Rasmuson Fellows 2009 Award Recipients

•Patrick Lane, M.S. Marine Biology
Advisor: Brenda Konar

•Terril Efird, M.S. Marine Biology
Advisor: Brenda Konar

Terril Efird is working towards his M.S. in Marine Biology. His research is focused on how nearshore fishes stratify in kelp forest habitats. Specifically, how the size and algal composition of a kelp forest effects the fish species found there. Terril has worked in kelp forests for many years. While obtaining his B.S. in Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz he worked on several projects as a research diver that motivated him to pursue his field of study. Seeing the fish biodiversity that these highly productive ecosystems can support inspired Terril to investigate what habitat characteristics enabled this diversity and resource partitioning. Terril grew up in Oakhurst, California, a small community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's. He is now firmly planted here in Alaska where his enthusiasm for marine ecology and exciting field work is joined with the supportive faculty and research facilities that drew him to UAF.

Christy Gleason

•Christy Gleason, M.S. Oceanography
Advisor: Brenda Norcross

Elena Fernandez

•Elena Fernandez, M.S. Oceanography
Advisor: Jeremy Mathis

Laurinda Marcello

•Laurinda Marcello, M.S. Fisheries
Advisor: Franz Mueter

Laurinda Marcello is pursuing a M.S. in fisheries at UAF in Juneau. Her thesis is entitled "Effects of Climate Variability and Fishing on Gadid-Crustacean Interactions in Subarctic Ecosystems." In order to identify the most important factors regulating interactions between gadoids and crustaceans and their population dynamics, she is conducting comparative analyses within and among a number of subarctic ecosystems. Before coming to UAF, she completed her undergraduate degree at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, receiving a B.A. in biology with a minor in mathematics. Laurinda spent her childhood in Sitka, one of Alaska's most important commercial fishing ports, and chose to return to her home state for her graduate education.