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Daryl J. Boness, Ph.D., Research Associate - Senior Scientist, Department of Conservation Biology
Conservation and Science

Education

Cornell College, B.A., Psychology & Biology, 1972 Hollins College

M.A., Human Psychophysiology, 1973
Dalhousie University

Ph.D., Behavioral Ecology, 1979

Professional History and Interest

Daryl Boness began working at the National Zoo in 1978 as Curator of Marine Mammals and became a Research Zoologist in the Department of Zoological Research (now Department of Conservation Biology) in 1985. As a curator he designed exhibits, managed a broad range of captive mammals, and supervised animal caretakers. In 1996, he published a major review paper on water- quality management for captive aquatic mammals.

For 30 years, he has been studying how ecological and social factors affect the reproductive strategies of male (mating tactics) and female (maternal care patterns) pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses). He believes in a team approach to research and integrates relevant disciplines (such as behavior, physiology, nutrition, and genetics) in his studies through collaborators.

One long-term project (more than than 20-years) on Sable Island grey and harbor seals has been the focus of his research, but Boness has studied 11 of the 36 species of seals, representing different families and habitats. more

More recently he has begun supporting students asking similar questions about sea birds (such as Humboldt penguins, razorbills, and murres), which face similar ecological challenges associated with terrestrial breeding and marine foraging.

Studying marine mammals provides logistical challenges different from studying terrestrial mammals; alternatives to direct observations are necessary. Much of Boness’ work has involved the use of state-of-the-art technology and advancement of technology to extend our ability to “observe” behavior in the marine environment.

Included among the technology used in this work are: time-depth recorders to investigate foraging behavior, the latest DNA techniques to assess paternity or genetic relationships, and non-radioactive and radioactive isotopes to measure energy flow.

Boness has also been instrumental in working with colleagues from National Geographic Society to advance the scientific use of an animal-borne video system called Crittercam. He has published over 90 scientific journal articles, book chapters, and popular articles.

Boness uses his broad expertise in marine mammal biology and husbandry to help identify and resolve national issues concerning policy, management, and conservation of marine mammals.

Among his most notable efforts are serving on:

• the Committee of Scientific Advisors to the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission (Executive Branch) for the past seven years;
  
• a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee to revise the USDA/APHIS Marine Mammal Welfare Regulations;
  
• a NASA panel to investigate the possible effects of sonic booms on marine mammals; and
  
• review panels for the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Fish & Wildlife Service, the Office of Naval Research, and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.

Five Selected Publications

Boness, D.J. and Bowen, W.D. 1996. The evolution of maternal care in pinnipeds. Bioscience 46, 1-10.

Boness, D. J., Craig, M.P. Honigman, L and Austin, S. 1998. Fostering behavior in Hawaiian monk seals, Monachus schauinslandi, at Laysan Island, with comparative evidence on the effect of female density. Journal of Mammalogy 79:1060-1069.

Goldsworthy, S., Boness, D.J. and Fleischer, R.C. 1999. Mate choice in sympatric fur seals: female preference for conphenotypic males. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 45: 253-267.

Lidgard, D.C., Boness, D.J. and Bowen, W.D. 2001. A novel mobile approach to investigating grey seal male mating tactics. Journal of Zoology 255: 313-320.

Paredes, R., Zavalaga, C. B. and Boness, D. J. 2002. Patterns of egg laying and breeding success in relation to number of broods and timing of laying in Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in Peru. Auk 119: 244-250.

Boness, D.J., Clapham, P.J. and Mesnick, S.L. 2002. Life history and reproductive strategies of marine mammals. Pages 278-324. In: Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary Approach. R. Hoelzel (ed.). Blackwell Science, Oxford.