Principal Investigator
   Dale Gawlik

My broad research interests are in avian ecology, wetland ecosystems, and restoration ecology.  The main research questions being addressed in my lab focus on (1) mechanisms, both biotic and abiotic, by which fluctuating wetlands produce food for wading birds, (2) processes in coastal ecosystems that control populations of small herons, (3) behavioral and physiological responses of wading birds to prey limitations, (4) the effects of urbanization and non-native prey on wading bird productivity, and (5) predictive wading bird habitat models that are linked to water management regimes.  Recent research thrusts have been toward developing new ideas of how wetland birds are responding to urbanization, and of the factors that limit populations of small herons in coastal ecosystems.

Research Coordinator/Post-doc      Michelle Petersen Ph.D. May 2017

I received my B.S. in Environmental Science and Geography at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2006. While pursuing my Bachelor's degree, I was a GIS Wildlife Intern for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR)in Madelia, MN. I performed all GIS related tasks for the Deer Project Leader and surveyed vegetation in Itasca State Park to assess the impacts of white-tailed deer on forest undergrowth regeneration. I received a M.S. in Environmental and Conservation Science in May 2009 from North Dakota State University. My thesis research focused on land use and climate effects on Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Common Grackles. I received my PhD in Integrative Biology in May 2017, My dissertation research focused on elucidating the relationships between Wood Stork, White Ibis and Great Egret foraging habitat preferences and their reproductive success which are essential to the recovery of threatened wading bird populations in the Florida Everglades. 

I have been working as the Research Coordinator for FAU Avian Ecology Lab since May 2017.

  David Essian PhD

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. I was a general biology major until I participated in a Field Ornithology course in the summer of 2010. After that, I decided to pursue a career in ecology. The following summer, I was employed by the Minnesota DNR in Bemidji, MN as a waterfowl banding technician. In 2012, I began my M.S. at Northern Michigan University studying the diets of waterbirds on Lake Michigan during years with type E avian botulism outbreaks. I finished my Master’s thesis in 2015. In 2015, I joined the Gawlik lab as a Ph.D. student. I will be monitoring wading bird nesting colonies on Lake Okeechobee. The broad goal of my dissertation is to determine drivers of wading bird populations in a wetland where lake stage is highly managed. I will model nest survival of wading birds on Lake Okeechobee as a function of hydrology, climate, and prey dynamics. I will also examine differences in the diets and foraging behavior of wading birds within and among nesting seasons in order to better understand how hydrological variation in wetlands influences trophic relationships among species.

  Jose Grisales MS

I graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BS in Biological Sciences. During my undergraduate studies I had the opportunity to fit mixed effect models to obtain a better understanding of wading bird’s patterns of movement during foraging habitat selection. I also interned at Palm Beach County Park’s division of zoning and planning, where I ran basic spatial analyses as a geographic information systems intern. My interest in quantitative science and ecology was fostered during this time. I had the opportunity to continue as part of the Avian Ecology Lab at FAU and I am now pursuing an MS in Environmental Sciences. My thesis focuses on the development of foraging activity budgets for seven wading birds species and looking at how environmental variables impact this budget, as it relates to individual bird behavior. 

  Rachel Larson MS

I received my B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017. My undergraduate research was focused on analyzing the genetic population structure of black bears across the southern Rocky Mountains. As an undergraduate, I became interested in avian research and wetland ecology after conducting wetland habitat evaluations and waterfowl surveys for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Following graduation, I worked for Utah State University studying raptor habitat and diet before joining the Gawlik lab to pursue my Master’s Degree in Environmental Science. My research is focused on wading bird colonies in Lake Okeechobee. I am testing the use of passive acoustic sensing for estimating nestling provisioning rates and colony nest densities based on wading bird vocal activity rates. I am also investigating the use of alternate habitats by wading birds by comparing annual nest abundances between subregions of the Greater Everglades ecosystem.

