A5032056654- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Mentoring and Academic Development
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
University of California, Santa Cruz
2017-2025
We identify the invasive species and biogeographic patterns on islands with 1189 highly threatened vertebrates.
Offshore wind energy development (OWED) is rapidly expanding globally and has the potential to contribute significantly renewable portfolios. However, of infrastructure in marine environment presents risks wildlife. Marine birds particular have life history traits that amplify population impacts from displacement collision with offshore infrastructure. Here, we present a broadly applicable framework assess mitigate OWED on birds. We outline existing techniques quantify impact via monitoring...
Eleven years after invasive Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were eradicated from Hawadax Island, in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, predicted three-level trophic cascade rocky intertidal, with native shorebirds as apex predator, returned, leading to a community resembling those on rat-free islands significant decreases invertebrate species abundances and increases fleshy algal cover. Rats had indirectly structured intertidal via their role predator four-level cascade. Our results are an...
Manta and devil rays (mobulids) are filter feeding elasmobranchs with extreme K-selective life histories found circumglobally from temperate to tropical waters. Their vulnerability fisheries exploitation, bycatch, boat collisions, entanglement unregulated tourism is exacerbated by their aggregative behavior. Studies have identified aggregation sites around the world for all nine mobulid species, these groupings varying a few individuals thousands. However, terminology used define...
Abstract Resource partitioning is an important process driving habitat use and foraging strategies in sympatric species that potentially compete. Differences behavior are hypothesized to contribute coexistence by facilitating resource partitioning, but little known on the multiple mechanisms for may occur simultaneously. Studies further limited marine environment, where spatial temporal distribution of resources highly dynamic subsequently difficult quantify. We investigated potential...
Abstract Increasing anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) are major threats to ecosystems globally. Although atmospheric N deposition is likely affecting cycling community composition in California's serpentine ecosystems, a historical record inputs vegetation has yet be reconstructed for these nutrient‐limited biodiversity hotspots. For leather oak ( Quercus durata var. durata), foundational, serpentine‐endemic species, we investigated leaf C isotopic (δ 15 δ 13 C) %N...
Rat eradication has become a common conservation intervention in island ecosystems and its effectiveness protecting native vertebrates is increasingly well documented. Yet, the impacts of rat on plant communities remain poorly understood. Here we compare non-native tree palm seedling abundance before after invasive rats (Rattus rattus) from Palmyra Atoll, Line Islands, Central Pacific Ocean. Overall, recruitment increased for five six trees species examined. While pre-eradication monitoring...
Summary The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets a framework of universal Goals (SDGs) to address challenges society and the planet. Island invasive species eradications have well-documented benefits that clearly align with biodiversity conservation-related SDGs, yet value this conservation action socioeconomic is less clear. We examine potential island vertebrate ecological benefits. Specifically, we examine: (1) how SDGs may been achieved through past eradications;...
Abstract Munk’s pygmy devil rays ( Mobula munkiana ) are medium-size, zooplanktivorous filter feeding, elasmobranchs characterized by aggregative behavior, low fecundity and delayed reproduction. These traits make them susceptible to targeted by-catch fisheries listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Multiple studies have examined impacts, but nursery areas or foraging neonate juvenile concentrations not been examined. This study describes first area for M. at Espiritu Santo Archipelago,...
Understanding movement patterns and habitat preferences of endangered species during their most vulnerable life stages is a key step to developing effective conservation strategies that prevent extinctions. Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) are among the most-imperiled sea turtles generally thought associate with very specific coral rocky reef habitats. However, in Eastern Pacific, hawksbills have also been found strong association mangrove estuaries. Pacific constitute one turtle...
Abstract We examined the reproductive behavior (courtship and mating), seasonality its distribution in three Mobula species, spinetail, bentfin, Munk’s devil rays ( M. mobular, thurstoni, munkiana ) southwestern Gulf of California, Mexico, using boat surveys (with drone in-water observations) n = 69 survey days), spotter planes 428 flights), citizen science observations 31). whether (1) grounds existed within area for any these (2) followed seasonal patterns, (3) if this was similar among...
Biodiversity conservation is limited by resources, data, and time for execution. To maximize efficacy, it best if plans are strategically evaluated cost, feasibility, likely impact prior to implementation. We present a framework systematically examine the of proposed threatened taxa. As case study this we use national Action Plan Seabird Conservation in New Zealand 27 seabirds identified interventions. evaluate impact, applied recently developed seabird meta-population viability analysis...
The seabird meta-population viability model (mPVA) uses a generalized approach to project abundance and quasi-extinction risk for 102 species under various conservation scenarios. mPVA is stage-structured projection matrix that tracks of multiple populations linked by dispersal, accounting breeding island characteristics spatial distribution. Data are derived from published studies, grey literature, expert review (with over 500 contributions). Invasive impacts were stage-specific vital rates...
Abstract We initiated a tagging program in 2004 to determine the large-scale and long-term movement patterns of three species Mobulid Ray ( Mobula mobular, M. munkiana, thurstoni ). Between 2014 we deployed 48 pop-up archival (PAT) tags that recorded temperature, pressure, light level. Pressure level records were then used calculate animal depth geolocation. Transmitted when available recovered raw data files from successful deployments (n = 45) auto-ingested manufacturer into United States...
Abstract In life sciences graduate programs in the United States, efforts are underway to address barriers academic success—namely, using interventions targeted at addressing inclusivity and diversity concerns. However, students typically simultaneously workers for their institutions, where they face workplace challenges such as low wages, inadequate benefits, vulnerability harassment abuse. These may disproportionately affect with excluded identities thereby equity. recent years, student...
Abstract We examined the reproductive behavior (courtship and mating) its seasonality in three mobula species, spinetail, bentfin, munk’s devil rays ( Mobula mobular, M. thurstoni , munkiana ) southwestern Gulf of California, Mexico, using boat surveys (with drones in-water observation) (n = 69 survey days), spotter planes 428 flights) citizen science observations 31). whether (1) grounds existed within area for any these (2) followed seasonal patterns (3) if this was similar among species....