Caroline Cappello

Caroline Cappello

Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, Natural History

CV

Caroline D. Cappello
Center for Avian Population Studies
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ithaca, NY

caroline.d.cappello@gmail.com

Education

University of Washington, Seattle, WA 2016-2022
PhD, Department of Biology, Advisor: P. Dee Boersma

Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 2007-2011
BA summa cum laude in Environmental Studies and Theater Arts with highest honors

The School for Field Studies, Kimana, Kenya & Karatu, Tanzania 2010
Full semester course credit in Wildlife Ecology & Management Studies

Appointments

Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY | University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM Postdoctoral Associate 2024-present

Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Postdoctoral Researcher 2022-2024

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles:

Cappello, C.D., Jacobson, K.V., Driscoll, J.T., McCarty, K.M., and Bauder, J.M. Accepted. Using integrated step-selection analyses to map high-risk electrocution areas for a highly mobile species. Journal of Wildlife Management

Cappello, C.D., Jacobson, K.V., Driscoll, J.T., McCarty, K.M., and Bauder, J.M. Accepted. Northward migrations of nonbreeding bald eagles from Arizona, USA. Journal of Raptor Research

Cappello, C.D., Jacobson, K.V., Driscoll, J.T., McCarty, K.M., and Bauder, J.M. 2024. Evaluating the effects of nest management on a recovering raptor using integrated population modeling. Ecosphere 15(10): e4943 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4943

Fricke, E.C., Hsieh, C., Middleton, O., Gorczynski, D., Cappello, C.D., Sanisidro, O., Rowan, J., Svenning, J.C., and L. Beaudrot. 2022. Collapse of terrestrial mammal food webs since the Late Pleistocene. Science 377(6609): 1008-1011 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn4012

Wagner, E.L., Cappello, C.D., and P.D. Boersma. 2022. Should I stay or should I go? Patterns of mate retention and divorce in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Animal Behaviour 192: 133-144 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.08.002

Cappello, C.D. and P.D. Boersma. 2021. Consequences of phenological shifts and a compressed breeding period in Magellanic penguins. Ecology 102(10): e03443 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3443

Cappello, C.D. and P.D. Boersma. 2018. Sexing Galápagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) by morphological measurements. Endangered Species Research 35: 169-173 DOI: 10.3354/esr00879

Boersma, P.D., C.D. Cappello, and G. Merlen. 2017. First observations of post-fledging care in Galápagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus). Wilson Journal of Ornithology 129(1): 186-191 DOI: 10.1676/1559-4491-129.1.186

McNeil, S.E., D. Tracy, and C.D. Cappello. 2015. Loop migration and Chaco wintering by a Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Western Birds 46(3): 244-255

Technical reports:

Boersma, P.D., C.D. Cappello, K.B. Karnauskas, G. Merlen, P. Parker, A. Steinfurth, and H.F. Vargas. 2018. Spheniscus mendiculus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 (BirdLife International). DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697825A132606008.en

Boersma, P.D., C.D. Cappello, K.B. Karnauskas, G. Merlen, P. Parker, A. Steinfurth, and H.F. Vargas. 2016. Spheniscus mendiculus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 (BirdLife International). DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697825A93642773.en

Garcia-Borboroglu, P., P.D. Boersma, and C.D. Cappello. 2015. Sentinels of the ocean: the science of the world’s penguins. The Pew Charitable Trusts. Washington, DC

Popular science writing:

Boersma, P.D., Merlen, G., Holt, K.A., Cappello, C.D., Garcia-Borboroglu, P. 2021. Pinguinos en la Linea Ecuatorial: El Pinguino de Galapagos. Imprenta Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador [link](https://galapagos.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Pinguinos-en-la-linea-ecuatorial_2022.pdf)

Guest writer for Galapagos Conservancy’s blog:
A Fragile Landscape for Penguins. 2020.
The Measure of a Penguin. 2019.
An Explosive Trip to Isabela: New Potential Nesting Sites for Galapagos Penguins. 2018.
A Good Year for Galapagos Penguins. 2017.

