People Type: Research Scientists

Research I am broadly interested in aspects of evolution, systematics, and biogeography. More specifically, how historical processes have shaped biodiversity present today. I use molecular approaches to better understand patterns of speciation, diversification, and evolution. For both my master’s and PhD projects, I worked with Neotropical rodents to answer questions about their taxonomic status, phylogeography, …

Research I am interested in California spotted owl space use, habitat ecology, and behavior in response to natural and anthropogenic changes to their habitat. Wildfire is a continuing threat to spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada and land managers face difficult choices when balancing owl conservation with wildfire risk management. With this in mind, we …

Research I am broadly interested in the biological and ecological dynamics represented in passive acoustic surveys of terrestrial environments. As a research scientist in the Peery lab, I collect acoustic data that are used in multiple projects that monitor California spotted owls, barred owls, northern goshawks, and passerine communities to understand patterns of avian populations …

Research I am interested in how genetics shape population demographics and adaptability. I currently run the genetics laboratory where our research focuses on how the evolutionary history of a species, as well as more recent environmental changes, influence population structure, dispersal, adaptation and diversity. My research uses genomics to understand historical and recent changes in …

Research I’m an animal ecologist broadly interested in how anthropogenic disturbances affect wildlife populations and communities. I’m particularly captivated by the role that shifting species interactions play in driving outcomes like population declines and community turnover. I work on these themes in diverse systems, using diverse tools. My study systems include spotted owls in the …

Research My research interests are heavily focused on the conservation of spotted owls, in particular on how spotted owl conservation relates to the recent arrival of barred owls in forests of western North America. Barred owls were formerly confined to the forests of eastern North America, but were able to spread westward likely due to …

Research I am broadly interested in the intersection of remote sensing, wildfire, and the California Spotted Owl. Many Sierra Nevada forests historically experienced frequent wildfire that promoted heterogeneous forest structure, yet the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) prefers dense forests for nesting.  Maintaining large patches of dense forests can lead to a greater danger of stand-replacing …

Research My research interests lie at the intersection of community ecology, predator-prey dynamics, and wildlife responses to global change. I use a cross-disciplinary approach to answer key ecological questions about how species interact, select habitats, and how these processes ultimately shape communities. My PhD research with Dr. Zach Peery and Dr. Jonathan Pauli examines these …

Research I have spent most of my career working on demographic studies of spotted owls, and therefore have been a witness to the various levels of the barred owl invasion. This included working when barred owls were well established on the Olympic Peninsula in WA, just beginning to arrive in the Sierra’s, and in Northern …

Research As the project coordinator for the bioacoustics monitoring program in the Peery Lab, I spend the field seasons overseeing the central acoustic crew in the central Sierra Nevada. Every year we deploy hundreds of autonomous recording units (ARUs) to passively record acoustic data to monitor the presence of several species across the Sierra Nevada, …