Kristin Aquilino, PhD, is the lead scientist for the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program based at University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory and including a dozen partners along the west coast of North America. Aquilino earned her PhD from UC Davis and her BS at University of Wisconsin, Madison. She collaborates with state and federal agencies, Indigenous nations, commercial aquaculture growers, aquariums, and other stakeholders. Aquilino is a recipient of NOAA’s Species in the Spotlight Hero Award.
Expertise
- Abalone
- Restoration Aquaculture
- Endangered Species
- Disease
- Climate Change
Research
Aquilino’s research program centers around recovering endangered white abalone. Key areas of include reproductive conditioning, disease management, mitigating the effects of climate change, and improving post-settlement survival.
Extension and Outreach
Few things bring me more joy than showing someone an abalone’s beady, black eyes for the first time and hearing an exclamation like, “Oh! It has a face!” In addition to working with all of our abalone partners, I share our work through social media, video production, science outreach seminar series, tours, and lectures.
Featured Outreach Products
- Follow White Abalone channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
- Facebook Live White Abalone Lab Tour (April 2020)
