Recovering Our Future - Fellows Colloquium
Recovering Our Future - The Past, Present, and Future of Coastal Wetlands
Thursday, March 21, 2019
6:30pm in the Chartroom
Join us to learn how southern California wetlands and lagoons have historically been and continue to be highly “stressed out.” Drs. Holland and Whitcraft will explain how humans have affected the health and structure of wetlands, reducing the quantity and quality of these prized habitats. But the story is not all bad – in addition to negatively affecting the environment, humans have learned how to mitigate for these stresses and restore these habitats.
Registration
This event is free to attend, but space is limited. RSVP required. Registration ends 3/14/2019.
About the Presenters
Dr. Erika Holland
Dr. Erika Holland, an assistant professor of aquatic toxicology in the Department of Biological Sciences, focuses her research on the impacts of pollution in the environment working across areas of pollutant detection, molecular biology, organism behavior or ecology. Holland's ongoing projects include developing cellular tools to identify and describe harmful chemicals, addressing the health of oysters in Newport Bay and understanding the presence and risk of debris, namely plastics, in southern California waters. Holland grew up in northern New Mexico, hiking the mesas outside the rural city of Aztec, and received her B.S. degree from San Diego State University and doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology and Toxicology, working in Isaac Pessah’s laboratory at University of California, Davis.
Dr. Christine Whitcraft
Dr. Christine Whitcraft is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Environmental Science and Policy Program. Born and raised in Maryland, her major area of interest is coastal wetland ecology, focusing on the impact of anthropogenic activities on functioning of brackish and salt marshes. Specifically, Whitcraft investigates restoration strategies, impacts of invasive plants and climate change-related impacts. Additional research interests include invertebrates in oxygen minimum zone habitats and foraging behavior of California Least Terns. She received her B.A. in Biology from Williams College, Williamstown MA, and Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her postdoctoral research was a CALFED position at San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve until she started at CSULB in 2008.
