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Jeanette A. Thomas, Professor (WIU Quad Cities)
Coordinator of the Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Zoo & Aquarium Studies*

Marine & Terrestrial Mammalogy, Bioacoustics, Zoo Animal Enrichment  

* IMPORTANT: Dr. Thomas only advises students at the WIUQC campus in Moline IL or at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, not at the main campus in Macomb.

Dr. Jeanette Thomas

Contact Information:
 Western Illinois University-Quad Cities
3561 60th St., Moline, L  61265
E-mail:  J-Thomas@wiu.edu
tel:  309-762-9481, ext 311

Personal Homepage: n/a

Degrees:
B. S. in Zoology, B. S. in Botany, Western Illinois University
M. S. in Ecology & Behavioral Biology, University of Minnesota
Ph.D. in Ecology & Behavioral Biology, University of Minnesota

Courses Taught:

  • Mammalogy (Zool. 416G)
  • Marine Mammalogy (Zool. 412G)
  • Bioacoustics (Biol. 583)
  • Biological Studies in  Zoos & Aquaria (Zool. 584)
  • Animal Behavior (Zool. 553)
  • Biometrics (Biol. 501)
  • Biosystematics & Evolution (Biol. 503)

Research Interests:
Bioacoustics of terrestrial and marine mammals, including effects of noise on mammals, echolocation, communication, hearing, playbacks, and behavioral enrichment. Research includes both field and captive animal studies.

Additional Resources

Recent Publications:

2012. Therrien, S. E., Thomas, J. A., Therrien, R. E., and R. Stacey (in press). Time of Day and Social Change Affects on Underwater Sound Production by Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at the Brookfield Zoo. Aquatic Mammals.

Wartzok, D., C. Erbe, W.M. Getz, and J. Thomas. 2012. Marine Mammal Acoustics Exposure Analysis Models Used in U.S. Navy Environmental Impact Statements. In Popper, A. N. and A. Hawkins, eds. In The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Pp. 551-557. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York.

2011. Gabriela Munoz, G., Karamanlidis. K., Dendrinos, P. and J. A. Thomas. Aerial Vocalizations by Wild and Rehabilitating Mediterranean Monk Seals (Monachus monachus) in Greece. Aquatic Mammals special issue on monk seals. 37(3), 262-279.

Loeding, E., Thomas, J. A., Bernier, D. and R. Santymire. Using Fecal Hormonal and Behavioral Analysis to Evaluate the Introduction of two Sable Antelope at Lincoln Park Zoo. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 14:220-246. DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2011.576968.

2009. Dudzinski, K., Thomas, J. A., and J. Gregg. Communication in Marine Mammals. in Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Perrin, W., Würsig, B. and Thiesselwait, Ed. Academic Press. 2nd Edition. Pp. 260-269.

McCreery, L. and J. A. Thomas. Acoustic Analysis of Underwater Vocalizations of Crabeater Seals (Lobodon carcinophagus): not so monotonous. Aquatic Mammals 35.4:

Southall, B.L., Bowles, A.E., Ellison, W.T. Finneran, J.J., Gentry, R.L., Greene, C.R., Jr., Kastak, D., Ketten, D.R., Miller J.H., Nachtigall, P.E., Richardson, W.J., Thomas, J.A., and P. L. Tyack. (2008) Marine mammal noise exposure criteria: initial scientific recommendations. Harland, Simon Richards and Stephen Robinson (eds.). Underwater Noise Measurement, Impact and Mitigation, Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics Conference, Southampton, UK 14-15 October, 2008. Published by the Institute for Acoustics: St Albans, UK. Pp. 13-16.

Thomas, J.A. and T. Rogers. Species Account of the Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii). in Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. 2nd Edition. Pp. 1217-1220.

Thomas, J.A. and J. Terhune. Species Account of the Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii). in Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. 2nd Edition. Academic Press. Pp. 988-990.

2008. Hasselberg, B. and J. A. Thomas 2008. Using an Infrared Temperature Sensor to Remotely Study Microhabitat Selection in Captive California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). Aquatic Mammals. 34(2): 212-228.

Richlen, M. and J. A. Thomas. Acoustic Behavior of Antarctic Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Recorded near the Ice Edge of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Aquatic Mammals. 34(4): 448-457.

