Environmental Science MS
ENSCI Student Presents Research at Western Society of Naturalists Conference
Alicia Del Toro, a current Environmental Science Master’s student, recently attended and presented her research with Dr. Alison Haupt at the Western Society of Naturalists conference this year.
We reached out to Alicia to learn more about her research and overall experience. Check out her interview below!
What is your research project about?
Since 2009, black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) has been listed as an
endangered species under the Endangered Species Act due mostly to
overfishing and disease. The goal of this research is to monitor the species population and aggregation patterns to identify if there are significant differences between the sites and/or years. In conclusion, it was found that since 2017, black abalone densities have stayed relatively stable around the Monterey Peninsula. With help from Valentina Montes (an REU student from Grossmont Community College) who analyzed aggregated abalones within the sites, the data may show that abalone populations are denser than initially thought in the area.
What was your favorite part of attending WSN?
My favorite part of WSN was being able to meet so many new people who had vastly different research topics. It was fun learning about a lot of different subjects and being able to support my colleagues when they presented their research.
What did you gain from this experience and does this experience contribute to your career goals?
This experience opened my eyes to just how many topics are being studied and how people are using their findings to better the ecosystems and communities around them. Ultimately my research and this experience taught me a lot about which paths I wanted to take, and didn’t want to take, when it came to my career
goals.
What are your future plans (career, academic, etc.)?
Working on this research gave me a glimpse into what happens after research. I recognized resource management and policy as something I am very interested in and what I would like to pursue as a career. I am currently in the Professional Science Masters program at CSUMB working towards a degree in Environmental Science and hope to someday use my passion for conservation in my day-to-day
work.
Any advice for fellow students interested in participating in this kind of research?
Take all the opportunities you can! I began my project with no previous experience in fieldwork or research, but I learned a lot along the way by trying new things and asking for a lot of help. My advice is to be open to new opportunities and be ready for early mornings!
What is your favorite part of being a graduate student at CSUMB?
My favorite part about being a graduate student at CSUMB is that I not only get to connect with my peers who share a similar passion for learning and research but we all bring diverse perspectives to the table and learn from each other.
Congratulations on this experience, Alicia!