Lynn M. Breithaupt
PhD Candidate
in the department of Quantitative Systems Biology
in Dr. Jason Sexton's lab
at the University of California, Merced
Welcome! My name is Lynn, and I'm a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Merced, in the Sexton Lab. My research focuses on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of vernal pools and seep-associated habitats, seasonally wet ecosystems that are as ecologically distinctive as they are imperiled.
My work spans three interconnected threads: the community phenology of vernal pool plants and pollinators and the fitness consequences of phenological mismatch; the physiological and morphological strategies plants employ to persist under a changing climate; and a global comparative lens on seasonal wetland conservation efforts. For more info see my research page!
I am particularly drawn to the intersection of ecological research and applied conservation, where mechanistic understanding translates into meaningful, on-the-ground action. To that end, I serve as Chair of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vernal Pool Recovery Implementation Team and am a board member of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, roles through which I work to ensure science directly informs the conservation decisions. To learn more, see my outreach page!
I also enjoy mentoring undergraduate students, with a focused commitment to expanding research opportunities for first-generation and historically underrepresented students in field ecology. For more info about my experience please see my CV:
