Michelle Stantial Email & Phone Number

Terrebonne, Or, Us

Terrebonne, Or, Us

Hood River, Oregon, United States

Yosemite Village, California, United States

• Plan, conduct, and direct research focused on evaluating the effects of alternative management actions on a nationally significant species (i.e., giant sequoias)• Use a structured decision-making approach for problem framing, objectives setting, and articulating alternative hypotheses about the effects of management actions (i.e., prescribed fire) on focal species (i.e., giant sequoias) in the Sierra Nevadas which includes engaging with and finding consensus among a diverse group of end-users across the study region• Apply and improve a new constructed value of information (CVoI, formerly QVoI) analysis using expert elicitation to prioritize hypotheses (and management experiments) based on whether testing each hypothesis would have a high probability of achieving the desired management outcome• Advise a diverse group of project collaborators (federal, state, and NGO partners) on experimental design during the planning phase of an adaptive management framework for predicting the consequences of alternative management actions• Serve as the lead for developing the Strategic Science Plan for the Resources and Management Division of Yosemite National Park• Lead strategic planning workshops (both Division-wide and within each branch) to identify goals, objectives, and gaps in scientific knowledge to create a transparent and cohesive Strategic Science Plan that can be implemented over the next 10-15 years

• Plan, conduct, and direct research focused on evaluating the effects of alternative management actions on threatened and hunted species (e.g., black rails and mottled ducks)• Use a structured decision-making approach for problem framing, objectives setting, and articulating alternative hypotheses about the effects of management actions (i.e., prescribed fire) on focal species (i.e., black rails, yellow rails, and mottled ducks) in Gulf coast marshes which includes engaging with and finding consensus among a diverse group of end-users across the study region• Apply and improve a new qualitative value of information (QVoI) analysis using expert elicitation to prioritize hypotheses (and management experiments) based on whether testing each hypothesis would have a high probability of achieving the desired management outcome• Advise a diverse group of project collaborators (federal, state, and NGO partners) on experimental design during the planning phase of an adaptive management framework for predicting the consequences of applying fire at various return intervals on focal species• Simulate data in R and conduct power analysis to determine the feasibility of the proposed study design using an occupancy modeling framework • Develop a Bayesian decision network parameterized by expert knowledge to predict the response of focal species to varying fire return intervals and burn decisions• Attend and present at conferences and meetings to disseminate research findings• Prepare annual reports and manuscripts for peer-review

Cape May, New Jersey

• Defined research objectives, planned study design, and coordinated field activities with a diverse group of partners in New Jersey to understand factors limiting piping plover abundance and productivity• Managed data and conducted statistical analyses to understand factors limiting abundance and productivity for piping plovers (i.e., Bayesian logistic exposure nest survival models, Young survival models, CJS and Barker models; Bayesian dynamic occupancy and two-species occupancy models)• Created maps using ArcGIS to examine patterns of spatial distribution • Built sensorgnomes to locally track piping plovers with nanotags on the MOTUS network• Produced technical reports and prepared manuscripts for peer-review• Served as a teaching assistant for applied Wildlife Science to undergraduates• Statistically analyzed data for Dr. Jacqueline Frair from otter tracking surveys across New York State using Bayesian time-to-detection (TTD) occupancy models with distance substituted for time; provided methods used to be incorporated into reports for NYSDEC• Led the analysis and preparation of a report to evaluate the efficacy of predator removal in Massachusetts using historic nesting data as a targeted goal of the Massachusetts Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP); used a Bayesian Dinsmore model for nest survival then conducted a power analysis to make recommendations for approaches to evaluate efficacy moving forward• Assisted with development of a tool that would predict the consequences of exclosure use to help beach managers make decisions regarding exclosures for Atlantic coast piping plovers which was the result of a structured decision-making workshop (PiperEx)• Served as an assistant facilitator at a structured decision-making workshop aimed to rapidly prototype the decision to use predator removal for piping plover conservation on beaches along the Atlantic coast• Collected behavioral observations of piping plovers nesting along Lake Ontario in New York

Skaneateles, Ny

• Researched effects of various chemicals and drugs on the environment, wildlife and humans• Analyzed data from field tests to determine the potential effects of various chemicals on the environment and humans• Prepared summaries of research and data analysis for supplemental information to various toxicology reports• Assisted in developing human and ecological risk assessments from data acquired from sampling efforts for various toxicology cases throughout the United States

