Dr. Hawkins has over ten years experience researching the ecology of dolphins and whales in Australia. Her research has primarily focused on the acoustics and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins. Her Honours research completed in 2002, examined the patterns of acoustic emissions during different behaviours in a group of provisioned bottlenose dolphins at Tangalooma, Moreton Island. In 2008, Dr. Hawkins completed her PhD research on the population abundance, ecology and the influence of vessels on Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the Byron Bay region, NSW, Australia. In addition to her PhD and Honours research, Dr. Hawkins has also conducted research on the variations in the acoustic repertoires of bottlenose dolphin along the east and west coasts of Australia.

Dr. Hawkins has made many public presentations on both her research and marine conservation issues to a variety of community groups and developed education materials for education. She is also an education officer and scientific advisor for Whales Alive, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting the conservation of cetaceans throughout the South Pacific.

Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre, Dr. Hawkins is continuing her research into the communication faculty and behavioural ecology of coastal dolphins. Dr. Hawkins has recently formed a working collaboration with Dr. Kathleen Dudzinski from the Dolphin Communication Project and Dr. Stan Kuczaj from the University of Southern Mississippi. This collaboration will aid in the development of future research and the advancement in the knowledge of dolphin ecology.

View Liz's photo gallery

Publications

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2008. Population Dynamics and Characteristics of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Australian Mammalogy, 30, 71-82

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2008. Influence of vessels on the behaviour and acoustics of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Report for the Sustainable Tourism CRC

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. In Press. Patterns of whistles emitted by wild provisioned Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) during different behaviour displays. Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 35 (2), xx-xxx

Articles Currently in Review & Final Stages of Preparation

Hawkins, E., & Gartside, D. (In Review) Interactive Behaviours and Acoustics of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Vessels Encounters in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Aquatic Mammals

Hawkins, E. (In Review) Geographic Variation and Characteristics of Whistle Repertoires of Four Populations of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) along the East and West Coasts of Australia. Journal of Bioacoustics

Hawkins, E., & Gartside, D. (In Prep) Contextual Use of Acoustic Emissions in a Population of Wild Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus).

Hawkins, E., Gartside, D. & Brooks, L. (In Prep) Variations in Acoustic Emissions of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Response to Different Vessel Types. In preparation for Journal of Cetacean Research & Management

Hawkins, E., & Gartside, D. (In Prep) Influence of Vessel Encounters on the Behaviour of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in a Population Exposed to Relatively Low-Level Tourism Activities.

Conference Abstracts

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2003. Associations Between Acoustic Communication and Behaviour in Provisioned Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) at Tangalooma, Moreton Island, Qld. AMSA Conference, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2004. Influence of short and long term vessel activities on the behaviour and acoustics of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). National Cetacean Research Partnerships Workshop, Ballina, NSW

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2005. Association of acoustics and behaviour of provisioned Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) at Tangalooma, Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia. 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, USA

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2006. Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) Behaviour and Acoustic Patterns During Interactions with Vessels in Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. Poster presented at the Whale and Dolphin Research Partnerships Workshop, Adelaide

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2007. Influence of different vessel types on the behaviour & acoustics of dolphins. 5th Congress of Marine Tourism, Auckland, New Zealand

Hawkins, E. & Gartside, D. 2007. Contextual Use of Whistles by Wild Bottlenose Dolphins. 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, South Africa

Updated: 25 July 2010