Environment & Conservation

I have always been drawn to being outdoors and learning about species interactions and the relationships between people and the natural world.

My academic background and research experience have given me a strong technical foundation for analyzing ecological and conservation-based issues and data.

My field experience includes species identification and monitoring, habitat assessments, behavioral observations, water quality testing, and ecological data collection and analysis.

Included are some examples of the ecological and conservation work reflecting this foundation.

Sections:

Marine Ecology Field-Based Work

Terrestrial Ecology Field-Based Work

Conservation Projects/ Service Work

Featured Marine Ecology Field-Based Work

Marine Ecology - Caribbean

Benthic Study on Coral Reef Species in Tranquilio Bay

Conducted a benthic survey of coral reef species in Tranquilo Bay, assessing species composition and reef health indicators. Used quadrat sampling to evaluate marine ecosystem dynamics and potential environmental stressors.

Freshwater Ecology & Limnology

Management Recommendation: Little Wall Lake

Analyzed water quality and ecosystem data to develop management recommendations for Little Wall Lake. Evaluated nutrient levels, biological indicators, and human impact factors to assess lake health.

Trout Lake: Total Filtered Nitrogen

Investigated total filtered nitrogen levels in Trout Lake to better understand nutrient cycling and potential eutrophication risks.

Featured Terrestrial Ecology Field-Based Work

Tropical Field Ecology

Cryptic vs. Aposematic Frogs: Influence on Habitat Use and Breeding Behavior

Investigated how phenotypic variation influences habitat use and breeding behavior in poison dart frogs. Collected and analyzed behavioral and substrate data, revealing differences in responsiveness and territorial patterns between morphs.

Zoology

Behavioral Comparison: of Amur Tiger vs African Lion in Captivity

Conducted a comparative behavioral study of Amur tigers and African lions to observe species-specific activity patterns in captivity.

Biology

Light Wavelength and Phototrophic Response

Examined how light wavelength influences phototropic response in Brassica juncea seedlings by applying light treatments and measuring changes in stem curvature.

Conservation Projects/Service Work

I truly value service work as an important way to give back to the environments and communities where I have been fortunate to live and work. Some of my conservation projects include:

Tree Nursery Initiative- Bocas del Toro, Panama

Assisted in establishing a native tree nursery to support local habitat restoration. Particularly to improve wildlife connectivity, especially for mammals such as sloths that cross roadways.

Community Garden Volunteer- Valdez, AK

Supported a community garden founded by my supervisor at Pangaea Adventures, assisting with planting, weeding, and seasonal maintenance.

Lakeshore Nature Preserve- Madison, WI

Organized invasive species removal and seed sampling events at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve as the Vice President of the Wisconsin Society for Conservation Biology.

Metroparks Biodiversity Assessment- Toledo, OH

Conducted a biodiversity assessment examining the effects of human activity on local ecosystems within Metroparks Toledo.

Watershed Cleanup Volunteer- Toledo, OH

Participant in the Clean Your Streams annual trash cleanup focused on supporting local freshwater ecosystems.