  Marisa Martinez PhD

I grew up in New Jersey and received a dual B.S. degree in Animal Sciences and Natural Resources at Cornell University in 2011. I discovered my interest in birds while working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology examining the singing behaviors of wrens. After graduation, I interned with the USFWS at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida where I became fascinated with the Everglades. Having solidified my ambition to pursue avian ecology as a career, I took a field technician position working with endangered songbirds, which turned into a Master’s position at Texas A&M University. My thesis work focused on post-fledging habitat use of Black-capped Vireos and I received my M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences in 2014. Very fortunately, I was able to return to Florida to join the Gawlik lab in 2014 as a Ph.D. student on a project developing a habitat model for Little Blue Herons. I will be researching natural and anthropogenic pressures on Little Blue Heron foraging and nesting habitats in Florida Bay and the Keys.

  Katherine Shlepr PhD

I received a B.A. in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, ME) in 2013 and a M.Sc. in Biology from University of New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB) in 2017. From 2011-2016, I was a research assistant to Dr. John Anderson at the Alice Eno Field Station on Great Duck Island, Maine, where we studied island natural history and seabird biology. For my Master’s project, I expanded our research on Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) foraging behavior to additional colonies in the Bay of Fundy. In August 2017, I took my interest in avian population dynamics to Florida Atlantic University where I now study wading bird ecology. The aim of my PhD is to examine components of the diet, physiology, and genetics of Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) nesting in urban and natural marsh areas of South Florida. Understanding whether changes in the stork population are signs of successful adaptation to human-modified landscapes is central information for revision of the recovery plan for this federally protected species.

   Betsy Evans PhD August 2020

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) in 2008. As an undergraduate, I was given the opportunity to conduct a research project focusing on perch selection of communally-roosting Turkey Vultures. After working with vultures, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in ornithology. It was my interest in vulture biology that led me to Florida Gulf Coast University, where my research focused on the dynamics and problems associated with urban vulture roosts. I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with my M.S. in Environmental Sciences in December 2013. I joined the Gawlik Lab in January 2014 as a Ph.D. Student. While vultures have been my primary focus, I am interested in Wood Storks due in part to their endangered status and of course, their taxonomic relation to the New World vultures. My research will focus on the features of road corridors that attract or discourage Wood Stork use.

   Jacquelyn Evans MS August 2020

I grew up in Arizona and received my B.S. degree in Applied Ecology from Arizona State University in 2016. While I pursued my Bachelor’s degree, I was an aquatics research intern for Arizona Game and Fish Department and an undergraduate researcher for the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University in west Texas where I assisted a grad student studying wetland seed banks. After graduating, I worked for the University of Montana as a passerine nest searcher in northern Arizona. My undergraduate and field experience lead to my captivation with wetland ecosystems and subsequently to Dr. Gawlik’s Avian Ecology lab. I joined the Gawlik lab as an Environmental Science Master’s student in 2017. My research will focus on the physiological responses of wading bird nestlings to changes in environmental conditions.

   Emilie Kohler MS December 2019

I received my B.S in Biology at Shippensburg University, Shippensburg PA in 2009. My undergraduate researchinvestigated hybridization between a native and non-native crayfish species. After graduating, I served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in Montana, teaching K-12 watershed science field trips. Since then I’ve worked as a biological science technician for a variety of projects. Most recently, I worked on a long-term Northern Spotted Owls monitoring program in Olympic National Park. My experience and interest in restoration ecology led me to Dr. Gawlik’s Avian Ecology Lab where I am a first year Master’s student. My research focus is creating a habitat suitability model for the Little Blue Heron in the Florida Bay and the Keys. The model will include water depth, prey selection, and availability.

   Ashley Jackson MS August 2018

After receiving a B.S. in wildlife biology from Colorado State University, I worked as a research coordinator, crew leader, and avian field technician, on several projects in Wyoming, Montana and Alaska. My interests in the anthropogenic impacts on wildlife were shaped by my previous research which focused on the impacts of private and public land use and development on wildlife. As a graduate student at Florida Atlantic University, I am currently studying wading birds in the Everglades; my current research is focused on small heron prey selection and nesting success.

