Dr. Anita Gilles-Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

• 11/2014-01/2017: Feodor Lynen Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Hosts: Prof. Dr. Ralph Keeling, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego & Prof Dr. Lisa Ballance, Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, USA)
• 07/2011 to present: Research Scientist, Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
• 05/2003-06/2011: Research scientist, Research and Technology Centre Westcoast, Kiel University
• 02/2009: PhD in Biological Oceanography, Kiel University
• 2008: Research Scientist, Cluster of Excellence “The Future Ocean”, Walther Schuecking Institute for International Law, Kiel University
• 2004 - 2008: Dissertation “Characterisation of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) habitat in German waters”, Research and Technology Centre Westcoast
• 2002 – 2003: Diploma thesis „Verbreitungsmuster von Schweinswalen (Phocoena phocoena) in deutschen Gewässern“ [Spatial distribution of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)], Research and Technology Centre Westcoast
• 1997 – 2003: Diploma studies „Biology“ at the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel and at the University of Aberdeen (2000-2001), major subjects: Zoology and Biological Oceanography
• 1996-1997: Internship at Schutzstation Wattenmeer e.V. in Friedrichskoog. Leading of public excursions (with tourists and school classes, etc.) to the Wadden Sea and salt marshes; land-based census of sea birds; care of public exhibition with seawater aquaria; assistance in the seal rehabilitation centre Friedrichskoog e.V.

Main research activities

• aerial line-transect surveys to estimate abundance of marine mammals in the German North and Baltic Seas (e.g. in the projects MINOSplus, EMSON, BMVEL, BfN monitoring)
• Analysis of line-transect data, abundance estimation, database development, GIS-supported data analysis, project reports
• Monitoring of marine mammals
• Predictive habitat models of cetacean distribution and density
• Feeding ecology of marine mammals, incl. stomach content analysis and fatty acid analysis
• Assessment and reporting, under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, of the favourable conservation status of the harbour porpoise
• Development of management plans for the NATURA 2000 sites and species management plan for the harbour porpoise
• Evaluation of standard environmental impact assessments (EIAs) (StUK; standard code of conduct for impact assessments for offshore wind farms)
• Impact of human activities on marine mammals, esp. fisheries (bycatch) and  marine renewable energy development

International research stays and fieldwork

• Aerial survey Dogger Bank 2011
• Aerial survey Faroe Islands 2010
• TNASS (Trans North Atlantic Sighting Survey): Observer in aerial surveys in June/Juy 2007 in Iceland and in September 2007 in Greenland
• SCANS II (Small Cetaceans in the European Atlantic and North Seas): logistics for all aerial surveys, cruise leader July 2005 (Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, UK), data checking and analysis, database set up

Teaching

• University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover: lecture SS 2012 & SS 2014 “Wildlife Biology, diseases and zoonoses“
• University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover: summer school “Marine Mammal Ecology” 2013
• Geomar - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel: Practical Course in Biological Oceanography „Marine top predators: Marine Mammal Ecology & Management“ master course WS 2010/2011 and WS 2011/2012
• University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover: lecture SS 2012 „Wildbiologie, Wildkrankheiten und Zoonosen“ („Wildlife Biology, diseases and zoonoses“)
• Supervision and Co-supervision of Phd, Diploma, Master and Bachelor students
• Training of interns, student assistants and marine mammal observers
• Workshops on GIS-applications in wildlife studies for beginners

Committees and memebership

• European Cetacean Society (ECS)
• Society for Marine Mammology (SMM)
• IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group
• OSPAR Marine Mammal Expert Group (Group chair)
• HELCOM co-lead indicator harbour porpoise abundance and distribution
• ICES WG Marine Mammal Ecology (co-chair 2018-2021)
• ASCOBANS Advisory Committee (German delegation)
• NAMMCO - technical working group on aerial surveys

Manuscript Reviewer

Fishery Bulletin, Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, Marine Biology,
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Deep-Sea Research Part II, Ecological Indicators,
Fisheries Oceanography, Marine Biodiversity Records
ICES Journal of Marine Science (Editor)
Continental Shelf Research

Awards

• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers (2014-2016), Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
• Kiel University Exchange Scholarships (with University of Aberdeen; 09/2000-09/2001)

Publications

A complete list can be downloaded here.