Lei Lani Stelle Ph.D.
Department Chair, Professor
Biology
About
Lei Lani Stelle is a full professor who joined the Department of Biology at the University of Redlands in 2008 after six years as an assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. She has taught both non-majors and majors in introductory biology, as well as upper-division courses in comparative animal physiology, marine ecology, mapping animals, marine mammal biology, and research. An advocate for study abroad, she has led travel courses focused on marine conservation in Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Ecuador/Galapagos Islands.
Her research centers on the physiological ecology of aquatic mammals. Current projects examine human impacts on marine mammals in Southern California, including studies on boat disturbance of sea lions, blue whale distribution, and dolphin behavior. These projects employ technologies such as photo-identification, remote field cameras, theodolites, SCUBA, and GIS analysis. She involves student volunteers in her research along the California coast throughout the academic year and supports additional student researchers during the summer.
Professor Stelle’s research is supported by Earthwatch expeditions, and she has secured approximately $1.5 million in grants from a variety of funding sources.
Education
- Ph.D., organismic biology, ecology, and evolution, University of California, Los Angeles
- M.Sc., zoology, University of British Columbia
- B.A., marine biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Professional Background
- University of Redlands, professor; associate professor (tenured), 2010–present
- Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation, vice president, 1997–present
- University of Redlands, assistant professor, 2008–2010
- Rochester Institute of Technology, assistant professor, 2002–2008
- University of California, Los Angeles, lecturer, 2001–2002
- Santa Monica College, adjunct faculty, summer 2002
- Los Angeles Unified School District, outreach educator, 1994–2002
Areas of Expertise
- Anthropogenic effects on marine mammals
- Gray whales
- Marine biology
- Marine mammals
- Physiological ecology and behavior of marine mammals
- River otters
- Whale watching
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Stelle, L. L., & King, M.* (2015). Whale mAPP: Citizen scientists contribute and map marine mammal sightings. In Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Press.
- Thompson, L.**, & Stelle, L. L. (2014). Prey preference of the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis). IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin, 31(1), 14–28.
- Stelle, L. L., Megill, W. M., & Kinzel, M. R. (2008). Activity budgets and diving behavior of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Marine Mammal Science, 24(3), 462–478.
- Stelle, L. L., Blake, R. W., & Trites, A. W. (2000). Hydrodynamic drag in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Journal of Experimental Biology, 203, 1915–1923.
Popular Press
- Stelle, L. L. (2015). Technology and GIS make citizen science more accessible. ArcNews, 27(2).
- Stelle, L. L., & Atkins, A.** (2012). The conservation column: Gray whale migration. Sport Diver (UK).
Case Studies/Lab Activities
- Kinzel, M., & Stelle, L. L. (2014). Pacific cetaceans: Ecological studies mapped using GIS. Esri Spatial Labs.
Presentations
- Redlands Forum, Esri HQ, Redlands, CA, Nov 2015: “Should We Be Watching Whales?”
- American Cetacean Society meetings: Monterey (Oct 2015); Scripps (May 2015, Jun 2011); Costa Mesa (Jun 2013); Cabrillo Aquarium (Feb 2009)
- Sonoma State Univ., Biology Seminar, Sep 8, 2015: “Whale mAPP”
- Earthwatch Summit, Harvard Univ., Nov 8, 2014: “Anthropogenic Impacts on Marine Mammals”
- Ocean Acidification Workshop, UCSB, Oct 2010: “Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Gray Whales”
- Genesee River Conference, NY, Oct 2007: “River Otter Restoration”
- MBARI, Apr 2007: “The Elusive River Otter”
- Elmira College, Nov 2003: “Bioenergetics of Marine Mammals”
Awards and Service
- Earthwatch Institute, research grant, 2000–01; 2004–11; 2011–current
- Spatial Communities of Practice grant, 2015–17
- LENS Faculty Fellow, Keck Foundation, 2011
- National Marine Fisheries Service, National Marine Mammal Lab grant, 2001–09; 2014
- Canadian Studies Faculty Enrichment Program grant, 2009
- AAUW American Fellow, 2006
- Esri Technology GIS software award, 2005
- International Student Volunteers operating grant, 2004–05
- Full Circle Foundation research grant, 2001–02
- UCLA James Memorial Dissertation Award, 2001
- University Research Expeditions Program grant, 1999–2000