As a Postdoctoral Scientist, Hannah is focused on understanding intertidal health in Acadia National Park. She is developing an assessment framework to wholistically measure the health of Acadia’s rocky intertidal and mudflat ecosystems. Within this framework, she is incorporating a wide array community perspectives and values, particularly regarding sustainable clam and worm harvest. This project builds on previous monitoring and outreach work to aid management and decision in the park. Hannah enjoys collaborating with the Acadia community to make tangible impact on the preservation and understanding of these vital ecosystems.
Hannah holds a PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine, where she researched the impacts of harvest and environmental change on coastal ecosystems. As part of the Conserving Rockweed Animal Systems for a Sustainable Harvest (CRASSH) team, Hannah studied the effects of rockweed harvest on intertidal invertebrate communities and food-webs, partnering with harvesters, landowners, conservation groups, and government agencies along the entire Maine coast. Hannah also worked with the Northeast Temperate Network of the National Park Service to evaluate changes in intertidal ecosystems due changing environmental conditions using long-term monitoring data from Acadia National Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. In her previous role at the U.S. Geological Survery’s Western Ecological Research Center, Hannah organized and supported research on the effects of habitat restoration in the San Francisco Bay and Delta on invertebrate prey availability for shorebirds, ducks, and fish. Hannah earned a BS in Environmental Sciences, and Marine and Conservation Biology from Seattle University. Throughout her education and career, Hannah has been driven by her passion for exploring the natural world and finding practical conservation solutions.
When not romping around the coast, Hannah enjoys trail running, rock-climbing, mountain biking, and backcountry skiing. She is an avid crafter, budding gardener, and foraging enthusiast. She is based in a remote mountain town in her native Washington State with her husband and rambunctious dog.
