Christine L. May, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

curriculum vitae
Christine L. May, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
James Madison University
Department of Biology
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
[email protected]
(434) 242-6500
Bioscience 1028d
http://www.jmu.edu/biology/faculty_may.shtml
FACULTY
James Madison University, Department of Biology, Assistant Professor
James Madison University, Department of Geology, Research Associate
2009 – present
2006 – 2008
POST-DOCTORAL EXPERIENCE
U. C. Berkeley, Department of Earth and Planetary Science
Advisor:
Dr. Bill Dietrich
Joint Appointment with Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management
Advisor:
Dr. Vince Resh
U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, CA
Advisor:
Dr. Tom Lisle
2005 – 2006
2003 – 2004
EDUCATION
Ph.D. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
1998 – 2002
M.S. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Forest Engineering
1996 -1998
B.S. HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Natural Resources
1990 - 1994
GPA: 3.9
Major: Fisheries Science, advisor: Dr. Robert Gresswell
Minor: Forest Science, advisor: Dr. Fred Swanson
Dissertation: Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Sediment and Wood in Headwater Streams
in the Oregon Coast Range
GPA: 3.9
Major: Forest Hydrology
Minor: Statistics
Thesis: Debris Flow Characteristics Associated with Forest Practices in the Central Oregon
Coast Range
Honors Student
Major: Watershed
Minor: Natural Resource Planning
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Primary interests are in interdisciplinary research that focuses on the interactions between physical and
biological processes in river systems. Specifically, I am exploring hydrologic and geomorphic processes
that shape river systems, and the role of disturbance in aquatic ecosystems. Of particular interest is the
effect of vegetation changes on the frequency and magnitude of sediment fluxes, and how these processes
influence biotic communities.
PUBLICATIONS
May, C.L., and B.S. Pryor. (in review) Explaining spatial patterns of mussel beds in a northern
California river: The role of flood disturbance and spawning salmon. Submitted to Freshwater
Biology.
Lawrence, J.E., M.R. Cover, C.L. May, and V.H. Resh. 2014. Replacement of culvert styles has
minimal impact on benthic macroinvertebrates in forested, mountainous streams of Northern
California. Limnologica doi: 10.1016/j.limno.2014.02.002.
Courtwright, J. and May, C.L. 2013. Importance of terrestrial subsidies for native brook trout in
Appalachian intermittent streams. Freshwater Biology doi:10.1111/fwb.12221.
May, C.L., and B.S. Pryor. 2013. Initial motion and bedload transport distance determined by particle
tracking in a large regulated river. River Research and Application, doi:10.1002/rra.2665
May, C.L., Roering, J., Eaton, L.S., and K.M. Burnett. 2013. Controls on valley width in
mountainous landscapes: The role of landsliding and implications for salmonid habitat.
Geology, vol. 41(4):503-506, doi:10.1130/G33979.1.
May, C.L., and T. E. Lisle. 2012. River profile controls on channel morphology, debris flow
disturbance, and the spatial extent of salmonids in steep mountain streams. Journal of
Geophysical Research, vol. 117, F00A03, doi:10.1029/2011JF002324.
May, C.L., Pryor, B.S., T. Lisle, and M. Lang. 2009. Coupling hydrodynamic modeling and empirical
measures of bed mobility to predict the risk of scour and fill of salmon redds in a large regulated
river. Water Resources Research, 45, W05402, doi:10.1029/2007WR006498.
May, C.L., Eaton, L.S., and S. Whitmeyer. 2009. Integrating student-led research in fluvial
geomorphology into traditional field courses: A case study from JMU’s field course in Ireland.
In: Special Issue on Field Geology Education: Historical Perspectives and Modern Approaches.
Geological Society of America, pp. 195-204.
Cover, M., May, C.L., Resh, V.H., and W.E. Dietrich. 2008. Quantitative linkages between
sediment supply, streambed fine sediment, and benthic macroinvertebrates in streams of the
Klamath Mountains. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 27(1):135-149.
