ÃÛÌÒTV

Colorado State University
M.S. Wildlife Biology
2006

University of Idaho
B.S. Ecology and Conservation
1998

I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Marine Studies with a focus on tufted puffins in Alaska, marking my first opportunity to conduct seabird research. Before shifting to marine systems, I worked with the threatened Mexican spotted owl in New Mexico, which grounded my interest in species conservation and field ecology. My professional path has also included extensive volunteer service in Washington State. Most recently, I worked with the Three Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Issaquah, WA, contributing to native kokanee recovery, creekside habitat restoration for salmon species, and invasive species management. I have also supported projects with Mid Sound Fisheries, Washington Trails Association, and the Urban Carnivore Project through Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA.

Carry-over effects in the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrata):  Evaluating the roles for return migration and diet in shaping  summer body condition and egg production

My research will examine how non breeding and pre breeding ecology shape body condition and reproductive investment in tufted puffins, a sentinel species in the Gulf of Alaska. Using GLS tracking, stable isotope analysis, and morphometric data collected over two years, I am evaluating how winter diet, spring migration distance and duration, and pre-laying diet near the colony create carryover effects that influence adult condition and female egg production. By linking sex specific structural size, movement patterns, and diet, this work will attempt to clarify the mechanisms connecting seasonal behavior to breeding performance.

The knowledge and connections I build through the MMS program at ÃÛÌÒTV are essential to my career goal of working in coastal environments to protect ocean resources and marine life. More broadly, I’m committed to contributing to efforts that safeguard marine ecosystems and the communities that rely on them. By engaging with peers and mentors, I aim to grow as a scientist who advances seabird conservation and helps inform effective management wherever my career takes me.

• Kristen Gorman