Current Address: Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve

Curriculum Vitae

Christopher W. Swarth

Current Address:Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve

Office of Research and Economic Development

5200 North Lake Dr.

University of California, Merced

Merced, California 95343

Family: Marilyn L. Fogel (wife); Dana A. Swarth and Evan A. Swarth (children)

Education

BA in Zoology, 1978. Humboldt State University, Arcata, California.

MS in Biology, 1983. California State University, Hayward.

Thesis title: Foraging ecology of Snowy Plovers and the distribution of their arthropod prey at Mono Lake, California. Graduate Advisers: Dr. Howard Cogswell (Major Professor), Dr. Judith Wagner,

Mr. Gary Page, Dr. Harvey Scudder.

Current Positions

Director, Merced Vernal Pools and GrasslandReserve, UC Merced (2013-present)

As Reserve Director, I facilitate research andeducation programs,and provide conservation management for the 6,500 acre Merced Vernal Pools and GrasslandReserve at the University of California, Merced.

Lecturer. School of Natural Sciences. University of California, Merced (2013-present)

I taught Earth System Science (ESS1) in spring 2013 and Conservation Biology (BIO149F) in spring 2014. I mentor students in a Dept. of Engineering Service Learning course (Spring 2014; Fall 2014)

Professional History

Sanctuary Director. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, Md. 1989 – 2012.

Jug Bay Site Manager. Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, MD. (CB-NERR).

1990 – 2012.

Director. Potomac River Aquatic Biology Program. Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center, Accokeek, Md. 1987 – 1989.

Biology Instructor. Biology Department, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. 1983 – 1986.

Biology Instructor. Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 1983 – 1986.

Biologist. Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Petaluma, Calif. 1981 – 1984.

San Francisco Bay Coordinator. Mono Lake Committee, San Francisco. 1981 – 1982.

Assistant Refuge Biologist/Contract Biologist. San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge,

Newark, Calif. 1979 – 1982.

Field Biologist. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. 1979 & 1985.

Awards and Honors

Certificate of Recognition – UC Merced Natural Reserve. Jim Costa, Member US Congress. 2014

Sigma Xi Chapter, UC Merced. 2014.

Research Associate. 2009. San Diego Natural History Museum.

President. 2004 – 2006. Atlantic Estuarine Research Society.

Certificate of Appreciation. 2005. Coast and Estuarine Research Federation.

Certificate of Accomplishment. 2005. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin., Office of Oceans.

Certificate of Recognition. 2005. Anne Arundel County Council.

Award of Appreciation for Outstanding Achievement. 1998. Sierra Club, Anne Arundel Chapter.

Research Associate. 1997. Hudsonia (a non-profit environmental research institute), New York.

Certificate of Appreciation. 1995. Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

Scientific Leadership

California Audubon Tricolored Blackbird Working Action Team. 2014.

Coordinating Committee. Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas. 2008 – 2012.

Special Session Co-Chair. Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Conference. Portland, Oregon. November 2009. (Environmental Impacts to Freshwater Tidal Wetlands).

Member. ICC (MD Inter-County Connector Freeway) Box Turtle Advisory Group. 2008 – 2010.

Member. Snapping Turtle Working Group (Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources). 2007-2009.

President. Atlantic Estuarine Research Society. 2004 – 2006.

Governing Board Member. Coast and Estuarine Research Federation. 2004 – 2006.

Board Member (Secretary; Membership Chair). Atlantic Estuarine Research Society. 1995 – 2003.

Current and Recent Ecological ResearchProjects

Bird diversity in the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, UC Merced.

Impacts of grazing on vegetation in the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, UC Merced.

Ecological relations of diving ducks in response to warm water effluent from Calvert Cliffs and Chalk Point Power Plants, Maryland. 2010-2012. Funded by MD Dept. of Natural Resources.

Population ecology of Eastern Box Turtles and freshwater turtles in freshwater tidal wetlands.

1995 – 2012.

Estuarine waterbird distribution and patterns of abundance. 1999 – 2010.

Songbird population growth, survivorship and breeding productivity. 1990 – 2012.

