SARAH AMELIA GRAVEM
Oregon State University
3029 Cordley Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
GravemS@oregonstate.edu
 
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Marine Ecology, University of California Davis. March 2015. Thesis: Thesis: Linking prey behavior to intertidal zonation and community structure in rocky tidepools. Advisor: Dr. Steven Morgan.
Master of Science, Biology. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. September 2009. Thesis: Sex and microhabitat-specific trade-offs in allocation of mycosporine-like amino acids in purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). Advisor: Dr. Nikki Adams.
Bachelor of Science, Aquatic Biology. University of California Santa Barbara. September 2005

PUBLICATIONS
  1. Gravem, S.A., S. Bacchuber, H. Fulton-Bennet, Z. Randell, A. Rickborn, J. Sullivan, B.A. Menge. 2017. Opinion: Transformative research is not easily predicted. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. In press.  pdf url
  2. ​Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan. Trait-mediated indirect effects in a natural tidepool system. In review at Oikos
  3. Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan. 2017. Shifts in intertidal zonation and refuge use by prey after mass mortalities of two predators. Ecology 98(4): 1006-1015 pdf  Appendix S1  Appendix S2
  4. Taylor, A. W., S.G. Morgan and S.A. Gravem. 2017. Underwater video reveals decreased activity of rocky intertidal snails during high tides and cooler days.  Marine Ecology 38(2): e12418 pdf  Appendix S1  Appendix S2
  5. Morgan, S.G., S.A. Gravem, and B.G. Miner 2016. Trait-mediated indirect interactions by residents of rocky shore tidepools. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 552: 31-46.​ pdf  supplement
  6. Menge, B.A. E.B. Cerny-Chipman, A. Johnson, J. Sullivan, S.A. Gravem, and F.T. Chan. 2016. Ecology of the sea star wasting disease epidemic in the keystone predator Pisaster ochraceus: population impact, recovery potential, and predation rate. PLoS One. 11(5) e0153994. pdf  correction
  7. Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan. 2016. Prey state alters trait-mediated indirect interactions in rocky tidepools. Functional Ecology. 30(9): 1574-1582 pdf  Lay summary  Appendix S1  Fig S1  data
  8. Gravem, S.A. 2015. Linking Antipredator Behavior of Prey to Community Structure and Intertidal Zonation in Rocky Tidepools. Dissertation. University of California, Davis. pdf
  9. Gravem, S.A and N.L. Adams. 2012. Sex and microhabitat influence the uptake and allocation of mycosporine-like amino acids to tissues in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Marine Biology. 159(12): 2839-2852. pdf supplement
  10. Brander, S., R. Fontana, T. Mata, S. Gravem, A. Hettinger, J. Bean, A. Szlobolzlai, C. Keiper and M. Marrero. 2011. The ecotoxicology of plastic marine debris. The American Biology Teacher.  73(8): 474-478. pdf
ACADEMIC HONORS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry                 Winter 2017-present
         Science Communication Fellow                                 
WSN Meeting Best Student Talk Award                    Fall 2012
Bodega Marine Lab Fellowship                                   Fall 2011, Winter 2013. $5,500 quarterly
NSF CAMEOS GK-12 Fellowship                                  2009 & 2010 academic years. $30,000 annually
UCD Block Grant Fellowship (4 times)                       F 2008, W 2009, S 2012 & 2013. $5,400 quarterly
Graduate Student of the Year, Cal Poly                      Spring 2008
Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Study,          Sept. 2005
Cal Poly                                            
UCSB Graduate with College Honors                         Sept. 2005
(highest honor awarded, top 15 in class)                 
UCSB Graduate with Highest Honors                         Sept. 2005
(summa cum laude, top 2.5% in class)

RESEARCH GRANTS
  1. NSF Biological Oceanography Program. 2017. Collaborative Research: Mechanisms of resistance and resilience to system-wide loss of a keystone predator in an iconic intertidal community. Co-written with, Tarik Gouhier Pete Raimondi and Bruce Menge
  2. BAND Foundation. 2017. Wildlife Health is Wildlife Hope: Building a Strategic Framework for Effective Wildlife Health Response, Management, and Policy Implementation. Co-written with America’s Wildlife Associate for Resource Education. 
  3. Long-Term Research in Environmental Biology. LTREB Renewal: Ecosystem response to climate change - role of ecological subsidies and species interactions. Co-written with PI Bruce Menge
  4. Henry A. Jastro Research Award. Sept. 2012.Title: An experimental approach to test climate change impacts on intertidal species interactions and community structure.
  5. Henry A. Jastro Research Award. Sept. 2011. Title: Climate change effects on intertidal communities.
  6. Henry A. Jastro Research Award. Sept. 2010. Title: Trophic cascades caused by changing herbivore behavior in tide pool communities.
  7. Mildred E. Mathias Grant. Jan. 2010. Title: Predator effects on communities: indirect interactions and alternate community states.
  8. Conchologists Society of America Grant. Spring 2009. Title: Indirect interactions in an intertidal food web mediated by an herbivorous snail, Chlorostoma funebralis.
  