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Chatham, Ma

• Piping Plover (41 pairs), American Oystercatcher (23 pairs), Black Skimmer (5 pairs), and Least Tern (100 pairs) nest searching and productivity monitoring• Roseate Tern nest searching, trapping (Potter traps), banding, productivity monitoring, and post-breeding resighting (13 pairs)• Common Tern (7000 pairs) productivity monitoring, trapping (Potter traps), banding, and Laughing Gull kleptoparasitism monitoring • Participated in Red Knot Migration Study involving cannon netting and banding of shorebirds (REKN, SBDO, BBPL, SAND – 500+ individuals captured and 300+ banded)• Supervised crew of 2 Seasonal Biological Technicians and 4 Seasonal Biological Interns• Managed all data collected during the field season into Excel spreadsheets and analyzed data for state census forms and 2011 Annual Field Season Report• Assisted with grant submissions for Roseate Tern, American Oystercatcher, and Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle projects• Acquired wildlife permits for 2012 field season• Tracked 12 rabbits with radio telemetry units trapped at Mashpee NWR– mixed sampling of New England Cottontail and Eastern Cotton Tails• Tagged and processed 500+ Horseshoe Crabs using refuge waters for spawning• Finalized 2009 and 2010 Annual Field Season Reports and Maps for publication

Wellfleet, Ma

• Conducted weekly/monthly counts of dead, moribund and healthy Common Eiders• Collected wing samples and newly deceased specimens for aging, sexing, and necropsy• Surveyed adjacent waters for other healthy waterfowl present

Dauphin Island, Al

• Conducted surveys of wintering Piping Plovers on Gulf Coast barrier islands• Trapped and banded wintering Piping Plovers using drop and whoosh nets (38 individuals)• Resighted uniquely marked adult Piping Plovers for winter survival analysis• Supervised field crew and coordinated daily activities with boat captain• Managed collected data into Access database

Wellfleet, Ma

• Piping Plover (23-30 pairs), American Oystercatcher (2 pairs), and Least Tern (100-300 pairs) nest searching and productivity monitoring on Cape Cod Bay beaches from Brewster to Provincetown• Supervised, coordinated and communicated with 3 staff members and 20+ volunteers• Made recommendations to landowners regarding management of nesting shorebirds• Managed data collected during field season into anAccess database for state census forms• Assisted in the development of new educational materials and curriculum• Conducted counts of staging Common and Roseate Tern flocks at outer Cape Cod beaches from Chatham to Provincetown• Resighted color banded adult Roseate Terns for post-breeding dispersal study• Managed data collected during the field season into spreadsheets for analysis and report• Retrieved cold-stunned sea turtles identified by volunteers on local Cape Cod Bay beaches• Recorded measurements of recovered turtles such as straight carapace length, curved carapace length, straight carapace width, curved carapace width, weight, and body condition• Managed data on recovered turtles into Excel spreadsheets• Updated NOAA about stranding numbers, locations, and mortalities on a weekly basis

Nantucket, Ma

• Monitored nesting Piping Plovers (5 pairs) and American Oystercatchers (11 pairs)• Educated beachgoers about important nesting habitats and appropriate beach use• Led weekly natural history programs for Tuckernuck residents• Assisted with locating nests and banding of Northern Harrier chicks

• Scheduled, planned, and implemented programs and staff for all visiting groups• Trained and supervised seasonal staff (up to 40 staff members) in outdoor leadership courses (high ropes, low ropes, and teambuilding) and environmental education programs (forest ecology and pond ecology)• Completed billing, evaluations, and follow-ups with visiting groups• Lead visiting groups of various ages from elementary school to adult and from private schools to inner city schools through outdoor leadership courses such as teambuilding, low ropes, and high ropes• Taught specialty courses in forest and pond ecology for elementary schools

Ph.D. Wildlife Biology And Management

Dissertation title: “Factors Limiting Abundance and Reproductive Success of Piping Plovers in New Jersey”

M.S., Wildlife Biology And Management

Thesis Title: “Flight Behavior of Breeding Piping Plovers: Implications for Risk of Collision with Turbines and Other Human Structures”

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology, General

Capstone title: “Exploring Potential Causes of Reduced Anuran Diversity at the Wilds”