People

PROJECT LEADERSHIP

Project Director

Haldre Rogers, Virginia Tech. I became interested in the impacts of bird loss on forest and human communities after I moved to Guam in 2002 to work on the Brown Treesnake Project. In Guam, my job was to develop and coordinate the United States Geological Survey's Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team. This position included frequent trips to the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota to determine whether the snake had spread to these locations. Through conversations with local citizens and countless hours performing night searches for snakes on Guam and these other islands, I was struck by the differences between the forests on Guam and on islands with birds. Guam's forests were silent due to the loss of birds and they appeared to support much higher densities of spiders, butterflies, and praying mantids in comparison to Tinian, Saipan and Rota. I wondered what other, perhaps more subtle changes were happening in the forest and decided to go to graduate school to pursue this line of research. The EBL project began as my PhD project while at the University of Washington and and has expanded from there. I spent 4 years as a Huxley Fellow at Rice University, 7 years as an Assistant then Associate Professor at Iowa State University, and am now an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech. When not in the jungle of the Marianas or on a plane somewhere over the Pacific, I can be found playing frisbee, mountain biking, adventure racing, trail running, or eating chocolate.

Current Co-Investigators and Collaborators

Ross Miller, University of Guam.  I am a professor of Entomology at the University of Guam, where my laboratory assists in the Ecology of Bird Loss Project, particularly with insects of the Marianas. I'm originally from Fort Collins, Colorado. I received my Ph.D from Washington State University's Department of Entomology, MS in Biology from the University of Houston, and BS in Zoology from Brigham Young University.

Evan Fricke, MIT.  I am currently a research scientist at MIT, and a former postdoc on the Ecology of Bird Loss Project. My interests are in community ecology, evolutionary ecology, and conservation. My work combines field experiments and quantitative models to understand the maintenance of biological diversity and predict species responses to global change. I tackle these interests through the lens of seed dispersal by studying the nature of the seed dispersal mutualism, its influence on species coexistence, and the consequences of its disruption. The long-term goals of my work are to provide empirical and conceptual advances that inform effective conservation of ecological interactions and ecosystem processes.

Dara M. Wald, Texas A&M University. I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental Communication in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.  My research explores the causes and consequences of environmental conflict over the management of natural resources and the use of innovative public engagement and communication strategies to promote effective and sustainable decision making and collaborative governance over land, wildlife and water. For the EBL project, my work explores how public and stakeholders' values and beliefs influence support for conservation action and invasive species management.

Elizabeth Wandrag, York University.  I am currently a lecturer at York University in the UK, and a former postdoc on the Ecology of Bird Loss Project. My research uses experimental, observational and quantitative techniques to understand the causes and consequences of human alterations to plant communities, and address fundamental questions on the factors that control the distribution of plant species. I am particularly interested in the role of biotic interactions, such as those with mutualists, antagonists and competitors.

Amy Dunham, Rice University. I am an Associate Professor in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department at Rice University.  My research focuses on behavioral, population, and community ecology and is often applied to conservation issues in tropical rainforests.

EBL Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Harmony Yomai, Postdoc. 

EBL Graduate Students

Jerilyn Calaor, PhD Student, Iowa State University. I am a graduate student at Iowa State University and I am interested in food web dynamics associated with loss of top predators. I received my BS from University of Guam. 

Martin Kastner, PhD student. My background is in restoration ecology and endangered species recovery, and I worked with såli crew on Guam for three years. I started off searching for and monitoring wild nests and then helped in an effort to design and install predator-proof nest boxes for the species. 

John Bender, PhD student, University of Missouri - St. Louis 

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and my master’s from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. I have been working in the CNMI since 2015 on a variety of projects involving restoration ecology. My research interests include community ecology, food web dynamics, and species translocations.

Former Graduate Students

Ann Marie Gawel, PhD 2022, Iowa State University. Now a Smith Fellow. I study novel ecosystems and conservation in the Mariana Islands. Part of my PhD thesis focuses on seed dispersal in non-native vertebrates in a system that has lost its native vertebrates (the island of Guam). I am also addressing social science questions in my thesis, focused on how public perceptions and misperceptions affect conservation goals. I have a BA from the University of Chicago and MSc from the University of Guam. I joined the EBL team in August 2016 after working for four years as a regulatory biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Outside of my research, I enjoy hiking, outrigger-canoe-paddling, and raising a ruckus for social justice.