  Thomas Faughnan MS August 2018

Originally from Vermont, I received a B.S. in Natural Resources with a concentration in Ecology and a minor in Forestry from the University of Vermont. I have since worked seasonally with a variety of organizations including the Catalina Island Conservancy, National Park Service, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Through this work, I have gained experiences in a variety of ecosystems across the US and in Panama in applied conservation and research focusing on shore birds, sea turtles, bats, and invasive species. My primary research interests are in ecosystem restoration and threatened species conservation. I am currently conducting my Master’s research examining the relationship between hydrology and wading bird prey density during the dry season in the Everglades. This research will further the goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) allowing for more informed management decisions in the region.

   Jenna May MS August 2018

I received my B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida in 2011. During my undergraduate studies, I volunteered in a variety of labs with research spanning from ant mutualism to avian behavior. My first fieldwork opportunity allowed me to gain experience in bird banding and identification, thus establishing my interest in avian ecology. After graduating, I worked as a field technician on several projects throughout the US, many involving avian research. My developing interests in wetland systems and birds led me to the Gawlik lab where I worked as a field technician on the Fauna Concentration Project. The re-exposure to the academic world encouraged me to leave behind the bio-gypsy lifestyle and pursue my Master’s Degree. I am currently conducting my research at Lake Okeechobee where I am studying the reproductive success of wading birds. My research will include a comparison of nesting success at spoil island colonies and natural tree island colonies, and a diet analysis comparing birds nesting at Lake Okeechobee and in the Everglades.

    Camille Herteux MS May 2018

I graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015 with a BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. During my undergraduate I was involved in animal communication field work with tree frogs, and I also worked on a community ecology project examining aggressive behavior in Plethodontid salamanders. My main research interest is wetland ecology. I joined FAU’s Environmental Science Master’s program in fall 2015 to work on a project with Dr. Gawlik involving habitat choice in wading birds. I will be performing field work and collecting data at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in southwest Georgia. For this project, I plan to study the relative importance of factors affecting habitat choice of wading birds in small, geographically isolated depressional wetlands. I will examine factors at both landscape and wetland-specific scales, including hydrology, wetland density and connectivity, and prey availability. I also plan to compare avian habitat use between natural, undisturbed wetlands and agriculturally altered wetlands that have been ditched and cleared of vegetation.

   Jennifer Chastant PhD December 2016

I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia and I received a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from the University of Georgia in December of 2002. After graduation, I began working temporary field jobs all over the U.S. My initial love for birds began on Cumberland Island National Seashore, where I assisted a graduate student with the collection of nesting activity and behavioral data of American oystercatchers. After three years of working on other people’s projects, I decided I was ready for a research project of my own and began working on my Master’s in Wildlife Ecology at Mississippi State University. The project was designed to investigate population dynamics of Interior of Double-crested Cormorants throughout the Great Lakes region. After receiving my Master’s in 2008, I began working for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and quickly realized that although management is extremely important, I missed the research aspect of the field. In Dr. Gawlik’s lab, I did my PhD research on wading bird responses to stress.

Jennifer is currently an environmental scientist with Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management.

   Jessica Klassen  PhD August 2016

I received my B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2007.  As an undergraduate, I took advantage of a study abroad program in which I studied the burrow characteristics of nesting Atlantic Puffins in the Vestmannaeyjar Islands off the southern coast of Iceland.  My interest in avian ecology grew after participating in several research projects ranging from mallard population counts to raptor banding.  After graduation, I took a field job researching the population and distribution of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler in central Texas.  I was able to continue this research as a master’s student at Texas A&M University where my thesis focused on habitat characteristics affecting Golden-cheeked Warbler reproductive success.  I joined the Gawlik lab in 2011 as a Ph.D. student working on the dry season prey concentration project.  For my dissertation, I used landscape modeling techniques to make predictive models for aquatic prey concentration and body condition. I also researched wading bird prey selection in relation to hydrologic change.

