Trinity Smith

Trinity Smith
Graduation Year: 
2019
Advisor: 
Trinity is broadly interested in how non-game wildlife use habitat in modified landscapes. Her thesis research was conducted as part of a partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Trinity used bat acoustics to examine how bats use agricultural landscapes in the California Central Valley, especially during drought. Her thesis represents the largest acoustic survey of the Central Valley, a region growing over half of the United States’ fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Key findings of her thesis suggested that irrigated lands may serve as drought refugia for a selection of bat species. The results of Trinity's thesis will provide baseline information needed to assess future impacts of disease, habitat loss, and climate change on bat populations and ecosystem services.
 
Trinity now works as an Environmental Scientist for the California Department of Conservation, Abandoned Mine Lands Unit. In this position, Trinity helps prioritize abandoned mine lands for remediation to protect humans from hazards, while maintaining wildlife habitat, especially for bats.