Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Associate Professor Guido J. Parra

2000 …2026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research Biography

Guido is originally from Colombia where he conducted his BSc in Biology at Universidad de los Andes. He migrated to Australia in 1999 to conduct his PhD at James Cook University studying the behavioural ecology of Australian Snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. After his PhD he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at James Cook University and The University of Queensland investigating different aspects of the ecology, behaviour and population genetics of coastal dolphins.

He joined the Marine Innovations South Australia (MISA) programme through a joint position between Flinders University and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI - Aquatic Sciences) where he acted as the primary cetacean ecologist between 2009 and 2014. Since 2014, he has been at Flinders University full-time where he leads the Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL).

Research Interests

I have broad research interest in population ecology, behavioural ecology and conservation biology. My research seeks to understand the evolution and the mechanism underlying marine mammal ecology, behaviour and evolution and uses concepts and methods from these fields to address pressing conservation issues. I use a variety of methods, including behavioural observations of known individuals, Geographic Information Systems, ecological modelling, social networks, and genetics and use mainly wild dolphin populations as models for my studies. This integrative approach is important and necessary to address the big questions (i.e. Why?), to explain data in the context of the bigger picture and to improve our capacity to effectively conserve and manage wild populations of marine mammals.

Supervised Students Successes

  • Jul 2018 Nikki Zanardo - Best poster presentation award on marine vertebrate research at the Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference
  • May 2018 Cecilia Passadore - International Scholarship Award from the Society for Conservation GIS
  • Nov 2017 Cecilia Passadore - Conservation Leadership Programme Award to attend Interantional Congress for Conservation Biology
  • Oct 2012 Nikki Zanardo - AMSA-SA best presentation award at the AMSA-SA 7th Annual Symposium, Adelaide
  • Mar 2011 Ina Ansmann - Best student presentation award at European Cetacean Society Conference, Cadiz Spain.

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisions:
  • Ecology and behaviour of inshore dolphins (5)
Associate Supervisions:
  • Behavioural ecology of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins (1)
  • Socio-genetic structure of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins (1)

Research Areas

  • Ecology and conservation

Supervisory Interests

  • Animal behaviour
  • Whales, behaviour, ecology and evolution
  • Dolphins, behaviour, ecology and evolution
  • Conservation biology

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  4. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  5. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  6. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  7. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  8. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Guido J. Parra is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or