My interests are centered at the intersection of natural history
and environmental sustainability. During the academic year I teach
Introductory Biology (BIOL180), Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL434), and
Foundations of Ecology (BIOL356). I also try to inspire as many
students as possible to get involved in our campus organic farm.
During summers, I work out on the Washington Coast, primarily around
Willapa Bay, on experiments designed to determine the mechanisms
behind questions like:
- What is preventing our native oyster population from recovering?
- What impacts does shellfish aquaculture have on eelgrass?
- How does eelgrass impact aquaculture?
- What are the impacts of the invasion of Zostera japonica (non-native eelgrass) on tideflat physical conditions and species interactions?
- How is recruitment of Pacific oysters (Crassotrea gigas) changing over time?
- Do oysters, burrowing shrimp and eelgrass represent the dominant species in alternative stable community states?
- Do consumers control burrowing shrimp populations; what are the few remaining sturgeon eating anyway?
I also spend a great deal of time learning how to move our farm to self-sufficiency through projects with wind power, solar power, composting (including toilets), greywater irrigation, rain catchment cisterns, livestock and organic food production.
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