Stella Cousins is a Ph.D. candidate studying forest ecology in the fabulous Battles lab. She hails from California’s San Joaquin Valley and has served in a range of land management and research roles, including tomato washer, cow counter, environmental planner, plant mapper, mentor, landscape ecologist, dendrochronologist, and, most recently, graduate student. Her dissertation, “Causes and Consequences of Tree Growth, Injury, and Decay in Sierra Nevada Forest Ecosystems” examines the responses of ponderosa and Jeffrey pines to long term ozone pollution and drought, and also explores the wonderful world of decomposing wood. Her talk today will showcase how ogling pine needles and hugging trees can assess the damage wrought by decades of severe air pollution in America’s most polluted park.
For their generosity in both helping and hindering her progress, Stella is grateful to her patient and entertaining field assistants, excellent lab family, actual biological family, and the very talented D. elegans. Colleagues at the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Division of Ag and Natural Resources, and National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center provided immeasurable opportunities and support. John Sanders and Debra Swenson merit special thanks for their dusty, diligent service to data collection. Thanks finally to John Battles, whom I am always proud to call my mentor and friend.