RESEARCH INTERESTS

I am a quantitative conservation biologist who explores the consequences of behavior, disease and harvest for population dynamics. I am interested in connecting academic science to decision tools and effective conservation practice. My field program aims to estimate key parameters that may be incorporated into population models that are useful for decision-making. Most recently, I have focused on empirical and theoretical aspects of marine reserves and linking behavior and disease into population-level analyses.

TEACHING

Biology 411 Advanced Conservation Biology

Biology 498 Field Ecology: Behavior and Conservation of Sea Lions

Biology 591 Applications of Behavioral Ecology to Conservation Biology

Biology 494/591 Marine Conservation Biology

PUBLICATIONS

Holcomb, K., Young, J. K., and L. R. Gerber (2009) The influence of human disturbance on California sea lions during the breeding season. Animal Conservation 12: 592-598

Stamieszkin, K, Weilgus, J., and L.R. Gerber (2009) Management of a marine protected area for sustainability and conflict resolution: lessons from Loreto Bay National Park (Baja California Sur, Mexico). Ocean and Coastal Management 52: 449-458

Weilgus, J., Gerber, L.R., Sala, E. and J. Bennett (2009) Including risk in stated-preference economic valuations: Experiments on choices for marine recreation. Journal of Environmental Management DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.05.010

González-Suárez, M., Flatz, R., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., Hedrick, P.W. and L. R. Gerber (2009) Isolation by distance among California sea lion populations in Mexico: redefining management stocks. Molecular Ecology 18: 1088-1099.

  Gerber, L.R, Morissette, L., Kaschner, K. and D. Pauly (2009) Should whales be culled to increase fishery yield? Science 323: 880-881.

  González-Suárez, M. and L. R. Gerber (2008) Habitat preferences of California sea lions: implications for conservation. Journal of Mammalogy 89: 1521-1528.

Young, K. J., González-Suárez, M., and L. R. Gerber (2008) Determinants of agonistic interactions in California sea lions. Behaviour 145: 1597-1810

Jacobs, D. F., Hernández-Camacho C. J., Young, J. K., and L. R. Gerber (2008) Determinants of outcomes of agonistic interactions among male California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Journal of Mammalogy 89: 1212-1217

González-Suárez, M. and L. R. Gerber (2008) A behavioral explicit demographic model integrating habitat selection and population dynamics in California sea lions. Conservation Biology DOI:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00995.x.

Hernández-Camacho, C. J., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., Laake, J., and L. R. Gerber (2008) Survival rates of the California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, in Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy 89: 1059-1066.

Wielgus, J., Sala, E., and L. R. Gerber (2008) Assessing the ecological and economic benefits of a no-take marine reserve. Ecological Economics 67: 32-40.

Hernández-Camacho, C. J., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., and L. R. Gerber (2008) Age-specific birth rates of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Marine Mammal Science 24: 664-676.

Wielgus, J., Gonzalez-Suarez, M., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., and L. R. Gerber (2008) A noninvasive demographic assessment of sea lions based on stage-specific abundances. Ecological Applications 18: 1287-1296.

Underwood, J. G., Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., and L. R. Gerber (2008) Estimating sustainable bycatch rates for California sea lion populations in the Gulf of California. Conservation Biology 22: 701-710.

Young, J. K. and L. R. Gerber (2008) The influence of social composition on reproductive behavior of territorial male California sea lions. Aquatic Mammals 34: 102-108.

Rowell, K., Flessa, K. W., Dettman, D. L. Román, M. J., Gerber, L. R., and L. T. Findley (2008) Diverting the Colorado River leads to a dramatic life history shift in an endangered marine fish. Biological Conservation 141: 1138-1148.

Robertson, K. L., Runcorn, C. W., Young, J. K., and L. R. Gerber  (2008) Spatial and temporal patterns of territory use of male California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Canadian Journal of Zoology 86: 237-244.

Gerber, L. R., Wielgus, J., and E. Sala (2007)  A decision framework for the adaptive management of an exploited species with implications for marine reserves.  Conservation Biology 21: 1594-1602.

Gaines, S. D., Gaylord, B., Gerber, L. R., Hastings, A.,  and B. P. Kinlan (2007)  Connecting places. The ecological consequences of dispersal in the sea.  Oceanography 20: 90-99.

Young, J. K., Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., and L. R. Gerber (2007)  Long-distance movement of a pinniped neonate. Marine Mammal Science 23: 926-930.

Ward, E. J., R. Hilborn, R. G. Towell, and L. Gerber (2007) A state-space mixture approach for estimating catastrophic events in time series data. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64: 899-910.

