So much wildlife is undervalued simply for the reason that it is not itself easily recognizable, and its contribution to the planet, ecosystem, or humanity, even less so. This is especially true of the smaller forms -- the strange ones that require us to get down into the undergrowth with a magnifying glass, snorkel a stream, or explore the nooks of a reef to know they are there. The bulk of my work focuses on these unusual yet captivating and often beautiful creatures. I try to create windows to those secret worlds in ways that foster a greater awareness of the magnificence of the natural world and its enormous biodiversity -- and hopefully encourage action to preserve wildlife and wild places.

The waters surrounding Isla Guadalupe, Mexico are critical habitat for great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), Isla Guadalupe is a Biosphere Reserve managed by the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP). Each Fall, the island draws divers and tourists from all over the world, who come to observe white sharks up close in the clear waters off the island. A portion of the revenues generated by this annual tourism goes to the Guadalupe Island Conservation Fund, a program supporting the Biosphere management and scientific research vital to understanding and protecting this iconic species. To date, at least 366 individuals have been logged at the island.

Seven species of abalone inhabit the coastal waters of California. From the intertidal to subtidal shallows to depths of 65 meters or more, abalone were once so plentiful as to be harvested in the millions of pounds per year. (From 1952 - 1968, combined species landings in California averaged 4.5 million lbs annually!) Their shells are well-known. The colorful nacre that lines the interior is widely used in jewelry and inlay work. Its beautiful iridescence is recognizable even to those who have never seen the animal that it comes from. The commercial fishery peaked sometime between 1950-1970. Since then, abalone populations have experienced steep declines. Overharvesting, warming oceans, and a bacterial disease known as withering syndrome, combined to take a harsh toll on these animals. Two of the seven species, black abalone and white abalone, are listed as Critically Endangered; and all species of abalone in CA are threatened and currently protected from harvest. Though the threats remain high, marine scientists, conservationists, aquaculturists, abalone fishers, students, and citizen scientists are working together and making progress toward stabilizing and restoring these wonderful mollusks to the Pacific Coast. The level of dedication and collaboration among those participating in this endeavor is a wonderful story, in and of itself.

The rocky intertidal is a dynamic and biologically rich microcosm. These coastal margins hold a density and diversity of life that plays a crucial role in the balance of the bordering terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. Visiting this realm during a good low tide gives us an ephemeral window into a remarkable wonderland of lifeforms adapted to survive in a zone of extremes.

Shaw’s agave (Agave shawii shawii) is a rare and unique succulent plant endemic to a narrow, 200 mile (325 km), stretch along the southwestern California and northern Baja California coastline. South of the border, it is commonly found along the undeveloped portions of the western coast of Baja California. North of the border, however, the species has been reduced to just two small and isolated populations, one of which consists of a single genetic individual. An international team of conservation scientists is racing to better understand this iconic cross-border species and what can be done to protect it in the face of a series of growing threats.