Sarah K. Thomsen
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC Canada V5A 1S6
Email: sthomsen@sfu.ca
EDUCATION
2010 - present
(transferred to PhD
program in 2013)
Ph.D. Candidate (Biological Sciences)
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
Thesis: “Direct and indirect interactions between owls, mice, and nocturnal seabirds”
Supervisor: Dr. David Green
2002 - 2006 B.A. (Conservation Biology and Avian Ecology)
Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
PUBLICATIONS
Thomsen, S.K., D.M. Mazurkiewicz, and D.J. Green. ENSO-driven environmental variability
causes hyperpredation of a marine predator on an oceanic island. in review.
Thomsen, S.K. and D.J. Green. The landscape of fear determines how marine predators become
terrestrial prey on an oceanic island. in revision.
Huang, A., J.E. Elliott, K.M. Cheng, K. Ritland, S.K. Thomsen, S. Hindmarch, and K. Martin.
(2015). Barn owls (Tyto alba) in Western North America: Phylogeographic structure, connectivity,
and genetic diversity. Conservation Genetics, 17, 357-367.
Thomsen, S.K, C.E Kroeger, P.H. Bloom and A.L. Harvey. (2014). Space use and home range
size of Barn Owls on Santa Barbara Island. Monographs of the Western North American
Naturalist. 7:339–347.
TECHNICAL
REPORTS AND
OTHER
PUBLICATIONS
Thomsen, S.K. and C.E. Kroeger. (2015). Factors influencing depredation of Scripps’s Murrelets
by Barn Owls on Santa Barbara Island: Summary results from the 2013 field season. Unpublished
report prepared for: Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 11 pp.
Thomsen, S.K. and S.T. Plumb. (2014). Factors influencing depredation of Scripps’s Murrelets by
Barn Owls on Santa Barbara Island: Summary results from the 2012 field season. Unpublished
report prepared for: Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 15 pp.
Nur, N., A.L. Harvey, S.K. Thomsen, R. Bradley, and J. Jahncke. (2013). Modeling the Population
level Impacts of Barn Owls on Scripps’s Murrelet Population Trends on Santa Barbara Island.
Unpublished report prepared for: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Point Blue Conservation
Science, Petaluma, California. PRBO contribution Number 1969.
Thomsen, S.K, C.E. Kroeger, A.L. Harvey, and F. Gress. (2013). Factors influencing depredation
of Scripps’s Murrelets by Barn Owls on Santa Barbara Island: Summary results from the 2011
field season. Unpublished report prepared for: Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 18 pp.
Thomsen, S.K. and A.L. Harvey. (2012). Factors influencing depredation of Xantus’s Murrelets by
Barn Owls on Santa Barbara Island: Summary results from the 2010 field season. Unpublished
report prepared for: Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. 22 pp.
Shannon, P., S.K. Thomsen and B. Drummond. (2009). Results of Seabird Monitoring at St.
George Island, Alaska in 2009: Summary Appendices. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report. 14
pp.
Thomsen, S.K. (2006). A GIS-based analysis of human disturbance impacts on Piping Plover
abundance, distribution, and productivity on the barrier islands of New York. Undergraduate
senior thesis. OCLC: 70910340. Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
PRESENTATIONS
Thomsen, S.K. and D.J. Green. (2015). Climate-driven changes in terrestrial predator abundance
mediates top-down cascade on a threatened seabird. Presentation given at: World Seabird
Conference II, Cape Town, South Africa. October 2015.
Thomsen, S.K. and D.J. Green. (2015). The enemy of my enemy: indirect interactions mediate
how marine predators become terrestrial prey on an oceanic island. Presentation given at:
th
Ecological Society of America, 100 Annual Meeting. August 2015.
Thomsen, S.K. (2015). The enemy of my enemy: indirect interactions mediate how marine
predators become terrestrial prey on an oceanic island. Lés Ecologistés Seminar Series, SFU
Department of Biological Sciences. March 2015.
Thomsen, S.K. and A.L. Harvey. (2014). Marine predators as terrestrial prey: Could a climatedriven terrestrial resource pulse lead to hyperpredation of a threatened seabird by native
st
predators? Presentation given at: Pacific Seabird Group, 41 Annual Meeting. Juneau, Alaska.
February 2014.
Thomsen, S.K. and D.J. Green. (2014). Direct and indirect interactions between owls, mice, and
nocturnal seabirds. Poster presented at Gordon Research Conference: Predator-Prey
Interactions. Ventura, California. January 2014.
Thomsen, S.K, A. L. Harvey and F. Gress. (2013). Mice or Murrelets: How a limited menu for
Barn Owls turns marine predators into prey. Poster presentation given at: Pacific Seabird Group
th
40 Annual Meeting, Portland OR. February 2013.
Thomsen, S.K. and A.L. Harvey. (2012). Living on the edge: Spatiotemporal patterns of Barn Owl
th
predation on Scripps’s Murrelets. Presentation given at: 8 California Islands Symposium,
Ventura, CA. October 2012.
Thomsen, S.K and A. L. Harvey. (2012). Breeding Biology and Habitat Associations of Barn Owls
th
on Santa Barbara Island, California. Poster presentation given at: 8 California Islands
Symposium, Ventura, CA. October 2012.
Thomsen, S.K. and A.L. Harvey. (2011). Population dynamics and diet of an island population of
Barn Owls. Presentation given at: Raptor Research Conference. Duluth, Minnesota. October
2011.
