Overarching theme: Humans, as a species, have profound effects on the Earth's ecological processes. I use wildlife surveys, community (citizen) science, remotely sensed data, and computer-intensive analytical approaches to understand how and why biodiversity responds to anthropogenic environmental change. I'm particularly interested in conducting research that has tangible implications for conservation and management. 

Primary Research Interests:

  1. The impact of global chance on wildlife distributions. Global changes in climate, land cover, and land use are causing dramatic changes in the global distributions (both occurrences and abundances) of wildlife. I use species distribution models, historical data, and future projections to examine the historic and future effects of global change on wildlife. I've studied changes in bird populations in the Willamette Valley, Oregon since the 1800s, shifts in the elevational distributions of Switzerland's birds since the 1990s, and am currently projecting the future distirubtions of Europe's breeding birds to inform the EU's pledges to the Global Biodiversity Framework. 
  2. Community science & methods development. Community science data are gathered at expansive spatial and temporal scales, but the excess noise associated with untrained observers and unstandardized methodologies can decrease their value. I am keenly interested in harnessing the power of community science for conservation and management as it provides a cost-effective method of wildlife monitoring while actively involving the public as stakeholders in research and conservation. Further, I'm interested in developing and testing methods of distribution and abundance modeling that are reliable and accessible to conservationists.
  3. Human dimensions of wildlife. Our environment provides us with countless benefits. I am interested in understanding the relationships between global change and evosystem services. I'm currently collaborating on projects investigating the effects of avian biodiversity within soundscapes on physiological and psychological wellbeing.

Additional Highlights:

Bangor University Focal Point for the Conservation And Sustainability Consortium of AcaDEmic institutions (CASCADE) network

Scenarios for Protecting European Avian Redistributions (SPEAR) Biodiversa+ Project (Active)

Office: Thoday G3

  • PhD: (Wildlife Science) Modeling fine-scale avian distributions and densities with multi-scale models: Predicting the past and present
    Oregon State University, 2019
  • MSc: (MS in Zoology) Sublethal Effects of Multiple Stressors on Amphibians of Southern Illinois
    Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 2012
  • BA: (Organismal Biology) The Effect of Temperature on Active and Resting Metabolism of the Fire-bellied Toad, Bombina orientalis
    Pitzer College, 2007

Module Organizer:

Conservation Management Planning (ENS-4205)

Module Contributor:

Wildlife Ecology & Conservation (BNS-3000)

Principles of Conservation (DXX-2003)

Conservation Practice (DXX-2009)

I am willing to supervise a PhD

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2015