Stella Swanson
Stella Swanson’s research is on sea urchins on the coral reefs of Moorea, French Polynesia. By controlling the growth of macroalgae, a known competitor for space and sunlight with corals, certain species of sea urchins can maintain a healthy coral reef. There are five main species of sea urchins that live on Moorean reefs, and her research is focused on determining the relative importance of each for maintaining the coral reef. It appears that there is a gradation of importance in terms of herbivory. Those species belonging to the family Diadematidaceae seem to be the most influential, grazing heavily at distances of meters from their holes. Other species such as Echinometra mathaei and Echinostrephus aciculatus are largely confined in their influence to the area within and in close proximity to their burrows. This research has broader implications in the development of management plans, which will be important tools in protecting delicate coral reef ecosystems.
Wyndee Haley
Wyndee Haley is interested in ethology and in birds. Her supervisor works on flowers. So, she is doing her thesis on hummingbird foraging decisions. The thesis is motivated by the phenomenon that flowers adapted to hummingbird pollination have a consistent suite of characters, including the production of copious but dilute nectar, red colors, and lower lips that are small or folded out of the way. Hypotheses have long come to mind explaining this phenomenon, but past tests of those hypotheses have failed to substantiated them. For example, hummingbirds visiting feeders have a strong preference for concentrated nectar, not dilute nectar. Wyndee has constructed arrays of artificial flowers that more closely resemble real flowers (like those of Penstemon). This is allowing her to test those hypotheses under more natural yet experimental conditions. Wyndee hopes that her results can be discussed along with those from similar experiments on bee behavior. (Supervisor: Dr. Paul Wilson)
Dawn Bailey
Dawn Bailey's research focuses on the importance of predators on populations of fish within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). She is investigating whether an accumulation of large predatory fish in MPAs causes increased mortality among juveniles, and smaller fishes, and thus alters the size structure of fish communities. Dawn works in the kelp forest communities of southern California (primarily at Catalina Island), focusing on the dominant fish-eating predator, the kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus). Her investigation so far suggests that fish communities inside the MPA are distinguishable from those outside the MPA by the presence of both large predatory species and disproportionately few individuals of small species and size classes. The goal of Dawn's research is to provide a basis for more realistic predictions of how MPAs may affect marine fish communities.(Advisor: Dr. Mark Steele)
Ann Dorsey
Ann Dorsey is comparing the physiological ecology of nine races of Dudleya (right photo), a genus that has radiated into a large number of species in southern California. Some of the forms Ann is studying are listed as endangered species and are restricted to a few coastal sites, whereas others are common at many local sites. The races differ in life-history traits such as the propensity to flower the first year (rare ones) or to grow large before flowering (common ones). Ann is going on to test for differences in photosynthesis and growth through the seasons at inland and coastal sites and depending on whether she provides supplemental watering or not. (Supervisor: Dr. Paul Wilson)
Chris Chabot
Chris Chabot employs genetic markers to determine the level of connectivity among globally distributed populations of the tope (Galeorhinus galeus) (right photo)- a medium sized shark listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Until recently (1946-1994), California tope populations were considered to be declining due to historic overfishing. However, more recent observations indicate that populations appear to be rebounding, but with no clear indication as to the source of new individuals (local populations vs. distant populations). In order to answer this question, Chris compared tope DNA from Argentina, Australia, California, Peru, South Africa, and the U.K.. His research has shown that tope populations are not connected, therefore increasing numbers off of the California coast must be due to local population growth and not migrants from distant populations. (Supervisor: Dr. Larry Allen)
Alex Li
Lut Hang (Alex) Li is studying the effects of pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) disturbances on grassland community composition in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. He is testing the hypothesis that there is a link between the timing and density of soil disturbance and the relative abundances of native and invasive non-native plants. Alex is simulating gopher disturbance (right photo) at different times and intensities using a soil auger (left photo). He then monitors the changes in plant species composition within his disturbed plots and compares them with undisturbed controls. The results of Alex’s study will add to our understanding of how a grassland’s natural disturbance regime can facilitate the persistence of disturbance-adapted invasive annual plants. (Advisor: Paula M. Schiffman)
Tarja Sagar
Tarja Sagar is studying the niches of mosses (right photo) in the Santa Monica Mountains. First, she developed an identification guide to the 112 species. Then, she compared the species' microhabitat preferences and the assemblages that occur in various sites across the Mountains. Now, she is relating that information to biogeographic ranges. As part of our partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, she is also employed by the Park - she monitors rare vascular plants as her day-job. (Advisor: Paul Wilson)
Hollie Putnam
Hollie Putnam is investigating the effects of changes in ocean temperature on coral physiology. Most of her research takes place on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia (near Tahiti), where she is conducting manipulative experiments to test the effects of daily fluctuations in temperature on common reef corals. The other portion of Hollie’s research takes place in St. John (United States Virgin Islands) and Taiwan, where she is examining the effects of thermal microclimates and fluctuating temperature on corals of different species and life stage. Hollie’s research investigates the response of corals to thermal stressors, which are a critical aspect of coral bleaching, especially in light of global climate change. (Advisor: Pete Edmunds)
Jolene Pucci
Jolene Pucci has been studying the effects of invasive plants on a native endangered sunflower, Pentachaeta lyonii (right photo) in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles, California in association with the National Park Service. She designed and implemented field experiments to test her hypothesis that invasive plants are a cause of population declines in this endangered plant. Jolene found that three non-native plant groups reduce P. lyonii’s reproductive potential. She also demonstrated that habitat manipulations improved conditions for P. lyonii persistence. Jolene’s research provides a significant contribution for making science-based management decisions for recovery of the species. (Advisor: Paula Schiffman)
Stephanie Talmage
Stephanie Talmage conducts her research on a brown algal species, Sargassum mangarevense, in Moorea, French Polynesia. Her work addresses how water motion and herbivory can alter the distribution and responses of a tropical macroalgal species in a coral reef environment. Stephanie’s research suggests that this seaweed allocates resources differentially across abiotic and biotic gradients, and that trade-offs between algal life functions fluctuate across reef habitats. (Advisor: Bob Carpenter)
Joanne Moriarty
Joanne Moriarty is investigating reproduction in bobcats living among the small remnants of habitat within the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles. As in many US cities, rapid growth has destroyed, fragmented and pocketed much of the natural habitat, and bobcats in these areas now face many new obstacles. In partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Joanne is measuring female home range selection and survival of kittens, to determine if bobcat populations are viable in this increasingly fragmented landscape. (Advisors: Paul Wilson and Ray Sauvajot)