Sabo, J. L.  and L. R. Gerber (2007) Predicting extinction risk in spite of predator-prey oscillations. Ecological Applications 17: 1543-1554.

Gerber, L. R., A. C. Keller, and D. P. DeMaster (2007) Ten thousand and increasing: Is the western Artic population of bowhead whale endangered? Biological Conservation 137: 577-583.

Wielgus J., F. Ballantyne, E. Sala, and L. R. Gerber (2007) Viability analysis of reef fish populations based on limited demographic information. Conservation Biology 21(2): 447-454.

Young, J. K., L.R. Gerber, and C. D'Agrosa. (2007) Wildlife population increases in Serengeti National Park (commentary). Science 213: 1790-1791.

Gerber, L. R. (2006). Including  behavioral data in demographic models improves estimates of population viability. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 4: 419-427.

Zacharias, M.A., L.R. Gerber, and, K. D. Hyrenbach. (2006) Review of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary: Marine protected areas in the context of the International Whaling Commission Sanctuary Programme. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 8(1):12-25.

Gonzalez-Suarez, M., K. E. McCluney, D. Aurioles, and L. R. Gerber. (2006) Incorporating uncertainty in spatial structure for viability predictions: a case study of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus californianus). Animal Conservation 9:219-227.

Gerber, L.R., M. Berger, M. A. McCarthy and H. P. Possingham. (2005) A theory for optimal monitoring of marine reserves. Ecology Letters 8:829-837.

Gerber, L.R., K. D. Lafferty, H. McCallum, J. L. Sabo, and A. Dobson.  (2005)  Exposing extinction risk analysis to pathgens: Is disease just another form of density dependence?  Ecological Applications 15 (4): 1402-1414.

Gerber, L.R., S.S. Heppell, F. Ballantyne, and E. Sala. (2005) The role of dispersal and demography in determining the efficacy of marine reserves. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62:863-871.

Gerber, L.R., K.D. Hyrenbach, M.A. Zacharias. (2005) Debating whale sanctuaries. Science (letter) 309: 51-52.

Gerber, L.R., K.D. Hyrenbach, M.A. Zacharias. (2005) Do the Largest Protected Areas Conserve Whales or Whalers? Science 307:525-526.

Green, J.L. A. Hastings, P. Arzberger, F.J. Ayala, K.L. Cottingham, K. Cuddington, F. Davis, J.A. Dunne, M-J. Fortin, L. Gerber, and M. Neubert. (2005)  Complexity in Ecology and Conservation: Mathematical, Statistical, and Computational Challenges. BioScience 55(6):501-510.

McCallum, H., L. Gerber, and A. Jani. (2005) Does infectious disease influence the efficacy of marine protected areas? A theoretical framework. Journal of Applied Ecology 1-11.

Gerber, L.R., M.T. Tinker, D. Doak, and J. Estes. (2004) Mortality sensitivity in life-stage simulation analysis: A case study of Southern sea otters. Ecological Applications 14(5):1554-1565.

Harvell, D., R. Aronson, N. Baron, J. Connell, A. Dobson, S. Ellner, L.R Gerber, K. Kim, A. Kuris, H. McCallum, K. Lafferty, B. McKay, J. Porter, M. Pascual, G. Smith, and K. Sutherland. (2004) The rising tide of ocean diseases: Unsolved problems and research priorities. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2(7): 375-382

Keller, A.C. and L.R. Gerber. (2004) Monitoring and the Endangered Species Act: Revisiting the Eastern North Pacific Gray Whale. Endangered Species UPDATE 20(1): 87-92.

Gerber, L. R., O.J. Reichman, and J. Roughgarden. (2004) Food hoarding: future value in optimal foraging decisions. Ecological Modeling 175 (2004) 77–85.

Gerber, L. R. and S.S. Heppell. (2004) The use of demographic sensitivity
analysis in marine species conservation planning Biological Conservation
120: 121-128.

Gerber, L.R. and K.E. Buenau, and G. VanBlaricom.  (2004). Density dependence and risk of extinction in a small population of sea otters. Biodiversity and Conservation 13:2741-2757.

Micheli, F., P.Amarasekare, J. Bascompte, and L.R. Gerber. (2004) Including species interactions in the design and evaluation of marine reserves: Simple rules from a predator-prey model. Bulletin of Marine Science 74(3):653-669.

Hooker, S. and L.R. Gerber. (2004) Potential importance of megafauna: Marine reserves as a tool for ecosystem-based management? BioScience 54(1):29-41.

