June Shrestha

June Shrestha

 
June joined the Ichthyology Lab in Fall 2015. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, June is passionate for community ecology and exploring the dynamic interactions within California's kelp forests.
 
For her thesis, June studies fish pee! Specifically, the nutrients that kelp forest fishes excrete when they pee. She seeks to discover:
  1.  Are certain species important nutrient contributors? 
  2. Are there certain "hotspots" to fish pee? Is fish pee more important in certain regions of California relative to other sources of nutrients?
  3. How do human activities—such as fishing and subsequent establishment of marine reserves—affect nutrient cycles via fish pee?
In addition to her thesis work, June has participated in numerous other research opportunities in the Monterey Bay area:
  1. Research intern at the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (with support from CSU COAST)
  2. TA for Marine Ichthyology, Marine Ecology, and Environmental Studies of the Gulf of California
  3. Deep sea video analyst in Rick Starr’s Fisheries and Conservation Biology Lab
  4. Research technician with the CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program

She is also engaged with numerous education and outreach projects:

  1.  Volunteer SCUBA diver at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Reef Check California
  2. Tour guide for visiting community members
  3. Co-Chair for MLML's annual Open House 
  4. Writer for the student-run MLML blog
  5. Western Society of Naturalists - Student Committee Chair
Outside of MLML, June can usually be found playing music, SCUBA diving, and cuddling cats.