Jessica is currently a Post-doc at Mississippi State University.

   Corey Callaghan  MS August 2015

   Leonardo Calle  MS May 2014

   Richard Botta  MS May 2014

Although I acquired interests in my surrounding natural environment at an early age, I have not academically approached it until recently. Initially, I received my B.B.A. in International Business and Trade from FAU in 2007. As I completed this degree, I realized my true interests were elsewhere. As a young boy I spent much time outdoors, both here in the states, and in Argentina. Many days were spent with the wilderness as my playground. With this in mind, I returned to FAU to gain the tools I needed for a career in the environmental sciences. After taking classes in the disciplines of Ecology and GIS, I volunteered in the Avian Ecology Lab here at FAU with a large scale project studying aquatic prey concentrations for wading birds in the Everglades. This only opened my appetite for research in these fields, and this lead to becoming a technician for the Fauna Concentration Project. Afterwards, I aided as a technician for a project with avian communities in the Stormwater Treatment Areas in the Northern Everglades. I received my M.S. in Environmental Sciences from FAU in May 2014. For my thesis, I used environmental factors, including vegetation and hydrology to create a habitat suitability model for wading birds in Lake Okeechobee and validated the model using Lake Okeechobee nest effort data.

Rich is currently an Environmental Scientist with the South Florida Water Management District.

   Tyler Beck MS May 2014

Being the son of a high school Biology teacher I have always been interested in natural things. Having lived in Central, Southwest and Southeast Florida I feel a deep connection with the region and its fragile ecosystems. I received a Bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2003. My undergraduate research focused on stand densities preferred by the Melaleuca Snout Weevil (Oxyops vitiosa), a controlling agent on the invasive Melaleuca Tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia). After graduation I volunteered with photographer Clyde Butcher assisting him with his Labor Day swamp walks. I later traveled to Pennsylvania to learn how to mist net and band passerines. In 2006, I interned with the Avian Ecology Lab at Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Florida. My main responsibilities were to collect data for an ongoing (1969-present) demographic study of the cooperatively breeding Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). My independent research examined differences in the reproductive investment of scrub-jays that occupied different quality habitats. Shortly after my internship, I joined the Gawlik lab working on wading bird habitat selection and reproductive physiology projects. I received my M.S. in Biology from FAU in August of 2013. For my thesis work, I examined factors that influence avian community composition of Stormwater Treatment Areas in the Northern Everglades.

Tyler is currently a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

   Bryan Botson  MS December 2012

I received my B. S. in Wildlife Fisheries Science from Pennsylvania State University in 2001. Since 1999, I have worked for various organizations across the United States on a diverse array of wildlife research projects with fish, birds, mammals and plants. As the research coordinator for Dr. Dale Gawlik’s lab at Florida Atlantic University from 2004 through 2015, I collaborated with research staff and students to collect and manage data on wading birds, fish and aquatic invertebrates and the hydrologic and habitat structure characteristics influencing their populations. My main focus was the Aquatic Fauna Seasonal Concentration Project, a long term study under the Monitoring and Assessment Plan for the Everglades restoration. In this project, we attempted to discern the relationship among hydrology, prey concentrations and wading bird nesting by assessing prey concentrations throughout the Everglades landscape during the dry season and comparing prey concentrations between used and random sites. I completed my Master's thesis in December 2012, where I identified specific mechanisms responsible for transforming wet season prey standing stock into dry season prey concentrations, linked landscape hydrological patterns to wading bird nesting, and presented a predictive model of Wood Stork nesting.

Bryan is currently an Environmental Analyst at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

   Rebecca Stanek MS May 2009

Upon graduation from State University of New York at Buffalo , I received a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Shortly thereafter, I attended Buffalo State College and completed a second B.S. in Biology. As the Assistant Animal Programs Manager at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach , I specialize in the management of our animal diet and nutrition program. I also assist in the development of the Palm Beach Zoo's in-situ and ex-situ animal conservation involvement. I graduated with my M.S. in Biological Science in 2009. For my thesis research I used small-scale manipulative experiments to examine the effects of prey density and the presence of conspecifics on the foraging behavior of the Scarlet Ibis. Rebecca is currently an Education Manager with the Palm Beach County school system.

