Dr Ursula Ellenberg, Our staff, Department of Marine Science

Contact details

Office 310 Castle Street, room 105
Tel +64 3 479 5453
Email ursula.ellenberg@otago.ac.nz

Academic qualifications

MSc, University of Kiel
PhD, University of Otago

Research interests

Conservation Physiology – using physiological tools to understand and predict how organisms respond to environmental stressors to better inform the management of conservation challenges
Behavioural ecology – asking questions on why and how individual differences affect behaviour (e.g. stress‐coping styles, foraging strategies), and ultimately (life‐time) reproductive success and survival
Marine ecology and at-sea behaviour of seabirds
Population ecology and conservation biology of seabirds
Citizen science

Ursula is an ecologist with a keen interest and broad background in both terrestrial and marine systems. She enjoys employing novel technologies to understand how animals use their environment or respond to stressors to inform anticipatory conservation management decisions. Ursula has more than 20 years of experience in coordinating fieldwork and leading research projects in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Canada, Germany, the Russian and Norwegian Arctic – and a soft spot for seabirds!

Ursula is a founding member of the Tawaki Trust and together with her partner Thomas Mattern she leads the Tawaki Project, a long-term study of the biology and marine ecology of Fiordland penguins/Tawaki and other crested penguins.

Tawaki Trust

Tawaki Project

Courses

MARI 112 Marine Biology: The Living Ocean
MARI 302 Biology and Behaviour of Marine Vertebrates
MARI 429 Coastal Marine Environment
ECOL 111 Ecology and Conservation of Diversity

Current postgraduate students

Finn Stoneman, MSc, The foraging ecology of Tawaki/Fiordland penguins (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) in Dusky Sound, Southern Fiordland
Lauren Tworkowski (La Trobe University, PhD – co-supervisor), “Thermoregulatory capabilities of Little Penguins in relation to human induced changes of their environment”
Jeffrey Wayne White (University of Miami, PhD co-supervisor), “Foraging ecology and dive physiology of Fiordland penguins/Tawaki (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) in New Zealand”
Thor Elley (University of Otago, MSc co-supervisor), “Foraging ecology of yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) on Rakiura/Stewart Island”
Te Arawhetu Waipoua, MSc, Identifying areas of high conservation concern through fine-scale GPS tracking of kuaka (Whenua Hou Diving Petrel; Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis) during the breeding period

Publications

Hornblow, B., Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., White, J., & Wing, S. (2024). Foraging ecology of tawaki (Fiordland penguin) in Doubtful Sound. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, (pp. 9-10). Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03014223.2024.2332118 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Waipoua, T. A., Mitchell, C., Ellenberg, U., & Fischer, J. H. (2023). Hand-rearing and translocation trial of the critically endangered kuaka Whenua Hou (Whenua Hou diving petrel; Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis). Notornis, 70(4), 151-159. Journal - Research Article

Mattern, T., Pütz, K., Mattern, H. L., Houston, D. M., Long, R., Keys, B. C., … Ellenberg, U., & Garcia-Borboroglu, P. (2023). Accurate abundance estimation of cliff-breeding Bounty Island shags using drone-based 2D and 3D photogrammetry. Avian Conservation & Ecology, 18(2), 6. doi: 10.5751/ACE-02496-180206 Journal - Research Article

White, J., Mattern, T., Pütz, K., Mattern, H., Houston, D., Long, R., Keys, B. C., Ellenberg, U., & Garcia-Borboroglu, P. (2023). Plumage colour aberrations in erect-crested penguins (Eudyptes sclateri) on Antipodes Island [Short note]. Notornis, 70(3), 143-146. Journal - Research Other

Cole, T. L., Zhou, C., Fang, M., Pan, H., Ksepka, D. T., Fiddaman, S. R., … Grosser, S., … Mattern, T., … Ellenberg, U., … Zhang, G. (2022). Genomic insights into the secondary aquatic transition of penguins. Nature Communications, 13, 3912. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31508-9 Journal - Research Article

2024

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2023

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2022

Journal - Research Article

Elley, T., Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Young, M. J., Hickcox, R. P., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. J. (2022). Consistent site-specific foraging behaviours of yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho breeding on Stewart Island, New Zealand. Biology, 11, 844. doi: 10.3390/biology11060844

Green, C.-P., Ratcliffe, N., Mattern, T., Thompson, D., Lea, M.-A., Wotherspoon, S., … Ellenberg, U., … Seddon, P. J., … Hindell, M. A. (2022). The role of allochrony in influencing interspecific differences in foraging distribution during the non-breeding season between two congeneric crested penguin species. PLoS ONE, 17(2), e0262901. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262901

2021

Journal - Research Article

White, J., Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Garcia-Borboroglu, P., Houston, D. M., Seddon, P. J., & Mays, H. L. (2021). Field sexing techniques for Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki; Eudyptes pachyrhynchus). Notornis, 68(3), 188-193. Retrieved from http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/node/4558