Christiana Quinata, MSc 2022, Iowa State University. I joined the lab after working for several years as a biologist for the Department of the Navy in Guam. I received my BS in Biology from Regis University. I am interested in ecology, conservation and food web dynamics nuanced by introduced species and habitat modification in the Mariana Islands. I am excited about conservation work and applying scientific research through natural resource management and interacting with stakeholders involved. 

Marianas-based EBL Field Crew

Kayla Baker, Lead Field Biologist. My research has focused mainly on the effects of anthropogenic disturbance, such as climate change or habitat alteration, on Neotropical migrant populations, with an emphasis on full life cycle conservation. Although I've worked primarily in boreal and temperate forests, I'm excited for the opportunity to immerse myself in the tropical ecosystems of the Marianas and CHamoru culture. I also have experience in environmental education and community engagement which I feel is an often overlooked, but nonetheless a vital part of wildlife conservation. My most rewarding experiences have come during outreach programs, where I am able to foster a connection between an individual and the natural world. Promoting an appreciation for the natural world, especially among those with little access to wild spaces, has become both my greatest personal and professional responsibility.


Zia Crytser, Biologist. I am an undergraduate at University of Guam. Growing up on Guam, I spent many hours outside enjoying nature. Not much has changed, except now I have a deep yearning to give back to nature for all that nature has provided to me. I am very excited for this opportunity to work with EBL to learn more about the relationship between plants and animals, and the effect of vertebrates on the ecosystem. During my free time you can catch me hiking or scuba diving.  

Forest Educators

We have supported twelve teachers through the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Teachers program. These teachers worked with the field crew during the summer and developed curriculum for use during the school year, including a Chamoru-language local plant resource for educators (http://tinanom.weebly.com, developed by Daniel Pangelinan). Check out a summary of the EBL lesson plans here: http://ebleducators.weebly.com/.

Previous educators
2017

• Moñeka de Oro, Guam
• Mack James, Rota

2015

• Daniel Pangelinan- Simon Sanchez High School, Guam
• Roque Indalecio- Hopwood Junior High, Saipan

2014

• Ben Seman- Hopwood Jr. High School, Saipan
• Greg Ecle- Southern High School, Guam

2013

• Dan Ho- Southern High School, Guam (currently in grad school)
• Valerie Atalig- Rota Jr/Sr High School, Rota (currently teaching elementary school on Guam)

2011

• Annette Pladavega-Kagman High School, Saipan (currently CNMI Science Curriculum Coordinator)
• Mary Garvilles- Simon Sanchez High School, Guam

2010

• Sabina Perez-  Simon Sanchez High School, Guam
• Michael Subbert- Guam High School, Guam (now retired)

Former EBL Members

2022

Tomona Lapitan - Biologist

Ray Guinto - Biologist

Carey Jo Titus - Biologist

Sam Liske-Clark - REU

Myrrhijiah Aquino-Whitehead - REU

2021

Juan Mungaray (undergrad, then Biologist)

Jillian Kurovski (undergrad)

Ethan Rose (undergrad)

2020

McKayla Spencer (Lab manager)

Hugo Thierry (postdoc)

Hernani Oliveira (postdoc)

Henry Pollock (postdoc)

2019
Joanna Scott, Biologist (2019), Currently a biologist.
Adelynn-Renee Roces, Field Assistant (2019), Currently an undergrad at Northern Arizona University.
Moñeka de Oro, Biologist (2019), Currently with the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance.

2018
Morgan Franke, Field Crew Leader (2016-2018), Currently a biologist.
Benita Laird-Hopkins, Researcher and Field Crew Leader (2017-2018), Currently a ranger at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand.
Erin Fitz, Intern (2018), Currently working in agroforestry. 
Ed Perez, Technician (2018).
Natalie Myers, Intern (2018). 
Megan Pendred, Field Technician Sali Crew (2018).
Nikki Suckow, Field Technician Sali Crew (2018).
Ovidio Jaramillo, Field Technician Sali Crew (2017-2018).

2017
Courtenay Ray, Lab Manager (2009-2010, 2016-2017), Currently a PhD student at UC Berkeley.
Tony Castro, Technician (2013-2017), Currently a field biologist.
Meg Kargul, Intern (2017-2018), Currently a PhD student.
Andrea Colton, Intern (2017-2018), Internship at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.
Matt Benjamin, Intern (2017).

