One of the larger hurdles for conservation biologists is how to define ecological baselines. I find it incredibly exciting to apply what I have learned from sedimentologist, stratigraphers and geochemist coupled with the accretionary growth of hard parts in aquatic animals to reconstruct historic conditions. I use oxygen, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios reconstruct environmental conditions, validate growth, determine behavior and estimate productivy. Thus far, these tools have helped bridge gaps of information about environmental conditions of habitats and the natural history of the inhabitants before the industrial era, where anthropogenic influence dominate.
Selected Publications -(*student)
2014. Groesbeck, A. S., K. Rowell, D.S. Lepofsky, and A.K. Salomon, Ancient clam gardens increased shellfish production: Adaptive strategies from the past can inform food security today. PLoS ONE 9(3): e91235. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091235
2014. Tewksbury, J. J., J. J. Anderson, D. Bakker, T. J. Billo, P. Dunwiddie, M. J. Groom, S. E. Hampton, J. Herman, D. J. Levey, N. J. Machnicki, M. E. Power, C. Martinez Del Rio, K. Rowell, A. M. Solomon, L. Stacey, S. C. Trombulak, and T. A. Wheeler. Natural History’s Place in Science and Society. BioScience, Vol. 64 (4) 300-310.
2012. Rowell, K. Sharing Wonder in Nature. Science. 336 (6085), p. 1109.
2010. Rowell, K., D. L. Dettman, R. Dietz. Nitrogen isotopes in otoliths reconstruct ancient trophic position. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 89: 415-425.
2008. Rowell, K., K. W. Flessa, D. L. Dettman, M. Román, L. R. Gerber, L. T. Findley. Diverting the Colorado River leads to a dramatic life history shift in an Endangered Marine Fish. Biological Conservation. 114 (4): 1140-1150.
2005. Rowell, K., K.W. Flessa, D.L. Dettman, and M. Román. The importance of Colorado River flow to nursery habitats of the Gulf corvina (Cynoscion othonopterus). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.62: 2874-2885.