Jillian M. Bible, PhD

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

 I strive to understand how humans are affecting the ecosystems on which we depend and apply that knowledge to conservation and restoration. I am particularly interested in the effects of climate change and invasive species on aquatic ecosystems such as streams, estuaries, and rocky intertidal zones.

RESEARCH THEMES

Multiple Stressors: Most ecosystems are threatened by multiple human-caused stressors and the combined effect of these stressors is often greater than the sum of the individual effects. Organisms often respond to multiple stressors in unexpected ways because the combined effects of these stressors can be less than or greater than the sum of individual stressor effects. I use lab and field experiments to study how key species, such as oysters and freshwater mussels, respond to multiple human-caused stressors including high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen.

Local Adaptation: Local adaptation occurs when organisms become particularly adapted to their environment through natural selection. I assess whether populations of aquatic invertebrates are locally adapted to their home environments and whether local adaptation will make them more or less vulnerable to human-caused stressors. Understanding differences among populations of the same species can help in choosing conservation sites and restoration methods that strengthen the chance of resilience in the face of environmental change.  

Invasive Species: Invasive species can have extensive ecological and economic impacts. For example, native Olympia oysters in many west coast estuaries are threatened by the invasive, predatory Atlantic oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea). I study whether prey can detect predators in the water and whether they change their shell size, thickness, hardness and/or chemical composition as a protective response. I also test whether different populations of prey respond similarly or differently to invasive predators.

Conservation and Restoration: I am committed to conducting research that has direct applications for conserving and restoring natural systems. I worked with colleagues from UC Davis, San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the California State Coastal Conservancy to design guides for Olympia oyster restoration and conservation. Most recently I have worked on projects to restore native oysters on both the west and east coasts.

Citizen Science: Citizen science can be an important component of addressing pressing environmental problems by gathering data over large areas and long time periods and by educating the general public in the process. In collaboration with Dr. Sara Clarke-Vivier (Education Department, Washington College), I am using surveys and interviews to assess what motivates volunteers to participate in citizen science projects.