Ecology, nutrient dynamics, and water quality of freshwater tidal wetlands. 1989 – 2012.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Swarth, C.W., S. Simmons, and C.M. Vega. 2014. Establishment of a nest box program for the American Kestrel at the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve. Central Valley Birds (accepted).

Therres, G.D., C.A. Davis, and C.W. Swarth. 2014. Grid-based herp atlas using active searching: A pilot project. Maryland Naturalist. (in press).

Swarth, C.W. and W. Bleeker. 2014. Observations of the summer birds of Tukarak Island (Belcher Island group; Nunavut), Nastapoka Islands (Nunavut), and Richmond Gulf (northern Quebec). Canadian Field Naturalist (to be published November 2014).

Llanso, R., and C.W. Swarth. 2014. Diving duck and benthic prey distribution in the Chalk Point region of the Patuxent River estuary (Chesapeake Bay, USA). (submitted to Estuaries and Coasts).

Swarth, C.W. 2014. Species Account: Northern Red-bellied Slider (Pseudemys rubriventris). In: Atlas of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Maryland. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. (in press)

Barendregt, A., and C.W. Swarth. 2013. Freshwater tidal wetlands: variation and changes. Estuaries and Coasts 36: 445-456.

Swarth, C.W., P. Delgado, and D. Whigham. 2013. Vegetation dynamics in a tidal freshwater wetland: A long-term study at differing scales. Estuaries and Coasts. 36: 559-574.

Delgado, P., P. Hensel, C.W. Swarth, M.Ceroni, and R. Boumans. 2013. Long-term sedimentation patterns in a tidal freshwater marsh: A compound response to hydrologic alteration and sea level rise. Estuaries and Coasts 36: 585-594.

Cunningham, H, C. Davis, C.W. Swarth, and G. Therres. 2012. The Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas: A volunteer-based distributional survey. International Journal of Zoology. 2012: 1-11. (Article ID 348653, 11 pgs. doi:10.1155/2012/348653).

Cordero, A., R. Reeves, and C.W. Swarth. 2012. Home–range size, movement, and overwintering of the eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) in Maryland’s Coastal Plain, USA. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 11: 121-124.

Cordero, A., M. Quinlan, S. Blackstone, and C. W. Swarth. 2012. Kinosternum subrubrum (Eastern Mud Turtle) Overwintering. Herpetological Review 43: 327.

Savva, Y., C.W. Swarth, J. Gupchup, and K. Szlavecz. 2010. Thermal environments of overwintering juvenile and adult eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). Canadian Journal of Zoology 88:1086-1094.

Cordero, A. and C.W. Swarth. 2010. Notes on the movement and aquatic behavior of some kinosternid turtles. Acta Zoológica Mexicana 26(1):233-235.

Dickey, R, S. Matthews, and C.W. Swarth. 2009. Movements of hatchling red-bellied cooters

(Pseudemys rubriventris). Herpetological Review 40:337-338.

Swarth C.W. and E. Kiviat. 2009. Animals of Tidal Freshwater Wetlands in North America.

A. Barendregt, D. Whigham, and A. Baldwin (Eds.). pgs. 71-88. In: Tidal Freshwater Wetlands. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Whigham, D., A. Baldwin, and C.W. Swarth. 2009. Conservation of Tidal Freshwater Wetlands in North America. A. Barendregt, D. Whigham, and A. Baldwin (Eds.). pgs. 233-240. In: Tidal Freshwater Wetlands. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Swarth, C.W. 2005. Box Turtle predation on songbirds. Herpetological Review 36:315.

Swarth, C.W., W. M. Roosenburg, and E. Kiviat (Eds.). 2004. Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Bibliomania Press. Salt Lake City, Utah. 121 pgs.

Marchand, M., M. Quinlan, and C.W. Swarth. 2004. Movement patterns and habitat use of eastern box turtles at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Maryland. Pgs. 55 – 61. In: C. W. Swarth, W. M. Roosenburg and E. Kiviat, (Eds.). Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Bibliomania Press. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Swarth, C.W. 2004. Natural history and reproductive biology of the red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris). Pgs. 73 – 83. In: C.W. Swarth, W.M. Roosenburg and E. Kiviat (Eds.). Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Bibliomania Press. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Teece, M., C.W. Swarth, N. Tuross, and M.L. Fogel. 2004. Determination of the essential amino acid requirements of the red-bellied turtle, Pseudemys rubriventris, during hatchling development.