2016
Glorya Chlupsa, Technician (2016-2017). Currently an undergraduate at the University of Guam.
Allyson Earl, Intern, Currently working for the Hawaii Vine Project.
Joma Santos, Technician. Currently an undergraduate at the University of Guam. 
Christa Shen, Intern. 
Renata Diaz, Intern. Currently a graduate student at University of Florida. 
James Lucas, Intern. Currently a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis.
John Bender, Avian Research Biologist. Currently a biologist at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. 
Amanda Santos, Field technician. Currently a biologist with CNMI DFW. 
Kloe Borja, STEP-UP intern. Currently an undergraduate at Hollins College. 
Erin McCann, Field Crew Leader. 
Miranda Salsbery, Undergraduate researcher. Currently a graduate student at University of Nebraska. 
Brittany Clark, Undergraduate researcher. Currently a grad student at University of Georgia.

2015

Elizabeth Wandrag, Postdoctoral Researcher. Currently a Postdoc with Dr. Richard Duncan at University of Canberra, Australia. 

Nadya Muchoney. Field technician. Currently a PhD student at University of Nevada, Reno.

Timothy Harvey-Samuel. Field technician. Currently a Postdoc with Prof. Luke Alphey at The Pirbright Institute, UK

Marlyn Naputi, REU. 

Macy Ricketts, REU. Currently a graduate student at University of Wyoming. 

Evgenia Dubman, Research Coordinator. 
Stephen Johnson, Intern. 
Britney Zell, Intern. 

2014
Veronica Kuhn- Senior Thesis Student, Rice University. Currently a graduate student at Virginia Tech.
Jeff Brown- Senior Thesis Student, Rice University. Currently a graduate student at Rutgers University.
Alexandra Kerr - LSAMP researcher.
Allison Schaich - Rice University REU student
Stephen Pillman - University of Guam REU student

2013
Jasmin Silva- REU. Currently employed by Rice University
Alexandra Kerr- REU. Currently an urban farmer in NYC!
Micah Freedman- Intern. Currently a graduate student at UC Davis.
Kyle Ngiratregd- Field technician. Currently a biologist. 
Kelsey Wooddell- Undergrad research volunteer, Rice University. Currently in graduate school.

2012
Chris Roy- completed his MS at Rice University, currently an environmental consultant.
Monika Egerer- currently a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz.
Tor Shimizu - University of Washington

2011

Rachel Volsteadt, Field Technician, currently works for USDA Wildlife Services on Brown Treesnake Control.
Megan Volsteadt, Field Technician, currently a graduate student at the University of Guam
Otton Mendiola, Field Technician, currently a farmer and fisherman on Rota.
Kaitlin Mattos, REU 2009 and Crew Leader 2010-2011; currently a graduate student at University of Colorado at Boulder
Isaac Chellman, Crew Leader 2010-2011, currently a Biologist in Yosemite/King's Canyon
Maggie Chan, Intern 2011, currently a graduate student at University of Alaska- Fairbanks
Jonnie Dunne, Intern 2011, currently a graduate student at University of Washington
Ethan Linck, REU 2011, currently a graduate student at University of Washington

2010

Eric Cook, Plant Propagation Specialist 2008-2010
Shahla Farzan, Intern 2010; currently a reporter for NPR. 
Amber Goguen, Intern 2010; currently a graduate student at Michigan State University
Summer Kemp-Jennings, REU 2010, currently a graduate student at University of Washington
Eleanor Caves, REU 2010; currently a graduate student at Duke University

2009

Bridget Bradshaw, Volunteer 2009; currently a roving field biologist
Courtenay Ray, Intern 2009; 
Eliza Hooshiar, Crew Leader 2009-2010
Emily Schultz, Intern 2009-2010; currently a graduate student with Tom Miller at Rice University
Jenny Howard, Intern 2009-2010; currently a graduate student at Wake Forest University
Julie Duay, Field Technician 2009-2010; completed her MS at Univ of Guam; currently an environmental consultant
Maia Raymundo, Field Technician; completed her MS at Univ of Guam. Currently a PhD student in Australia.
Cat Adams, REU 2009; currently a PhD student at UC-Berkeley
Anthony Ritter
Kaylyn Knaeble
Teresa Hecita
Leanne Obra, Field Technician 2009.
Mitch Piper, Intern 2009; currently an electrician. 

2008
Nash Turley, Field Technician 2008-2009; finished his PhD at University of Toronto, now a Post-Doc at Florida State University.
Theresa Feeley-Summerl, Field Assistant 2008.

2007
Tara Kenny, Field Assistant 2007; currently an emergency room physician.