A lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley and a Hudsonia co-founder, Erik has studied the plants and animals of the region for 45 years and has authored or co-authored 80 publications and 200 technical assistance reports on wetland ecology, rare species conservation, habitat ecology, introduced species, the Hudson River, and other subjects. Erik is the author of The Northern Shawangunks: An Ecological Survey; and co-author of Urban Biodiversity: The Natural History of the New Jersey Meadowlands. He is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist.

view Erik’s resume here

Retired from teaching for many years at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Hudsonia co-founder Robert Schmidt is still active on some of Hudsonia’s research projects. Bob’s long experience in ecology and natural history focuses on aquatic and estuarine habitats, fish, invertebrates, and nonnative species. He has conducted research in rural and urban stream systems, the Hudson River and Mohawk River, waterways of New England, and in the Neotropics.

Amanda is a community ecologist with expertise in bat ecology and conservation. Amanda’s dissertation research focused on forest vegetational responses to insect pest disturbances and understanding how changes in plant communities influence arthropod assemblages and bat space use and foraging patterns. In addition to her experience in community ecology research, Amanda is also interested in studying adaptations of vocal communication of birds and bats. Amanda is also passionate about community-engaged research and developing tools to address bias and prejudice in ecological education. She has developed and led outreach and education programs that incorporate engaging urban, suburban, and rural communities in scientific monitoring of bats and amphibians.

Gretchen has over 40 years experience in remote sensing, habitat assessments, habitat mapping, rare plant surveys, and other field biology in the Northeast and elsewhere in the U.S. She is co-author of the Biodiversity Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor and A Beginner’s Guide to Wild Flowers of the Northeast. Gretchen has authored numerous technical reports on biological assessments, significant habitats, natural resource inventories, rare plant surveys and other subjects. Gretchen manages the GIS laboratory at Hudsonia, curates the Hudsonia - Bard College Field Station Herbarium, and supervises the Habitat Mapping Program and the Biodiversity Education Program of the BRC.

Chris’ background is in plant community ecology. His master’s degree research investigated the effects of large herbivore extirpation on seed survival and woody seedling communities in tropical forest fragments, with implications for future canopy tree community composition. At Hudsonia, Chris works on habitat mapping projects and on floristic surveys. He is interested in rare species conservation, community description and classification, and the effects of resource extraction and global change on plant communities, among other topics.

Lea came to Hudsonia as an intern, sampling bryophytes associated with co–occurring purple loosestrife and swamp loosestrife. Since joining Hudsonia Lea has worked on various projects, such as studying the response of a bog turtle population to habitat management, surveying wetland flora at Thompson Pond, and the annual survey of juvenile American eels (glass eels) in Tivoli South Bay.

A recent graduate of Vassar College, Meg has with broad experience in herbarium curation, Geographic Information Systems, management of invasive plants, and field biology, including a 2022 stint with the School for Field Studies in Tanzania. Her senior thesis focused on the Beech Leaf Disease that has been spreading rapidly in New York over the last decade. Meg will be conducting field and lab work on many biodiversity assessment projects, such as tracking wood turtles at a research site in Ulster County to see how the turtles are interacting with farm operations.

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