Jessica
L. Blois
Department
of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
e-mail:
jblois@stanford.edu; lab: (650)
498-4995
Education
Ph.D. (2004- present) Stanford University. Advisor: Elizabeth Hadly
MA (May 2005) Humboldt State University; Genetic structure of the Sonoma tree vole (Arborimus pomo) in northwest California. Advisor: Brian Arbogast
BS (2000) University of California, San Diego; Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution; National Merit Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, ProvostŐs Honors; 3.78 GPA
Research Interests
I have three main broad research interests: 1) the influence of space and time on the evolution and ecology of populations and species; 2) the role of climate in shaping population dynamics; 3) the use of modern and ancient DNA to understand the evolutionary history of populations.
Current Research
I am examining (with E.A. Hadly, A.D. Barnosky, and R.S.
Feranec) the response of small mammals to environmental change at the
Pleistocene-Holocene transition.
Specifically, I am integrating morphologic and genetic data to examine
population response to the long-term warming event at the end of the
Pleistocene. We are currently
assembling a time series of data for the community and several key species
using a combination of museum collections (from two caves in the Shasta Lake
region dating to the last glacial maximum), a new excavation of a site within
Samwel Cave that spans the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, and modern
sampling.
Teaching Experience
Fall, 2006 (Stanford University): Ecology
Winter, 2006 (Stanford University): Evolutionary Paleobiology
Spring 2005 (Stanford University): Plant Biology, Evolution, and Ecology
Spring, Fall 2003 (Humboldt State University): General Ecology Lab
Fall 2002, Spring 2004 (Humboldt State University): General Biology for non-majors
Work Experience
Wildlife Technician; Umpqua and Six Rivers National Forests (November 2000-July 2002). Investigated nests for the presence of the Oregon red tree vole by tree-climbing. Performed ground surveys for the Oregon red tree vole and Canadian lynx. Surveyed for terrestrial mollusks, northern spotted owl, great gray owl, peregrine falcon and various amphibians.
Volunteer; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, CA (April 2000-June 2000)
Collected GPS data on recreation trails in the Palm Springs
area for trail management in peninsular big horn sheep habitat. Analyzed data using ArcView.
Grants and Awards Received
2007 BICCCA Fellowship, CA Energy CommissionŐs PIEREA- Full tuition & stipend support
2007 Travel Grant to the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Conference- $300
2007 Travel Grant to the International Biogeography Society Biennial Conference- $1850
2006 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research- $940
2005 Center for Evolutionary Studies, Stanford University- $2500
2003 American Society of Mammalogists Grant-in-Aid of Research- $1450
2003 Humboldt State University Biology Department MasterŐs Grant- $405
1996-2000
National Merit Scholarship- $1000/year
Publications
Blois, J.L. et al. (in preparation). Using the fossil record to reveal how California mammals may respond to climatic change.
Blois, J.L. and E.A. Hadly. (in preparation). Mammalian response to Cenozoic climate change: lessons from the fossil record.
Blois, J.L., Feranec, R.S., and E.A. Hadly. (2007). Environmental influences on spatial and temporal patterns of body size variation in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi). Journal of Biogeography doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01836.x.
Feranec, R.S., Hadly, E.A., Blois, J.L., Barnosky, A.D. & A. Paytan. (2007). Radiocarbon dates from the Pleistocene fossil deposits of Samwel Cave, Shasta County, California, USA. Radiocarbon (49): 117-121.
Blois, J.L. and Arbogast, B.S. (2006). Conservation genetics of the Sonoma tree vole (Arborimus pomo) based on mitochondrial and AFLP markers. Journal of Mammalogy 87(5): 950-960.
Posters
and Presentations
March 4th, 2008. Moderator and Panelist, Climate and Energy Panel, Young Environmental Scholars Workshop, Stanford, CA.
March 4th, 2008. Poster, Y2E2 Building Dedication. . Spatial and temporal patterns of body size change in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi).
January 10th, 2007. Poster, International Biogeography Society Biennial Conference. Spatial and temporal patterns of body size change in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi).
October 18th, 2006. Talk, Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists Annual Meeting. Response of ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) to the last 20,000 years of environmental variation.
September 15th, 2006. Talk, California Climate Change Research Conference. Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Structure:
Lessons from Paleoecology (in place of E.A. Hadly).
September 27th, 2005. Poster, Second Bi-Annual Conservation Genetics Symposium, Spatio-temporal genetic variation within the field vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
January 22nd, 2005. Poster, 7th Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium. Patterns of genetic variation within an endemic arboreal vole, Arborimus pomo, in northern California
January 7th, 2005. Poster, International Biogeography Society Biennial Meeting. Patterns of genetic variation within an endemic arboreal vole, Arborimus pomo, in northern California
Memberships in
Professional Societies
Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists, member since 2005
International Biogeography Society, member since 2004
American Society of Mammologists, member since 2003
Sigma Xi, member since 2003
Phi Beta Kappa National Honor
Society, member since 2000
Journal
Reviewer
Journal of Mammalogy
Journal of Biogeography
Other
2007-08 Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning Liaison
2007-08 Panel Discussion Lead Organizer, 2008 Young Environmental Scholars Workshop
2006-08 Faculty/grad student liaison, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford
2006-08 Volunteer, Bay Area Girl Scouts ŇGirls Go
TechÓ Career Exploration Day
2005-07 Eco-evo Poo-bah, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford
2005 Consultant, IUCN Global Mammal Assessment- Arborimus pomo