2019

Journal - Research Article

Cole, T. L., Dutoit, L., Dussex, N., Hart, T., Alexander, A., Younger, J. L., … Ellenberg, U., … Mattern, T., … Waters, J. M. (2019). Receding ice drove parallel expansions in Southern Ocean penguins. PNAS, 116(52), 26690-26696. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1904048116

Cole, T. L., Rawlence, N. J., Dussex, N., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., Mattern, T., … Waters, J. M. (2019). Ancient DNA of crested penguins: Testing for temporal genetic shifts in the world's most diverse penguin clade. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, 131, 72-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.025

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Cole, T., Dutoit, L., Dussex, N., Hart, T., Alexander, A., Frugone, M. J., … Ellenberg, U., … Mattern, T., … Waters, J. (2019). Receding ice drove rapid expansions in eight Southern Ocean penguins. Proceedings of the Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA) Conference. Retrieved from https://event.crowdcompass.com/gsa2019

Mattern, T., Clarkson, G., Pütz, K., Garcia Borboroglu, P., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D., … Seddon, P. (2019). Marathon penguins: Reasons and consequences of long-range dispersal in Fiordland penguins/tawaki during the pre-moult period. Proceedings of the 10th International Penguin Conference (IPC10). (pp. 61). Retrieved from https://www.penguin-conference.com

White, J., Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Garcia-Borboroglu, P., Houston, D. M., Seddon, P., … Mays, H. (2019). Investigating Fiordland penguin (tawaki) dietary plasticity using stable isotope analysis. Proceedings of the 10th International Penguin Conference (IPC10). (pp. 75). Retrieved from https://www.penguin-conference.com

Cole, T. L., Dutoit, L., Dussex, N., Hart, T., Alexander, A., Frugone, M. J., … Ellenberg, U., … Mattern, T., … Waters, J. M. (2019). Contrasting demographic histories between widespread and endemic penguin taxa. Proceedings of the 10th International Penguin Conference (IPC10). (pp. 39-40). Retrieved from https://www.penguin-conference.com

Ellenberg, U., Mattern, T., Houston, D., Long, R., Pütz, K., Garcia Borboroglu, P., & Seddon, P. (2019). Penguin plasticity: Surprisingly versatile marine life-style in Fiordland penguins/tawaki. Proceedings of the 10th International Penguin Conference (IPC10). (pp. 22). Retrieved from https://www.penguin-conference.com

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Seed, R., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. (2019). A birds-eye view on food: Using animal-borne cameras to study Yellow-eyed penguin foraging ecology. Proceedings of the 10th International Penguin Conference (IPC10). (pp. 18). Retrieved from https://www.penguin-conference.com

2018

Journal - Research Article

Mattern, T., McPherson, M. D., Ellenberg, U., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. J. (2018). High definition video loggers provide new insights into behaviour, physiology, and the oceanic habitat of a marine predator, the yellow-eyed penguin. PeerJ, 6, e5459. doi: 10.7717/peerj.5459

Mattern, T., Pütz, K., Garcia-Borboroglu, P., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., Long, R., … Seddon, P. J. (2018). Marathon penguins: Reasons and consequences of long-rage dispersal in Fiordland penguins/Tawaki during the pre-moult period. PLoS ONE, 13(8), e0198688. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198688

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mattern, T., Seed, R., Ellenberg, U., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. (2018). Penguin-cams: Gaining a whole new perspective on the foraging ecology and marine habitat of Yellow-eyed penguins. Proceedings of the Birds New Zealand Conference. (pp. 16). Retrieved from https://www.osnz.org.nz/

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., & Davis, L. S. (2018). Like clockwork: Nest attendance patterns and foraging behaviour of Snares penguins Eudyptes robustus as a function of daylength and oceanography. PeerJ Preprints. doi: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.26653v1

Mattern, T., Pütz, K., Garcia-Borboroglu, P., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D., Long, R., … Seddon, P. J. (2018). Marathon penguins: Reasons and consequences of long-range dispersal in Fiordland penguins/Tawaki during the pre-moult period. PeerJ Preprints. doi: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.26527v1

2017

Chapter in Book - Research

Samia, D. S. M., Angeloni, L. M., Bearzi, M., Bessa, E., Crooks, K. R., D'Amico, M., Ellenberg, U., … Blumstein, D. T. (2017). Best practices toward sustainable ecotourism. In D. T. Blumstein, B. Geffroy, D. S. M. Samia & E. Bessa (Eds.), Ecotourism's promise and peril: A biological evaluation. (pp. 153-178). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-58331-0_10

Ellenberg, U. (2017). Impacts of penguin tourism. In D. T. Blumstein, B. Geffroy, D. S. M. Samia & E. Bessa (Eds.), Ecotourism's promise and peril: A biological evaluation. (pp. 117-132). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-58331-0_8

