Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network


Network Staff


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Sara Stevens
Sara Stevens
Network Program Manager
(sara_stevens@nps.gov)
401-874-4548
Sara received her M.S. in Natural Resources at the University of Rhode Island in 1995, and her B.A. in Anthropology at the University of Rhode Island in 1990. Sara's graduate research focused on the effects of forest edge and landscape dynamics on mammal populations within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest of Sergipe, Brazil. Sara's professional experience prior to joining the Park Service in 2001, included working as a ecologist for the State of Massachusetts at the Camp Edwards Military instillation on Cape Cod and wetland ecologist for a private consulting firm in Rhode Island. Her expertise includes the conservation of vertebrate population, with an emphasis on mammalian, avian, and amphibian populations of the Northeast. Sara is currently the Coordinator of the National Park Service, Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program.

Penelope Pooler

Penelope Pooler
Quantative Ecologist
penelope_pooler@nps.gov
401-874-7060

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penelope received her Ph.D. in Statistics and Environmetrics at Virginia Tech in 2005, and her M.S. in Ecological Statistics from Oregon State University in 1996. Her dissertation research focused on using Bayesian finite mixture models to improve understanding of horseshoe crab (L. polyphemus) spawning patterns in the Delaware Bay. Prior to beginning her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech, she worked at the USGS Leetown Science Center Aquatic Ecology Laboratory for three years. While there, she collaborated on researching sampling designs and analysis methods for mussels in West Virginia and Pennsylvania rivers and horseshoe crab spawning in the Delaware Bay. Her expertise includes ecological sampling design, statistical modeling of ecological data, and Bayesian analysis methods.

Dennis Skidds
Dennis Skidds
Data Manager
dennis_skidds@nps.gov
401-874-4305

Dennis received his M.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Rhode Island in 2003 and his B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from Brown University in 1995. His graduate research focused on the assessment of vernal pools as breeding habitat for vulnerable amphibian species. Prior to joining the Park Service in 2007, Dennis worked with the URI Environmental Data Center on a wide array of natural resource related GIS, web design, and data management projects for academic and government clients. His professional experience has included volunteer positions with the National Park Service working on grassland habitat restoration, as well as piping plover monitoring with the Massachusetts Audubon Society. His expertise includes wetland ecology, habitat conservation and restoration, and the use of GIS and database technology in natural resource inventory and monitoring efforts. Dennis is currently the Data Manager for the National Park Service, Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program.


Erika Patenaude
Erika Patenaude
Biologist
Project Lead - Salt Marsh Monitoring
Erika_Patenaude@nps.gov
401-874-4603

Erika received her M.S. in Natural Resources at the University of Rhode Island in 2006, and her B.S. in Environmental Science and Management at the University of Rhode Island in 2000. Erika’s graduate research focused on the effects of antibiotics on water quality in septic system leachfields. Prior to joining the National Park Service in 2009, Erika worked as a research manager for the Laboratory of Soil Ecology and Microbiology at the University of Rhode Island. Her experience includes water quality, soils, and vegetation monitoring as well as assisting with projects involving bird and amphibian monitoring. Erika is currently the Biologist for the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program and is the Project Lead for implementing the Network’s salt marsh monitoring protocols.


James Lynch
James Lynch
Biologist
Project Lead - Salt Marsh Surface
Elevation Table Monitoring
james_lynch@nps.gov
443-424-2157

Jim received his M.S. in Biology from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1989 and his B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 1986. Jim's graduate research focused on Sedimentation and Nutrient Accumulation in Mangrove forests in the US and Mexico. Prior to joining the NPS, Jim worked for the US Geological Survey researching elevation change in wetland environments. He has extensive experience in all aspects of monitoring of elevation change in wetland ecosystems, including GPS surveying and the installation and use of the Surface Elevation Table (SET). Jim is currently a Biologist with the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network and also coordinates SET monitoring activities for the Northeast Temperate and National Capital Region Networks.


Dana Filippini
Dana Filippini
Biologist
Project Lead - Marsh Bird Monitoring
Dana_Filippini@nps.gov
401-874-4603

Dana received her B.S. in 1994 from the University of Rhode Island in Natural Resources. She has an extensive background studying birds around the world. She has years of experience mist netting birds, and is well versed in a variety of sampling techniques used to inventory and census birds. She has also managed a large number of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds for various environmental education projects. Dana is the marsh bird monitoring program coordinator for Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network parks, along with a few NETN and NCRN parks.

 

Trisha Towanda
Trisha Towanda
STEP Student
Science Communications
trisha.towanda@gmail.com
401-874-4305

Trisha came from the State of Washington where she studied marine science as an undergraduate at The Evergreen State College. She continued her education at Evergreen in the Master of Environmental Studies program. Her thesis focused on the effects of ocean acidification on an intertidal, photosynthetic anemone. While completing her master’s degree, she worked for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources studying eelgrass in Puget Sound. She is currently in a PhD program at the University of Rhode Island to study the environmental physiology of marine invertebrates that inhabit oxygen minimum zones. Concurrently, Trisha is creating a website regarding the effects of global climate change on the coastal national parks of the north Atlantic for the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, Inventory and Monitoring Program.


 

Joshua Burgoyne
Joshua Burgoyne
STEP Student
Biological Technician
joshua_burgoyne@nps.gov
401-874-7060

Josh is an undergraduate studying Environmental Science and Management and Biology at the University of Rhode Island. In addition to studying full time and working as a STEP Intern for the National Park Service, he is also working as a field assistant researching the genetic diversity and home range of the threatened New England Cottontail and the effects of coffee farming on mammal biodiversity in Costa Rica. Josh is currently working on the expansion of the NRinfo database for the NCBN and the Mid-Atlantic Network, and is expected to graduate with a B.S. in 2012.


Last updated: Tuesday, December 06, 2011   I  Email: Webmaster
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