CCB People
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Michael F. Allen Director Professor of Plant Pathology and Biology |
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My interests focus on the regulation of community and ecosystem processes by soil organisms with special emphasis on mycorrhizal fungi. My current research concentrates on global change dynamics and structure of undisturbed areas, and how that information can be utilized in the conservation and restoration of native ecosystems. |
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John Rotenberry Associate Director Professor of Biology Director of UC Nature Reserves |
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My laboratory studies community ecology and conservation biology, particularly how environmental factors interact to determine species diversity and community composition, and how the relative importance of those factors varies. My research has focused on communities in semi-arid shrubsteppe habitat, with emphasis on birds, shrubs, and arthropods; annual plants and their pollinators in old-field ecosystems; and conservation biology of vertebrates from a landscape ecological perspective. |
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Rick Redak Profesor of Entomology Chair of the CCB Steering Committee |
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Currently, my lab is involved in studies investigating 1) The use of whole insect communities to assess community recovery following fire or restoration, 2) The impact of land management practices on insect community structure and 3) The importance of insect community structure and biomass distribution in determining the habitat quality of endangered species of vertebrate insectivores. |
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Tom Scott Associate Director Cooperative Extension |
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My interests are biogeography, conservation biology, wildlife management. Some of my recent projects are wildlife conservation in fragmented and altered landscapes, including studies of wildlife movement, habitat use, and population biology in oak woodland, sage scrub, and riparian habitats; behavioral changes and adjustments in habitat use of woodland bird species in response to human activities; the conservation and management of island bird species through captive propagation, predator control, and habitat restoration. |
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Cameron Barrows Assistant Research Ecologist |
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I am currently an Assistant Research Ecologist coordinating the Center for Conservation Biology’s Desert Studies Initiative.The focus of the Desert Studies Initiative has been to develop risk assessments for desert flora, fauna and natural communities relevant to the implementation of regional conservation programs. Specific research has examined the influence of suburban-natural area interfaces, minimum habitat sizes for population persistence along precipitation gradients, the influence of exotic species on natural community composition, drivers of population dynamics, and modeling current and historic species distributions to objectively measure habitat loss. We are also exploring programs to enhance the secondary level science education in surrounding schools. |
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Kathleen Dawn Fleming Lab Assistant |
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I currently hold a position as a Laboratory Assistant at the CCB assisting with database management, administrative duties, and monitoring of sensitive species listed under the Coachella Valley and Western Riverside County MSHCP’s. My research interests include how to increase conservation efforts for desert ecology through local environmental education initiatives, including identifying how to build on local knowledge and awareness of conservation issues. By doing so, I hope to optimize the design and function of integral issues of ecology within developing Habitat Conservation Plans and the surrounding communities. |
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Kristine Preston Assistant Research Ecologist |
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Dr. Preston’s research focuses on the responses of individuals, populations, species, and communities to environmental change resulting from natural and anthropogenic processes and applying these findings to conservation of sensitive species and natural communities. Key components of her research include habitat modeling, community ecology, behavioral ecology, and conservation biology. Her research is conducted primarily in natural communities of southern California and the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. |
| Robert F. Johnson Assistant Specialist | |
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I work with geographic information and provide geospatial analysis services in support of our research efforts. This is usually presented as various digital data products and visual media illustrating research findings. I also provide assistance and training to researchers in GIS software and methods. Much of my work pertains to the compilation of contemporary and past environmental information into a format appropriate for modeling habitat suitability. One of my interests is developing conversion methods from historic data formats to digital geospatial datasets. |
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Veronique Rorive Academic Coordinator |
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I am responsible for the administration and coordination of the CCB projects, as well as the development of research initiatives in Mexico's two peninsulas: Yucatan and Baja California. A bachelor's degree in anthropology coupled with a master's thesis in environmental education, strengthened my interests on how conservation and management of biodiversity efforts successfully integrate and interact with local community development objectives. |
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Matthew Davis Junior Specialist |
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| My primary responsibilities cover, but are not limited to, various IT and data management tasks including the administration of the CCB's FTP Server, creating data backups and archives, and serving as the technical troubleshooter for our department's staff, faculty, and administration. My GIS tasks vary according to the project at hand. I have been responsible for creating and finding geographic layers (satellite images, elevation models, land parcels, soil strata, etc.) in order to produce publishable maps and images used in reports, grants, and journal articles. I am also in charge of maintaining the CCB's website and keeping it as up-to-date as possible (keep an eye out!). | |
| Cecelia Morentin Administrative Assistant | |
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I have been an Administrative Assistant with the University of California, Riverside since 1996. At the Center for Conservation Biology I facilitate travel, various aspects of personnel, purchasing, grants and proposals, as well as day to day activities. It is a pleasure to work with everyone in the department and be a part of an extraordinary work environment. |