SELECTED RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS                 
  1. Gravem, S.A., Elahi, R., Garza, C., LaScala-Gruenwald, D.,  Litvin, S.Y., Menge, B.A., Micheli, F., O’Leary, J.K., Pearse, J.S., Tyburczy, J.A., and Watanabe, J.M. Mechanisms driving resistance and resilience to community change after the sea star wasting disease outbreak. Ecological Society of America. Portland, OR. Aug 9-13, 2017
  2. Gravem, S.A. 2017. Predator control of intertidal communities: effects on prey behavior, impacts of climate change, and the consequences of sea star wasting disease. Invited seminar at California State University Northridge. Feb 21, 2017
  3. Gravem, S.A., Elahi, R., Garza, C., LaScala-Gruenwald, D., Litvin, S.Y., Menge, B.A., Micheli, F., O’Leary, J.K., Pearse, J.S., Tyburczy, J.A., and Watanabe, J.M. 2016. Mechanisms driving resistance and resilience to community change after the sea star wasting disease outbreak. Western Society of Naturalists. Monterey, CA. Nov 10-13, 2016
  4. ​Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan. 2016. Olly Olly Oxen Free! Responses of Mobile Intertidal Prey to Mass Mortalities of Two Sea Star Predators. Invited seminar at Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. August 3, 2016
  5. Gravem, S.A. 2016 and S.G. Morgan. Olly Olly Oxen Free! A star is born. The potential recovery of sea stars after the sea star wasting disease epidemic on the West Coast. Invited seminar at Port Orford Field Station. July 6, 2016
  6. Gravem, S.A. 2016 and S.G. Morgan. Olly Olly Oxen Free! Responses of Mobile Intertidal Prey to Mass Mortalities of Two Sea Star Predators. Invited seminar at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. June 3, 2016
  7. Gravem, S.A., Elahi, R., Garza, C.,  LaScala-Gruenwald, D.,  Litvin, S.Y., Menge, B.A., Micheli, F., O’Leary, J.K., Pearse, J.S., Tyburczy, J.A., and Watanabe, J.M. Tracking the Pisaster disaster: responses of Pisaster populations and intertidal mussels to seastar wasting disease. Western Society of Naturalists. Sacramento, CA. Nov 5-8, 2015
  8. Gravem, S.A. 2015 and S.G. Morgan. Olly Olly Oxen Free! Responses of Mobile Intertidal Prey to Mass Mortalities of Two Sea Star Predators. Invited Seminar to the Integrative Biology Department at Oregon State University. Oct 19, 2015.
  9. Gravem, S.A. 2015 and S.G. Morgan. Olly Olly Oxen Free! Responses of Mobile Intertidal Prey to Mass Mortalities of Two Sea Star Predators. Invited Seminar to the Hatfield Marine Science Center. July 16, 2015.
  10. Gravem, S.A. 2015. Scaling from individual prey behavior to intertidal zonation and community structure in rocky tidepools. Exit Seminar. Bodega Marine Laboratory. April 17, 2015
  11. Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan 2014. Trait-mediated indirect effects in a natural tidepool system. Ecological Society of America Meeting. Sacramento, CA August 10-15, 2014.
  12. Gravem, S.A. 2013. Climate change effects on species interactions. Invited seminar at Santa Rosa Junior College. May 2, 2013
  13. Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan. 2012. The indirect cascading effects of seastar predators on tidepool algae are mediated by behavioral traits of individual snails. Western Society of Naturalists Meeting 2012. Seaside, CA. Nov 8-11, 2012. *Received Best Student Talk Award
  14. Gravem, S.A. and S.G. Morgan. 2011. Abiotic impacts on species distributions around intertidal boulders for forecasting responses to climate change. Western Society of Naturalists Meeting 2011. Vancouver, WA. Nov 10-13, 2011.
  15. Bean, J.R., R. Eberl, R.E. Fontana, D. Trockel, A. Newsom, S.A. Gravem, B.S. Cheng, M. Byrd, M. Chow, V. Chow, S.L. Williams. 2011. Framework for an open inquiry curriculum: engaging students through independent research projects in local environments. NSF GK-12 Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. March 11-13, 2011. (poster)
  16. Gravem, S.A., R. Ardisana and S.G. Morgan. Microclimate changes the strength of the predator-prey interactions in rocky shore communities. Western Society of Naturalists meeting 2010. San Diego, CA, Nov 11-14, 2010.
  17. Adams N., J. Campanale, S. Gravem, A. Malicoat, and M. Mallonee. 2010. Long-term exposure of adult purple sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, to sunlight protects embryos from ultraviolet radiation. Integrative and Comparative Biology 50(S1):E1
  18. Bean, J.R., S.M. Brander, M. Byrd, R.E. Fontana, S.A Gravem, A. Hettinger, T.M. Mata, A.I. Szobozlai, M. Chow, V. Chow, S.L. Williams. 2010. Connecting land to sea: developing scientific inquiry skills by studying marine debris. NSF GK-12 Annual Meeting. Washington DC, March 25-28, 2010. (poster)
  19. Gravem, S.A., S. Traiger and S.G. Morgan. Predator avoidance initiates trophic cascades in tidepool communities. Benthic Ecology Annual Meeting. Wilmington, North Carolina. March 10-13, 2010.
  20. Bean, J.R., S.M. Brander, M. Byrd, R.E. Fontana, S.A Gravem, A. Hettinger, T.M. Mata, A.I. Szobozlai, M. Chow, V. Chow, S.L. Williams. 2010. Connecting land to sea: developing scientific inquiry skills by studying marine debris. AAAS Annual Conference. San Diego CA. February 17-21, 2010. (poster)
  21. Adams, N, J. Campanale, S. Gravem, A. Mallicoat, M. Mallonee. 2010. Long-term exposure of adult purple sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, to sunlight. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting. Seattle, Washington. January 3-7, 2010.
  22. Gravem, S.A., Traiger, S. B. and S.G. Morgan. 2009. Does predator avoidance initiate trophic cascades in tide pool communities? Western Society of Naturalists Meeting 2009. Seaside, CA. November 14, 2009
  23. Gravem, S.A., Chang, L.E., and N.L. Adams. 2007. Microhabitat variation in mycosporine-like amino acid concentrations in the gonads and epidermis of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. 2008 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas
  24. Gravem, S.A., Chang, L.E., and N.L. Adams. 2007. Microhabitat variation in mycosporine-like amino acid concentrations in the gonads and epidermis of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. 2007 Western Society of Naturalists Annual Meeting. Ventura, California
  25. Gravem, S.A., Baker, H., and N.L. Adams. 2007. Microhabitat variation in mycosporine-like amino acid content in red macroalgae (Phylum Rhodophyta) on California’s Central Coast. 2007 Western Society of Naturalists Annual Meeting. Ventura, California

