Tom Dudley

My primary research examines the effects of non-native, invasive species on natural habitats, the mechanisms underlying invasion success and insect-herbivore interactions between native and non-native plants.

Email: tdudley [at] msi.ucsb.edu

Danuta M. Bennett

My research focuses on disturbance effect in aquatic ecosystems. Through experimental and field studies, I investigate how natural disturbances (fire, flood, and drought) and human related impacts (invasive species, eutrophication and air pollution that results in accelerated climate change) that adversely affect resilience and resistance in aquatic ecosystems.

Email: bennett [at] lifesci.ucsb.edu

Adam Lambert

I study plant-herbivore interactions, biological invasions, biological control of invasive plants and insects, and conservation and restoration biology. Focal species include large-statured, invasive grasses (LSIG) such as Arundo donax and Phragmites australis that occur in riparian and wetland ecosystems.

Email: lambert [at] msi.ucsb.edu

Peter Dalin

My research at the RIVRlab focuses on the ecology of saltcedar leaf beetles (Diorhabda spp.), which have been introduced into the US for saltcedar biological control. Studies consider the effects of host-plants, natural enemies and abiotic factors on the establishment and population growth of the leaf beetles.

Email: Peter.Dalin [at] ekol.slu.se

Ryan Hechinger

I pursue many sorts of questions in organismal biology, strongly emphasizing parasites and parasitism. Recently working on developing biocontrol agent (trematode parasite) for New Zealan Mud Snail

Email: hechinger [at] lifesci.ucsb.edu
Website: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~hechinge/

Mikael Kuehn

Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology

Email: avian27 [at] yahoo.com

Gretchen Coffman

My research focuses on management questions related to riparian ecology and restoration and invasive plant biology in river systems of Mediterranean-type climates. Currently, I have projects in watersheds and rivers in coastal southern California, the southern Sierra Nevada, and Southeast Asia. I teach courses in wetland restoration ecology and delineation at SFSU’s Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies in Tiburon, California.

Email: coffman [at] msi.ucsb.edu
Website: http://www.wra-ca.com/personnel/coffman.html

Bruce Orr

My primary research interests are riparian vegetation dynamics, river and watershed restoration and management, and wetland ecology. I am currently engaged in various river corridor restoration and management projects, including interdisciplinary collaborative efforts on the Santa Clara and San Joaquin rivers.

Email: bruce [at] stillwatersci.com
Website: http://www.stillwatersci.com/staff_directory_bio.php?cat=l-r&id=48

Julio Lorda

Email: lorda [at] lifesci.ucsb.edu

Paul Maier

I study reptiles and amphibians in the Virgin River and their response to Diorhabda establishment, and collaborates with Heather Bateman, an Asst Prof at Arizona St. Univ

Email: maierpa [at] gmail.com

Devyn A. Orr

My research on the Santa Clara River in Ventura County, CA, examines the effect of Arundo donax invasion on vertebrate community structure. Particularly, I'm looking at the response of California songbirds and bats to alterations in habitat characteristics.

Email: devyn [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Matt Stoecker

I have been studying the habitats, populations, and limiting factors for southern steelhead trout in central and southern California watersheds for over a decade. My consulting business, Stoecker Ecological, continues this work in addition to managing restoration projects with a priority on removing and modifying migration barriers to steelhead such as road crossings and dams. Focus watersheds include; Santa Maria/Sisquoc Rivers, Santa Ynez River, southern Santa Barbara County streams from Jalama Creek to Rincon Creek, Ventura River, Santa Clara River, and Arroyo Seco (Los Angeles River).

Email: matt [at] stoeckerecological.com
Please visit website at www.StoeckerEcological.com for more information and available reports

Jiana Ten Brinke

I study the effects of Arundo donax on braided channel planform (active channel width, braiding index, and island size) in the Santa Clara River in Ventura County, California. Part of this study will include soil coring to determine the the density and diameter of roots and rhizomes at different depths in the banks and floodplains.

Email: jianaten [at] gmail.com

Gail M. Drus

My current research interests focus on how variation in the arrival or timing of species invasions influences species interactions and the establishment of species in communities

Email: gmdrus [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Denise Knapp

Through my research on Santa Cruz Island, I seek to contribute to the understanding of the variable impact of different plant invaders on arthropods and the mechanism of this impact.

Email: dknapp [at] lifesci.ucsb.edu

Chris Jannusch

UNR Student

Email: cjannusch [at] cabnr.unr.edu

Nicole Molinari

I am a community ecologist, studying the impact of non-native species on plant and arthropod diversity.

Email: molinari [at] lifesci.ucsb.edu

Andrew Rich

My research concerns the geomorphology and hydrology of the ecologically important coastal lagoons and wetlands of Southern Santa Barbara County. Lagoons in California have been cited as nursery habitat to the endangered steelhead trout, and as habitat to the tidewater goby. This research has two main components: 1) statistical analysis of the controls of lagoon geomorphology and 2) development of a hydrologic model of the lagoons in order to analyze lagoon breaching.

Email: arich [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Vivian Hurtado - Student Research Assistant

I am working on identifying local predators of the invasive New Zealand Mud Snail. Due to a lack of native predators, these snails have been able to reach high densities within streams and often out-compete native invertebrate species. Introducing an efficient native predator could thus help to control the population of the exotic snail.

Email: jellyfish [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Beau W. Tindall - Undergraduate Student

Email: btindall [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Cassidy Anton - Undergraduate Student

I am investigating how the New Zealand Mud Snail affects the diet of native fish species. Specifically, I am interested in both fish ability to recognize and actively prey upon the Mud Snail, and whether fish digestion efficiency of the mud snail equals that of native prey items.

Email: cashanton [at] gmail.com

Kellyn C. Dott - Undergraduate Student

I aid in the maintenance of the bio-control beetle and New Zealand Mud Snail cultures, and will soon be involved with several experiments focused on New Zealand Mud Snails.

Email: kellyndott [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Faris Shalan - Undergraduate Student

Email: faris [at] umail.ucsb.edu

Alan Wood - Student Research Assistant

I am currently working on the monthly New Zealand Mud Snail density assessments in Piru Creek, as well as the NZMS biocontrol project.

Email: awood [at] lifesci.ucsb.edu

Gabriela Navas - Student Research Assistant

Email: gabi_nvs [at] yahoo.com

Sea Pong - Undergraduate Student (Website Designer)

I work with the RIVRLab team to produce a comprehensive website that fully represents all of the laboratory's research topics and projects.

Email: pong [at] msi.ucsb.edu