fieldwork

Fieldwork is one of my favorite things about being a scientist. Pictures never do it justice, but here are some anyway!

Mo'orea, French Polynesia 2026

Documenting mangrove-associated coral communities as part of my PhD research.

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Mo'orea, French Polynesia 2025

Pufferfish, corallivory, and mentorship in the South Pacific.

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Mo'orea, French Polynesia 2024

Spotting rays, sharks, and whales around the island.

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Kruger National Park, South Africa

Big cats, elephants, and rhinos in South Africa.

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Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve

Wildlife surveys along the California coast.

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Coal Oil Point Nature Reserve

Shorebird and songbird surveys at a local nature reserve.

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A stand of Rhizophora stylosa; a non-native species in French Polynesia, and a focus for my PhD work.

Hypselodoris tryoni in the mangroves.

Pocillopora acuta growing on a mangrove root.

A baby blue fin trevally.

Pocillopora acuta growing on mangrove roots.

A school of Mulloidichthys vanicolensis among the mangroves. I counted 62 individuals in this school.

A cluster of Pocillopora acuta growing on mangrove roots.

A cluster of Pocillopora acuta hiding behind a mangrove root.

A young Pocillopora acuta growing on a mangrove root.

My mentee, Auhurra, planting experimental corals on the reef.

A guineafowl puffer (Arothron meleagris) named Meep.

Auhurra and her other mentor, Olivia, outplanting corals.

Olivia outplanting corals.

Another adorable guineafowl puffer.

Yet another guineafowl puffer - can you guess what species I worked on this summer?

A toby taking a snail siesta.

Hilton Reef

Pink Whiprays at Stingray Flats; both individuals had a five foot wingspan!

Blacktips at Stingray Flats

Mother and newborn humpback; PC: Kathryn Scafidi

Hayden and Ninah after a dive on MRB Reef.

Fluorescent encrusting coral. PC: Ninah Munk

Encrusting coral. PC: Ninah Munk

Lilac Breasted Roller

Leopard hiding after a successful kill

Black Rhinoceros

Rosie during an auditory survey

Western Bluebird

Acorn Woodpecker

Red-winged Blackbird

Cormorant

Belted Kingfisher