 
POSITIONS HELD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University, 6/2015-present. Project: The consequences of seastar wasting disease for intertidal ecosystems along the US West Coast. Advised by Bruce Menge and Jane Lubchenco
CAMEOS GK-12 Fellow. UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, 7/2009-6/2011. Marine biology specialist in Sonoma and Marin county high school biology classes. Developed curriculum and led students in open inquiry group research projects aimed at ocean literacy and understanding the scientific process.
Ph.D Student, UC Davis, CA 9/2008-3/2015. Project 1) Examining the community level effects of predators in tidepool communities, first by studying potential for the sub-lethal effects of predators to initiate trophic cascades and second by investigating the role of predators in creating alternate community states. Project 2) Predicting the impacts of climate change on the vertical zonation of intertidal organisms using a spatial climate gradient. Advised by Steven G. Morgan. Committee members: Eric Sanford and Bryan Gaylord.
Co-investigator, Cal Poly State Univ., San Luis Obispo, CA, 6/2007-present. Collaborated in the experimental design and execution of the SURE project in the laboratory of Dr. Nikki Adams. Laboratory experiment examining the uptake of natural sunscreen from diets in the purple sea urchin, with and without exposure to UV. Investigated the allocation of sunscreen to tissues in adults and developmental delays and protein activation in embryos exposed to UV from adults treated with differing diets and UV exposure.
Master of Science Student, Cal Poly State University, 9/2005-8/2008. Designed and carried out a long-term field project concerning the physiological allocation of sunscreening compounds to different tissues in intertidal purple sea urchins. Advised by Nikki L. Adams. Committee members: Mark Moline and Steve Rein

