The dynamic nature of marine habitats demands various highly productive and synchronous adaptations necessary for survival. The availability of resources necessary to meet these needs is integral to sustain stable populations of marine animals.Without a firm understanding of the responses to environmental challenges, a strategic approach for marine animal protection is limited. 

In light of this, the Marine Mammal Physiology Project began in 1994 at the University of California Santa Cruz’ Long Marine Laboratory, under the direction of Dr. Terrie Williams, a comparative physiologist and professor at UCSC.  Working with animals that are trained to voluntarily cooperate in the data collection process, the project investigates the energetics, physiological, and biomechanical parameters of numerous marine mammals.

Dr. Williams seeks to answer the important question of what it costs these animals to survive in the ocean.  In other words, how much energy must these animals expend to accomplish their daily activities such as swimming, diving, foraging, and mating. In order to achieve an understanding of marine mammal physiology, Dr. Williams applies a variety of techniques to experimentally deduce an animals’ energy consumption or metabolic rate. Ultimately, the insights gained from this research are to be referenced in the pursuit of marine conservation. 

In addition to all of the Marine Mammal Physiology Project’s many research endeavors, it also holds a pivotal role in developing the next generation of global conservationists and cutting edge animal trainers.