   James Beerens MS May 2008

I received my B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University in 2003, concentrating in Animal Behavior and Neurobiology. After dabbling in the neurology of rats, I moved to Naples, FL to work for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. There, I had many opportunities to be involved in research relating to Everglades restoration. This experience was followed by a behavioral ecology study of piscivorous birds on the Columbia River in Washington. After extended travel in South America, I settled back in Florida working in Key Largo with the endangered Key Largo Woodrat. My background is mostly in behavioral ecology and conservation. I am interested in the ecology of fragile ecosystems and the human responsibility to make educated decisions on how to manage those ecosystems under increasing threats. I received my M.S. in Biology from FAU in December of 2008. My thesis research examined the influence of food availability on landscape-level habitat selection, patch-level habitat selection, and movements of two wading bird species with divergent foraging strategies, the Great Egret and White Ibis.

James is currently an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

   Garth Herring PhD May 2008

My academic background began over 10 years ago when I completed a diploma in Fisheries and Wildlife management from Sir Sanford Fleming College (Ontario, Canada). I then worked for six years conducting waterfowl research as a research technician across Canada and the United States for various state, federal and private conservation agencies. In 1997, I returned to school to obtain my Bachelors of Science at the University of Lethbridge (Alberta, Canada). I then started my Masters of Fisheries and Wildlife Science at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina) in 2000. My Masters research focused on examining the quality of winter habitat for waterfowl in east-central Florida, in particular investigating movements and home range use, period specific survival, and foraging behavior and subsequent nutrient reserve dynamics of Lesser Scaup. Throughout this time my focus has always been to better my understanding of the ecological systems that I have had the opportunity to work in, while striving to increase the understanding of how humans have impacted these systems, and how we might mitigate these changes. Most recently I worked on a PhD. in Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University, where my research focused on how prey availability influences the physiological condition of wading birds and how their condition affects reproductive performance. Ultimately, this information can be used to influence restoration targets and management decisions.

Garth is currently an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. 

   Philip Heidemann  MS May 2008

I graduated from Grinnell College in Iowa with a B.A. in Economics. Until last year, I spent most of my working life in finance and insurance. I worked in various capacities in the Accounts Payable Department at the world headquarters of Office Depot, Inc. here in Florida. I also endured a difficult six-year career in insurance, advancing finally to the position of Manager within the Claims Department of a Florida workers' compensation insurer. It was during my time in workers' compensation that I realized I was in the wrong field. After some self-evaluation, I determined that based on my interests I was most suited to a career in the biological sciences. I left my job and returned to school at FAU in the 2004-05 school year. I have now been admitted as a graduate student and will begin my M.S. in Biological Sciences program in fall 2005. I have recently worked on a study of the two crayfish species found in the Everglades, Procambarus alleni and P. fallax . This involved identifying samples by species and gender, and examining differences in spatial distribution, relative abundance, and habitat. My thesis research is to develop a Landscape Suitability Index for wood storks and white ibis in southwestern Florida.

*Postscript - Tragically, Damion Marx along with Phillip Heidemann and Gareth Ackerman were killed in a plane crash while surveying wading birds. They are missed greatly.