Pgs. 85 – 91. In: C. W. Swarth, W. M. Roosenburg and E. Kiviat (Eds.). Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Bibliomania Press. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Swarth, C.W. and J. Burke. 2002. Seasonal dynamics of waterbirds using freshwater tidal wetlands. Pg. 39. In, M.C. Perry, ed. Black Ducks and Their Chesapeake Bay Habitats: Proceedings of a Symposium, USGS, Biological Res. Discipline Information and Technology Rept. USGS/BRD/ITR-2002-2005.

Hadidian J., J. Sauer, C.W. Swarth, P. Handley, S. Droege, C. Williams, J. Huff, and G. Didden. 1997. A city-wide breeding bird survey for Washington, D.C. Urban Ecosystems 1:87-102.

Smithberger, S. and C.W. Swarth. 1993. Reptiles and amphibians of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

The Maryland Naturalist 37:28-46.

Swarth, C.W. 1987. First sight record of the Black-headed Gull for Cameroon, West Africa.

Malimbus (Journal of the West African Ornithological Society) 12:126-127.

Page, G., L. Stenzel, D. Winkler, and C.W. Swarth. 1983. Spacing out at Mono Lake: nest density, breeding success and predation in the Snowy Plover. Auk 100:13-24.

Swarth, C.W. 1983. Foraging ecology of Snowy Plovers and the distribution of their arthropod prey at Mono Lake, California. Master’s thesis. California State University, East Bay.

Swarth, C.W. and H. Cogswell. 1981. Winter bird population study of intertidal mudflat on San Francisco Bay. American Birds 35:37-38.

Swarth, C.W. and H. Cogswell. 1980. Winter bird population study of intertidal mudflat on San Francisco Bay. American Birds 34:30-32.

Myers, J.P., C.W. Swarth, and F. A. Pitelka. 1980. Breeding bird census on wet coastal plain tundra. American Birds 34:82-83.

Technical Reports and Popular Articles on Ecological Research

Vega, M.C, S. Simmons, and C.W. Swarth. 2014. American Kestrel Productivity Report for 2014. Technical Report of the UC Merced Natural Reserve System.

Swarth, C.W. and R. Llanso. 2012. Diving Duck and Invertebrate Prey Distribution in the Patuxent River Estuary, Chalk Point. Report to GenOn Mid-Atlantic LLC, and the Power Plant Research Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 85 pgs.

Swarth, C.W. and R. Llanso. 2012. Calvert Cliffs Diving Duck Study Report. Report to Southern

Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Board, Inc., and the Power Plant Research Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 14 pgs.

Swarth, C.W., S. Teliak, M. Quinlan, and D. Bystrak. 2012. Summary of the Monitoring Avian productivity and Survivorship Study, 1990-2011. Technical report of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. 50 pgs.

Seigel, R., S. Farnsworth, P. Cain, M. Fogel, S. Hagood, C.W. Swarth, and C. Sinclair-Winters. 2012. Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During the Construction of the Inter-county Connector. Towson University report to Maryland State Highway Administration. 55 pgs.

Swarth, C.W. 2011. Riding out the flood: How Patuxent River animals cope with high water. Bay Weekly. Volume 19, Number37.

Silver, C., M. Fogel, S. Farnsworth, C.W. Swarth, and A. Cordero. 2010. Diet and Food Resources of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in the Path of Maryland’s Intercounty Connector Freeway. Report for Maryland State Highway Administration via Towson University. 13 pgs.

Swarth, C.W., S. Matthews, L. Hollister, and E. Friebele. 2010. Summary Report of the 2009 Jug Bay Bioblitz. Technical report of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. 35 pages.

Swarth, C.W., L. Hollister, E. Friebele, K. Molines, and S. Matthews. 2008. Summary Report of the 2007 Sanctuary Bioblitz. Technical report of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. 29 pgs.

