Miles Berkey(He/Him)

                                                                                                                       

Phone: 425.305.6728                                                                         

Email: mberkey45@gmail.com         

 Education

 MS in Biology (Candidate)

 Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington                                      

 

Relevant coursework:

  • Applied Statistics in Environmental Science

  • Climate Change

  • Essentials for Biology Graduate Studies

  • Introduction to Biological Research

  • Research Proposal Developmental and Writing

  • Research Presentation

  • Thesis Research

  • Biogeography

  • Introduction to GIS

 

Thesis: The Immensity of Minutiae: Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades.

     Bryophyte based floristics approach to test an ice age refugia hypothesis for Barlow Pass, North Cascades, Washington.

 

BS in Environmental Science                                                                            

June 2012

The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA                                                             

Relevant coursework:

  • Temperate Rainforests and the Philosophy of Science

  • Disturbance Ecology

  • Invasive Species: Plants and Patterns

  • Geology of the Pacific Northwest & Quantitative Methods in Earth Science

  • Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem management

  • Bryophyte Taxonomy and Ecology

 

Professional History:

 Cordilleran Ecological Surveys LLC                                                                                

2024- Present

Bellingham, Washington

Owner/Operator

 

Small biological consulting company specializing in bryophyte taxonomy.

·         Provides taxonomic determinations, workshops, & site surveys for baseline inventories of common and rare species for private, state, NGO’s, and federal agencies.

 

Western Washington University                                                    

1.      Student Employee – Thesis Research                                                   

Summer, 2022 & 2023

a.       Funded through WWU Fraser Fellowship to carry out field work for thesis research.

       i.      Developed bryophyte floras for the bases of Big 4 Mtn, Whitehorse Mtn., Mt. Johannesburg, Mt. Pilchuck and Davis Peak

       ii.      Worked Solo, and lead crews of 2 – 4 interns in remote backcountry enduring physically challenging conditions.

       iii.      Over 759 hours of microscopy utilizing both compound and dissection microscopes.

       iv.      Collected over 1300 specimens representing over 266 mosses and liverworts.

1.      Over 32 Rare species collected; 3 new genera to Washington; numerous new Species to Washington

        v.      Trained over 10 undergraduate students in bryophyte taxonomy and ecology in laboratory and field settings.

 

 

2.      Student Employee - Graduate Teaching Assistant                                     

   Fall, 2021- Present

Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity – Lab Lead

a.      Taught 2, 3-hour lab sections per quarter. Laboratories focused on the evolutionary and ecological processes shaping the biodiversity of life on earth.

    i.      Duties: prepared PowerPoint presentations to lecture on lab content; guided and instructed undergraduate TA’s and helped students with lab exercises; assigned and graded class assignments.

  ii.      Accomplishments: Taught over 220 students; developed presentations, and teaching skills; Accommodated students with special needs and learning disabilities; Included anti-discrimination in course curriculum; Good evaluations from both students and faculty.

 

3.      Research Technician for the 50 Peaks Project                                  

 July 2022 – August 2022

a.       Assisted Principal Investigator collecting plants from alpine areas of Doom Mountain, Vancouver Island, B.C.

            i.      Collected numerous flowering plants endemic to ice age refugial areas of Northern Vancouver Island.

             ii.      Developed the bryophyte species list for the previously undocumented alpine areas of Mt. Doom.

             iii.      Accomplishments: 69 species collected; numerous rare species & 1 liverwort possibly new to science.

North Cascades National Park Complex                                                   

April 2016 – Dec. 2022

Biological Science Technician (Permanent)

1.      Invasive Plant Management Lead for the North Cascades National Park Complex

a.       Invasive plant surveys and treatment throughout the park and recreation units.

b.      Coordinated and led front and backcountry invasive plant surveys and treatment efforts.


2.  Bryophyte Specialist for the North Cascades National Park and Inventory and Monitoring Program (NPS)

a.       Coordinates and implements rare bryophyte inventory efforts within the North Coast Cascades National Park Units (NCCN)

a.       2019 - North Cascades National Rock-Climbing Management Plan.

i.       In compliance with NEPA, evaluated rare bryophyte and lichen species presence and distribution in areas where rock climbing was impacting natural areas.

b.      2021 - Lewis and Clark National Historic Park

     i.       Surveyed for rare bryophyte species in park unit consisting of high valuable interdunal habitat and remnant coastal prairies.

 

3        Whitebark Pine Inventorying and Monitoring Project                                  

2017 – 2021

a.       Lead crews of 1- 4 technicians to install and monitor plots studying tree decline in remote backcountry settings.

            i.      Followed specific scientific protocols for plot reconnaissance, installation, and monitoring.

           ii.      Developed an understanding of white bark pine response to white pine blister rust.