2007. Au, W. W. L., Thomas, J. A. and K. T. Ramirez. 2007. Characteristics of the Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potential of Pacific White-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Aquatic Mammals. 33 (1): 76-84.

Southall, B. L., A. E. Bowles, W.T. Ellison, J. J. Finneran, R. L. Gentry, C.R. Greene Jr., D. Kastak, D. R. Ketten, J. H. Miller, P. E. Nachtigall, W. J. Richardson, J. A. Thomas, & P. L. Tyack. Marine Mammal Noise Exposure Criteria: Initial Scientific Recommendations Aquatic Mammals. 33(4): 411-521.

2005. Mattson, M. C. and J. A. Thomas 2005. Effects of boat traffic on bottlenose dolphins near Hilton Head, South Carolina. Aquatic Mammals. 31(1): 133-140.

2004. Awbrey, F.T., J.A. Thomas, and W.E. Evans. 2004. Ultrasonic sound production in a captive leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx). in Echolocation in Bats and Dolphins. J.A. Thomas, C. Moss, and V. Vater, eds. Pp. 535-541. The University of Chicago Press.

Evans, W.E., J.A. Thomas, and R. Davis. 2004. Sounds used during underwater navigation by a Weddell seal, (Leptonychotes weddellii). in Echolocation in Bats and Dolphins. J.A. Thomas, C. Moss, and V. Vater, eds. Pp. 541-547. The University of Chicago Press.

Fahner, M.A., J.A. Thomas, K. Ramirez, and J. Boehm. 2004. Acoustic properties of a Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) echolocation signals. in Echolocation in Bats and Dolphins. Pp. 53-59. The University of Chicago Press. J.A. Thomas, C. Moss, and V. Vater, eds.

Thomas, J.A. and M. Jalili. 2004. Review of echolocation in insectivores and rodents. in Echolocation in Bats and Dolphins. J.A. Thomas, C. Moss, and V. Vater, eds. Pp. 547- 564. The University of Chicago Press.

Thomas, J. A., C. F. Moss, and M. Vater. 2004. (eds.) Echolocation in Bats and Dolphins. The University of Chicago Press. pp. 598.

2003. Fenton, B. M. and J. A. Thomas. 2003. Sensory Ecology. in Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia. Chapter on Mammals volume 6.

Stirling, I. and J. A. Thomas. 2003. Relationships between underwater vocalizations and mating systems in phocid seals. Aquatic Mammals. 29 (2):227-246.

2000. Dudzinski, K., J.A. Thomas, and E. Douaze. 2000. Communication. in Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. Pp. 248-268.

Thomas, J.A. 2000. Species Account of the Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii). in Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. Pp. 1300-1302.

Thomas, J.A. 2000. Species Account of the Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii). in Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. Pp. 1053-1055.

2011. Publications Submitted, in preparation, or in press: Gitter, S. J.S. Panigada, S. Airoldi, J. A. Thomas. (submitted) Whistle repertoire and geographic variation of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea). Aquatic Mammals.

LaRock, H. and J. A. Thomas. (in preparation). Patterns of echolocation in a group of semi- captive Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Rotan, Honduras. Aquatic Mammals.

Rushing-Anderson, K. and J. A. Thomas. (submitted). Effects of Water Enrichment on California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) Housed at the Peoria Zoo. Aquatic Mammals.

Sodring, M., Meiers, S., Ross, S., and J.A. Thomas (in revision). Behavioral Interactions during the Introduction of a Male African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) into a Female Group at Lincoln Park Zoological Garden, Chicago, IL. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

Stansbury, A., Thomas, J. A., Stalf, C. E., Murphy, L. D. Lombardi, D. Carpenter, J. and T. Mueller (submitted). Behavioral in-air audiogram of two Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) at the Columbus Zoo. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

Therrien, S.E., Peer, B.D., Therrien, R.E. and J.A. Thomas. (submitted). The Effects of Urban Noise on the Vocal. Condor.

Thomas, J. A., Stalf, C., Arras, H., Walter, E. M., and A. Wehmeyer. (in revision) Visual and olfactory discrimination in an Asian elephant. Animal Cognition.

Past and Current Graduate Student Thesis Research Topics