Thesis Topic

Assessing how competition and predation risk influence the distribution of Humboldt marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) in Northern California

About Me

I grew up in a small town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of Western Colorado. Having easy access to the outdoors as a kid, I spent a lot of time exploring nature by meandering in my backyard or on family camping trips. This kind of upbringing fostered my love for the wilderness and, with that, my fascination with wildlife. I learned about the field of wildlife conservation during my second year of undergrad at Oregon State University. After graduating, I spent ~8 years gaining field experience by working on various research projects focused on gray wolves, mountain lions, Pacific fisher, Northern spotted owls and Humboldt marten. During this time, I came to realize my research interests are specific to interspecies interactions and community ecology. From a conservation standpoint, I’m interested in how various ecological mechanisms, like competition or predator-prey dynamics, contribute to a given population’s distribution and persistence. My field experience and research interests brought me to Humboldt where my thesis will focus on developing a habitat model that integrates competition and predation risk for an endangered mesocarnivore species- the Humboldt marten! When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy backpacking and mountain biking or getting snuggled up on the couch with a cup of coffee and my best friend, Huckleberry.

Undergraduate Institution

Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University