Swarth C.W. et al. 2008. Manual on coordinating the bi-annual conferences of the Atlantic Estuarine

Research Society.

Campbell, J. D., K. Molines, and C.W. Swarth. 2007. Data mining for ecological research: Lessons learned from amphibian and reptile activity analyses. National Science Foundation Symposium on Next Generation of Data Mining and Cyber-Enabled Discovery for Innovation, Baltimore, MD. October 10-12, 2007. 5 pg summary.

Swarth, C.W. 2007. Distribution and Abundance of Wintering Waterbirds on the Patuxent River Estuary.

A Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Technical Report. 17 pgs.

Boumans R.M., M. Ceroni, D.M. Burdick, D.R. Cahoon, and C.W. Swarth. 2003. Sediment Elevation Dynamics in Tidal Marshes: Functional Assessment of Accretionary Biofilters. Final Report NOAA/UNH Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), Durham, New Hampshire.

Lee, D., C.W. Swarth,and K.A. Buhlman. 2001. Bog Turtle Conservation in Maryland:

Use of the Public and Private Sectors in Protection and Management of Small Isolated Wetlands.

Proceedings of a workshop held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Feb. 2001. 60 pgs.

Swarth, C.W. 2000. Mid-Atlantic turtle conference held in Maryland. Turtle and Tortoise Newsletter 2:12.

Swarth, C.W. and J. Burke. 2000. Waterbirds in Freshwater Tidal Wetlands: Population Trends and Habitat Use in the Non-breeding Season. A Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Technical Report. 37 pgs.

Molines, K. and C.W. Swarth. 1999. The Breeding Migration of Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) and Spotted Salamanders (A. maculatum) at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary on Maryland’s Coastal Plain. A Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Technical Report. 34 pgs.

Swarth, C.W. and J. Burke. 1999. Patuxent River Waterbird Census; February 1999.

A Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Technical Report. 29 pgs.

Swarth, C.W. 1998. The Ecology and Population Status of Turtles at Jug Bay, Patuxent River (Maryland). A Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Technical Report. 83 pgs.

Burke, J., C.W. Swarth, and D. Nemazie. 1995. Proceedings of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Maryland, Research Meeting.

Damon, M. and C.W. Swarth. 1995. A Guide to the Wetland Plants of Jug Bay. A publication of the

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

Swarth, C.W. and D. Peters. 1993. Water Quality and Nutrient Dynamics of Jug Bay on the Patuxent River; 1987 - 1992. A Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Technical Report. 112 pgs.

Swarth, C.W. 1990. Matelea: Endangered Plant at Jug Bay. Marsh Notes 5:1.

Swarth, C.W. 1986. Species Accounts (Common Snipe, Long-billed Curlew, Willet, Wilson’s Phalarope). California Wildlife Habitat Relationship Systems. California Department of Fish and Game.

Swarth, C.W., C. Akagi, and P. Metropolous. 1983. Distribution patterns and ecology of waterbirds using the Coyote Hills Salt Ponds. Report to the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. 75 pgs.

Swarth C.W. and D. Ainley. 1981. Research priorities within the Point Reyes-Farallons National Marine Sanctuary. Report to the NOAA Sanctuary Programs Office. 27 pgs.

Scientific Research Presentations (Since 2000)

Swarth, C.W. 2013. Birdlife of UC Merced’s vernal pools reserve. Presentation to Yosemite Area Audubon Society, Mariposa.

Swarth, C.W. 2013. Introduction to vernal pool ecosystems. Sigma Xi conference lecture. UC Merced.

Swarth, C.W. 2012.The Secret Lives of Seabirds and Turtles. [Guest speaker at Unitarian Church Natural History Conference, Star Island, New Hampshire.]

Swarth, C.W. 2012.Life histories of Maryland amphibians and reptiles. [Presentation to the Fairhaven Citizen’s Association.]

Swarth, C.W. 2012. Turtle Ecology and Conservation in Maryland. [Lecture to the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, Md.]

Swarth, C.W.2012. What is a Naturalist? [Presentation to Montgomery County Master Naturalist class; Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, Md.]

