Tom Zink, Adjunct Professor, San Diego State University. Role of microorganisms in the nutrient cycling processes of arid and semiarid soils and its practical application in desert restoration, macrofungi species surveys.
David A. Bainbridge, Associate Professor, Sustainable Management, Alliant International University. Special interests: Changes in structure and function of arid ecosystems caused by disturbance from off-highway vehicles, alternative irrigation, soils, environmental history.
Dr. Mike Allen, Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside. Ecology and biology of soil microorganisms. Focus on the regulation of community and ecosystem processes by soil organisms, especially mycorrhizal fungi. Current research concentrates on global change dynamics and related effects on restoration of arid and semiarid ecosystems.
Anna Bennett: Botanist/Project Manager. B.S. Botany, Humboldt State University, 2006. Current projects include coastal sage scrub restoration at Chollas Heights and Murphy Canyon, San Diego, CA in support of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), development and investigation of weed abatement strategies on the Department of Fish and Game Ecological Reserves in San Diego County.
Leana Bulay: Restoration Ecologist/ Project Manager. B.S. Environmental Studies/Conservation Biology, UC Santa Cruz, 2005. Currently on maternity leave. Previous projects include developing a management plan for sensitive and listed plant species on Naval Base Coronado; developing a vegetation management plan for Mission Gorge Recreational Facility, Naval Base San Diego; invasive plant species management and protection for federally endangered Orcutt's Spineflower (Chorizanthe orcuttiana) on Naval Base Point Loma and educator for SERG Educational Outreach Program.
Richard Hillary: Ecologist/Greenhouse and Soils Lab Manager/Project Manager. B.S Biology, San Diego State University, 2006. Current projects include southern foredune restoration and listed and sensitive species management on Naval Air Station North Island. Also manages the SERG greenhouse and soil analysis facility.
Michelle Cloud-Hughes: Restoration Ecologist/Botanist/Project Manager. B.S. Biology with an emphasis in Ecology, SDSU 1998. Projects include revegetation and erosion control at National Training Center, Fort Irwin, the pilot revegetation project at Dos Palmas Preserve in mitigation for the lining of the Coachella Canal, habitat restoration at Palos Verdes peninsula, San Pedro, CA in support of the Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly (Glaucpsyche lygdamus palosverdensis) and the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), enhancing habitat for the federally endangered Orcutt's spineflower (Chorizanthe orcuttiana), developing vegetation management plan for Mission Gorge Recreational Facility, Naval Base San Diego. Research and interests include arid land restoration -- particularly of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, landscape-scale plant ecology, and southern California floristics.
Kim Klementowski: Restoration Ecologist/Project Manager. MA Geography, CSU Chico, 2004. Current projects on San Clemente Island, Naval Auxillary Landing Field include enhancing habitat for the federally endangered San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike; restoration of sensitive plant species populations; coastal dunes restoration; seed collection and propagation; native grassland restoration and management; erosion control; and invasive plant species management.
Laurie Lippitt: Ecologist/Project Manager. Undergraduate degrees in Environmental Biology & Forestry. Graduate work in plant ecology and Masters of Forestry. Managed the California Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection's L.A.Moran Reforestation Center in Davis with the State's container nursery and State Seed Bank for many years. Currently working on developing large scale methods and procedures for CSS and grassland restoration at Camp Pendleton. Additional interests include methods for large scale grassland resoration, conditions necessary for success of direct seeding, seed source adaptation and germination requirements for native seed of San Diego County.
Amy Rusev: Botanist/Program Coordinator. B.S. Plant Biology, UC Berkeley, 1999. Experience: vernal pool, coastal sage scrub, grassland and desert plant community surveying and monitoring. Current projects include and developing a comprehensive vegetation management plan for Naval Base Point Loma and developing a management plan for sensitive and listed plant species on Naval Base Coronado. Past projects include enhancing habitat for the federally endangered Orcutt's spineflower (Chorizanthe orcuttiana).
Anthony Santare: Program Coordinator. B.S. Chemistry, SDSU, 2003. Current activities include: supervising Project Managers, editing technical reports, and administration of SERG staff and projects. Current projects include soil analysis and interpretation of results for pre and post restoration functions with focus on nutrient availability, physical characteristics, and chemical properties; development of a management plan for the federally endangered Delhi sand fly (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis). Previous projects include soil stabilization involving the establishment of sycamore trees (Platanus racemosa) on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, restoration involving the establishment of Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii) establishment on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Special interests include: use of native flora for landscaping and gardening, propagation of native flora, and working with the public to increase awareness and benefits of native flora.
Christina Shanney: Ecologist/Program Coordinator. B.S. Zoology, UC Santa Barbara, 2000. Current responsibilities include: supervising Project Managers, editing technical reports, and administration of SERG staff and projects. Current projects include development of a restoration plan for Van Nuys Canyon, La Jolla, CA; composition of a manuscript about the use of small mammals as bioindicators of restoration success, composing an erosion control plan for Naval Base Point Loma, composing a management plan for sensitive and listed plant species on Naval Base Coronado. Past projects include coastal sage scrub restoration for federally endangered arroyo southwestern toad (Bufo microscaphus californicus) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; erosion control on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar; and southern foredune restoration on Naval Base North Island. Also involved in the SERG Educational Outreach Program for San Diego area students. Special interests include behavioral ecology and the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on animal and plant populations.
Julie VanLoh: Project Manager. B.A. Business Administration/Journalism, Augustana College, South Dakota, 1992. Current projects include coastal sage scrub restoration/slope stabilization on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; native plant restoration of a previously used landfill site in the vicinity of Admiral Baker Recreation Facility, Naval Base San Diego; and installation of a grass farm to produce seed for grassland restoration projects on Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve.
Jason Unger: Ecologist/Project Manager. B.S. Biology with an emphasis in ecology, San Diego State University, 2004. Current projects include research into biological methods of dust suppression in the Antelope Valley, CA, restoration involving the establishment of Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii) establishment on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, riparian vegetation monitoring on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and habitat restoration and erosion control on Naval Base Point Loma. Future interests include wastewater management, and eco-friendly housing and native habitat/xeriscape landscaping. Future studies may be in the environmental engineering M.S. program at UCI.
Kayo Valenti: Ecologist/Project Manager. B. S. Biology, San Diego State University, 2006. Current projects include seed collection for propagation of plants for restoration of native habitat on Naval Base Point Loma; and habitat restoration and erosion control on Naval Base Point Loma.
Valerie Yep: Ecologist/Project Manager. B.S. Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, UC Davis, 2005. Current projects include coastal sage scrub restoration project for the endangered coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar; and soil stabilization involving the establishment of sycamore trees (Platanus racemosa) on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Kevin Carr: Fieldwork in coastal sage and desert restoration.
Randall Clark: B.S. Biology, California State University East Bay, 2005. GIS specialist.
Elizabeth Fallon: San Clemente Island
Doug Morrison: Trivial Pursuit champion
Michael Niento: San Clemente Island
Marguerite Mauritz: SDSU/UC Davis Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology
Updated July 18th, 2007