   Samantha Lantz MS May 2008

I began working in the Gawlik lab at FAU in the spring of 2006 as a technician for the fauna concentration project. From there I transitioned into a pilot study for my masters work, and started my MS officially in the fall of 2006. My research focused on the factors affecting wading bird prey availability, quantified by both foraging habitat selection and foraging success. I conducted a large-scale experiment as part of the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) project where I manipulated prey density, vegetation, and water depth while looking at the response of a number of different wading bird species. More information about the LILA project and my results can be found by clicking here. Additionally, I worked in collaboration with Dr. Nathan Dorn (FAU), Dr. Mark Cook (SFWMD), and PhD candidate Craig van der Heiden on a radio telemetry study looking at the movements and habitat selection of the crayfish Procambarus fallax to in response to a simulated drydown. Although crayfish are important prey items for many wading birds, especially White Ibis, there is little known about their availability during the dry season. My primary research interests are in behavioral ecology and conservation. Prior to coming to FAU, I graduated from Willamette University in Salem, OR in 2005 with a BA in biology. Most of my previous field work has involved work with seabirds and shorebirds along both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, concentrating on foraging and reproductive success. For my thesis, I examinded the effects of water depth and emergent and submerged vegetation on wading bird habitat selection and foraging success.

Samantha is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Tulane University.

   Damion Marx  PhD May 2008

I received my B.S. from the Department of Biology at the University of Oregon in 1997. My undergraduate thesis compared the diversity of lady beetles ( Coccinellidae ) among native and non-native trees on the university campus. My first job out of college was with the National Audubon Society at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. There I was bitten by the “birding bug,” and since then, pursued a career in avian ecology. After several field experiences around the country, I attended Texas A&M University where I examined the response of wintering grassland birds to fire and grazing in Texas Coastal Prairies. I received my Masters from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences in 2003.

*Postscript - Tragically, Damion Marx along with Phillip Heidemann and Gareth Ackerman were killed in a plane crash while surveying wading birds. They are missed greatly.

   Heidi Herring MS December 2007

I received my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis in 1999. For my thesis research at FAU, I studied linkages between nesting colonies and foraging areas for wood storks (Mycteria americana) in Everglades National Park. I am a life-long birder and have been involved in avian research studies for 8 years. I have worked with several species of waterfowl, studying wood duck reproductive success in the central valley of northern California and the ecology of wintering lesser scaup in Florida. In 2000 and 2001, I banded passerines for the Ventana Wilderness Society at the Big Sur Ornithological Laboratory and for the Point Reyes Bird Observatory on the Eastern Sierra Riparian Songbird Project. Most recently, I worked as a biologist for a wetland environmental consulting firm where I conducted surveys for many special status wildlife species and implemented monitoring programs. I graduated from FAU with a M.S. in Biology in December of 2007. For my thesis, I developed a foraging habitat selection model for breeding Wood Storks in Everglades National Park.

Heidi is currently a faculty member at Lynn-Benton Community College, Albany, OR.

   Brian Garrett MS December 2007

I graduated from the University of Georgia in 1997 with a B.S. in Ecology and a minor in Botany. During my time at UGA I also interned at the Tate's Hell Swamp Field Site in Apalachicola, Florida. There I assisted several researchers working on projects that were leading towards the restoration of Tate's Hell Swamp. I also worked on my own project in Tate's Hell comparing the utility of two vegetative sampling methods in wet prairies. In 1997 I began working in the Everglades Division at the South Florida Water Management District. I work primarily in the Stormwater Treatment Area or STA discharge areas in the Northern Everglades. I work on projects that include water quality sampling, soil sampling, macrophyte surveys and sampling, periphyton sampling, aquatic macrofaunal surveys, and tree island monitoring. I have also conducted and assisted with several wildlife surveys within the Everglades. I manage several sets of data as well as several ongoing experiments. I graduated from FAU with an M.S. in Biology in December of 2007. My thesis research focused on modeling hydrologic and physical factors that affect the concentration of wading bird prey during the dry season. I created a simulation model that displays the potential effects of different levels of microtopography upon prey concentrations during the annual hydrologic dry down in the Everglades marsh.

Brian is currently a Wildlife Coordinator with the South Florida Water Management District.

