It all started when…

I grew up in sunny San Diego, California, where my love for the ocean was shaped by countless hours of diving and surfing along the coastline. I pursued my passion for marine science at UC Santa Barbara, earning dual B.S. degrees in Ecology and Evolution and Environmental Studies. My research spanned diverse topics, from studying how tides and wrack subsidies influence predator-prey interactions on sandy beaches to assessing coral resilience to disturbance. After graduating, I worked as a laboratory technician at the UCSB Marine Science Institute, where I contributed to projects evaluating the effectiveness of California’s MPA network in protecting surf zone fish and assessing range edge dynamics and biogeography of rocky intertidal species along the California coast. This work deepened my curiosity for ecological research and led me to pursue an M.S. at UCSB, where I studied the population dynamics and spatial ecology of giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) using community science data from the Spotting Giant Sea Bass Project.

My research...

I am broadly interested in the cascading impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems and strategies to mitigate these effects. Specifically, my research focuses on the ecological consequences of marine predator loss, identifying optimal locations for marine protected areas, and tracking the evolving global footprint of commercial fisheries. Science communication and outreach are integral to my work, ensuring that research is translated into accessible information that supports conservation efforts, informs policy decisions, and engages the public.

What I've written...

Coming soon!

Contact me…

Email:

pettita@hawaii.edu

Address:

Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
University of Hawaii at Manoa
PO Box 1346 (for US Postal Service)
46-007 Lilipuna Road (For all other carriers)
Kaneohe, HI 96744 USA