Faculty FrontDoor

Marie Trone

I grew up in southern Ohio and have had an eclectic career path that has led me to live in a variety of locations. I worked in Mexico for three years (Sí, hablo español), served in the United States Marine Corp, and was even homeless for 2 years as I drove a semi-truck all over the United States. I earned a living working as a dolphin trainer for 13 years, and as an elephant trainer for 2 years. I do not have a television, but instead spend as much time enjoying outdoor activities, such as kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, canyoneering, etc. I believe life is about experience, enjoying as many different activities and sensations as possible!

 

I have been fascinated with dolphins since I was seven years old. I am very interested in dolphin communication, cognition and behavior. I am currently collaborating with colleagues in the United States, Peru, France and Germany on research projects that are investigating high-frequency clicks produced by Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis), the tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). In addition to studying the dolphins found here in Florida, I have traveled to the Peruvian Amazon to collect river dolphin acoustical during the summer of 2014-2019, and 2024. I did not travel to Peru from 2020-2023 due to the corona virus. During the summer of 2016, I established a bioacoustics laboratory in the Peruvian rain forest, approximately 50 miles downriver from Iquitos. My colleagues and I hope to develop a method that will allow people to individually identify dolphins based upon unique acoustic features (voice recognition) to improve the accuracy of collecting population data. What remains of the world's forests needs to be conserved for the continuance of life itself. Collectively the forests absorb approximately one third of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Thus, we hope that our current research discoveries will inspire humans to conserve the rain forests in order to protect the enigmatic dolphins, and in turn conserve life itself on planet Earth.



I began working as a Professor of Biology for Valencia College in January of 2011, with what I thought was a temporary job. However, I have been at this "temporary" position longer than any other job in my life, teaching full-time since the summer of 2011. I have led two study abroad trips to Peru, led multiple field trips to various places in Florida, including a snorkel trail, "sea caves", swimming with manatees, and canoeing with dolphins! I believe biology is outside experiencing the amazing diversity of life!




EDUCATION

University of Southern Mississippi                                                           

Ph.D. Experimental Psychology, 2006

Dissertation: A comparison of acquisition rates for symbols used in relative numerosity judgments by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): The visual modality versus the combined echoic and visual modalities.




University of Southern Mississippi                                                          

M.A. Experimental Psychology, 2002

Thesis: Does participation in dolphin-human interaction programs affect bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behavior?

 

Andrews University                                                                             

M.S. Biology, 1999

Thesis: Diel patterns in icthyofaunal assemblages of the sandy surf zone: A survey of two bays in Tobago.

 

St. Mary’s College of Maryland                                                        

B.A. Biology, 1990

Honors Project: Calls of the chipping sparrow.