ECOLOGY

OVERVIEW

I combine two linked interests: first, the effects of urbanization on all levels of biological organization; and second, the capacity of city-dwellers to build critical knowledge about the ecosystems we inhabit. Within the broad overlap of these interests, my recent work has focused on participatory science, plants, and phenology.

RECENT WORK

At the University of Minnesota (2020-2023), I worked with research teams supporting participatory science and science education. Learn more about the projects:

I enjoy learning from volunteers, which is part of my process to recruit, train, and support observers participating in science. I strive to foster a welcoming community that honors everyone's needs and contributions.

WHAT I'M LEARNING NOW

WHAT I TEACH

Land acknowledgment practices that move beyond words to action
Decolonization of conservation and science
Becoming an accomplice for environmental justice
Plant communities and identification

Public participation in scientific research (i.e., citizen science, community science)
Phenology
Urban ecology
Investigation-based science education

RESEARCH

Cover it up, Using plants to control buckthorn, Program Coordinator at University of Minnesota, 2020-2023
Forecasting life cycles of Japanese knotweed and wild parsnip, Program Coordinator at University of Minnesota, 2020-2023
Modeling Bird-window Collisions in Core Urban Environments (link to overview), Thesis research at U of MN, 2016-2018
Assessing bird collision risk near the U.S. Bank Stadium, Research Assistant with U of MN, September 2016 to July 2019
Toward a Center for Citizen Science in Minnesota, Research Assistant with U of MN, September 2016 to May 2017

PUBLICATIONS

Loss, S., S. Lao, J.W. Eckles, A.W. Anderson, R.B. Blair, R.J. Turner (2022). Bird-building collisions increase with weather conditions that favor nocturnal migration and with inclement and changing weather. Ornithological Applications.
Loss, S., S. Lao, J.W. Eckles, A.W. Anderson, R.B. Blair, R.J. Turner (2020). Inclement Weather and American Woodcock Building Collisions During Spring Migration. Wildlife Biology.
Lao, S., B. Robertson, A. Anderson, R. Blair, J. Eckles, R. Turner, S. Loss (2020). The influence of artificial light at night and polarized light on bird-building collisions, Biological Conservation 241
Loss, S., S. Lao, J.W. Eckles, A.W. Anderson, R.B. Blair, R.J. Turner (2019). Factors influencing bird-building collisions in the downtown area of a major North American city, PLoS ONE 14(11): e0224164 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224164.
Modeling Bird-window Collisions in Core Urban Environments (2018). Master's thesis, University of Minnesota.
Blair, R.B., A.W. Anderson, L. Fortson, and A. Lorek-Straus (2018). Recommendations for the Creation of a Center for Citizen Science, Journal of Extension 56(4): 4FEA4.
Publicly archived datasets:
- Bird Point Counts from Downtown Minneapolis during the 2016 Breeding Season (2018): https://doi.org/10.13020/D69D6M.
- Anderson, A.W. and K. McLachlan (2018). Land Cover Shapefiles from Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota: https://doi.org/10.13020/D6111F.

INSTRUCTOR

Program Assistant for Phenology Investigations in Minnesota Schools, since January 2024
Instructor at Migratory and Urban Bird Institute, a partnership between the U of MN and US Forest Service International Programs, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023
Instructor at Driven to Discover II, Professional Development for Science Educators, U of MN, Summer 2017 & 2018
Interviewer at Ecology Fair, U of MN, December 2017-2020
Mentor to undergraduate student on honors thesis, 2016-2018
Diversifying Involvement in the Natural Resource Community, U of MN, Summer 2016

FIELDWORK

Field Tech for Audubon Minnesota, Fall 2017
Biology Program Volunteer at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, March 2015–August 2015
Field Tech for research on urban Canada Geese in Chicago IL by Southern Illinois University, November 2014–February 2015

COURSEWORK

University of Minnesota:

Scientific Illustration of Insects (ENT 5051, 3 credits)
Birds:
- Analyzing and Designing Change Strategies for the Future of Grassland Birds (FW 8200, 1 credit)
- Current Topics in Avian Conservation (FW 8200, 1 credit)
- Introduction to Ornithology (EEB 4134, 4 credits)
Statistics:
- Biometry (FW 4001, 4 credits)
- Spatial and Temporal Statistics of Ecological Data (ENT 5126, 3 credits): Principles, applications, & methods for drawing inference from observational datasets in ecology, including transformation of non-normally distributed data, mixed models, generalized linear models, model selection techniques, etc.
Spatial:
- GIS for Natural Resources (FNRM 5131, 4 credits): Theory and applications of geographic information science and systems; ArcMap labs; geodatabase design; spatial modeling and analysis using vector & raster data; commonly used datasets (e.g., SSURGO, NWI, NWIS, NLCD, etc.); watershed & surface water modeling
- Remote Sensing, Geospatial Analysis of Natural Resources & Environment (FNRM 5262, 3 credits): Principles and applications of remotely sensed data; sensor systems and data resolution (spectral, temporal, spatial); land cover analysis (supervised, unsupervised and object-based classification); change analysis; data fusion
- Spatial Database Design & Administration (GIS 5577, 1 credit): Tools and strategies to create data management plans, query databases, visualize & store data, etc.
Other:
- Preparing Future Conservation & Natural Resource Professionals (FW 8200, 2 credits): Public trust doctrine; legislative and regulatory processes; grants and budget management; NGOs and public sector; community-engagement; facilitation and conflict management

CONFERENCE CO-PRESENTATIONS

Anderson, A. (2021). Citizen Science with Noxious Weeds (During a Pandemic and an Uprising). CitSciVirtual, May 5, virtual national conference.
Anderson, A. and J. Eckles (2019). Project BirdSafe: Outcomes and Opportunities. Proceedings of Minnesota Ornithologists Union Annual Paper Session, Dec 7, Falcon Heights, MN.
Fortson, L. (presenter), A.W. Anderson, R.B. Blair, and A. Lorek-Strauss (2019). So you want to create a Center for Citizen Science … what now? Conference Proceedings of the Citizen Science Association, March 13–17, Raleigh, NC.
Lao, S. (presenter), A.W. Anderson, R.B. Blair, J.W. Eckles, B.A. Robertson, R.J. Turner, and S.R. Loss (2018). Investigating the Effect of Polarized Light on Bird Collisions with Buildings. Conference Proceedings of The Wildlife Society, Oct 7–11, Cleveland, OH.
Will, T. (presenter), K. Nelson, D. Lambert, L. Elliott, A. Christianson, A. Meyer, H. Ramer, M. Barnes, A. Anderson, and A. Sandler (2016). Change Strategies for the Future of Grassland Birds in the Midwest: A Conservation Deliberation: Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Landscape Conservation Science Symposium, Jan 24–27, Grand Rapids, MI.