Chloe Malinka

Senior Research Scientist

Email: cm@smruconsulting.com

Chloe is a Senior Research Scientist at SMRU Consulting. She joined the team in 2021 and is presently focused on projects concerning bioacoustics, noise impacts, passive acoustic density estimations, and soundscape monitoring within SMRU Consulting.

Chloe has dual experience in conducting both blue skies research (in bioacoustics, sensory ecology, and acoustic behaviour) and applied monitoring work in the marine renewables sector in Canada and in the UK. Doing so using biologging and passive acoustic monitoring technologies has given her a broad understanding of both how marine animals perceive their environment, and how we, as environmental monitors, interpret their movements and behaviours.

  • Degrees and Education

    • 2021 Aarhus University, Denmark, PhD Biology. Thesis: “Biosonar on narrow-band high-frequency toothed whales: Sampling a dynamic, multi-target world”

    • 2014 University of St Andrews, Scotland, MRes Marine Mammal Science (with distinction)

    • 2013 Dalhousie University, Canada BSc (Hons, Co-op) Marine Biology and Oceanography

    Skills and Expertise

    Passive Acoustic Monitoring

    Echolocation

    Sensory ecology

    Biologging

  • (See Google scholar & ORCiD)

    Jacobs ER, Gero S, Malinka CE, Tønnesen PH, Beedholm K, DeRuiter SL & PT Madsen (2024) “The active space of sperm whale codas: inter-click information for intra-unit communication” J Exp Biol 227(4), jeb246442. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.246442

    Marques CS, Marques DA, Blackwell SB, Heide-Jorgensen MP, Malinka CE, & TA Marques (2024) “Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) echolocation click rates to support cue counting passive acoustic density estimation,” J Acoust Soc Am 155, 891–900. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0024723

    Malinka CE, Tollit DJ, Trounce K, & JD Wood. (2023). Evaluating the Benefits of Noise Reduction Mitigation: The ECHO Program. In: Popper, A.N., Sisneros, J., Hawkins, A., Thomsen, F. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life. Springer, Cham. pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_100-1

    Malinka CE, Quinn M, Matei M, Tabbutt S, Charish R, & JD Wood (2023) “Quiet Sound Trial Slowdown 2022” SMRU Consulting report to Quiet Sound.

    Grooms C, Malinka CE, Warner GA, Wood JD, Houweling AE, Wladichuk JL, MacGillivray AO, Tollit DJ, & TM Yack. (2022) ECHO Program 2021 Voluntary Vessel Slowdown Hydracoustic Studies

    Malinka CE, Rojano-Doñate L, & PT Madsen (2021). “Directional biosonar beams allow echolocating harbour porpoises to actively discriminate and intercept closely-spaced targets” J Exp Biol: 224(16), jeb242779. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.242779

    Malinka CE, Tønnesen P, Dunn CA, Claridge DE, Gridley T, Elwen SH, & PT Madsen (2021) “Echolocation click parameters and biosonar behaviour of the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)” J Exp Biol 224(6), jeb240689. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.240689

    Pedersen MB, Tønnesen P, Malinka CE, Ladegaard M, Johnson M, Aguilar de Soto N, & PT Madsen (2021) “Echolocation click parameters of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in the wild” J Acoust Soc Am 149, 1923-1931. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0003762

    Beedholm K, Malinka CE, Ladegaard M, & PT Madsen (2021) “Do echolocating toothed whales direct their acoustic gaze on or off target in a static detection task?” J Acoust Soc Am 149, 581-590. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0003357

    Macaulay J, Malinka CE, Gillespie D, & PT Madsen (2020) “High resolution 3D beam radiation pattern of harbour porpoise clicks with implications for passive acoustic monitoring.” J Acoust Soc Am 147: 4175-4188. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0001376

    Malinka CE, Atkins J, Johnson M, Tønnesen P, Dunn C, Claridge D, Aguilar de Soto N, & PT Madsen (2020) “An autonomous hydrophone array to study the acoustic ecology of deep-water toothed whales” Deep Sea Research I 158:103233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103233

    Malinka CE, Gillespie D, Macaulay J, Joy R, & CS Sparling (2018) “First in-situ passive acoustic monitoring for marine mammals during operation of a tidal turbine in Ramsey Sound, Wales.” Mar Ecol Prog Ser 590: 247-266. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12467

    Macaulay J, Gordon JCD, Gillespie DM, Malinka CE, & S Northridge (2017) “Passive acoustic methods for fine-scale tracking of harbour porpoises in tidal rapids.” J Acoust Soc Am 141(2): 1120-1132. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4976077

    Gillespie DM, Malinka CE, Hastie G, & CE Sparling (March 2016) “Scottish Government Demonstration Strategy: Results of an acoustic assessment on the EK60 echosounder.” Report to the Scottish Gov, 9 pp.

    Sparling CE, Gillespie DM, Hastie G, Gordon JCD, Macaulay J, Malinka CE, Wu M, & BJ McConnell (Feb 2016) “Scottish Government Demonstration Strategy: Trialling methods for tracking the fine scale underwater movements of marine mammals in areas of marine renewable energy development.” Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews. Report to the Scottish Government, St Andrews, 108 pp.

    Gillespie DM, Sparling CE, Macaulay J, & CE Malinka (Jan 2016) “Performance of the passive acoustic monitoring system during commissioning of the DeltaStream tidal energy turbine in Ramsey Sound, Wales.” Report by SMRU Consulting for Tidal Energy Ltd.

    Macaulay J, Gordon JCD, Gillespie D, Malinka CE, Johnson M, & S Northridge (Nov 2015) “Tracking harbour porpoises in tidal rapids: a low cost autonomous platform to track movements,” NERC KE Report.

    Macaulay J, Malinka CE, Coram A, Gordon JCD, & S Northridge (Jul 2015) “The density and behaviour of marine mammals in tidal rapids.” SMRU, University of St Andrews. Report to Scottish Government, no. MR 7.1.2.

    Malinka CE, Hay AE, & RA Cheel (Sept 2015) “Towards passive acoustic monitoring at a proposed tidal turbine site: Grand Passage, NS,” EWTEC (European Wave & Tidal Energy Conference) Proceedings, Nantes, France.

  • Key Projects

    Since joining SMRU Consulting in September 2021, Chloe has been involved in projects including:

    • Evaluating the noise effects of vessel slowdowns under the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ECHO program (Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observations)

    • Managing and analysing the long-term ambient noise monitoring station at Lime Kiln, San Juan Island

    • Advising offshore wind developers on real-time marine mammal mitigation monitoring technologies

    • Facilitating a start-up ocean technology company with setting up passive acoustic monitoring kit on their USVs

    • Overseeing, managing, and contributing to tag analysis for the ACCURATE project (Acoustic Cue RATEs for passive acoustic density estimation), with partners from SMRU, CREEM, NOAA, Scripps and NTNU

    • Contributing to a scoping evaluation for a meta-analysis of PAM data collected in the past 20 years in the North Sea

  • Phone:+44 (0)1334 466011

    Email:cm@smruconsulting.com

    Socials: LinkedIn

    Mail: Scottish Oceans Institute

    East Sands

    University of St Andrews

    KY16 8LB

    Scotland