Dr. Maya K. Hayden

mkh@berkeley.edu

M.S. Biological Sciences, Stanford University
B.S. Biological Sciences, Stanford University

Maya is broadly interested in interactions between physical and biological processes. Maya’s interests include riparian and plant ecology, river and floodplain restoration and management, disturbance ecology and adaptations to disturbance, and landscape ecology. Maya’s research is focused on 20_POFRseedlingsTagged_smquantifying the interactions between fluvial processes and riparian vegetation dynamics, how alterations to these interactions may affect the long-term persistence of riparian forests, and how we can use this information to improve resource management.

For her dissertation, she investigated the role of spatial refugia in the population dynamics of a pioneer tree species, Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), which is the dominant overstory riparian tree in many western US streams. Specifically, she investigated the mechanisms that control cottonwood recruitment into abandoned channels, using the middle Sacramento River, California, as her study system. Maya integrates spatial and temporal scales using a combination of GIS analysis of current and historical vegetation patterns, detailed field studies, and mechanistic mesocosm experiments.

In addition to her graduate work, she has a breadth of applied terrestrial and aquatic ecology experience from her previous work in environmental consulting and seasonal field positions, which included field-based technical work and project management. She is also actively engaged in teaching and mentoring undergraduates, and planning and implementing hands-on K-12 outreach activities/events focused on exposing underrepresented kids to STEM fields.

Maya was recently selected to be a California Sea Grant State Fellow for 2015-2016, working for theĀ NOAA San Francisco Bay Sentinel Site Cooperative. See the recent press release for details on her new position.

CV

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