Kristina Ernest, Professor

Science Building, Room 236E
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7537
(509) 963-2805
ernestk@cwu.edu

Education

Ph. D. University of New Mexico (Biology), 1993.
M.S.  University of Oklahoma (Zoology), 1985.

Teaching

General Biology, General Ecology, Mammalogy, Wildlife & Fisheries Ecology, Conservation Biology, Community Ecology, Field Techniques, Graduate Seminar.

Research

Population and community ecology. I am particularly interested in community structure, plant-herbivore interactions, and tropical biology. Current research focuses on pikas (Ochotona princeps). My lab is investigating ecological connectivity of pika populations in the central Washington Cascades across Interstate 90.

Recent Publications

• Shaw, D.C., K. A. Ernest, H. B. Rinker, and M.D. Lowman. 2006. Stand-level herbivory in an old-growth conifer forest canopy. Western North American Naturalist 66(4):473-481.
• Rinker, H. B., M.D. Lowman, D. C. Shaw, and K. A. Ernest. 2006. Development of a novel method for assessing stand-level herbivory in forests. What's Up? (Newsletter of the International Canopy Network) 12:4-5.
• Ernest, K. A. 2005. Testing hypotheses on plant-herbivore interactions using sawfly galls on willows. Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology, Vol. 3: Experiment #2 [online]. 
• Ernest, K. A. 2004. Measuring forest herbivory levels using canopy cranes. Pages 365-366, In Forest Canopies, 2nd ed. (M. D. Lowman and H. B. Rinker, eds.), Elsevier Scientific.
• Ernest, K. A. and R. K. Fry. 2001. Effects of simulated rodent herbivory on balsamroot (Balsamorhiza careyana): compensatory leaf growth. Northwest Science 75:236-243.