 

4        Sub-alpine Inventorying and Monitoring Project field technician                          

   2017 – 2018

a.       Worked with field crews of 3-4 individuals to install vegetation monitoring plots on off-trail remote locations in the North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Park.

b.       The Installation of plots involved installing and activating HOBO data-loggers (temperature sensors), measuring vascular plant species diversity, percent cover, and biotic and abiotic cover for each sub-plot.

     

      5.  Doug’s Tarn Fish Removal Project                                                                                        

2018

a.       worked with a team of six to remove introduced west slope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) from the remote mountain lake, Doug’s Tarn. 

b.      Developed and understanding of aquatic biological systems and control techniques.

 

     6.  Vegetation Mapping Project                                                                                                    

2016

a.    Worked with field crews to assess remote-sensing model accuracy.

b.    Generated comprehensive species diversity and richness estimates.

          c.     Field work was conducted in remote backcountry settings for up to 8 days at a time.

 

 Rainshadow Consuntling LLC                                                                                           

2018 –2019

Eastsound, WA   

 Forestry Technician

a.       Assisted with forest thinning, ecological restoration, and dendrochronology projects.

b.      Regular chainsaw use and maintenance.

c.       Coordination with arborists as a groundman.

 Applied Ecology LLC                                                                                              

2014 –2018
Seattle, Wa

Habitat Enhancement Technician        

a.       Provided ecological enhancement consultations, interpretation, and labor to achieve project goals in Urban and timber unit forests in the Seattle area.                              

b.   Restored over 1,000 acres of degraded urban and rural ecosystems.
      c.    Over 300 hours experience of professional application of herbicides.
      d.    Planted over 25,000 native plants specific to each habitat.

 

Grants & Fellowships Awarded:

·         2023 Endangered Species and Conservation Grant, $1,000.  International Association of Bryologists, August 26, 2023, The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades.

·         Fraser Foundation Fellowship, May 18, 2023, $1500. Biology Dept., College of Science and Engineering, Western Washington University.

·         2023 Research and Plant Inventory Grant, $1260. Washington Native Plant Society, March 31, 2023. The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades.

·         2023 Summer Research Grant, $500. North Cascades Audubon Society, June 6, 2023. The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades.

·         Fraser Foundation Fellowship, $2500. Biology Dept., College of Science and Engineering, Western Washington University. May 18, 2022

·         2022 Research and Plant Inventory Grant, Washington Native Plant Society, April 1, 2022, $2000. The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades.

·         2022 Mountain Research Grant, $2000, Mazamas Organization, May 16, 2022. The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades.

·         2016 Endangered Species and Conservation Grant, $600.  International Association of Bryologists, June 15, 2016, Survey for Potential Presence of Critically Imperiled Bryophyte Species: Brachydontium trichoides, Brachydontium olympicum, and Bryoxiphium norvegicum subsp. Norvegicum in the North Cascades.

 

Presentations, Guest Lectures and Media:

·         Featured Bryologist in PBS Series: Untold Earth: You Aren’t Paying Enough Attention to Moss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVeBSKK88Ig

·         Featured Bryologist in Adventure Science PNW episode: The Epic Hunt for Rare Mosses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUr6U4R3wnY&t=234s.

·         Guest Presenter at the Washington Native Plant Society’s Study Weekend - July 27, 2023

Presentation title: The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades

·         Poster Presentation: Northwest Science Association Annual Meeting – March 22 – 24, 2023

Poster title: The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades. Miles Berkey M.S. Candidate & Dr. Eric DeChaine

Department of Biology, Western Washington University

◦         Recipients of 2 awards for best poster.

 

·         Presenter at the 2023 Washington Botanical Symposium – March 8, 2023

Presentation title: The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades

 

·         Guest Research Presentation: The Evergreen State College – May 16, 2023

Presentation title: The Immensity of Minutiae, Utilizing Bryophytes to Detect an Ice Age Refugium in the North Cascades

 

·         Guest lecturer for Systematic Botany, Western Washington University – April 10, 2023 Lecture Title:  Introduction to Bryophytes

·         Guest lecturer for Bryophyte Taxonomy and Ecology, The Evergreen State College – November 15, 2015.  Lecture Title:  Introduction to Sphagnum.

Certifications:

-2021 Licensed Washington State Pesticide applicator

-2018 Certified for Hazard Tree Identification and mitigation for USFS and NPS Recreation sites

-2016 Certified Motorboat Operator for the National Park Service

-2018 A-100, A110, and A-116 Interagency Aviation Qualified

-2019 Certified First Aid/CPR

-2019 Operational Leadership training for the National Park Service