Past Research

Throughout my undergraduate and master’s studies, I engaged in interdisciplinary conservation projects that combined social science, ecology, and wildlife management to address pressing environmental issues. My work ranged from assessing the abundance and distribution of the endangered St. Vincent Amazon Parrot in collaboration with the national forestry department in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to leading a multinational project on the economic value of recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.

Through extensive survey design, data collection, and stakeholder interviews, I explored human-wildlife interactions and conservation compliance, contributing actionable insights to support marine wildlife management. These projects laid the foundation for my continued focus on conservation science, policy, and sustainable resource management in my PhD research.

Dolphin and Sea Turtle Management

What drives public compliance with marine wildlife laws on the Gulf Coast?

During my master’s in Natural Resources, at Auburn University, I led a series of social science projects focused on understanding stakeholder behaviors and conservation engagement for marine species along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Collaborating with partners, NOAA, and local agencies, we developed and conducted surveys and interviews to investigate public willingness to support conservation measures for species like sea turtles and dolphins, as well as interactions between marine wildlife and both recreational and commercial industries. Through this work, we analyzed over 1,200 survey responses and conducted 60 in-depth stakeholder interviews to gain comprehensive insights into these conservation challenges.

This research produced seven publications, including studies on the impact of social networks on conservation knowledge, public engagement with beach lighting regulations for sea turtle nesting, and predictors of compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act, amongst others. Together, these projects contribute to a deeper understanding of human-wildlife interactions and offer practical insights to enhance conservation efforts through policy and community engagement. Currently, several manuscripts are under review, with findings aimed at informing effective conservation strategies and sustainable wildlife tourism practices on the Gulf Coast.

Publications

[Under review in Fisheries Management and Ecology.] Henry H*, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “Willingness of Recreational Anglers to Modify Hook and Bait Choices for Sea Turtle Conservation in Mobile Bay, Alabama, Gulf of Mexico”
[Under review in Human Dimensions of Wildlife.] Olivas T*, Henry H, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K*. “Assessing Marine Wildlife Interactions with the Charter Boat Fishing Industry on the Alabama Gulf Coast”
[Under review in Environmental Management.] Henry H*, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “Casting Light on Coasts: Understanding Public Knowledge and Engagement in Beach Darkness Preservation for Sea Turtle Conservation”
[Under review in Fisheries Management.] Olivas T*, Henry H, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “An Analysis of the Marine Wildlife Interactions with the Commercial Shrimping Industry on the Alabama Gulf Coast”
[Submitted.] Henry H*, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “What Predicts Willingness to Comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act? Using Bottlenose Dolphin Feeding as a Case Study”
[In preparation.] Henry H*, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “Social Networks and Information Silos Influence Conservation Knowledge in Tourist Populations”
[In preparation.] Henry H*, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “Wake Riding Dolphins: A Case Study of Wildlife Tourism, Education, and Following Conservation Law using an Interview-Based Approach”

Presentations

ORAL

Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. Balancing Angler Practices and Sea Turtle Protection in Alabama. The 31st Wildlife Society Conference. Baltimore, Maryland, United States. October 2024. (Awarded stipend to attend)
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “How Responsible Fishing Gear Safeguards Wildlife” Restore Americas Estuaries Summit. Washington, DC, United States. October 2024. (Awarded stipend to attend)
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “Sustainable Angling: Protecting Sea Turtles Through Conservation Practices” 109th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Long Beach, California, United States. August 2024. (Awarded stipend to attend)
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. 2024. “Adapting Angling for Sea Turtle Conservation” 75th Atlantic Estuarine Research Society Conference. Gloucester Point, Virginia, United States. March 2024. (Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation)
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. 2023. “Angler-Sea Turtle Dynamics on the Alabama Coast” 27th Biennial CERF Conference. Portland, Oregon, United States. November 2023. (Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation)
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. 2023. “What Predicts Willingness to Comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act?” The 30th Wildlife Society Conference. Louisville, Kentucky, United States. November 2023. (Awarded stipend to attend)
Olivas T, Henry H, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. 2023. “Angler Conflict with Wildlife on the Alabama Coast: Protecting Sea Turtles with Greater Awareness” The 2023 Alabama Water Resources Conference. Orange Beach, Alabama. September 2023.
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. 2023. “The State of Cetacean Tourism in Mobile Bay, Alabama” The 2023 Alabama Water Resources Conference. Orange Beach, Alabama. September 2023.
Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. 2023. “Utilizing Social Science to Manage Human-Wildlife Interactions of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico” 2023 Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conference. Jacksonville, Florida. March 2023. (Awarded stipend to attend)

POSTER

Henry H, Olivas T, Gumbleton S, Beckham N, Steury TD, Willoughby J, and Dunning K. “Public Awareness and Compliance with Dolphin Conservation Laws in Mobile Bay, Alabama” Restore Americas Estuaries Summit. Washington, DC, United States. October 2024. (Awarded stipend to attend)

Socioeconomic Value of Recreational Fishing

How can we quantify the socioeconomic impact of recreational fisheries across international boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico?

As a project lead for a multinational social science initiative with partners from the U.S., Cuba, and Mexico, I developed and implemented bilingual survey materials in Spanish and English to assess the economic value of recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. This effort involved creating a comprehensive database of economic assessment methodologies and standardizing data collected from diverse stakeholder groups across international borders. Conducted as part of the 7th Gulf of Mexico Student Workshop on International Marine Management (SWIMM) and co-organized with UMDI-Sisal at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), the project launched with in-person sessions in Quintana Roo, Mexico, in May 2023 and continued with virtual sessions.

Data collection concluded in May 2024, and the results are now under analysis, with findings to be disseminated through journal articles aimed at advancing sustainable fisheries management across the Gulf.

Presentations

[POSTER] Olmo L, Henry H, Coffill-Rivera M, Costa S, Gallardo JB, Peña GM, Islas FN, Castillo D, Hernández, LV and Besonen M. “Economic valuation of recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico / Valoración económica de la pesca recreativa en el Golfo de México” 154th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Honolulu, Hawai’i, United States. September 2024.

Conserving the St. Vincent Amazon Parrot:

How can we develop effective monitoring strategies for the endangered St. Vincent Amazon Parrot?

Working with the Florida International University Tropical Conservation Institute, the SVG National Forestry Department, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, I conceptualized and managed field and social science surveys to assess this parrot species. I produced and processed over 150 surveys for statistical analysis and collaborated in developing the first passive bioacoustics method and automatic detection model for this species, analyzing over 12,000 audio recordings using RavenPro software.

Currently, I am continuing this project with an undergraduate student who is developing an occupancy model to refine our understanding of parrot habitat use. This work aims to build local capacity for monitoring parrot populations and to inform effective conservation management strategies for this iconic species.

Publications

[In preparation.] Alvarez J§, Henry H, Symes L, and Gomes C. “Acoustic Occupancy Modeling of the St. Vincent Amazon Parrot: Analyzing Vocal Behavior within a Tropical Soundscape”

Presentations

[POSTER] Casanova A, Sabol A, Henry H, and Gomes C. 2023. “Investigating Human-Parrot Conflicts: A Case Study for the St. Vincent Amazon Parrot” The 30th Wildlife Society Conference. Louisville, Kentucky, United States. November 2023.