May, C.L. 2007. Sediment and wood routing in steep headwater streams: an overview of
geomorphic processes and their topographic signatures. Forest Science 53(2):119-130.
Hassan, M., Hogan, D.L., Bird, S.A., May, C.L., T. Gomi, and D. Campbell. 2005. Spatial and temporal
dynamics of wood in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest. Journal of the American Water
Resources Association, Special Issue on Headwater Streams 41(4):899-919.
Benda, L., Hassan, M., M. Church, and C. May. 2005. Geomorphology of steepland headwaters: The
transitions from hillslopes to channels. Journal of the American Water Resources Association,
Special Issue on Headwater Streams 41(4):835-851.
May, C.L. and D.C. Lee. 2004. The relationship between in-channel sediment storage, pool depth, and
summer survival of juvenile salmonids in the Oregon Coast Range. North American Journal of
Fisheries Management 24(3):761-774.
May, C.L. and R.E. Gresswell. 2004. Spatial and temporal patterns of debris flow deposition in the
Oregon Coast Range, U.S.A. Geomorphology 57:135-149.
May, C.L. and R.E. Gresswell. 2003. Large wood recruitment and redistribution in headwater streams
of the Oregon Coast Range, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33: 1352-1362.
May, C.L. and R.E. Gresswell. 2003. Processes and rates of sediment and wood accumulation in
headwater streams of the Oregon Coast Range, U.S.A. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
28(4): 409-424.
May, C.L. 2003. From being mentored to becoming a mentor. Fisheries 28(6):40.
May, C.L. 2002. Debris flows through different forest age classes in the central Oregon Coast Range.
Journal of the American Water Resources Association 38(4): 1097-1113.
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SELECT PRESENTATIONS
Invited Speaker, Society for Freshwater Sciences, Portland, OR. ‘Post-fire sediment fluxes in steep mountain
landscapes: The intertwining of salmonid habitat and geomorphic process domains.’ 2014.
Speaker, American Fisheries Society national meeting, Little Rock, AK. ‘How flood disturbance structures the
spatial pattern of mussel beds and salmon spawning redds in a large regulated river. 2013.
Invited Speaker, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA. ‘Initial motion and bedload transport distance
determined by particle tracking in a large regulated river.’ 2012.
Speaker, Society for Freshwater Science, Louisville, KY. ‘Using hydrodynamic modeling to understand spatial
patterns of flood disturbance in regulated rivers.’ 2012
Contributing author, Society for Freshwater Science, Louisville, KY. ‘Food web subsidies in intermittent streams:
Implications for small isolated populations of native brook trout.’ 2012
Contributing author, Geological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN. ‘The effects of deep-seated landslides on
the width of valleys and the habitat for salmon.’ 2011
Speaker, Geological Society of America, Portland, OR. ‘Spatial patterns of sediment deposition and the effects on
salmonid survival.’ 2009.
Speaker, American Fisheries Society, Nashville, TN. ‘Predicting the impacts of flooding on salmon redds by
coupling hydrodynamic modeling and empirical measures of scour and fill in a large regulated river.’ 2009.
Co-Authored Poster Presentation, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA. ‘ Road-crossing restoration
on alluvial creeks in the Klamath National Forest, California.’ 2008.
Invited Speaker, Society of Conservation Biology, Chattanooga, TN. ‘Prioritizing salmonid conservation areas
through basin-scale predictions of network connectivity and disturbance severity in steep mountain streams.’ 2008.
Co-Authored Presentation, Geological Society of America, Denver, CO. ‘Integrating student-led research in
fluvial geomorphology into traditional field courses: A case study from JMU’s field course in Ireland.’ 2007.
Speaker, Geological Society of America, Pittsburg, PA. ‘Steepness and concavity controls on the expression of
reach-scale channel morphology, debris flow deposition, and the spatial distribution of salmonids in the Pacific
Northwest.’ 2006.
