Kate Ruskin

Undergraduate Coordinator, Ecology and Environmental Sciences

Research Interests

  • Conservation
  • Global change ecology
  • Birds
  • Population biology
  • Tidal marshes
  • Environmental stakeholders
  • Public lands
  • Science education

Research Projects

  • Assessing and monitoring tidal marsh bird populations in the eastern U.S. – Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program
  • Estimating the environmental and economic impact of development and resource use in Acadia National Park
  • Quantifying the efficacy of experiential learning for undergraduates, particularly in STEM learning and retention

Degrees

  • University of Maine, Ph.D. 2015
  • Columbia University, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, B.A. 2008

Courses Taught

  • EES 100
  • EES 117
  • EES 217
  • EES 397/590 – Skills for Environmental Scientists/Teaching for Environmental Scientists

Profile

Kate studies conservation in the face of global change, and she uses this topic to broadly work at the intersection of education, research, and outreach. She thinks both education and outreach have the power to maximize the impact of research, which is particularly important for conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide. For the past few years, she has studied the demographics of tidal marsh birds, which are threatened by habitat loss and sea level rise, human development and resource use on public lands such as Acadia National Park, and the efficacy of experiential learning on improving STEM learning and retention. In general, she uses field-collected data to advance our understanding of ecological theory, engage with stakeholders such as wildlife managers and the public, and educate people about environmental science.

Selected Publications

Meaders Clara L., Smith Michelle K., Boester Timothy, Bracy Anne, Couch Brian A., Drake Abby G., Farooq Saima, Khoda Bashir, Kinsland Cynthia, Lane A. Kelly, Lindahl Sarah E., Livingston William H., Bundy Ayesha Maliwal, McCormick Amber, Morozov Anya I, Newell-Caito Jennifer L., Ruskin Katharine J., Sarvary Mark A., Stains Marilyne, St. Juliana Justin R., Thomas Stephanie R., van Es Cindy, Vinson Erin L., Vitousek Maren N., Stetzer Mackenzie R. (2021). What Questions Are on the Minds of STEM Undergraduate Students and How Can They Be Addressed? Frontiers in Education. Vol. 6, Pgs. 28. 10.3389/feduc.2021.639338

Field, Christopher & Ruskin, Katharine & Cohen, Jonathan & Hodgman, Thomas & Kovach, Adrienne & Olsen, Brian & Shriver, Greg & Elphick, Chris. (2019). Framework for quantifying population responses to disturbance reveals that coastal birds are highly resilient to hurricanes. Ecology Letters. 22. 10.1111/ele.13384.

Olsen, Brian & Froehly, Jennifer & Borowske, Alyssa & Elphick, Chris & Field, Christopher & Kocek, Alison & Kovach, Adrienne & Longenecker, Rebecca & Shriver, Greg & Walsh, Jennifer & Ruskin, Katharine. (2019). A test of a corollary of Allen’s rule suggests a role for population density. Journal of Avian Biology. 50. 10.1111/jav.02116.

Borowske, Alyssa & Field, Christopher & Ruskin, Katharine & Elphick, Chris. (2018). Consequences of breeding system for body condition and survival throughout the annual cycle of tidal marsh sparrows. Journal of Avian Biology. 49. 10.1111/jav.01529.

Ruskin, Katharine & Etterson, Matthew & Hodgman, Thomas & Borowske, Alyssa & Cohen, Jonathan & Elphick, Chris & Field, Christopher & Longenecker, Rebecca & King, Erin & Kocek, Alison & Kovach, Adrienne & O’Brien, Kate & Pau, Nancy & Shriver, Greg & Walsh, Jennifer & Olsen, Brian. (2017). Demographic analysis demonstrates systematic but independent spatial variation in abiotic and biotic stressors across 59 percent of a global species range. The Auk. 134. 903-916. 10.1642/AUK-16-230.1.

Field, Christopher & Ruskin, Katharine & Benvenuti, Bri & Borowske, Alyssa & Cohen, Jonathan & Garey, Laura & Hodgman, Thomas & Longenecker, Rebecca & King, Erin & Kocek, Alison & Kovach, Adrienne & O’Brien, Kate & Olsen, Brian & Pau, Nancy & Roberts, Samuel & Shelly, Emma & Shriver, Greg & Walsh, Jennifer & Elphick, Chris. (2017). Quantifying the importance of geographic replication and representativeness when estimating demographic rates, using a coastal species as a case study. Ecography. 41. 10.1111/ecog.02424.

Roberts, Samuel & Longenecker, Rebecca & Etterson, Matthew & Ruskin, Katharine & Elphick, Chris & Olsen, Brian & Shriver, Greg. (2017). Factors that influence vital rates of Seaside and Saltmarsh sparrows in coastal New Jersey, USA. Journal of Field Ornithology. 88. 115-131. 10.1111/jofo.12199.

Ruskin, Katharine & Etterson, Matthew & Hodgman, Thomas & Borowske, Alyssa & Cohen, Jonathan & Elphick, Chris & Field, Christopher & Longenecker, Rebecca & King, Erin & Kocek, Alison & Kovach, Adrienne & O’Brien, Kate & Pau, Nancy & Shriver, Greg & Walsh, Jennifer & Olsen, Brian. (2017). Seasonal fecundity is not related to geographic position across a species’ global range despite a central peak in abundance. Oecologia. 183. 10.1007/s00442-016-3745-8.