Andrea Marshall

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Andrea Marshall
TED@Johannesburg Andrea Marshall (7247421426).jpg
Marshall in 2012
NationalityUSA
CitizenshipUSA
EducationPhD from Queensland University
Known forResearch into manta rays
Spouse(s)Janneman Conradie
AwardsNational Geographic Emerging Explorer 2013,
Scientific career
FieldsMarine biology
InstitutionsManta Ray & Whale Shark Research Center at Tofo Beach, Mozambique
Thesis (2008)
Websitehttp://www.queenofmantas.com/

Andrea Marshall is a marine biologist known for her wildlife conservation and research on ocean life. She specializes on manta rays. Andrea is the co-founder of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, a US based not for profit working to 'save our ocean giants from extinction'. She is one of the principal scientists for the organization and is the director of MMF's global manta ray department, overseeing projects around the world. Andrea's interests largely lie within the field of scientific exploration and was the subject of the Natural World documentary Andrea: Queen of Mantas.[1] In 2013, she was named a National Geographic "Emerging Explorer" for her pioneering research and conservation work.[2]

Early life and education[]

Andrea Marshall's interest for marine life started around age five and she was certified to dive at 12. In her youth she was always most interested in sharks. She did an undergraduate degree at the College of Creative Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara in the United States and went on to do her post graduate work in Australia at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Later when volunteering her time as an expert for the IUCN Shark Specialist Group (SSG), Andrea wrote the first Red List assessment for manta rays and was disturbed by the fact they were listed as 'Data Deficient' at the time. Later on an exploratory mission to Mozambique she stumbled upon a large population of manta rays.[3] and decided to remain in Mozambique and study them.

Career[]

In 2008, Andrea Marshall earned her PhD from the University of Queensland in Australia. She was the first person in the world to be awarded a PhD for manta ray ecology.[3] After completing her thesis in 2008, Andrea stayed on in Mozambique to spearhead the conservation efforts of this species along this remote African coastline. Andrea's world-leading manta ray research program continues to examine aspects of their biology, reproductive ecology, habitat use, migrations and social behaviour. In the years since she has remained devoted to the protection of manta rays and now runs several manta research projects around the world.”.[4] Dr. Marshall also studies other species of elasmobranchs in southern Mozambique such including endangered wedgefish, mobula rays, whale sharks and leopard sharks, as well as species that are data deficient such as the smalleye stingray and important reef predators in Africa, like bull sharks.

In 2009 she formally described a new species of manta ray.[4] and wrote two peer-reviewed scientific papers differentiating the two species, the giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) and the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi). In 2010 Dr. Marshall announced she had found a third species of manta ray in the Atlantic and has spent years trying to formally describe this elusive species.

Giant Ocean Manta Ray

As a professional underwater photographer, Dr. Marshall often uses this medium to support her research. To help study manta rays she developed Manta Matcher, the first global online citizen science database for identifying individual manta rays from their unique markings, which is now one of the online Wildbooks from WildMe, an organization that she a scientific advisor for.[5]

Dr. Marshall has appeared in several wildlife television documentaries for Broadcasters including BBC's Natural World documentary Andrea: Queen of Mantas (2009), their popular series 'Sharks' (2015) and 'Africa with Ade' (2019). She also appeared on the show Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan on BBC America and 'Man to Manta' with actor Martin Clunes. Andrea has been featured in print media all over the world and has given talks for National Geographic Live and TED.

Family[]

Andrea is married and has a young daughter. Andrea and her family are currently reside in Vilanculos, Mozambique.[6]

Foundations & honors[]

Andrea is the executive director and co-founders of the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), a 501c3 in the United States with chapters globally. This foundation strives to save ocean giants from extinction.[4]

National Geographic also endowed the 2013 Emerging Explorer honor to Andrea, believing her to be a notable new explorer.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Manta ray's secret life revealed". 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  2. ^ a b "Announcing the 2013 Class of Emerging Explorers". National Geographic Society Newsroom. 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  3. ^ a b Macdonald, Jessica (2015-02-06). "Famous Female Divers: Andrea Marshall". Scuba Diver Life. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  4. ^ a b c Society, National Geographic. "Learn more about Andrea Denise Marshall". www.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  5. ^ Town, Christopher; Marshall, Andrea; Sethasathien, Nutthaporn (July 2013). "Manta Matcher: automated photographic identification of manta rays using keypoint features". Ecology and Evolution. 3 (7): 1902–1914. doi:10.1002/ece3.587. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC 3728933. PMID 23919138.
  6. ^ "Andrea Marshall publishes discovery of second species of manta ray". Save Our Seas Foundation. 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2019-10-30.

External links[]

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