Sea Lions Crossing: Planning for Human-Wildlife Coexistence in the Strangest of Places

Biology Seminar with Veronica Frans of Michigan State University

New Zealand sea lions were historically extirpated from mainland New Zealand due to intense human pressures. Now, after 150 years of absence, they have mysteriously returned, giving humans a second chance at coexistence. As sea lions recolonize the mainland, species distribution models (SDMs) can help predict the best habitats where they can thrive. Enhancing SDMs for real-world decision-making, I created a new interactive tool called the integrated SDM database (iSDMdb), which pairs predictions with expert knowledge and conservation needs to bridge an important gap between complex statistical results and real-world decision-making. I share the story of the New Zealand sea lion and how this tool works for managing and protecting this species.