Gerber, L.R., E.W Seabloom, R. Burton, and O.J. Reichman. (2003) Translocation of an imperiled species: Integrating spatial and habitat patterns. Animal Conservation 6:309-316.

Buenau, K.E. and L.R. Gerber. (2003) Developing recovery and monitoring strategies for the endemic Mount Graham Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis) in Arizona. Animal Conservation 7:1-6.

Gerber, L.R. (2003) Delisting of species under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation Biology 17(3):651-652.

Shelden, K.E, D.J. Rugh, D.P. DeMaster and L.R. Gerber. (2003) An evaluation of bowhead whale status. Conservation Biology 17(3): 918-920.

Gerber, L.R, L. Botsford, A. Hastings, H. Possingham, S. Gaines, S. Palumbi, and S. Andelman. (2003) Population Models for Reserve Design: A retrospective and prospective synthesis. Ecological Applications (Special Issue on Marine Reserves) 13:S47-S64.

Gerber, L.R. and L.T. Hatch. (2002) Are We Recovering? An Evaluation of Recovery Criteria under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Ecological Applications 12(3): 668-673.

Schultz, C and L.R. Gerber. (2002) Are Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans on the Road to Recovery? Ecological Applications 12(3): 641-647.

Gerber, L.R., P.M. Kareiva, and J. Bascompte. (2002) The Interplay of Life History Attributes and Fishing Pressure in Evaluating Efficacy of Marine Reserves. Biological Conservation 106:11-18.

Lafferty, K. and L.R. Gerber. (2002) Good Medicine for Conservation Biology: The intersection of epidemiology and conservation theory. Conservation Biology 16(3):1-12.

Gerber, L.R. and G.R. VanBlaricom. (2001) Implications of Three Viability Models for the Conservation Status of the Western Population of Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Biological Conservation 102(3):261-269.

Gerber, L.R. and C. Schultz. (2001) Authorship and the Use of Science in Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans. Conservation Biology 15(5):1308-1314.

Gerber, L.R. (2001) Conservation Biology of Cetaceans in Marine Communities of Baja California: Science or Advocacy? (Book review) Global Ecology and Biogeography 10(3) 335-336.

Gerber, L.R. and R. Hilborn. (2001) Estimating the Frequency of Catastrophic Events and Recovery from Low Densities: Examples from Populations of Otariids. Mammal Review 31(2): 131-150.

Gerber, L.R., S.L. Perry, and D.P. DeMaster. 2000. Measuring Success in Conservation. American Scientist 88(4):316-324.

Gerber, L.R. and D.P. DeMaster. (1999) An Approach to Endangered Species Act Classification of Long-lived Vertebrates: A Case Study of North Pacific Humpback Whales. Conservation Biology 13(5):1203-1214. (http://lsweb.la.asu.edu/lgerber/Gerber&DeMaster'99.pdf)

Gerber, L.R., D.P. DeMaster, and P.M. Kareiva. (1999) Gray Whales Illustrate the Value of Monitoring Data in Implementing the Endangered Species Act. Conservation Biology 13(5):1215-1219.

Gerber, L.R., W. Wooster, D.P. DeMaster, and G.R. VanBlaricom. (1999) Marine Mammals: New Objectives in U.S. Fishery Management. Reviews in Fishery Science 7(1):23-28.

Gerber, L.R. 1998. Seeking a Rational Approach to Setting Conservation Priorities for Marine Mammals. Integrative Biology 1:212-221.

Norse, E.N., and L.R. Gerber. 1993. A Global Strategy for Preserving Biological Diversity in the Sea. Diversity 9(3):40-44.

  Szteren, D., Aurioles, D., and L. Gerber. (2006) Population Status and trend of the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. In: Trites, A. W., Atkinson, S. K., DeMaster, D. P., Fritz, L. W., Gelatt, T. S., Rea, L.D., and K.M. Wynne (Eds). Sea lions of the World. 22nd Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium. Alaska Sea Grant College Program. University of Alaska Fairbanks  369-384 pp. 

Morris, W., D. Doak, M. Groom, P. Kareiva, J. Fieberg, L. Gerber, P. Murphy, and D. Thomson. (1999) A Practical Handbook for Population Viability Analysis. The Nature Conservancy, ISBN: 0-9624590-4-6. 133 pp. (review)

VanBlaricom, G.R., L.R. Gerber, and R.L. Brownell, Jr. (2000) Extinctions of marine mammals. Pages 37-69 In: S.A. Levin (editor). Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Volume 4. Academic Press, San Diego.

Sabo, J.S. and L.R. Gerber. (2001) Trophic Ecology. In: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.