Brant Allen
Description: Brant Allen is a recently retired field lab director and boat captain at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at UC Davis. For the past 30 years he has been leading and conducting ecological research at Lake Tahoe. In this episode we talk about the variety of research being conducted at Lake Tahoe and the diversity of ecosystems that exist within the lake. Additionally we talk about the value of field research, and why students need to “get their faces wet” and experience their studies first hand. We hope you enjoy
Websites: Brant Allen
Resources:
Tahoe’s Clarity is the Best It’s Been Since 1980s
Two States Protect Lake Tahoe, But One Eyes Changes
Wilderness First Aid Certification
Show Notes:
[0:00:09] Brant Allen's Journey into Studying Water
[0:02:51] Observing Changing Lake Conditions as a Boat Operator
[0:03:03] Decreasing clarity of the lake over time
[0:06:36] The importance of the Secchi disc for measuring clarity
[0:10:26] Ecological Research at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center
[0:11:19] Collecting Water Samples and Sediment Cores from the Lake
[0:18:17] Exploring the Aquatic Ecosystem in Lake Tahoe
[0:19:43] Intentional and unintentional introductions of species in Lake Tahoe.
[0:21:52] Asian clams and their effects on Lake Tahoe.
[0:26:21] Organism Density Reflects Lake Type
[0:27:22] Exploring the Native Species of Lake Tahoe
[0:29:30] The Exciting Research and Mystery of Lake Tahoe
[0:32:47] Graduate Students Involved in Research and Sampling on the Lake
[0:34:45] Basic scuba course: recreational diving vs. research diving
[0:42:42] Game-changing heated suits for diving in extreme conditions
[0:43:37] The Challenges of Diving at High Altitude
[0:47:00] Research Memories: The Thrill of Discovering
[0:47:46] Dr. Zeb Hogan's Research on Mega Fish
[0:48:35] Exploring Rivers in Northern Australia for Large Predators
[0:49:13] Exploring a Pool with Bull Sharks and Whippoorays
[0:50:22] The Presence of Crocodiles Adds Excitement to the Adventure
[0:51:15] Moving Bull Sharks and Photographing them in Natural Habitat
[0:52:01] Challenges of Working on Soft Money in Research Capacity
[0:53:10] The Uncertainty of Grant-Based Employment
[0:54:17] The Challenges of Job Insecurity in Personal Life
[0:54:28] The Challenges of Field Work and Job Security
[0:57:45] Tips for Excelling in Field Positions and Asking Better Questions
[0:59:25] Surprising Aspects of a Career in Research
[1:01:25] Final Advice: Embrace Field Work and Explore Aquatic Environments