 
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Co-instructor. Oregon State University. Fall 2017. Oceans in Peril: Marine Diseases. E-campus course
Co-Instructor. Oregon State University. Fall 2016, Winter 2017. Graduate Seminar on Transformative Science.
Teaching Assistant, UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, Spring 2009 and Spring 2014. TA’d Marine Ecology Field Course, involving intensive marine ecology course. Mentored fourteen undergraduates in independent original research projects.
Guest Lecturer. UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, Springs 2010-2013. Taught lecture and designed experiments for the main experimental component of Marine Ecology Field Course.
CAMEOS GK-12 Fellow. UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, 7/2009-6/2011. Marine biology specialist in Sonoma and Marin county high school biology classes. Developed curriculum and led students in open inquiry group research projects aimed at ocean literacy and understanding the scientific process.
REU Mentor. UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, summers 2009 and 2010. Primary mentor for 2 female REU students studying community interactions in the rocky intertidal.
Teaching Assistant. Cal Poly Biol. Sci. Dept. 9/2005-12/2007. Laboratory courses taught: Animal Diversity and Ecology (2 times), Cellular and Molecular Biology, Organismal Form and Function, General Biology, Ecology and Evolution (field course) and Invertebrate Zoology (3 times)
Guest Lecturer and Teaching Assistant. Cal Poly Biol. Sci. Dept. Winters 2005-2008. Lectured and designed laboratory exercises on gastropods and arthropods yearly in Invertebrate Zoology. Laboratory teaching assistant and field trip leader for Invertebrate Zoology.
 
ACADEMIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH
Invited guest for Graduate Student Professional Development Series. Jan 19, 2016. Invited to speak about finishing grad school and finding post-docs while maintaining a work-life balance with a new baby.
Bodega Marine Lab Professional Development Workshop Series. Summer 2013. Co-created a workshop series for BML students on communicating science, finding jobs in both academia and non-academia, writing CVs and giving PowerPoint presentations, Served as a panelist for PowerPoint presentation workshop.
Collaborative internship program with local Junior College. Summers 2012-2014. Created summer internship program between Santa Rosa Junior College and Bodega Marine Lab and awarded course credit to undergraduates for assisting with research at BML.
Western Society of Naturalists Student Committee. 11/2011-11/2013. Planned and organized elements of an annual research conference in marine science. Co-created a workshop on giving effective 1-minute “elevator talks” about research.
Bodega Marine Sciences Association treasurer. 6/2011-8/2013. Association to support students and staff at BML through grants and social events. Managed budget, student scholarships, and all cash flow.
Bodega Marine Lab Seminar Committee member. 6/2011-6/2013. Selected and organized invited speakers at BML to enrich learning and facilitate collaboration. Managed budget.
CAMEOS GK-12 Fellow. UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, 7/2009-6/2011. Marine biology specialist in Sonoma and Marin county high school biology classes. Developed curriculum and led students in open inquiry group research projects aimed at ocean literacy and understanding the scientific process.
Congressional briefings for U.S. Senate and House members. 2/2010. Visited the offices of Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Congressman Mike Thompson (CA 5th District), and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA 6th District) to brief them on the potentially harmful effects of climate change on ecosystems and the economy by altering species interactions.
UC Davis Ecology Symposium committee. Fall 2009. Assisting in planning the annual scientific research symposium in Ecology at UC Davis
Ecology Graduate Student Association member, 9/2008-6/2009. Liason between students, faculty and administration in graduate student matters, planned social and supportive events for graduate students
Graduate Student Association representative, 9/2008-6/2009. Represented the Ecology Graduate Group to the UC Davis graduate community.
Graduate Coordinating Committee, Cal Poly State University, 9/2006-9/2007. Liaison between graduate students, faculty and department and university administration. Reviewed applications for admission into the graduate program.             
Biology Department Student Fee Committee, Cal Poly State University, 9/2005-6/2006. Reviewed and approved departmental budget for teaching and research. Reviewed applications for use of funds for teaching and research.
                 
CERTIFICATIONS
Recreational SCUBA Diver (2002)
Scientific SCUBA Diver (2005)
Motorboat Operator and Boating Safety Certified (2006)
                                   
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Ecological Society of America (ESA)
Western Society of Naturalists (WSN)
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)
American Malacological Society
American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)