Thomsen, S.K. (2010). Mice or Murrelets: How does a limited menu for Barn Owls turn marine
predators into prey? Poster presented at: UVIC/SFU/UBC Ecology and Evolution Retreat,
Brackendale, BC. October 2010.
Thomsen, S.K. (2006). Human disturbance and the abundance, distribution, and productivity of
Piping Plovers on the barrier islands of New York. Presentation given at: Hampshire College
School of Natural Sciences Division III Symposium, Amherst, MA. May 2006.
Thomsen, S.K. (2005). Nest site selection of Roseate Terns and Laughing Gulls on Eastern Egg
Rock. Presentation given at: Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group (GOMSWG) meeting. Hog
Island Maine Audubon Camp, Bremen, Maine. August 2005.
Thomsen, S.K, C. Matthews; J. Seavey; and T. Litwin. (2005). The Plight of the Plover: Can
Recreation and Endangered Species Mix? Poster presentation given at: Smith College 4th Annual
Celebrating Collaborations conference, Northampton, MA. April 2005.
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, Spring 2015, BISC304W: Animal Ecology
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Teaching Assistant, Spring 2005, NS151: Behavioral Ecology of Birds
School of Natural Science, Hampshire College
INSTRUCTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Certificate Program in University Teaching and Learning, September - December 2014
Centre for Teaching and Learning, Simon Fraser University
Instructional Skills Workshop, October 2013
Centre for Teaching and Learning, Simon Fraser University
MENTORING AND
OUTREACH
EXPERIENCE
Supervisor, Undergraduate Research Project (BISC498), Fall 2014.
Jillian Neri. Project title: “Spatial patterns of owl diet on Santa Barbara Island”
Co-Supervised with Dr. David Green, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Supervisor, Undergraduate Research Volunteers: Spring 2014.
Six volunteers assisted weekly with lab work (dissecting owl pellets and identifying and
quantifying faunal remains).
Supervisor, Undergraduate Research Volunteers: Fall 2013.
Seven volunteers assisted weekly with lab work (dissecting owl pellets and identifying and
quantifying faunal remains).
Supervisor, Undergraduate Research Volunteers: Summer 2013.
Four volunteers assisted weekly with lab work (dissecting owl pellets and identifying and
quantifying faunal remains).
Supervisor, Undergraduate Research Volunteers: Fall 2012.
Seven volunteers assisted weekly with lab work (dissecting owl pellets and identifying and
quantifying faunal remains).
Supervisor, Undergraduate Research Volunteers: Spring 2012.
Five volunteers assisted weekly with lab work (dissecting owl pellets and identifying and
quantifying faunal remains).
Lab Leader, Girl’s Day in the Lab, 2003-2004
School of Natural Science, Hampshire College
LEADERSHIP AND
SERVICE
Graduate Student Representative, SFU Departmental Graduate Studies Committee, 2013-2015
Student Representative, Pacific Seabird Group Executive Committee, 2012-2014
Founder and Director, Hampshire College Bird Club, 2003-2006
AWARDS, HONORS
AND GRANTS
SFU President’s PhD Scholarship, 2016 [$6,500]
SFU Graduate Fellowship Award, 2015 [$6,500]
World Seabird Conference II Travel Award, 2015 [$1,900]
SFU Graduate Travel and Minor Research Award, 2015 [$500]
SFU Graduate Fellowship Award, 2014 [$6,250]
Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) Annual Meeting Student Travel Award, 2014 [$440]
SFU Graduate Travel and Minor Research Award, 2014 [$500]
National Science Foundation DEB-1357368: GRC Predator-Prey Interactions, 2014 [$450]
Montrose Restoration Settlements Program / National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, 2013 [$50,000]
Montrose Restoration Settlements Program, 2012 [$42,505]
American Ornithologist’s Union (AOU) Student Membership Award, 2012
Montrose Restoration Settlements Program, 2011 [$65,000]
Sigma Xi Associate Membership Award, 2006
RESEARCH AND
FIELD EXPERIENCE
2009-2010
Seabird Technician
California Institute of Environmental Studies; Santa Barbara Island, California
2009
Biological Science Technician (Seabirds)
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; Pribilof Islands, Alaska
2008
Albatross Nest Monitoring and Banding Assistant
US Fish and Wildlife; Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals, Hawaii
2008
Marbled Murrelet Research Assistant
Oregon State University / Alaska Dept of Fish and Game; Juneau, Alaska
2007
Fall Passerine Migration Banding Intern
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; Manomet, Massachusetts
2007
Seabird Research Assistant
PRBO Conservation Science; Southeast Farallon Island, California
2005
Seabird Research Assistant
National Audubon Society, Seabird Restoration Program; Eastern Egg Rock, Maine
2005
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Natural Resources Conservation Dept, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Supervisor: Dr. Paul Sievert
2004
Passerine Nest Searching and Monitoring Field Assistant
Humboldt State University, CA / US Forest Service; Prince of Wales Island, Alaska
2003-2006
CERTIFICATIONS
Undergraduate Research Assistant (GIS)
Biology Dept, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts
Supervisors: Dr. Thomas Litwin and Dr. Jennifer Seavey
Wilderness First Responder (NOLS Wilderness Medical Institute)
National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT-B, lapsed)
BLS/CPR for the Healthcare Provider (American Heart Association)