Giannini, T., C.W. Swarth, M. Fogel and R. Bowden. 2011. Using stable isotopes to analyze niche characteristics of eastern mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum) and common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus). [Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Amphibian and Reptile Research, Minneapolis].

Swarth, C.W., M. Quinlan and J. Snodgrass. 2011. Sex and age differences in home range and habitat use of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)[Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Amphibian and Reptile Research, Minneapolis].

Friebele, E., L. Hollister, B. Wolfe, R. Smith and C. W. Swarth. 2010. Stream research and restoration in small mid-Patuxent River watershed streams. [Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Maryland Water Quality Monitoring Council, Timonium, Maryland]

Delgado, P, C.W. Swarth and P. Hensel. 2009. Long-term vegetation and sedimentation patterns in a Jug Bay freshwater tidal marsh: Responses to a changing environment. [Oral presentation at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation conference. Portland, Oregon]

Swarth, C. W., B. Gates, M. Quinlan, S. Teliak and D. Bystrak. 2009. Using mist nets to study songbird

reproduction. [Poster presented to the American Ornithologist’s Union, Philadelphia]

Delgado, P., C.W. Swarth, E. Friebele, L. Harris, and J. Campbell. 2009. Impacts of sea level rise on plant communities in freshwater tidal wetlands. [Poster presented to the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, Ocean City, Maryland]

Swarth, C.W. and S. Ricciardi. 2008. Distribution of diving ducks and their benthic invertebrate prey on the Patuxent River estuary. [Oral presentation to the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society,

George Mason University, Virginia]

Dickey, R., C.W. Swarth, and P. Delgado. 2008. History of commercial fishing in the Patuxent River estuary. [Poster presented at the annual conference of the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, Lewes, Delaware]

K. Szlavecz, A. Terzis, R. Musaloiu-E.,C.-J. Liang, J. Cogan, A.. Szalay, J. Gupchup, J. Klofas, L. Xia,

C.W. Swarth, and S. Matthews. 2007. Turtle nest monitoring with wireless sensor networks.

[Poster presented to the American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California]

Delgado, P. M. Hall, C.W. Swarth, T. Trice, J. Zimmerelli, C. Trumbauer, and S. Thompson. 2007.

Land use and water quality trends within the Maryland Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. [Poster presented at the international conference of the Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, Rhode Island]

Barnett, S. and C.W. Swarth. 2007. Box turtle research at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. (Forschung an Dosenschildkröten im Jug Bay Feuchtgebiets-Schutzgebeit”). [Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the German Chelonia Group, German Herpetological Society, Hofheim, Germany]

Swarth, C.W. and M. Quinlan. 2007. Using plot surveys to assess eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) population density and site fidelity. [Oral presentation at the 3rd Box Turtle Conservation & Ecology Workshop, Edgewater, Maryland]

Ellett, K. and C.W. Swarth. 2007. Survey of the microzooplankton of the freshwater tidal Patuxent River. [Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, Catonsville, Maryland]

Swarth, C.W. and M. Quinlan. 2007. Differences in the home range of male and female eastern box turtles. [Poster presented at the 3rd Box Turtle Conservation & Ecology Workshop, Edgewater, Maryland]

Swarth, C.W. 2006. The secret life of the box turtle. [Invited presentation to Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, Maryland]

Swarth, C.W. and M. Perry. 2005. Waterbird distribution and abundance along an estuarine gradient in winter. [Presentation at the Estuarine Research Federation International Conference, Norfolk, Virginia]

Swarth, C.W. and M. Quinlan. 2005. Gender differences in habitat preference of eastern box turtles using forests and adjacent tidal wetlands. [Presentation at the annual conference of the Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa Bay, Florida]

Friebele, E. and C.W. Swarth. 2005. Potential factors determining hatchling emergence patterns in red-bellied turtles. [Presentation at the annual conference of the Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa Bay, Florida]

Swarth, C.W. 2004. Home range characteristics of box turtles. [Presentation at the Regional Box Turtle Conservation Workshop, Laurel, Maryland]

Swarth, C.W. and J. Burke. 2003. Waterbird distribution along an estuarine gradient in winter. [Presentation at the 2003 Research Conference at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary]