RACHEL ZUERCHER

Ph.D. Candidate, University of California Santa Cruz

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Tel: (605) 222-0702  Email:

URL:

EDUCATION

2012–PresentPh.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of California, Santa Cruz, CA

Advisor: Dr. Mark Carr

2003–2007B.S. Biology(Minors: Chemistry, Env. Science),Summa Cum Laude

Valparaiso University

Advisors: Dr. Laurie S. Eberhardt and Dr. Grayson Davis

2005 Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology

Dominica, West Indies, Fall 2005

Advisor: Dr. Sascha Steiner

PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS

Peer-reviewed

  1. Hughes, BB, Beas-Luna, R et al. (including Zuercher, R). 2017. Long-term studies contribute disproportionately to ecology and policy. Bioscience.In press.
  2. Van der Sleen, Peter, Dzaugis, MP, Gentry, C, Hall, WP, Hamilton, V, Helser TE, Matta, ME, Underwood, CA, Zuercher, R, Black, BA. 2016. Long-term Bering Sea environmental variability revealed by a centennial-length biochronology of Pacific Ocean Perch Sebastes alutus. Climate Research 71: 33-34.
  3. Aguilera, SE, Cole, J, Finkbeiner, EM, Le Cornu, E, Ban, NC, Carr, MH, Cinner, JE, Crowder, LB, Gelcich, S, Hicks, CC, Kittinger, JN, Martone, R, Malone, D, Pomeroy, C, Starr, RM, Seram, S, Zuercher, R, Broad, K 2015. Managing small-scale commercial fisheries for adaptive capacity: Insights from dynamic social-ecological drivers of change in Monterey Bay. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0118992. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118992
  4. Saporito, RA, R. Zuercher, M. Roberts, KG. Gerow, and MA. Donnelly. 2007. Experimental evidence for aposematism in the dendrobatid poison frog Oophaga pumilio.Copeia 25:1006–1011.

*highlighted in: Nordell, S., Valone, T. 2013. Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications. Oxford University Press.

Teaching Products

  1. Zuercher, R and Aguilera, S. 2015. Social-ecological coupling in the small-scale fisheries of Monterey Bay, California. Product of National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), NSF DBI-1052875.
  1. Zuercher, R, B.A. Higgins, S. Ciandro. 2015. Fisheries management: fish and our communities. Module (lab and worksheet) designed for high school biology students. Product of GK–12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923.
  2. Zuercher, R, C. Goetsch, B. Yew, R. Herradora. 2014. Chromatography in chemistry. Module (video, lab and worksheets) designed for high school chemistry students. Concepts: Planning investigations, arguing from evidence. Product of GK–12 SCWIBLES, NSF DGE-0947923.

Professional Reports

  1. Zuercher, R, S. Steiner. 2005. Rapid Assessment of Stony Coral Community Structure in Dominica, West Indies. Atlantic Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Protocol v. 4.0 First Implementation in the Commonwealth of Dominica: 17-31.
  2. Zuercher, R. 2010. CNMI Section 309 Assessment and Strategy Report 2011-2015. NOAA Coastal Zone Management Program.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2013–PresentGraduate Research Assistant (fisheries ecology and collaborative fisheries research), FishTRACS. Raimondi-Carr Lab, University of California Santa Cruz.

2013–PresentScientific Diver, Partnership for the Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans. Raimondi-Carr Lab, UC Santa Cruz.

2011-2012Research Diver, CNMI Marine Monitoring Team. CNMI Coastal Resources Management Office, Saipan.

2006Researcher, National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (Advisor: Dr. Maureen Donnelly). Institute for Tropical Studies, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.

2006-2007Student Researcher, Department of Biology (Advisor: Dr. Laurie Eberhardt), Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN

2005Student Researcher/Diver, Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology (Advisor: Dr. SaschaSteiner), Mahaut, Dominica.

TEACHING AND MENTORING

Courses taught as Instructor

Adjunct faculty appointment at Northern Marianas College (NMC)

2010-2012Intro to Natural Resources Management, NMC, Saipan, CNMI

2010-2012Species and Ecosystem Management, NMC, Saipan, CNMI

Courses taught as Teaching Assistant

2015Kelp Forest Ecology (10-credit diving-based field course), UCSC

2016Development and Physiology, UCSC

2016Ecology and Conservation in Practice (10-credit field course), UCSC

Outreach

2014-2015Undergraduate fieldwork training, Raimondi-Carr Lab, UCSC

2010-2012Mariana Islands Nature Alliance climate outreach team, Saipan, CNMI

2010-2012Friday Films Environmental Outreach planning team, Saipan, CNMI

Student Mentoring

2010-2011Amanda Santos, NOAA Coral Reef Internship Program: “Communicating the importance of nonpoint source pollution to multiple stakeholders”.

2013Christine Mellon, UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology undergraduate.

2014Moises Zuniga, Ernesto Alvarado, Miguel Chavez, Jose Diaz: “Measuring claw force in crab species at Elkhorn Slough”.

2015Krista Arellano, Cesar Cadenas, Angelica Navarro, Priscila Martinez: “Changes in fish biodiversity in Elkhorn Slough: 2012-2015”.

2015Sydney Vander Linden, UCSC Marine Biology undergraduate.

2016-2017Raul Almanza, UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology undergraduate.

2016-2017Jocelyn Krim, UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology undergraduate.

2016-2017Jordan Lee, UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology undergraduate

Pedagogy Training

2015Teaching Socio-environmental Synthesis with Case Studies. National Socio-environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), Annapolis, MD.

2014-2015Inquiry-based Learning in the Environmental Sciences. Part of the NSF GK-12 Fellowship,UCSC

PRESENTATIONS

  1. R. Zuercher, C. Pomeroy. 2017. Social and ecological dynamics of the Central California commercial, nearshore fishery. SF Bay Area Society for Conservation Biology Symposium. Santa Cruz, CA. Oral presentation.
  2. R. Zuercher, C. Pomeroy. 2017. Social-ecological coupling in the Central California commercial, nearshore fishery. Society for Applied Anthropology. Santa Fe, NM. Oral presentation.
  3. R. Zuercher, B.A. Black, V.S. Hamilton, 2016. Climate influences on Pacific Ocean Perch (Sebastes alutus) growth revealed by 87-year otolith chronology. Western Groundfish Meeting. Newport, OR. Oral presentation.
  4. R. Zuercher. 2015. An ecosystem approach to understanding and forecasting the production of kelp forest fishes and their associated fisheries. UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology student seminar series. Oral presentation.
  5. R. Zuercher, B.A. Black, V.S. Hamilton. 2015. Climate influences on Pacific Ocean Perch (Sebastes alutus) growth revealed by 87-year otolith chronology. Western Society of Naturalists. Sacramento, CA. Oral presentation.
  6. R. Zuercher et al. 2014.Using otolith crossdating to understand biotic and abiotic factors influencing growth of rockfishes. Western Society of Naturalists. Tacoma, WA. Poster.
  7. R. Zuercher et al.2014. Climate variability and ecosystem response in the Northeast Pacific. North American Dendroecological Fieldweek. Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Oral presentation.
  8. R. Zuercher. 2013. Bottom-up effects of biodiversity on fish production in central California kelp forests. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Research Colloquium, University of Santa Cruz. Oral presentation.
  9. R. Zuercher, MacDuff, S, Sands, M. 2013. Fostering ocean leadership in Pacific island coral reef communities. Center for Ocean Solutions Oceans Colloquium, Hopkins Marine Station, Monterey, CA.Oral presentation.
  10. Eberhardt, L., R.Zuercher, S. Mohlman, M. Lute-Kulaga. 2007. Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) feeding preferences forCarya ovata in relation to species diversity in Northwest Indiana woods. Indiana Dunes Research Forum. Highland, IN. Poster.
  11. Eberhardt, L., R. Zuercher, S. Mohlman, M. Lute-Kulaga. 2007. Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) feeding preferences forCarya ovata in relation to species diversity in Northwest Indiana woods. Valparaiso University Biology Colloquium Series. Valparaiso, IN. Oral presentation.
  12. Zuercher, R., K. Byrd,M. Jordan, M. Klarman, A. Lowe, J. McNeal, N. Wallover. 2005. Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Protocol v. 4.0 First Implementation in Dominica. National Marine Resource Stakeholders Meeting. Roseau, Dominica. Oral presentation.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2015NOAA-NMFS Graduate Research Intern, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA. Mentor: Dr. John Field.

2010-2012Coastal Manager, CNMI Coastal Resources Management Office

Led coastal planning efforts including large-scale revegetation, small-scale coastal restoration, stormwater management, climate change adaptation and mitigation planning, and identifying and addressing user conflicts within marine areas.

2007-2009Environmental Resource Manager,US Peace Corps/Fiji.

Developed and implemented community-based environmental management plans, especially regarding coastal and coral reef resources. Facilitated education for offices, communities and students regarding marine and fisheries management.

2005- 2005Noxious Weed Analyst Intern, South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture.

GPS mapped Tamarix sp. (salt cedar) in SD as part of an invasive plant eradication program, surveyed rivers and wild areas to identify and map all noxious weeds and sampled grain stocks and soil for invasive pests.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

2016Diversity and Equity in STEM Fields, Stanford University

2013Ocean Leadership Practicum, Center for Ocean Solutions

2012The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Action Planning, Saipan

2011SeaWeb Social Marketing In Conservation, Saipan, CNMI

2011NOAA Coastal Services Project Design and Evaluation, Saipan

2010NOAA Grants Online Training, Saipan, CNMI

AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS

2017Wells Fargo Coastal Sustainability Fellowship ($13,000)

2016Best Student Talk, Western Groundfish conference

2016Mathias Student Research Grant, University of California ($2,000)

2015NSF Graduate Research Internship Program, NOAA Southwest Fisheries ScienceCenter ($5,000)

2014North American Dendroecological Fieldweek Graduate Research Fellowship ($1,500)

2014GK-12 SCWIBLES Graduate Fellowship ($30,000/year stipend and tuition remission)

2014UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department ($1,000)

2014Friends of Long Marine Lab Research and Education Award ($929)

2013Earl H. and Ethel M. Myers Oceanographic and Marine Trust ($1,000)

2013UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department ($750)

2012-2015National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

($30,000/yr stipend and tuition remission)

2012UCSC Graduate Non-resident Tuition Fellowship ($10,068)

2010NOAA Modernizing and Improving State Coastal Zone Management Information Systems($39,990)

2008Hundred Sands Ltd. small grant for environmental community development($2600)

2008Fiji Water Foundation Grant for community development in environment, education and health ($13,800)

2006Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Fellowship($4000)

2005VU Lumina Award for Outstanding Scholarship

2005Odyssey of the Mind Undergraduate Scholarship($1000)

2005Schweitzer Fellowship for international service work($2500)

2003-2006Valparaiso University (VU) Presidential Scholar Award

2003-2006VU Award for Excellence($4000)

2003-2006Robert C Byrd Scholarship, U.S. Office of the Secretary ($6000)

2003-2006DakotaWest/Bankwest Undergraduate Scholarship ($4000)

2003-2006Rawlins Academic Scholarship ($24,000)

SERVICE

2014-PresentGraduate Student Representative to the UCSC Dive Control Board, Santa Cruz, California.

2013-2015Liaison to the Monterey Area Research Institutes Network for Education, Santa Cruz, California.

2013-2015SurfRider Water Quality Sampling Volunteer, Santa Cruz.

2010-2011CNMI Turtle Advocacy and Guardian Society, Saipan. Grants writer and technical advisor.

2004-2007Stream Restoration Volunteer, Biology Club president, Valparaiso University. River monitoring, fish habitat restoration.

2006-2007National Parks Volunteer, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Native tallgrass prairie restoration.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Field Skills – AAUS scientific diver (UCSC), NAUI Master Diver, Caribbean and Indo-Pacific coral, invertebrate and fish identification; central California marine invertebrate, fish and algae identification; rapid assessment and long-term coral reef and kelp forest monitoring methods; otolith preparation and analysis; ATV, boat and amphibious vehicle operation; CPR, First Aid/AED, oxygen administration and lifeguarding

Computer Programs – ESRI suite/ArcGIS; R; JMP; Microsoft Access; Windows and Mac operating systems; Microsoft Office suite; Miradi conservation action planning software; COFECHA/ARSTAN dendro-analysis programs; Image Pro Premier software

Professional Skills – grants writing and management; meeting facilitation (trained through NOAA and TNC); intermediate/Advanced knowledge of Fijian language

Coursework – biology, ecology, genetics, field biology, natural history, cell biology, molecular biology, animal behavior, calculus, statistics, physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, macroeconomics, conservation, environmental philosophy, marine research methodology, advanced organismal biology, evolution, eco-evolutionary dynamics, modeling in R, community ecology, global information systems (GIS), experimental design and analysis, statistics in R, current debates in conservation, quantitative fisheries management, inquiry-based learning in environmental sciences, stable isotopes in environmental science

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Western Society of Naturalists (WSN)

American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)

American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists (AIFRB)

Santa Cruz Society for Conservation Biology (SCSCB)

Santa Cruz – Monterey Bay Area Subunit of the American Fisheries Society (SCMBAS)