Lizabeth Bowen
My research program focuses on the interactions among immunology, toxicology, disease ecology, and ecosystem health.
I analyze the physiologic and metabolic effects of stressors on organisms and how subsequent vulnerabilities translate into population and ecosystem health. Stressors can be either chemical (pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons), physical (e.g., elevated water temperature), or biological (toxins, pathogens). My long-term goal is to better understand the effects of anthropogenic and natural stressors on individuals and how those stressors are reflected in an individual organism’s fitness (survival and reproduction), the population level effects of differential survival and reproduction of individuals, and the ecosystem level effects of population change.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Eco-immunology
- Nearshore marine ecosystem health
- Conservation biology
- Eco-toxicology
- Individual and population level susceptibility
Professional Experience
Assistant Project Scientist, UC Davis, 2005– 2009
Ecologist, U. S. Geological Survey, 2004–present
Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Davis, 2003-2004
Post Graduate Researcher, UC Davis. 1998-2003
Post Graduate Researcher, UC Davis, 1998
Research Assistant, UC Davis, 1996
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis. 2003.
Thesis: Immunogenetics in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus): evolution of the major histocompatibility complex under differentialMaster of Science, Ecology, University of California, Davis. 1995.
Thesis: Defenses of insular endemic plants in the absence of herbivoryBachelor of Arts, Biology. University of California, Santa Cruz. 1989.
Science and Products
Southern sea otter range expansion and habitat use in the Santa Barbara Channel, California
Negative impacts of invasive plants on conservation of sensitive desert wildlife
Gene transcript profiling in sea otters post-Exxon Valdez oil spill: A tool for marine ecosystem health assessment
Longitudinal evaluation of leukocyte transcripts in killer whales (Orcinus Orca)
Long-term monitoring program: Evaluating chronic exposure of harlequin ducks and sea otters to lingering Exxon Valdez Oil in Western Prince William Sound
Gene transcription in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from disparate populations
Enhanced biological processes associated with alopecia in polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
Integrating gene transcription-based biomarkers to understand desert tortoise and ecosystem health
Evaluating the status of individuals and populations: Advantages of multiple approaches and time scales
Effects of wildfire on sea otter (Enhydra lutris) gene transcript profiles
2013 update on sea otter studies to assess recovery from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, Prince William Sound, Alaska
Variations of transcript profiles between sea otters Enhydra lutris from Prince William Sound, Alaska, and clinically normal reference otters
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 39
Southern sea otter range expansion and habitat use in the Santa Barbara Channel, California
The re-colonization of the Santa Barbara channel by sea otters brings these ESA-listed marine mammals closer to active oil and gas production facilities, shipping lanes and naturally occurring oil and gas seeps. However, the degree to which sea otters may actually be affected by human-caused oil spills or exposure to natural oil seeps is currently unknown. Between 2012 and 2014, the U.S. GeologicaAuthorsM. Tim Tinker, Joseph A. Tomoleoni, Nicole LaRoche, Lizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Mike Murray, Michelle Staedler, Zachary RandellNegative impacts of invasive plants on conservation of sensitive desert wildlife
Habitat disturbance from development, resource extraction, off-road vehicle use, and energy development ranks highly among threats to desert systems worldwide. In the Mojave Desert, United States, these disturbances have promoted the establishment of nonnative plants, so that native grasses and forbs are now intermixed with, or have been replaced by invasive, nonnative Mediterranean grasses. ThisAuthorsK. Kristina Drake, Lizabeth Bowen, Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Andrew J. Berger, Nathan Custer, Shannon C. Waters, Jay D. Johnson, A. Keith Miles, Rebecca L. LewisonGene transcript profiling in sea otters post-Exxon Valdez oil spill: A tool for marine ecosystem health assessment
Using a panel of genes stimulated by oil exposure in a laboratory study, we evaluated gene transcription in blood leukocytes sampled from sea otters captured from 2006–2012 in western Prince William Sound (WPWS), Alaska, 17–23 years after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS). We compared WPWS sea otters to reference populations (not affected by the EVOS) from the Alaska Peninsula (2009), KatmaiAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Brenda E. Ballachey, Shannon C. Waters, James L. BodkinLongitudinal evaluation of leukocyte transcripts in killer whales (Orcinus Orca)