Invited Speaker, Joint Assembly of the American Geophysical Union and the North American Benthological
Society, New Orleans, LA. ‘Coupling a Hydrodynamic Model and Empirical Measures of Bed Mobility:
Implications for a Large Regulated River.’ 2005
Speaker, Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. ‘Basin-Scale Controls on the Expression of ReachScale Channel Morphology, Debris Flow Deposition, and the Spatial Distribution of Salmonids in the Pacific
Northwest.’ 2005
Speaker, North American Benthological Society, Vancouver, Canada. ‘The relationship between in-channel
sediment storage, pool depth, and summer survival and growth of juvenile salmonids.’ 2004
Speaker, Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. ‘The effects of channel aggradation on water
availability and summer survival of juvenile coho in the Oregon Coast Range.' 2003
Speaker, Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado. ‘Sediment accumulation in headwater streams during
the interval between debris flows in the Oregon Coast Range.’ 2002
Speaker, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, California. ‘Processes and rates of sediment and wood
accumulation in headwater streams of the Oregon Coast Range, U.S.A.’ 2001
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RESEARCH GRANTS
Jeffress Memorial Trust, PI: Christine May. Competitive grant award ‘Developing an Innovative Mathematical
Simulation Model to Inform Recovery Strategies for the Endangered James Spinymussel’ 2014-2015 ($100k)
4-VA, Consortium of Universities mini-grant to support development of a one day symposium on Mountain Streams
in collaboration with UVa, VT and VNHM. 2012 ($5k)
JMU, Geospatial Technology mini-grant. 2012 ($1k) and 2014 ($850)
Meierjurgen Fellowship for Visiting Scientists, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, spring
term visiting faculty fellowship. Spring - Summer 2011 ($15k)
JMU, College of Science and Math. Faculty assistance summer research grant recipient. 2011 ($3k) & 2014 ($4k)
Jeffress Memorial Trust, PI: Christine May. Competitive grant award to conduct experiments on the effects of
sedimentation on brook trout survival. 2009-2011 ($20k)
U.S. Geological Survey, State Water Resources Research Program, PI’s: Christine May and Stephen Lancaster,
competitive grant award to support research on the effects of sediment deposition on the emergence success of
juvenile salmonids. 2008-2010 ($44k)
Canaan Valley Institute, co-PI on interdisciplinary science team, competitive grant award to investigate stream
restoration practices in Shenandoah Valley. 2006 ($30k)
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, PI’s: Christine May and Tom Lisle, competitive grant award to support research on
the relationship between river discharge and stream bed scour: implications for redd scour on the Trinity River.
2003 - 2005 ($240k)
U.S. Forest Service, PI’s: Christine May and Bret Harvey, internal competitive grant program, funding award to
support research on the influence of channel aggradation on growth rates of juvenile coho salmon. 2003 ($20k)
Women’s International Science Collaboration Program, American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the National Science Foundation. Funding to support collaborative research in headwater streams. 2003.
International Research Exchange, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Long-Term Ecological
Research sites in China and Taiwan. 1999.
TEACHING
Courses taught regularly at JMU:
BIO 124 Ecology and Evolution (72 person lecture sections, and 24 person lab sections)
BIO 459/559 Freshwater Ecology
BIOL 400/GEOL 400 Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas
BIOL 49x Undergraduate Research series
BIO 660 Graduate Seminar
GSCI 104 Natural Hazards
ENVT 400 Environmental Studies Capstone
Additional summer field course:
BIO 4510, Methods in Stream Ecology, Mountain Lake Biological Research Station
Prior teaching experience:
FISH 685, Disturbance Processes in River Systems, Humboldt State University. Spring 2003.
FW 454/554, Fisheries Biology, Hatfield Marine Science Center, OSU. Fall 1999 and 2000.
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JOURNAL REVIEWS
Water Resources Research
Geomorphology
Ecological Applications
Forest Ecology and Management
Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Forest Science
Journal of the American Water Resources Association
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
Environmental Biology of Fishes
North American Journal of Fisheries Management
Environmental Management
Society for Computer Simulation Transactions
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
University of Washington Press
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Host for Mountain Stream Symposium II: Continueing Challenges for Critical Ecosystems, a one-day
symposium showcasing 14 invited speakers & contributed posters, Sept. 21 st, 2013.
