RECENT PUBLICATIONS
- Seeing the Forests for the Carbon. New research proves the value of older forests as sinks and storage banks for carbon, giving the lie to the timber industry's argument that only young forests help decrease atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases. OnEarth, in press.
- The Tundra Vanishes.
Warming is changing the face of the Arctic tundra, and could lead to the release of gigatons of carbon that's been held in permafrost for 10,000 years. Audubon, in press.
- Modified Mosquitoes.
Mass insecticide spraying only breeds stronger bugs - so researchers now seek to control malaria by breeding disease-resistant mosquitoes. BioScience, November 2007, p. 2.
- Stealth Missiles.
Tracking and protecting the endangered Newell's shearwater, an elusive seabird endemic to Hawaii. Wildlife Conservation, October 2007, p. 30.
- Running Hot and Cold:
Are rainforests sinks or taps for carbon? New findings challenge conventional wisdom on tropical forests in a warming world. BioScience, July/August 2007, p. 552.
- From Effluence to Affluence.
Arcata, California, recycles its sewage problem into a stunning success for the town and for wildlife. Audubon, March-April 2007, p. 108
- The Little Mouse That Got In The Way.
Why an obscure rodent holds the future of the Endangered Species Act in its tiny paws: a tale of science and politics. OnEarth, Winter 2007, p. 6.
- Cannery Row Revisited.
Ecologists following in the footsteps of Ed Ricketts, the pioneering marine biologist who inspired Steinbeck's famous novel Cannery Row, are uncovering startling changes in the ecology of the eastern Pacific. BioScience, January 2007, p. 8.
- Clashes With Titans.
Studies of endangered African elephants offer new insights into the demise of the mammoth and the mastodon. BioScience, April 2006, p. 292.
- A Plague of Deer.
In the absence of their traditional predators, over-abundant deer are unraveling whole ecosystems in the eastern and Midwestern U.S. BioScience, September 2006, p. 718
- Atomic detectives.
Analysis of stable isotopes in feathers and fur reveals the secrets of rare wildlife, without disturbing the animals. Nature, 3 August 2006, p. 504.
- The Vanishing Bee.
Domesticated honeybees, as well as their wild brethren, are disappearing. Most of the fruits and vegetables we eat could go with them. OnEarth, Summer 2006, p. 14.
- Mammoth Mystery.
Did climate change wipe out the mammoth, or did our Stone Age ancestors hunt them to extinction? OnEarth, Winter 2006.
- Fires Down Under.
In Australia's remote Northern Territory, traditional aboriginal burning practices hold vital lessons for the American West. OnEarth, Winter 2005.
- Rekindling Native Fires.
Traditional burning by native people can help reverse the dangerous legacy of fire suppression. BioScience, April 2005, p. 303.
HIGHLIGHTS OF WORK HISTORY
Science Writer, Freelance, 1992 - present. Research and write articles on wildlife and natural resource issues for a variety of print and on-line magazines. Please see publications list above.
Associate Biologist, Pacific Northwestern Biological, Trinidad, CA. March 1995 - September 1997. Design and conduct northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet surveys. Evaluate timber harvest plans for potential impacts to the northern spotted owl and submit reports to California Department of Fish and Game. Conduct general ornithological surveys. Research and write sections of a Habitat Conservation
Plan.
Wildlife Biologist, Richard Buckberg & Associates, Sausalito, CA. May 1991-August 1994. Design, conduct and supervise northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet surveys in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties. Conduct point count and transect bird surveys in coastal scrub, estuarine and forest habitats. Assess habitat characteristics and write reports on survey methods and results.
Research Assistant, Zoology Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. January 1989-January 1990. Conduct research on the modulation of immune system functions in rainbow trout. Responsible for experimental design, data interpretation and analysis, manuscript preparation.
EDUCATION
- Oregon State University, M.S. in Environmental Toxicology, May 1988.
- University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, B.S. in Biology, May 1982.
AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Science Journalism Fellow, Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, 2003
Member, National Association of Science Writers, 1996-present