Katherine Larson

Advisor: 

Katherine is investigating how predator-prey interactions affect ecosystem services on Napa Valley vineyards. More specifically, she using is monitoring blocks to determine if barn owls meaningfully reduce vole and mouse abundance, and she is using giving up density (GUD) trays to determine if barn owls affect vole and mouse foraging behavior. Additionally, she deploys baited camera sites to determine the effect of vegetation on vole and mouse abundance. This research may inform vineyard management decisions by demonstrating the effectiveness of barn owls as a pest management strategy and by revealing how vegetation affects this ecosystem service.