    Rachael Harris MS May 2007

I graduated from Michigan State University in 2001 with a BS in Zoology and Environmental Biology. After graduation, I worked for several years as a technician on various projects in Michigan. My background is mostly in aquatic entomology and ichthyology. I am interested in the ecology of aquatic ecosystems, predator-prey relationships, and foodweb dynamics. I began working on my MS at Florida Atlantic University in 2004. I graduated from FAU with an M.S. in Biology in May of 2007. My thesis work tested prey vulnerability components of the wading bird prey availability model. Treatment variables included vegetation structure and prey density.

Rachael is currently a Biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Technicians

McKenna Nelson -  Biological Technician 2024-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Ben Zeitler- Biological Technician 2024-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Jenna Lutes -  Biological Technician 2023-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Kat Christie -  Biological Technician 2023-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Eva Greco - Biological Technician 2023-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Julian Von Kanel -  Biological Technician 2022-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Katie Buckman - Biological Technician 2022-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Lars Nelson -  Biological Technician 2021-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Ryan West - Biological Technician 2021-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Tasso Cocoves - Biological Technician 2020-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Devin Fraleigh - Biological Technician 2020-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Alexandra Bermudez - Biological Technician 2019-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Rostam Mirzadi - Biological Technician 2019-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Rachel Larson - Biological Technician 2018-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Camille Herteux - Biological Technician 2018-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations 

Nan Nourn - Biological Technician 2018-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Jacquelyn Evans - Biological Technician 2017-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Brian Eachus - Biological Technician 2017-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Patrice Betz - Biological Technician 2017-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Carl Underwood - Biological Technician 2017-FDOT

Alisa Gulette - Biological Technician 2015/2016-FDOT

Sarah Staton - Biological Technician 2015/2016-FDOT

Lauren Hagg - Biological Technician 2014/2015-FDOT

Jenna May - Biological Technician 2014-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Rachael Fern- Biological Technician 2014-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Nicole Hengst- Biological Technician 2014-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Sarah Bornhoeft - Biological Technician 2013-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Megan Dillon- Biological Technician 2013-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Elizabeth Dancer - Biological Technician 2012/2013-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Kristin Norris - Biological Technician 2012-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Christopher Malinowski - Biological Technician 2012-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Justin Michaud - Biological Technician 2011-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Kristina Herz - Biological Technician 2010-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Rosemary Hartman - Biological Technician 2010-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Daniel Hollenbaugh - Biological Technician 2009-2011-Avian Communities of the STAs/A quatic Seasonal Fauna Concentration

Joseph Serio - Biological Technician 2009-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Bridie Farmer - Field Crew Leader 2009/2010-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Justin Bredlau- Biological Technician 2009-Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

William Bessmer- Biological Technician 2009-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Richard Botta - Biological Technician 2008-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Leonardo Calle - Biological Technician 2008/2011-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Claudia McLeroy - Biological Technician 2008-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Katherine Becker - Biological Technician 2008 - Avian Communities of the STAs

Angela Sjollema - Biological Technician 2007 - LILA

Meghan Weaver - Biological Technician 2007 & 2008 -Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Kelly McKean - Biological Technician 2008-Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Gareth Ackerman- Biological Technician 2008 - Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee *Postscript - Tragically, Damion Marx along the Phillip Heidemann and Gareth Ackerman were killed in a plane crash while surveying wading birds. They are missed greatly.

Tyler Beck - Biological Technician 2007 - Wading Bird Habitat Use

Nina Hill - Biological Technician 2007 - Wading Bird Reproductive Physiology

Juliet Lamb - Biological Technician 2007 - LILA

Frank Marenghi - Biological Technician 2007 - Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Sarah Ridgway - Biological Technician 2007 -Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Alegra Galle - Biological Technician 2006 - Wading Bird Colonies at Lake Okeechobee

Andrew Horton - Biological Technician 2006 - Wading Bird Habitat Use

Rebecca Imdieke - Biological Technician 2006 - Wading Bird Reproductive Physiology

Sam Lantz - Biological Technician 2006 -Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Kristen Simpson - Biological Technician 2006 -Aquatic Seasonal Fauna Concentrations

Mark Johnston - Biological Technician 2005

Jennifer Nagy - Biological Technician 2005