. Submitted. Water turnover rates of captive West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) held in fresh and salt water. Canadian Journal of Zoology.
- WORTHY, G.A.J. AND J.P. HICKIE. 1986. Relative brain size in marine mammals. American
Naturalist 128:445-459
- HUNTLEY, A. C., D. P. COSTA, G. A. J. WORTHY, and M. A. CASTELLINI, editors. 1987.
Approaches to MarineMammal Energetics. The Society for Marine Mammalogy, Special Publication
Number 1.
- WORTHY, G. A. J., and E. F. EDWARDS. 1990. Morphometrics and biochemical factors affecting heat loss in a small temperate cetacean (Phocoena phocoena) and a small tropical cetacean (Stenella attenuata). Physiological Zoology. 63: 432-442.
- WORTHY, G.A.J. AND D.M. LAVIGNE. 1987. Mass and energy utilization by harp and grey seal pups during the post-weaning fast. Physiological Zoology 60:352-364.
- WORTHY, G.A.J. 1987. Metabolism and growth of young harp and grey seals. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65:1377-1382.
- WORTHY, G. A. J. 1990. Nutritional energetics of marine mammals. Pages 489-520 in L. Dierauf. editors Handbook of marine mammal medicine: Health, disease, and rehabilitation. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
- LAVIGNE, D. M., S.INNES, G. A. J. WORTHY, and E. F. EDWARDS. 1990. Lower critical temperatures of blue whales, Balaenoptera musculus. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 144:249-257.
- GALES, R., D. RENOUF AND G.A.J. WORTHY. 1994. Use of bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess body composition of seals. Marine Mammal Science.10:1-12.
- LIPSCOMB, T.P., S. KENNEDY, D. MOFFETT, A. KRAFFT, B.A. KLAUNBURG, J.H. LICHY, G.T. REGAN, G.A.J. WORTHY, AND J.K. TAUBENBERGER. 1996. Morbilliviral epizootic in bottlenose dolphins of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Medicine 8:283-290.
- DAVIS, R.W., G.A.J. WORTHY, B. WÜRSIG, AND S.K. LYNN. 1996. Diving behavior and at-sea movements of an Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). Marine Mammal Science 12:569-581.
- WILKINSON, D. AND G.A.J. WORTHY. In press. Stranding Networks. In: Marine Mammals. Volume 2. Twiss, J. and J. Reynolds (eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington DC.
- WORTHY, G.A.J. In press. Patterns of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) strandings in Texas. NOAA Technical Report NMFS.
- FERTL, D., A.J. SCHIRO, S. COLLIER, AND G.A.J. WORTHY. In press. Stranding of a Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) in southern Texas, with comments on stomach contents. Gulf of Mexico Science.
Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
In Texas, I am also the Director of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network. I oversee the
operation of a volunteer network which responds to all marine mammal strandings along the Texas
coast. In an average year the TMMSN recovers 150-200 dead and 10-12 live strandings. In 1994,
the Network recovered a record 300 dolphins. This non-profit organization undertakes detailed
pathological and toxicological examinations of all fresh dead animals to attempt to ascertain
cause of death and levels of any contaminants. Live stranded animals are rehabilitated and
released, whenever possible. In recent years, we have achieved a success rate in excess of 60%.
We are also involved in studies to determine the ages of all stranded animals, genetics, milk
composition, anatomy, body condition, and movement patterns of released, rehabilitated animals
using satellite telemetry.
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