KEYNOTE AND PLENARY SPEAKERS
Prepare to engage with the global perspectives shaping marine mammal science at the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Guided by the theme “One Ocean, One Future,” this year’s keynote speakers reflect a shared commitment to advancing science, strengthening collaboration, and driving evidence-based action to support healthy marine ecosystems in an increasingly complex and changing world.
We’re thrilled to present an exceptional lineup of plenary speakers for SMM2026, featuring Joanna Alfaro, Bob Bonde, Fernando Elorriaga-Verplancken, Jorge Velez-Juarbe, and Laura May-Collado. Together, these distinguished leaders bring a wealth of expertise spanning marine mammal conservation, evolutionary biology, ecology, and applied science. Their plenary talks will highlight groundbreaking research, innovative approaches, and powerful perspectives shaping the future of our field. These sessions promise to inspire, challenge, and connect our global community—making them a must-attend highlight of the conference.
Get to know SMM2026 with the Schedule-at-a-Glance—an easy snapshot of the conference, from workshops to keynote plenaries, sessions, and events.
KEYNOTE AND PLENARY SPEAKERS
Laura May-Collado
PhD | Associate Professor, The University of Vermont; Research Associate, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Monday Plenary Presentation:
Echoes of the Past: Decoding the Evolution of Toothed Whale Communication
Echoes of the Past: Decoding the Evolution of Toothed Whale Communication
Phylogenies capture a lineage’s branching history, distinguishing traits shared through common ancestry from those shaped by environmental pressures, and identifying innovations tied to social behaviors or habitats. Over the past two decades, the cetacean tree of life has grown in species and data and resolved benchmark clades give us the opportunity to test hypotheses about character evolution and disentangle morphological, physiological, and social drivers of change.
Toothed whales are a compelling system for studying the evolution of acoustic communication. Like songbirds, they possess anatomical specializations—paired phonic lips permitting lateralized sound production—that enable one of the most diverse vocal repertoires in nature; and like primates, they exhibit diverse social structures. With recent advances in cetacean phylogenomics, coupled with machine-learning (ML) tools, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to ask whether these axes are linked.
In this talk I’ll address the obstacles that remain: the challenges of characterizing complex vocal repertoires —an effort ML is helping advance— and resolving the homology of signal types. It remains unclear whether burst pulses and whistles form a continuum or are independently derived, where pulsed sounds may not be homologous to whistles, a coding decision with major consequences. Our earlier phylogenetic work, treating whistles as derived, recovered them on a clade far more inclusive than the delphinids, suggesting whistles predate the social complexity they are usually credited with enabling, while also showing that social structure helps explain the highly modulated whistles seen in delphinids.
Building from this work, and with collaborators worldwide, we are using ML approaches to generate comparable repertoire metrics across the odontocete radiation, testing signal homology and what actually drives vocal diversity. These echoes of the past bear directly on the present: on the cognitive basis of vocal learning, and on how these animals will fare in an increasingly noisy ocean.
Dr. Laura J. May-Collado is a Costa Rican evolutionary biologist whose research explores the evolution of acoustic communication in marine mammals. Born and raised in Costa Rica, she earned her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Costa Rica and her Ph.D. in Biology from Florida International University. Her research focuses on characterizing the vocal repertoires of toothed whales to investigate their phylogenetic and ecological determinants, as well as their role in the rapid diversification of odontocetes. By integrating phylogenetics, bioacoustics, and behavioral ecology, Dr. May-Collado works with collaborators to build a more comprehensive understanding of the evolution of acoustic communication in whales. In addition to her research, she serves as Chair of the Committee of Scientific Advisors for the Society for Marine Mammalogy and as a member of the Marine Mammal Commission’s Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. She is also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and a founding member of Panacetacea, a non-governmental organization that supports marine mammal research and professional development in Panama and Central America. Through these roles—and over a 30-year career in teaching and research—Dr. May-Collado has advanced understanding of Central American marine mammals while training students from across the region and beyond.
Bob Bonde
PhD | U.S. Geological Survey
Tuesday Plenary Presentation:
Manatee Conservation Through the Eyes of a Field Biologist; If Only I Had a Crystal Ball
Manatee Conservation Seen Through the Eyes of a Biologist
Robert K. Bonde, U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project (Retired)
We can learn a great deal from the past by following the trials and triumphs detailed in this historical perspective of the endangered manatee. Manatee conservation remains a significant challenge across their extensive range. In addition to environmental threats, these animals face severe anthropogenic pressures. Injuries and deaths due to encounters with boats continue to rise in Florida and Puerto Rico, and are increasing in countries like Belize, Mexico, and Brazil. Furthermore, hunting pressure persists in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Africa. While there has been notable progress in protecting manatees, it is essential that we continue to educate the public on the ongoing need for their conservation.
