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CAESARA BRUNGRABER

Experience summary

Mrs. Brungraber is a botanist and wildlife biologist with over 10 years of experience in native and non-native plant identification, habitat restoration, landscape design, and wildlife monitoring in several US states and Kenya.  She has more than three years of experience in wetland delineations, vernal pool vegetation assessments, vegetation mapping and plant community characterization, rapid assessment of plant populations, threatened and endangered plant surveys, rare plant surveys, biological statistics and analyses, animal identification, endangered and threatened (animal) species protocol surveys, and avian surveys.  Most of her work focus is in southern California.

Mrs. Brungraber has seven years of previous botanical experience working for her own company, Caesara Botanical Consulting, which she founded in 2002 as a sole proprietorship (under the name Caesara LLC in Connecticut).  She has served not only as the operating manager of the company but also as the lead botanist for numerous projects, many of which followed a strict survey protocol. She has also been working closely with Camp Pendleton and contacts at the FWS to determine a possible new species or hybrid of the Brodiaea genus, which she found in May 2008.  She has experience with jurisdictional wetlands and MS4 drainages, including field protocol (and the Arid West supplement) and JDR and EA document preparation. 

Her knowledge of flora has allowed her to lead several projects, including wetland restoration for bioremediation and erosion control purposes, rare plant surveys, endangered species surveys (both coastal and desert flora), wetland delineations, the founding of her own company, and self funded travel to floral hot spots around the world.  Mrs. Brungraber has a strong background in biological statistical analyses, experimental design, and environmental data collection techniques.  These strengths allow for accurate and very thorough data collection, analysis, and reporting.

 

Education

M.S., 2007                      University of California, Davis, CA; Major: Environmental Horticulture
B.S., B.A., 2004  Bucknell University, Lewisberg, PA; Major: Biology, Economics
Completed                    Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT; focus: 1 year of physics
Completed                    Boston University, School for Field Studies, Kenya, Africa; focus: wildlife management and socioeconomics

Additional Training and Certifications

2008     California Fairy Shrimp – Permit in progress
2008     California gnatcatcher – Permit in progress
2008     Range safety officer, Camp Pendleton, CA

Representative Projects

Botany Work

Flora of Nepal, 2009.  Assisted Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal as a volunteer by documenting and collecting over 300 plant species in the Nepali Himalayan Mountains, from 2,000 to 17,775’ feet in elevation.  These photographs and my list will contribute to the Flora of Nepal publication.  Future work on this project is expected. 
Flowers of Nantucket, 2009-current.  Beginning to compile photographs of all species on Nantucket, MA, to write a much needed comprehensive Flowers (non-key) of the island.  This work will be done in conjunction with several non-profit agencies on the island.
Floral inventory of Amelanchier nantucketensis study site, Nantucket, MA, 2009.  Walked transects as a solo volunteer through several acres of a designated study site for federally endangered Amelanchier nantucketensis and catalogued all flora found.  This work contributes to the management plan for this area, run by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.
Floral Inventory of Eel Point Conservation Area, Nantucket, MA, 2009.  As a volunteer compiled a comprehensive floral inventory of a large coastal dune and salt marsh conservation area.  This list included several locally endemic species as well as sensitive species Polygonum glaucum. 
Coastal sage scrub restoration site evaluation for California gnatcatcher.  Performed floral surveys, including transect lines and point data where necessary, in spring and fall on Camp Pendleton.  Both a reference site and restoration site were surveyed, and invasive species removal at the restoration site was assessed.  The restoration site is intended for California gnatcather habitat.
Brodiaea filifolia Inventory Project, Camp Pendleton, CA. In spring 2009 acted as lead botanist for protocol surveys in search of the federally endangered plant Brodiaea filifolia in an 800 acre area of Camp Pendleton. Trained employees in the field on characteristics of the plant as well as habitat type and blooming season.
Brodiaea filifolia Clearance Project, Camp Pendleton, CA. Currently acting as lead botanist for protocol surveys in search of the federally endangered plant Brodiaea filifolia in areas that are to be cleared for construction. Trained employees in the field on characteristics of the plant as well as habitat type and blooming season.
Brodiaea filifolia Study, Camp Pendleton, CA. Currently acting as lead botanist for protocol surveys in search of the federally endangered plant Brodiaea filifolia to compare the effects of fire verses no fire in two locations.
Eryngium pendletonensis surveys, Camp Pendleton, CA. Currently acting as botanist for protocol surveys in search of the endemic plant Eryngium pendletonensis in areas of appropriate habitat and soil type.
Rare plant surveys, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Serving as lead botanist for rare plant surveys in three training areas of Camp Pendleton in an area that burned recently.   Assist in choosing the best areas to survey as well as identifying every plant encountered and collecting voucher specimens when necessary.
Rare plant surveys, Blythe and Palin, CA, private client.  Served as a member of a botany team performing rare plant surveys in desert areas to be cleared for a potential project.  Identified numerous plants for the team and took vouchers to the San Diego Museum of Natural History when necessary.
Vegetation mapping, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Served as botanist team member for vegetation mapping surveys. 
Vegetation Rapid Assessment, California Native Plant Society, San Diego, CA.  Performed vegetation community rapid assessments of coastal flora as a volunteer.  Helped key out several species of plants unknown to our group of botanists.
Brodiaea filifolia and Rare Plant Surveys, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Served as a botanist for large-scale plant surveys for Camp Pendleton’s Grow the Force project, in which over 300 miles of new road, telephone lines, and other utilities will be upgraded or installed.  Learned and photo-documented over 400 species of plants in two months.
Vernal Pool Floral Assessments, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Assisted another botanist to compile a complete floral inventory of over 900 vernal pools, including rare and endangered plants.  Learned over 150 plant species in one month. 
Native Plant Landscape Design, San Diego, CA.   Have owned a design company which encourages native plant landscaping to promote healthier landscapes, and reduce water and fertilizers.  Have planted more than 30 gardens in San Diego and have hired two employees to help the growing company. 