JMU Biology Department Seminar Series Coordinator. 2012.
Panel Member, elected by the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology division, Geological Society of America.
2007 – 2009.
Technical Advisory Board for the Rivanna River Basin Commission. 2008 - 2009
Convener, ‘Biotic and Abiotic Processes in Headwater Streams’ session at the annual meeting of the Society of
Northwest Vertebrate Biologists. 2003.
Redwood Sciences Lab Seminar Series Convener, organizer of a weekly seminar series that brought together a
diverse group of researchers interested in forestry, watershed, and wildlife issues in the Pacific Northwest.
Spring and Fall 2002.
Invited Book Review, Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 2003.
Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Representative, provided oral and written testimony for the
Natural Resource Committee, Oregon Senate on amendments to the state Forest Practices Act in House Bill
2163. 2001.
Convener, Riparian Areas Workshop jointly sponsored by the American Fisheries Society and the Wildlife
Society. Portland, Oregon 2001.
Co-President, student chapter of the American Water Resources Association. The student chapter hosted
monthly speakers, organized field trips each term, hosted social events, prepared a web site and email list to
serve students involved with water resource issues from six departments at OSU. Our chapter was awarded
honorable mention in the best student chapter competition by the national AWRA chapter. 2000 – 2001.
Founding Member and Secretary, Student Chapter American Water Resources Association, OSU. 1998.
Student Representative, Academic Affairs Committee, OSU. 1998.
Graduate Student Senate, Oregon State University. 1998.
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
James Madison University
Assistant Professor
Harrisonburg, VA
2009 - present
Department of Biology. Primary responsibilities teaching, research, and service.
Research Associate
2006 – 2008
Joint appointment with the Department of Geology and Environmental Science and Department of Biology:
Mentor student research projects and support an active research program. Part-time instructor of classes in
aquatic ecology and general science.
University of California
Post-Doctoral Scholar
Berkeley, CA
2003 – 2006
Joint appointment with Dr. Bill Dietrich, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Dr. Vince Resh, Ecosystem
Sciences Policy Management: Develop a research program that links sediment supply to biologically
significant river attributes in a cumulative watershed effects framework.
USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station
GS-12 Watershed Scientist (post-doctoral position)
Arcata, CA
2003
Post-doctoral research position with Dr. Tom Lisle: Design and implement research that investigates the
linkages between hillslopes and channels in forested mountain drainage basins managed under the
Northwest Forest Plan.
GS-12 Research Ecologist (post-doctoral position)
2002
Post-doctoral research position with Dr. Danny Lee: Develop a probability based, risk assessment of largescale effects of fire and fuels management strategies on watershed processes and aquatic biota.
Humboldt State University
Associate Faculty
Arcata, CA
2003
Instructor for Watershed Disturbances Processes (FISH 685).
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University &
USGS Forest and Range Ecosystem Science Center
Graduate Research Assistant
Corvallis, OR
1998 - 2001
Designed and implemented research projects related to the routing of sediment and wood through the
channel network, with special emphasis on landslide and debris flow processes and landforms.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
1999, 2000
Co-instructor with Dr. William Liss for Fisheries Biology (FW 454/554). The purpose of this course was
to provide an understanding of physical processes and ecological principles to the conservation of fishes
and their ecosystems by focusing on field-based learning experiences.
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (continued)
Department of Forest Engineering, Oregon State University
Graduate Research Assistant
Corvallis, OR
1996 – 1998
Designed and implement a research project on landslide and debris flow characteristics following a large
regional storm event.