In this talk, we will explore the fascinating biology of this unique mammal, including its evolutionary ties to the Afrotheria, and its extraordinary ability to navigate, perceive, and adapt to an aquatic environment. Key aspects of their biology encompass remarkable cognitive abilities, including long-term memory retention of critical information for habitat utilization, a generalist foraging strategy, and physical adaptations for an aquatic life, such as a diving reflex, breath holding, specialized kidneys, and sensory whiskers. Additionally, the position of the lungs and pachyostotic bones enable horizontal positioning in the water column and buoyancy control. Digestive system modifications, including specialized dentition and hind gut fermentation, and anatomical features for heat dissipation, efficient swimming, and specific reproductive strategies are all evidence of their successful adaptations.
While the future of the manatee currently looks promising with young scientists carrying the research forward, uncertainty remains due to climate change and the looming loss of the artificial warm water sources in Florida they depend on during hard winters. As stewards of our wildlife, we must continue to support and enforce efforts to preserve this small, unique order of mammals, regardless of what the future holds.
Dr. Robert Bonde has a Ph.D. in Veterinary Medical Sciences from University of Florida, and has dedicated 47 years of his career to studying manatees worldwide, including in the United States, Belize, Cuba, South America, and Africa. He is a retired research biologist from the U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project. Throughout his career, Dr. Bonde has played a pivotal role in the conservation of manatees through stranding investigations, population monitoring, and longitudinal assessment of manatee health. Dr. Bonde continues to work as an adjunct professor in the graduate school at the University of Florida, and has served on more than 30 graduate student committees. Dr. Bonde has over 115 scientific publications and has coauthored with Dr. Roger Reep a book titled ‘The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation’. A Second Edition of the book was released in 2021.
Joanna Alfaro
PhD | Managing Director, ProDelphinus
Wednesday Plenary Presentation:
Passing the Torch: Empowering the Next Wave of Marine Mammal Conservationists
Passing the Torch: Empowering the Next Wave of Marine Mammal Conservationists
Learning about cetaceans will most likely include the whaling era. Beginning in the early 19th century and intensifying in the following decades, whales were primarily understood as resources. Yet the records generated by whaling—species, numbers, sizes, locations, and seasons—also became an unintended scientific legacy. South America also experienced commercial whaling and a decrease in whale populations, creating both a historical baseline and presenting warning signs of the need for their conservation.
For countries along the Eastern Pacific coast of South America, names like Clarke, Aguayo, Paliza – researchers during the whaling era – inspired a cohort of young researchers (Reyes, van Waerebeek, Felix, Van Bressem) of large and small cetaceans that built upon their experience – their successes and failures, and their vast amount of hard-won ‘street knowledge’ on how to navigate being a scientist while addressing the enormous challenges present in marine mammal conservation.
In this talk, I would like to highlight the importance of Passing on the Torch in conservation, from the silverbacks to the younger generation, and to share some insights on ways to achieve this which is of enormous value to our marine mammal community. The specific threats marine mammals face have changed over time but understanding the human interactions and dynamics and how to overcome these challenges remain as valuable now as during the whaling era. We can learn much from those who preceded us, indeed, it is our responsibility to do so and to again pass the torch.
She studied Biology at Universidad Ricardo Palma. From 1995-1997 worked IMARPE, as the marine mammal coordinator. In 1995, she co-founded the NGO Pro Delphinus. Her research focuses on marine conservation and small-scale fisheries. In July 2001 she became a Global fellow at the Duke Marine Laboratory. Since 2002 Joanna has continued to work as Pro Delphinus President, extending its work to other marine species including seabirds, sharks and marine otters. Joanna obtained her PhD at University of Exeter, UK in 2012. Also in 2012, received the Whitley Award for Nature, in 2015 she received the Marsh Award for Marine Conservation Leadership in Latin America. In 2016 Joanna became President of the International Sea Turtle Society. She is also member of the IUCN Specialist Groups of Cetaceans, Turtles, Otters, Sharks and Signatids. In 2020, she received the Conservation Award Carlos Ponce as Artifice de la Conservacion. Joanna is a Faculty Member of Universidad Científica del Sur, where she continues to mentor the new generation of Peruvian marine researchers. She has also co-advised MSc students from Exeter Conservation Masters Programme. Joanna has authored and collaborated on over hundred and fifty peer reviewed publications on Peruvian aquatic biodiversity in collaboration with the international research community.