Wetlands

Wetland Delineations, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Assisted a wetland scientist as the lead botanist for jurisdictional wetland delineations on Camp Pendleton for Grow the Force.  Over 50 sites were delineated, with almost half of them being completed solely by Mrs. Brungraber, who also helped compose data for, create tables for, and write the JDR.   
Wetland restoration, Lakeside Riverpark Conservancy, Lakeside, CA.  Served as sole vegetation designer for a constructed wetlands at the confluence of the Los Coches and San Diego Rivers.  The wetland was designed for bioremediation and erosion control. 

 

Wildlife

California gnatcatcher surveys, San Diego, CA.  Assisting a permitted individual in protocol surveys for the federally threatened California coastal gnatcatcher. 
Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Surveys, Sunrise Powerlink, San Diego County, CA.   Assisted in protocol surveys for the federally endangered Quino checkerspot butterflies along the right of way for a new powerline proposed to connect coastal San Diego to sources in the desert. 
Andrews’ Dune Scarab Beetle surveys, Algodones Dunes, Imperial County, CA.  Assisted in sunset surveys for the endemic Andrews’ dune scarab beetle.  Over 20 individuals were observed and recorded.
Avian surveys, Imperial County, CA.  Assisted in avian surveys as part of the Imperial Irrigation District Baseline survey project.
Avian surveys, Kenya, Africa.  Assisted in bird surveys, flushings, tracking, and banding at several sites over four months in Kenya. 
Wildlife monitoring, Kenya, Africa.  Spent several months tracking and recording various animals and populations in Kenya as part of a larger group.

 

Skills and Activities

Skills: Rare plant surveys, herbaceous and woody plant identification, tree identification, tree counts and DBH measurements, vegetation mapping, vegetation rapid assessment, vernal pool floral inventory, wetland delineation, various GIS applications, preparing and presenting professional reports and papers, good oral communication skills, wildlife survey techniques, bird and mammal identification, restoration site design and monitoring, wilderness survival, photography, stick shift operation.

Software: I am proficient in the following: Microsoft Excel, Power Point, and Word, ArcView/ArcGIS (GIS), Mac systems, Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Acrobat. 

Activities: I live for being outdoors, and spend much of my free time botanizing in local spots or traveling to exotic destinations to teach myself about the flora.  I also enjoy surfing, ultimate Frisbee, tennis, sailing, horseback riding, hiking, camping, skiing, and convertible rides.  I am a California Native Plant Society active member and volunteer my time when possible.  I also volunteer for the San Diego Museum of Natural History.