Early identification of illness and/or presence of environmental and/or social stressors in free-ranging and domestic cetaceans is a priority for marine mammal health care professionals. Incorporation of leukocyte gene transcript analysis into the diagnostic tool kit has the potential to augment classical diagnostics based upon ease of sample storage and shipment, inducible nature and well-definedAuthorsTatjana Sitt, Lizabeth Bowen, Chia-Shan Lee, Myra Blanchard, James McBain, Christopher Dold, Jeffrey L. StottLong-term monitoring program: Evaluating chronic exposure of harlequin ducks and sea otters to lingering Exxon Valdez Oil in Western Prince William Sound
We found that average cytochrome P4501A induction (as measured by EROD activity) during March 2014 was not elevated in wintering harlequin ducks captured in areas of Prince William Sound oiled by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, relative to those captured in unoiled areas. This result is consistent with findings from March 2013. We interpret these findings to indicate that exposure of harlequin duAuthorsDaniel Esler, Lizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Brenda E. Ballachey, James L. BodkinGene transcription in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from disparate populations
Polar bears in the Beaufort (SB) and Chukchi (CS) Seas experience different environments due primarily to a longer history of sea ice loss in the Beaufort Sea. Ecological differences have been identified as a possible reason for the generally poorer body condition and reproduction of Beaufort polar bears compared to those from the Chukchi, but the influence of exposure to other stressors remains uAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Shannon C. Waters, Randi Meyerson, Karyn D. Rode, Todd C. AtwoodEnhanced biological processes associated with alopecia in polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
Populations of wildlife species worldwide experience incidents of mass morbidity and mortality. Primary or secondary drivers of these events may escape classical detection methods for identifying microbial insults, toxin exposure, or additional stressors. In 2012, 28% of polar bears sampled in a study in the southern Beaufort Sea region of Alaska had varying degrees of alopecia that was concomitanAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Jeffrey L. Stott, Shannon C. Waters, Todd C. AtwoodIntegrating gene transcription-based biomarkers to understand desert tortoise and ecosystem health
Tortoises are susceptible to a wide variety of environmental stressors, and the influence of human disturbances on health and survival of tortoises is difficult to detect. As an addition to current diagnostic methods for desert tortoises, we have developed the first leukocyte gene transcription biomarker panel for the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), enhancing the ability to identify specificAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, K. Kristina Drake, Shannon C. Waters, Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. NussearEvaluating the status of individuals and populations: Advantages of multiple approaches and time scales
The assessment of population status is a central goal of applied wildlife research and essential to the field of wildlife conservation. “Population status” has a number of definitions, the most widely used having to do with the current trajectory of the population (i.e., growing, stable, or declining), or the probability of persistence (i.e., extinction risk), perhaps without any specific knowledgAuthorsDaniel H. Monson, Lizabeth BowenEffects of wildfire on sea otter (Enhydra lutris) gene transcript profiles
Wildfires have been shown to impact terrestrial species over a range of temporal scales. Little is known, however, about the more subtle toxicological effects of wildfires, particularly in downstream marine or downwind locations from the wildfire perimeter. These down-current effects may be just as substantial as those effects within the perimeter. We used gene transcription technology, a sensitivAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, A. Keith Miles, Crystal A. Kolden, Justin A. Saarinen, James L. Bodkin, Michael J. Murray, M. Tim Tinker2013 update on sea otter studies to assess recovery from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, Prince William Sound, Alaska
On March 24, 1989, the tanker vessel Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling an estimated 42 million liters of Prudhoe Bay crude oil. Oil spread in a southwesterly direction and was deposited on shores and waters in western Prince William Sound (WPWS). The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) was one of more than 20 nearshore species considered to have been injured by the spill. SAuthorsBrenda E. Ballachey, Daniel H. Monson, George G. Esslinger, Kimberly A. Kloecker, James L. Bodkin, Lizabeth Bowen, A. Keith MilesVariations of transcript profiles between sea otters Enhydra lutris from Prince William Sound, Alaska, and clinically normal reference otters
Development of blood leukocyte gene transcript profiles has the potential to expand condition assessments beyond those currently available to evaluate wildlife health, including sea otters Enhydra lutris, both individually and as populations. The 10 genes targeted in our study represent multiple physiological systems that play a role in immuno-modulation, inflammation, cell protection, tumor supprAuthorsA. Keith Miles, Lizabeth Bowen, Brenda E. Ballachey, James L. Bodkin, M. Murray, J.L. Estes, Robin A. Keister, J.L. Stott - Science
- Data
- News