Fernando Elorriaga-Verplancken
PhD | Professor (Full), National Polytechnic Institute
Thursday Plenary Presentation:
Mexican pinnipeds: sentinels of increasingly changing ecosystems
Mexican pinnipeds: sentinels of increasingly changing ecosystems
Pinnipeds are important ecosystem sentinels, as their abundance and distribution patterns are tightly linked to productive environments and their variability. Therefore, these species respond through measured and interpreted evidence over time. Overall, pinnipeds exhibit a primarily anti-tropical distribution worldwide, while species inhabiting Mexican sites are mainly present in transitional regions (tropical-temperate). This offers a valuable opportunity to study them under anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) conditions, which impact their trophic ecology, reproduction, and abundance. The species in Mexican locations include the California sea lion (CSL), the Guadalupe fur seal (GFS), the northern elephant seal (NES), and the harbor seal. These have all been affected by warm events, such as El Niño or North Pacific heatwaves, while simultaneously relying on the California Current System and local oceanographic processes in the Gulf of California. Additionally, air-warming events have impacted the NES, reducing its numbers on Mexican islands such as Guadalupe Island and the San Benito Archipelago, and shifting its distribution towards cooler more northern locations. Other pinnipeds, such as the CSL and the GFS, have been impacted by tropicalization conditions in recent years. The impacts on both otariids are evident through changes in their foraging habits (prey composition and habitat use), leading to longer absences from the breeding sites during abundance surveys. Consequently, these changes exert negative effects on pup body mass and survival. However, these impacts have varied depending on each species’ life history, including distribution, prey preferences, dispersal capacity, and other factors related to conservation efforts. Moreover, increasingly changing ecosystems not only affect resident Mexican pinnipeds, but also promote rare pinniped visitors to these regions, such as the Galapagos fur seal, Galapagos sea lion, and the southern elephant seal, underlining important ecological implications.
Dr. Fernando Elorriaga is a full-time professor at the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine Sciences of the National Polytechnic Institute (CICIMAR-IPN) in La Paz, Mexico. His work and experience focus particularly on the ecology of pinnipeds found on Mexican islands such as Guadalupe, San Benito, and others along the Gulf of California. In addition, he collaborates with other research groups, strengthening lines of work that focus on other marine species. During his career, he has published, as lead author or co-author, more than 130 scientific articles in international journals, and he has been the main thesis advisor of approximately 45 students. From 2012 to 2018, he was Coordinator of the Mexican Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and from 2018 to 2021, he served as President of the Mexican Society of Marine Mammalogy (SOMEMMA). Today, he is member of the IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group, and he is part of the scientific advisory committee of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM).
Jorge Velez-Juarbe
PhD | Associate Curator, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Friday Plenary Presentation:
The Americas at the epicenter of Sirenian Evolution
The Americas at the epicenter of Sirenian Evolution
Sirenians are the only living herbivorous marine mammals, currently represented by three species of manatees (Trichechus manatus, T. inunguis, and T. senegalensis), the dugong (Dugong dugon), and the recently extinct Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas). Although modern species are largely allopatric, the 45-million-year fossil record reveals a far more diverse evolutionary history. By integrating fossil occurrences from the eastern United States, California, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Peru with chronostratigraphic and stable isotope data, five major stages of sirenian evolution and biogeography can be recognized.
Stage 1 (Eocene) documents the transition from semiaquatic (e.g. Pezosiren portelli), to fully aquatic sirenians, with fossils distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of North America, the Greater Antilles, and South America. Stage 2 (Oligocene) marks the replacement of stem sirenians by crown-group forms and the emergence of multispecies dugongid assemblages in the Caribbean and southwestern North America, where morphological and isotopic evidence indicates ecological niche partitioning. During Stage 3 (early–middle Miocene), multispecies marine herbivore communities became established in the eastern North Pacific, including sirenians and desmostylians, while manatees first colonized South American freshwater ecosystems in association with the Pebas Megawetland. Stage 4 (middle Miocene–early Pliocene) saw the extinction of desmostylians and several dugongid lineages in the eastern Pacific, alongside the diversification of hydrodamalines as kelp specialists, whereas diverse dugongid communities persisted in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. Finally, Stage 5 records the disappearance of dugongids from the Western Atlantic and Caribbean, allowing manatees to expand into marine habitats and establish the modern regional fauna following closure of the Central American Seaway.
As the primary consumers of marine macrophytes, sirenians provide a valuable proxy for reconstructing the history of seagrass ecosystems. These five evolutionary stages track major environmental and oceanographic changes that shaped coastal ecosystems and marine herbivore evolution over the past 45 million years.
Jorge Vélez-Juarbe is a vertebrate paleontologist and Associate Curator of Marine Mammals at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. His research integrates paleontology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology to investigate the deep-time history of marine mammals and other vertebrates, with particular emphasis on the origins of aquatic adaptations, island evolution, and Neogene marine ecosystems. He has conducted fieldwork throughout the Caribbean, North and South America, and his work has led to the description of numerous fossil taxa, including extinct sirenians, cetaceans, and other marine and terrestrial vertebrates. Through his research he explores how marine mammals evolved and how past environmental change has shaped marine biodiversity over millions of years.