Anna Knochel

Anna Knochel is a PhD student at the Marine Conservation Ecology Lab

Work

Behavioral drivers of the ecological roles of marine megafauna.

Contact

If you want to collaborate with Anna or know more about her work, drop her a line.

Summary

Anna graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas with a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology. She attended King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia for her master’s degree. Her past research includes using microscopy techniques to visualize the spatial development of bacterial biofilms on marine plastic debris and using biotelemetry to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of manta rays in the Red Sea.

Upon graduating from her master’s program, Anna joined two NGOs dedicated to the research and conservation of manta rays and had the privilege of spending several months collecting data to describe a reef manta nursery ground in the Maldives. For her PhD, Anna is investigating the behavioral drivers of the ecological roles and importance of marine mammals and other large marine vertebrates, particularly on how these animals can affect habitat structure (bioturbation), or the foraging success of other predators, particularly seabirds and teleosts.

Previously

Since 2022

PhD student at FIU (Marine Conservation Ecology Lab)

2021-2022

Research intern with the Manta Trust; Volunteer researcher with Fundación Megafauna Marina de Ecuador

2019 - 2021

Master’s in Marine Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

2019

Bachelor’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University