Geffroy, B., Sadoul, B., & Ellenberg, U. (2017). Physiological and behavioral consequences of human visitation. In D. T. Blumstein, B. Geffroy, D. S. M. Samia & E. Bessa (Eds.), Ecotourism's promise and peril: A biological evaluation. (pp. 9-27). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-58331-0_2

Journal - Research Article

Mattern, T., Meyer, S., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., Darby, J. T., Young, M., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. J. (2017). Quantifying climate change impacts emphasises the importance of managing regional threats in the endangered Yellow-eyed penguin. PeerJ, 5, e3727. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3272

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Garcia-Borboroglu, P., Pütz, K., Houston, D., & Seddon, P. (2017). The advantages of breeding in diverse habitats: Site-dependent effects of El Niño on foraging behaviour in Fiordland penguins/tawaki. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 44(2), (pp. 170-171). doi: 10.1080/03014223.2016.1264079

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Mattern, T., McPherson, M., Ellenberg, U., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. J. (2017). High definition video loggers provide new insights into behaviour, physiology, and the oceanic habitat of marine top predators. PeerJ Preprints. doi: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.2765v1

2013

Chapter in Book - Research

Seddon, P. J., Ellenberg, U., & van Heezik, Y. (2013). Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). In P. Garcia Borboroglu & P. D. Boersma (Eds.), Penguins: Natural history and conservation. (pp. 91-110). Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

Journal - Research Article

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., Lamare, M., Davis, L. S., van Heezik, Y., & Seddon, P. J. (2013). Straight line foraging in yellow-eyed penguins: New insights into cascading fisheries effects and orientation capabilities of marine predators. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e84381. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084381

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., Seddon, P. J., & Davis, L. S. (2013). The Pros and Cons of being a benthic forager: How anthropogenic alterations of the seafloor affect Yellow-eyed penguins [Keynote]. Proceedings of the 8th International Penguin Conference (IPC8). (pp. 16). Retrieved from https://www.penguin-conference.com

2012

Journal - Research Article

Hegg, D., Giroir, T., Ellenberg, U., & Seddon, P. J. (2012). Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) as a case study to assess the reliability of nest counts. Journal of Ornithology, 153(2), 457-466. doi: 10.1007/s10336-011-0761-7

Ellenberg, U., Mattern, T., Houston, D. M., Davis, L. S., & Seddon, P. J. (2012). Previous experiences with humans affect responses of Snares Penguins to experimental disturbance. Journal of Ornithology, 153(3), 621-631. doi: 10.1007/s10336-011-0780-4

2010

Chapter in Book - Research

Ellenberg, U., & Seddon, P. J. (2010). Effective management decision-making depends on rigorous research. In A. Krause & E. Weir (Eds.), Ecotourism: Management, development and impact. (pp. 257-260). New York: Nova Science.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Garcia-Borboroglu, P., Boersma, D., Trathan, P., Pütz, K., Wienecke, B., Le Maho, Y., … Mattern, T., … Ellenberg, U., Seddon, P., van Heezik, Y., … Davis, L., … Hindel, M. (2010). Penguin status in troubled oceans. In H. Urquhart, D. Laughlin & P. DiBona (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Penguin Conference. (pp. 44). Boston, MA: New England Aquarium. [Abstract]

2009

Journal - Research Article

Ellenberg, U., Mattern, T., & Seddon, P. J. (2009). Habituation potential of yellow-eyed penguins depends on sex, character and previous experience with humans. Animal Behaviour, 77(2), 289-296. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.09.021

2008

Chapter in Book - Research

Seddon, P. J., & Ellenberg, U. (2008). Effects of human disturbance on penguins: The need for site- and species-specific visitor management guidelines. In J. Higham & M. Lück (Eds.), Marine wildlife and tourism management: Insights from the natural and social sciences. (pp. 163-181). Wallingford, UK: CABI.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Houston, D. M., & Davis, L. S. (2007). Consistent foraging routes and benthic foraging behaviour in yellow-eyed penguins. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 343, 295-306. doi: 10.3354/meps06954

Ellenberg, U., Setiawan, A. N., Cree, A., Houston, D. M., & Seddon, P. J. (2007). Elevated hormonal stress response and reduced reproductive output in Yellow-eyed penguins exposed to unregulated tourism. General & Comparative Endocrinology, 152, 54-63.

2006

Journal - Research Article

Ellenberg, U., Mattern, T., Seddon, P. J., & Jorquera, G. L. (2006). Physiological and reproductive consequences of human disturbance in Humboldt penguins: The need for species-specific visitor management. Biological Conservation, 133, 95-106.

2004

Journal - Research Article

Mattern, T., Ellenberg, U., Luna-Jorquera, G., & Davis, L. S. (2004). Humboldt penguin census on Isla Chañaral, Chile: Recent increase or past underestimate of penguin numbers? Waterbirds, 27(3), 368-376.