Scott A. Shaffer

Scott A. Shaffer is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at San José State University, specializing in the physiological ecology of vertebrate animals with particular emphasis on birds and mammals. His research integrates advanced biologging technologies with traditional ecological methods to understand animal behavior and energy dynamics in marine environments.

• PhD in Biology (2000), University of California, Santa Cruz
• MSc in Marine Sciences (1996), University of California, Santa Cruz
• BSc in Biology (1993), San Diego State University

Shaffer's work focuses on bioenergetics and movement ecology of marine vertebrates, utilizing the doubly labeled water technique to measure field metabolic rates and water flux. He has pioneered the application of microprocessor-based data logging tags to track animal behavior and physiology in remote environments, contributing to understanding how species like albatrosses and seals interact with their marine habitats.

His publication record (1997-2009) demonstrates expertise in:

• Seabird migration patterns (2006: shearwaters across Pacific)
• Physiological constraints on foraging (2008: albatross energy budgets)
• Endocrine regulation of behavior (2007: corticosterone in seabirds)
• Tracking technology validation (2005: geolocation methods)
• Comparative movement analysis (2003: albatross foraging strategies)
• Flight and diving mechanics (2000: albatross wind utilization)

Shaffer has been instrumental in developing standardized approaches for marine mammal behavior studies (2006) and investigating physiological tradeoffs in long-lived species like the wandering albatross (2006: hormonal aging studies). His work bridges physiological measurements with broader ecological questions about resource use and conservation in marine systems.