Arona Bender

NOAA-EPP LMRCSC Master’s Graduate
M.S., Marine & Environmental Science
Hampton University

Arona Bender graduated with her master’s degree in marine and environmental science from Hampton University in the spring 2022.

Prior to her tenure with the LMRCSC, Ms. Bender received a B.S degree in biological sciences from Georgia State University in 2019. She joined the LMRCSC program in 2020 as a master’s student at Hampton University, where she pursued her degree in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science. Arona worked under the advisement of Dr. Carolina Lewallen, where her research investigated genetic diversity and estimated the effective population size of leopard seals. The ultimate goal of this research was to contribute to the understanding of how climate change is affecting leopard seal population abundance in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Being born and raised in Guyana, Arona is passionate about reaching vulnerable communities that are susceptible to environmental changes that impact the marine ecosystem and livelihoods.

Arona plans to continue her graduate education at Duke University in the fall.

NERTO Project Title:  Initial analysis of the foraging tactics and social behavior of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) from animal-borne HD video footage.

NOAA Mentors: Dr. Douglas Krause

Academic Advisor: Dr. Carolina Lewallen

Publications/Presentations

  1. Bender, A.N.; Krause, D.J.; Goebel, M.E.; Hoffman, J.I.; Lewallen, E.A.; Bonin, C.A. 2023. Genetic diversity and demographic history of the leopard seal: A Southern Ocean top predator. PLoS ONE 18(8): e0284640. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284640
  2. Bender*, A., Krause, D., Goebel, M., Lewallen, E., Bonin, C. 2022. Genetic approaches to monitor effects of climate change on leopard seals in the Antarctic Peninsula. NOAA EPP/MSI Forum, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL April 2022.
  3. Bender*, A., Krause, D., Goebel, M., Lewallen, E., Bonin, C. (2022). Estimating the effective population size and historical demography of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in the Antarctic Peninsula. Presented at the Ocean Sciences Virtual Meeting 2022, session FF02 Climate Impacts on Marine Fish, Fisheries, and Protected Species 03, February 2022. Oral Presentation
  4. Mello, F. N. A., Martínez‐Blancas, A., Vaz, M. C., Bender*, A., & Provete, D. B. (2021). Human Dimensions: The Latin America and the Caribbean Chapter of ESA. Embracing Our Diversity During Adverse Times. The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 102(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/bes2.1883
  5. Bender, A., Bonin, C. 2020. Genetic approaches for monitoring the effects of climate change on Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in the Antarctic Peninsula. Presented at NOAA LMRCSC Graduate Seminar Series Virtual Meeting, December 2020.
  6. Bonin, C., Lewallen E., Barreto, F., Bender, A., Cruz, K., Krause, D., Goebel., M. Genetic approaches for monitoring the effects of climate change on leopard seals in the Antarctic Peninsula. NOAA EPP Virtual Meeting, April 2020.
  7. Bender, A.N., Stock, B. (2019). Using Relative Body Measurements of Nassau Grouper to Predict Total Lengths. Presented at SEA Campus for the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program research presentation, Woods Hole, MA, August, 2019. Oral Presentation
  8. Bender, A.N., Harden, B. 2019. Regional Diversity of Phytoplankton in Block Island Sound. Presented at SEA Campus for the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program Cramer research project, Woods Hole, MA, June, 2019.  Poster Presentation
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