Leigh G. Torres

Leigh G. Torres is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University, with a joint appointment in Oregon Sea Grant Extension. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine Ecology and Environment from Duke University (2007), a Master's in Coastal Environmental Management (Duke, 2001), and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from American University (1997).

Her research explores marine predator ecology across multiple scales and ecosystems, including:

• Dynamic habitat use modeling integrating species distribution data with environmental variables
• Foraging ecology of whales, sharks and seabirds in relation to prey distribution
• Conservation management of protected species through spatial threat separation
• Application of UAS technology for health and behavior assessment

Her extensive publication record demonstrates strong focus on:

• Gray whale ecology including foraging strategies, stress physiology, and population trends
• Blue whale population structure and genomics
• Predator-prey dynamics in krill-based systems
• Innovative monitoring technologies (UAS, acoustic tags, photo-ID)

She currently leads multiple research projects on whale ecology in New Zealand, albatross-fisheries interactions, and sea otter reintroduction assessment along the Oregon coast.