Thomas Gelatt

Current Activities

Tom Gelatt is the Program Leader for the Marine Mammal Laboratory's Alaska Ecosystems Program. The Alaska Ecosystems Program is responsible for investigating research questions involving Steller sea lions and northern fur seals in Alaska. Although Tom's interests lie in understanding the natural history and population dynamics of marine mammals, his primary role in this position is in administration. Tom leads an extremely diverse and passionate group of scientists focused on trying to understand the mechanisms that have lead to the decline of what were once two of the most numerous populations of marine mammals in Alaska.

Background

Prior to his current position, Tom was the Program Leader for the Steller sea lion research group at the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. He continues to collaborate with the ADF&G and other research agencies and organizations conducting marine mammal work throughout Alaskan waters. Before falling into the political hot bed of Steller sea lion research, Tom conducted graduate research on the behavioral activity of sea otters in Alaska and the reproductive structure of Weddell seals in Antarctica. Before that he was much more landlocked as a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho. Tom received his Ph.D and M.S. degrees in wildlife conservation at the University of Minnesota and his B.S. degree in fisheries and wildlife management from Montana State University.