Dr Tezanos-Pinto completed her PhD in 2009 at the University of Auckland under the supervision of Prof. C. Scott Baker. Her PhD investigated the population structure, abundance and reproductive parameters of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in New Zealand. Results from her PhD research assisted with the reclassification of bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand as “Nationally Endangered” by the Department of Conservation (New Zealand).

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For the past 20 years, her experience in the field of marine mammal biology has included working on a variety of species in Argentina, her home country, and New Zealand. These included Burmeister porpoises (Phocoena spinipinnis), Commerson’s (Cephalorhynchus commersonii), Hector’s and Maui’s (Cephalorhynchus hectori sp.) and Peale’s (Lagenorhynchus australis) dolphins as well as humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Bryde’s (Balaenoptera brydei) whales. Dr Tezanos-Pinto worked as a research fellow at the University of Auckland and also managed a variety of independent contracts with the industry. She taught Biology and Human Biosciences for 8 years at Massey University and co-supervised postgraduate students. Currently, she is an adjunct research associate at Massey University and the Laboratory of Aquatic Vertebrates at Los Andes University where she co-supervises and mentor graduate students in a variety of projects while also conducting her own research projects.

 

Dr Tezanos-Pinto’s research focus is primarily in the molecular ecology of marine mammals and the application of genetic techniques for research, conservation and management. She is interested in projects that combine a diversity of data including population ecology and life history data with genetic information to improve the conservation and management of wildlife species. Other interests include mark-recapture techniques to estimate population parameters of vertebrates, including sharks, fish and dolphins.