Megan Friesen, PhD
About
Conservation | Behavior | Sensory
I am a conservation behavioral ecologist fascinated by the unique ways animals communicate and perceive the world around them. My research focuses on how our understanding of animal's sensory modalities can inform conservation efforts. Most of my research is on birds, particularly seabirds, and aquatic systems.
Assistant Professor of Biology at Saint Martin's University
Education
2010 - 2012 - MScUniversity of California-Davis
2003-2008 - BS & BASeattle Pacific University
Research
Conservation & behavior in seabirds
My research has focused on understanding anthropogenic causes of decline in birds, particularly in seabirds. I have studied techniques for applied conservation using sensory behavior. These techniques have included acoustic and odor stimuli for recovery plans of native and threatened seabirds, and population estimates of poorly understood and cryptic species.
Marine conservation around human activity
Major threats to birds at-sea often include stimuli that act as sensory traps. For example, stimuli from fishing vessels and artificial light at night (ALAN) can increase risk to foraging or migrating birds. My research looks at ways that seabirds may be impacted by human activity (i.e. ALAN, marine renewable energy, fishing) while testing approaches that can be implemented by industry and managers for conservation successes.
Sensory conservation approach to PNW aquatic ecosystems
Urban aquatic ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest are impacted by invasive species. My lab studies the population and impact of the invasive African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) on native aquatic species, including endangered and culturally important salmonids. We use sensory and behavioral approaches to search for best practice mitigation methods.
News & Awards
Recognized by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission as the Educator of the Year (2022)
Feature in The Olympian and The Tacoma News Tribune on Conservation Bio. students work on native newts
Radio interview from KIRO Radio on Conservation Bio. student involvement in amphibian conservation
Mongabay Podcast highlighting the use of bioacoustic technology to understand seabird population dynamics
Radio episode on techniques we use to study and conserve the critically endangered (and previously considered extinct) New Zealand Storm Petrel
Lab
Dave Anderson, Research Technician
Dave has been managing animal care in the lab and performing experiments on native biocontrols for invasive frogs.
Quin Butler, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Quin has been working on a variety of projects in the lab including the impact of fences on newt migration, and animal care in the lab.
Olivia Cervantez, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Olivia is performing behavioral experiments to understand if native amphibians respond the same to chemical cues of native predators compared to invasive predators.
Jacie Fabela, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jacie's research has been related to population dynamics of invasive African clawed frogs including elements of size variation in trapping and diet. She also is involved in lab animal care.
Kreshele Contreras, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kreshele works on understanding population dynamics, trapping and animal husbandry of invasive African clawed frogs.
Ariel Heswall, PhD student (based at University of Auckland)
Ariel's research has focused on vision and visual cues in seabirds and how anthropogenic sources of visual cues (e.g. ALAN) create sensory traps.
Senior Thesis Students (2022-2023)
Senior thesis students in our lab are investigating aspects of the foraging behavior of African clawed frogs, and their potential risk to PNW species of conservation concern (e.g. salmonids)
Publications
* Heswall, A.M., Miller, L., McNaughton, E., Bunton-Martin, A., Cain, K., Friesen, M.R., Gaskett, A. (2022). Artificial light at night correlates with seabird groundings: mapping city lights near a seabird breeding hotspot. PeerJ 10:e14237.
Russell J.C., Welch J.R., Bourgeois K., Dromzée S., Dunn R., Friesen M.R., Rayner MJ. (2022). Climatic Effects on Grey-Faced Petrel (Pterodroma gouldi) Chick Growth and Survival. Birds. 3(1):138-148.
Friesen M.R. , Simpkins C.E, Ross J., Anderson S.H., Ismar-Rebitz S.M.H., Tennyson A.J.D., Taylor, G.A., Baird K.A., Gaskin C.P. (2021) New population estimate for an abundant marine indicator species, Rako or Buller’s Shearwater (Ardenna bulleri). Emu - Austral Ornithology, 121:3, 231-238.
*Heswall, A.M., Friesen, M.R., Martin, A.L.B., Gasektt, A.C.(2021). Seabird bycatch risk correlates with body size, and relatively larger skulls, bills, wings and sensory structures. Marine Biology 168, 70.
*Lukies K, Gaskin CP, Gulley, K, Heswall AM, Gaskett A, Friesen MR. (2021) Lighting adjustments to mitigate against deck strikes/vessel impacts. Prepared for the Conservation Services Programme, Department of Conservation. Auckland: Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust.
Rayner MJ, Gaskin CP, Taylor GA, Tennyson AJ, Fitzgerald, NB, Baird KA, Friesen MR, Ross J, Ismar-Rebitz SMH. (2020) Population estimation of the New Zealand storm petrel (Fregetta maoriana) from mark-recapture techniques at Hauturu/Little Barrier Island and from at-sea resightings of banded birds. Notornis. Vol. 67: 503-510
Campos IB, Landers TJ, Lee KD, Lee WG, Friesen MR, Gaskett AC, et al. (2019) Assemblage of Focal Species Recognizers—AFSR: A technique for decreasing false indications of presence from acoustic automatic identification in a multiple species context. PLoS ONE 14(12): e0212727.
Friesen, M. R., Beggs, J.R., Gaskett, A.C. (2017). Sensory-based conservation of seabirds: a review of management strategies and animal behaviors that facilitate success. Biological Reviews, 92(3), 1769-1784.
*Martin, A., Gaskett, A.C. Friesen, M.R., (2017). Feather colours of live birds and museum specimens look similar when viewed by seabirds. Ibis, 160(1), 185-189.
Ranjard, L., Reed, B. S., Landers, T. J., Rayner, M. J., Friesen, M. R., Sagar, R. L. and Dunphy, B. J. (2016). MatlabHTK: a simple interface for bioacoustic analyses using Hidden Markov Models. Methods in Ecology & Evolution, 8(5), 615-621.
Friesen, M.R., Ross, J.R., Maitland, M., Gaskin, C.P. (2016). First record of a petrel species killed by penguins: outcome of competition for artificial nesting boxes. Notornis, 63: 109-112.
Friesen, M.R., Gaskin, C.P., Ross, J.R., Robinson, R. (2016). Diving & Foraging Behaviour of Petrels & Shearwaters. Prepared for the Conservation Services Programme, Department of Conservation. Auckland: Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust. 25 pp.
Friesen, M.R. (2014). Seabird restoration plan: Shakespear Regional Park. Auckland Council.
Lowrie, K., Friesen, M.R., Lowrie, D., Collier, N. (2009). Year 1 Results of Seabird Breeding Atlas of the Lesser Antilles. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, Florida, USA. No. 48.
*supervisor of student research