Honors & Awards

Outstanding Scholarly Achievement by Research Staff or Postdoc Award. 2024. School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of AZ

Graduate Research Fellowship. 2018-2021. National Science Foundation

Best Student Poster, 3rd place. 2021. EURING Analytical Meeting & Workshop, Quebec City, Canada

Best Student Talk, 2nd place. 2019. 10th International Penguin Congress, Dunedin, New Zealand

Faculty Choice for Best Talk. 2019. Graduate Student Symposium, Department of Biology, University of WA

Best PhD-student Poster, 2nd place. 2017. Pacific Seabird Group Annual Meeting, Tacoma, WA

Honorable Mention. 2016. Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation

Top Scholar Fellowship. 2016. Dept. of Biology, University of WA

Travel Award. 2016. 9th International Penguin Congress, Cape Town, South Africa

Attila Klein Environmental Conservation Award. 2011. Brandeis University

Theater Arts Outstanding Student Award for Artistic Innovation & Citizenship. 2011. Brandeis University

Walter and Edith Mossberg Scholarship. 2007-2011. Brandeis University

Presentations

Evaluating the effects of nest management on a recovering raptor population using an integrated population model. 2023. The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Louisville, KY. Talk

Evaluating the effects of nest management on a recovering raptor population using an integrated population model. 2023. Raptor Research Foundation Conference, Albuquerque, NM. Talk

Insights on population growth, nest parasites, and management efforts for bald eagles in Arizona from more than 30 years of monitoring. 2023. Arizona Game and Fish Department “Science and Sweets” Research Branch Seminar, Phoenix AZ. Invited talk

Ecology and conservation of Magellanic and Galapagos penguins in a changing world. 2022. School of Natural Resources and the Environment Seminar, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Invited virtual talk

Figuring out what counts: evaluating the effect of data quantity and quality on the performance of integrated population models. 2022. International Statistical and Ecology Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. Virtual talk

Integrated population model performance across varying data requirements for estimating demographic parameters. 2021. EURING Analytical Meeting & Workshop, Quebec City, PQ, Canada. Virtual poster

Early bird gets the fish? Late breeding and trophic mismatch in a migratory seabird. 2021. Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Sequim, WA. Invited virtual talk

Delayed breeding and trophic mismatch in a migratory seabird. 2021. Graduate Research Seminar, Department of Biology, University of WA, Seattle. Talk

Climate-driven changes in the timing of breeding in Magellanic penguins. 2019. Humboldt Penguin Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshop, Lima, Peru. Invited talk, given in Spanish

Better late than never? Consequences of delayed breeding in Magellanic penguins. 2019. 10th International Penguin Congress, Dunedin, New Zealand. Talk

Introducing the Center for Ecosystem Sentinels. 2019. Fish & Wildlife Seminar, School of Environmental and Forest Services, University of WA, Seattle. Invited, multi-speaker Talk

Better late than never? Consequences of delayed breeding in Magellanic penguins. 2019 Graduate Student Symposium, Department of Biology, Univ of WA, Seattle. Talk

Accuracy of Sexing Galapagos and Magellanic Penguins by Morphology and Behavior. 2017. Pacific Seabird Group Annual Meeting, Tacoma, WA. Poster

Accuracy of Sexing Galapagos and Magellanic Penguins by Morphology and Behavior. 2016. 9th International Penguin Congress, Cape Town, South Africa. Poster

Status of Maine’s Piping Plovers. 2013. New England Shorebird Conference, West Barnstable, MA. Invited, multi-speaker talk

Range Condition Changes and Trends in Mbirikani Group Ranch. 2010. Presented to Maasai community, Kimana, Kenya. Talk

Conserving Maine’s Piping Plover and Least Tern Populations. 2009. Internship Symposium, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA. Talk

Fieldwork

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Boersma Lab, UW. Dissertation research on Galapagos penguins. 2015-present.