USFS Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station
Research Technician
Corvallis, OR
1995
The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of summer holding habitat for adult spring chinook
salmon in eastern Oregon. Specific activities included determining migration patterns, pre-spawning
distribution using snorkel surveys, spawning distribution using redd surveys, characterizing holding and
spawning habitats, and examining the influence of stream temperature on habitat use by juvenile and adult
spring chinook.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Research and Development
Research Technician
La Grande, OR
1994-1995
Conducted field sampling activities needed to carry out life history and natural production studies of
salmon and steelhead. Duties included operating rotary screw traps, surveying juvenile fish populations
utilizing methods of electrofishing, seining and snorkeling, PIT tagging wild juvenile chinook salmon,
conducting winter habitat surveys, and analyzing and summarizing data for monthly reports.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Research and Development
Biological Technician
Corvallis, OR
1994
Conducted habitat surveys as a member of the aquatic inventory crew. The purpose of this survey was to
gather statistically viable habitat estimates, with sufficient measurement verifications, of fish habitat
characteristics and riparian stands. Surveys were conducted on state, federal, and private land.
Oregon Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Oregon State University
Biological Technician
Corvallis, OR
1994
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of collection, handling, and transportation on the
stress response, performance capabilities, and behavior of spring chinook salmon and steelhead trout at key
Snake and Columbia River dams. Job duties included assembling and testing equipment, tagging and
tracking radio-marked fish, sampling blood plasma, conducting behavioral and physiological tests, and
performing as a member of a field and laboratory team.
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Humboldt State University
Project Co-director
Arcata, CA
1993-1994
Conducted fieldwork to monitor a restoration project and determine the run size and timing of cutthroat
trout; traps and weirs were installed to intercept the spawning migration.
Student Research Assistant
1993
The goal of this project was to identify the impacts of Benbow Dam (S. Fork Eel River) on juvenile
salmonids and the thermal regime of the river downstream of the dam.
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HONORS AND AWARDS
Richard A. Herbert Memorial Education Scholarship, national chapter, American Water Resources
Association, 2001.
Western Division of the American Fisheries Society, Graduate Student Scholarship, 2000.
Thomas Scott Achievement Award, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, OSU 2000.
Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society, OSU 1998.
Forest Engineering Fellowship Award, College of Forestry, OSU 1996.
Magna Cum Laude, College of Natural Resources and Sciences, Humboldt State University, 1993.
Presidential Scholar Award, Humboldt State University, 1992 and 1993.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Geophysical Union
American Fisheries Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Geological Society of American
American Water Resources Association
Association for Women Geoscientists
1997 - present
1994 - present
2002 - present
2002 - present
1997 - 2003
2003
PERTINENT COURSE WORK
Watershed Management
Forest Land Use & Water Quality
Forest Hydrology
Fluid Mechanics
Coastal Stream Management
Limnology
Limnology of Flowing Water
Wetland Restoration
Water Pollution Biology
Geomorphology
Adv. Landscape Ecology
Forest Geomorphology
Stream Ecology
Sediment Budgets
Fish Ecology
Forest / Range Soils
Quantitative Ecology
Geomorphology of Soils
Advanced Sampling
Origin & Classification of Soils
Environmental Statistics
Geomorphology of Mtn. Streams Env. Impact Assessment
Silvicultural Practices
Evolutionary Significant Units
Forest Science Teaching Practicum
& Conservation Planning
REFERENCES
Dr. Robert Gresswell
Aquatic Scientist
USGS - NRMSC
229 AJM Johnson Hall
Bozeman, MT 59717-3492
(406) 994-7084
email: [email protected]
relationship: Ph.D. major professor
Dr. Stephen Leslie
Department Head
Department of Geology & Environmental Science
James Madison University
MSC 6903 Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-6144
email: [email protected]
relationship: colleague and co-instructor
Dr. Tom Lisle
Research Hydrologist (retired)
USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station
1700 Bayview Dr.
Arcata, CA 95521
email: [email protected]
relationship: Post-doctoral advisor & research collaborator
Dr. Joanna Mott
Department Head
Department of Biology, James Madison University
MSC 7801 Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-6227
email: [email protected]
relationship: Department Head
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