This is an overview of some research projects I have participated in. Working with the USGS San Francisco Bay Estuary, I assisted with research in tidal wetlands and marshes. Working with Isa Woo and John Takekawa, I sampled biofilm, assessed small mammal populations, monitored shorebirds, conducted vegetation surveys, and other exciting research adventures.
I assisted Dr. Ashton Drew with her postdoctoral research stepping down management plans using bayesian species-habitat models for the King Rail (Rallus elegans). We conducted nest searches and monitored active King Rail and Least Bittern nests in Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in coastal North Carolina and Virginia. She uses 24 hour video camera surveillance to determine nesting behaviors of these species of concern. Red-winged Blackbird Carrying batteries through Great Blue Heron King Rail nest the marsh
Great egret reflections Marsh habitat and trail Spring bird banding at Howell Woods was a great time. This course, taught by Jim Saracco of the Institute for Bird Populations, culminated in a certificate in Introductory Bird Banding under the Mapping Avian Productivity and Survivorship protocol. I volunteered some Spring field time on Aimee Rockhill's doctoral research using bobcats (Lynx rufus) as an indicator species to develop a management plan for the North Carolina State University owned Bull Neck Swamp Reserve. She seeks to determine homerange, movement patterns, and dispersal of bobcat using GPS collars.
Ten days during Winter 2009 were spent on the Research Vessel Cape Hatteras with the USFWS Winter tagging cruise led by Sarah Wilson and Wilson Laney. On board, we Tagged Striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon and Spiny dogfish with acoustic tags, t-tags, coded wire tags and single-barbed dart tags. I personally assisted with Spiny dogfish and Atlantic sturgeon tag- placement surgeries and identified, measured and counted all other species brought aboard.
 Assisting Spiny Dogfish surgery Atlantic Sturgeon Striped Bass Sea Robin Tank of Striped Bass During Winter 2008 I assisted Scott Bennett with his doctoral research of the Geomorphology, and structural Geology of Sonora, Mexico. This work consisted of geological mapping of faults and identifyng locations for future paleomagnetic sampling.
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