Punta Tombo, Chubut, Argentina. Boersma Lab, UW. Dissertation research on Magellanic penguins. 2014-2018.

Southern Maine, USA. Maine Audubon. Collaborated with state and federal agencies, municipalities, and private landowners to manage endangered piping plover and least tern populations on 23 beaches along the Maine coast. 2013 & 2009.

Chequamegon National Forest, Wisconsin, USA. Pauli Lab, U. Wisconsin. Used noninvasive genetic sampling to assess the success of American marten reintroduction to Wisconsin. 2013.

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Tewksbury Lab, UW. Assessed impact of bird loss on plant diversity in tropical island forests. 2012.

Lower Colorado River, AZ & CA, USA. Southern Sierra Research Station. Examined yellow-billed cuckoo breeding ecology in remote and restored desert-riparian habitat. 2012.

Wild Ungualte Facility, Washington State University, USA. Calibrated activity sensors in radio collars to differentiate mule deer behavior. 2011.

Starkey Experimental Forest, Northeast OR, USA. Sanchez Lab, Oregon State University. Calibrated activity sensors in radio collars to differentiate Rocky Mountain elk behavior. 2011.

Mbirikani, Kenya. School for Field Studies. Examined the impact of cattle grazing on grasslands. 2010.

Teaching

Pedagogical Development:

  • Evidenced-based Teaching (Biology 505) with Dr. Scott Freeman. 2019.

Teaching Assistant:

  • Field Ecology (Biology 480), University of WA. 2018.
  • Introductory Cellular and Molecular Biology (Biology 200), University of WA. 2017.
  • Suzuki Acting Method (Theater 130A), Brandeis University. 2011.

Guest Lecturer:

  • Ecology (Environmental Studies 211), Gettysburg College. 2022, 2020, 2019.
  • Experimental Evolutional Ecology (Biology 481), University of WA. 2019.

Public Service & Outreach

Scientist, Skype a Scientist, classrooms across the U.S. 2019-present.

Guest Speaker, Monthly Speaker Series, American Cetacean Society, Orange County, CA. 2023.

Guest speaker, First Wednesday Lectures, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA. 2022.

Expert guest, Field Transmissions, episode: “Protecting Penguins”, Galápagos Conservancy. 2022.

Mentor, Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science, Assoc. for Women in Science, Seattle. 2019-2021.

Table Presenter, Polar Science Weekend, Seattle Pacific Science Center. 2015-2019.

Coordinator & Trip Leader, Young Naturalists’ Society of the Pacific Northwest. 2015-2018.

Classroom Assistant, Girls in Science Summer Camp, Burke Museum of Natural History. 2018.

Exhibit Leader, Polar Science Weekend, Seattle Pacific Science Center. 2016.

Table Presenter, Birds at the Burke, Burke Museum of Natural History. 2016.

Neighborhood Bird Count Volunteer, Seattle Audubon. 2012-2014.

Founder and Co-Coordinator, ‘DeisBikes: Bicycle Share Program, Brandeis University. 2008-2010.

Academic Service

Webinar Co-Coordinator & Co-Host, “How to include people with disabilities: Planning for accessibility in web-based meetings.” The Wildlife Society’s monthly webinar series. June 2024. [link]

Member, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Awareness Working Group, The Wildlife Society. 2023-2024.

Grad Student Representative, Diversity and Equity Committee, Dept. of Biology, UW. 2020-2022.

Advisory Group Member, UW Sexual Harassment Prevention Advisory Board, Action Collaborative for Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education, National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). 2019-2022.

Grad Student Representative, Equity in Fieldwork Task Force, Dept. of Biology, UW. 2020-2021.

Officer, Social Committee, Department of Biology, UW. 2017-2021.

Seminar Host & Peer Mentor, Graduate Research Seminar, Dept. of Biology, UW. 2020.

Symposium Co-Coordinator, Annual Graduate Student Symposium, Department of Biology, UW. 2019.


Last updated April 2025

back to top