World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
36
Citations
4779
World Ranking
7158
National Ranking
2411

Earth Science

D-Index
32
Citations
3758
World Ranking
8706
National Ranking
2835

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2010 - Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation

Overview

Kelly J. Benoit-Bird is affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in the United States. Their research primarily spans the fields of Environmental Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences, with particular focus on Ecology, Oceanography, and Global and Planetary Change.

The scientist has contributed extensively to studies in marine environments, covering topics such as marine animal studies, fisheries research, underwater acoustics, fish ecology and management, underwater vehicles and communication systems, animal vocal communication and behavior, and marine biology and ecology research.

Several recent publications illustrate the scope of their work:

  • Exploring the promise of broadband fisheries echosounders for species discrimination with quantitative assessment of data processing effects, 2020, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
  • Critical threshold identified in the functional relationship between beaked whales and their prey, 2020, Marine Ecology Progress Series
  • Vertical migration timing illuminates the importance of visual and nonvisual predation pressure in the mesopelagic zone, 2021, Limnology and Oceanography

Other frequently cited papers relevant to their research environment include:

  • Fear dynamically structures the ocean's pelagic zone, 2021, Current Biology
  • Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind-driven resource tracking by blue whales, 2022, Ecology Letters

Benoit-Bird regularly publishes in venues such as The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, where they have 11 publications, as well as the IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, PLoS ONE, Current Biology, and Marine Ecology Progress Series. Their collaborations include frequent coauthors Chad M. Waluk, John P. Ryan, William K. Oestreich, John E. Joseph, and Tetyana Margolina.

The scientist was recognized as a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation in 2010.

Best Publications

  • Globally consistent quantitative observations of planktonic ecosystems

    F. Lombard;F. Lombard;E. Boss;A.M. Waite;J. Uitz

  • Prey dynamics affect foraging by a pelagic predator (Stenella longirostris) over a range of spatial and temporal scales

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W. L. Au

  • Prey Patch Patterns Predict Habitat Use by Top Marine Predators with Diverse Foraging Strategies

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Brian C. Battaile;Scott A. Heppell;Brian Hoover

  • Automatic gain control in the echolocation system of dolphins

    Whitlow W. L. Au;Kelly J. Benoit-Bird

  • Cooperative prey herding by the pelagic dolphin, Stenella longirostris

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W. L. Au

  • Ecological Insights from Pelagic Habitats Acquired Using Active Acoustic Techniques

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Gareth L. Lawson

  • Extreme plasticity in life‐history strategy allows a migratory predator (jumbo squid) to cope with a changing climate

    Henk-Jan T. Hoving;William F. Gilly;Unai Markaida;Kelly J. Benoit-Bird

  • DUSKY DOLPHIN (LAGENORHYNCHUS OBSCURUS) FORAGING IN TWO DIFFERENT HABITATS: ACTIVE ACOUSTIC DETECTION OF DOLPHINS AND THEIR PREY

    Kelly J. Benoit‐Bird;Bernd Würsig;Cynthia J. Mfadden

  • Nocturnal light and lunar cycle effects on diel migration of micronekton

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W. L. Au;Daniel W. Wisdoma

  • Diel horizontal migration of the Hawaiian mesopelagic boundary community observed acoustically

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W. L. Au;Russell E. Brainard;Marc O. Lammers

  • Prey caloric value and predator energy needs: foraging predictions for wild spinner dolphins

    K. J. Benoit-Bird

  • Extreme diel horizontal migrations by a tropical nearshore resident micronekton community

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W. L. Au

  • Bottom-up regulation of a pelagic community through spatial aggregations.

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Margaret A. McManus

  • Target strength measurements of Hawaiian mesopelagic boundary community animals

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W. L. Au

  • Diel migration dynamics of an island-associated sound-scattering layer

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Whitlow W.L. Au

  • Modeling the detection range of fish by echolocating bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises

    Whitlow W. L. Au;Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Ronald A. Kastelein

  • Active acoustic examination of the diving behavior of murres foraging on patchy prey

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Kathy Kuletz;Scott Heppell;Nathan Jones

  • Acoustic basis for fish prey discrimination by echolocating dolphins and porpoises

    Whitlow W. L. Au;Brian K. Branstetter;Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Ronald A. Kastelein

  • Using active acoustics to compare lunar effects on predator-prey behavior in two marine mammal species

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Adrian D. Dahood;Bernd Würsig

  • Acoustic radiation from the head of echolocating harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena).

    Whitlow W. L. Au;Ronald A. Kastelein;Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Ted W. Cranford

  • Foraging behavior of northern fur seals closely matches the hierarchical patch scales of prey

    Kelly J. Benoit-Bird;Brian C. Battaile;Chad A. Nordstrom;Andrew W. Trites

  • Layered Organization in the Coastal Ocean: An Introduction to Planktonic Thin Layers and the LOCO Project

    James M. Sullivan;D. Van Holliday;Malcolm McFarland;Margaret A. McManus

Frequent Co-Authors

Whitlow W. L. Au
Whitlow W. L. Au University of Hawaii at Manoa
Mark A. Moline
Mark A. Moline University of Delaware
Margaret A. McManus
Margaret A. McManus University of Hawaii at Manoa
Brandon L. Southall
Brandon L. Southall University of California, Santa Cruz
John P. Ryan
John P. Ryan Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Timothy J. Cowles
Timothy J. Cowles Oregon State University
Francisco P. Chavez
Francisco P. Chavez Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Bernd Würsig
Bernd Würsig Texas A&M University at Galveston
John A. Barth
John A. Barth Oregon State University
Raphael M. Kudela
Raphael M. Kudela University of California, Santa Cruz

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Pursuing a degree in Ecology and Evolution opens doors to diverse and interdisciplinary career options. Today, students are also exploring flexible learning options through online programs, which make it easier to balance studies with work or personal commitments.

If you’re curious about other science-focused fields, consider online mathematics degrees that provide strong analytical skills highly valued in research and data-driven positions. For those interested in environmental design and urban planning, an architect degree online can be an excellent pathway to combine creativity with sustainability.

Some professionals opt for roles that blend science communication and education. For example, a career change for teachers higher pay may appeal to those wanting to use their teaching background in new, in-demand areas such as speech pathology.

If you have a flair for creativity and wish to contribute to visual education tools or scientific media, check out the best online graphic design degree programs. These related pathways can expand your impact and align with your evolving interests in Ecology and Evolution.

Best Scientists Citing Kelly J. Benoit-Bird

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles