Bethany Woodworth

Bethany L. Woodworth, Ph.D.

she/her/hers
Teaching Professor of Environmental Studies

Location

Decary Hall 213D
Biddeford Campus

I have conducted conservation research for many years in a variety of ecosystems from east Africa and Central America to the Caribbean and Pacific Islands, working with both non-profit and government agencies to develop management strategies for birds and wildlife. From 1993-96 I served as monitoring ecologist for Frankfurt Zoological Society, flying extensive aerial surveys for wildlife in the remotest areas of Tanzania. From 1997-2006 I was Research Wildlife Biologist at the Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey and led or co-led numerous projects studying endangered Hawaiian forest birds, their ecology, and strategies to save them. 

I began teaching at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ in the fall of 2007, fulfilling a life-long passion for teaching. I strive to bring real-world issues into the classroom and allow students to grapple with them in meaningful ways. I teach classes in environmental studies, climate change, biodiversity preservation, and environmental pollution. I coordinate the environmental program’s first-year experience, the Blue-Green Learning Community; the delivery of 20+ sections of the college’s core course in environmental awareness; and finally, developed and oversee the Interdisciplinary Minor in Climate Change Studies and am committed to advancing climate change  studies throughout the university curriculum.

I am a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society, a former board member of the South Portland Land Trust and Society for Conservation Biology, and serve on the board of Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness.

 

Credentials

Education

B.S.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
1985
Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
1995

Expertise

  • Climate change
  • Conservation biology
  • Ecology
  • Ornithology
  • Wildlife conservation

Research

Selected publications

Samuel, M. D., B. L. Woodworth, C. T. Atkinson, P. J. Hart, and D. A. LaPointe. 2018. The epidemiology of avian pox and interaction with avian malaria in Hawaiian forest birds. Ecological Monographs 88(4):621-637.

Guillaumet, A., B. L. Woodworth, R. J. Camp, and E. H. Paxton. 2015. Comparative demographics of a Hawaiian forest bird community. Journal of Avian Biology 46(4): DOI: 10.1111/jav.00756

Samuel, M. D., B. L. Woodworth, C. T. Atkinson, P. Hart, and D. LaPointe. 2015. Avian Malaria in Hawaiian Forest Birds: Infection and Population Impacts across Species and Elevations.  Ecosphere (Ecological Society of America) 6(6):104. http://dx.doi. org/10.1890/ES14-00393.1

Camp, R.J., T.K. Pratt, P.M. Gorresen, B.L. Woodworth, and J.J. Jeffrey. 2014. Hawaiian forest bird trends: Using log-linear models to assess long-term trends is supported by model diagnostics and assumptions (reply to Freed and Cann 2013). The Condor 116(1): 97-101.

Atkinson, C.T., T.K. Pratt, P.C. Banko, J.D. Jacobi and B.L. Woodworth. 2013. When Worlds Collide: Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation of Biodiversity in the Hawaiian Islands. Chapter 22 In: Sodhi, N.S., P.H. Raven, L. Gibson [editors]. Conservation Biology: Voices from the Tropics. Wiley-Blackwell.

Woodworth, B. L., M. M. Steen-Adams, and P. Mittal. 2011. Role of an environmental studies course on the formation of environmental worldviews: A case study of a core curriculum requirement using the NEP Scale. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences: 1:126-137 DOI 10.1007/s13412-011-0013-4.

Samuel, M. D., P. H. F. Hobbelen, F. DeCastro, J. A. Ahumada, D. A. LaPointe, C. T. Atkinson, B. L. Woodworth, P. J. Hart, and D. C. Duffy. 2011. The dynamics, transmission, and population impacts of avian malaria in native Hawaiian birds – a modelling approach. Ecological applications: 21:2960-2973.

Hart, P. J., B. L. Woodworth, R. Camp, K. Turner, K. McClure, K. Goodall, C. Henneman, C. Spiegl, J. LeBrun, E. Tweed, and M. Samuel. 2011. Temporal variation in bird and resource abundance across an elevational gradient in Hawaii. Auk 128(1):113-126.

Camp, R. J., T. K. Pratt, P. M. Gorresen, J. J. Jeffrey, and B. L. Woodworth. 2010. Population trends of forest birds at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii. Condor 112(2):196-212.

Woodworth, B. L. and T. K. Pratt. 2009. Life history and demography of Hawaiian forest birds. Chapter 8 in Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds (T. K. Pratt, C. A. Atkinson, P. Banko, J. Jacobi, and B. L. Woodworth, eds.). Yale University Press.

Woodworth, B. L., A. Lieberman, J. Nelson, and S. Fretz. 2009. History and future of recovery efforts for the Puaiohi, Myadestes palmeri.  Chapter 22 in Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds (T. K. Pratt, C. A. Atkinson, P. Banko, J. Jacobi, and B. L. Woodworth, eds.). Yale University Press.

Camp, R., M. H. Reynolds, B. L. Woodworth, M. Gorresen, and T. Pratt. 2009. Monitoring Hawaiian forest birds. Chapter 4 in Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds (T. K. Pratt, C. A. Atkinson, P. Banko, J. Jacobi, and B. L. Woodworth, eds.). Yale University Press.

Gorresen, M., R. Camp, M. H. Reynolds, B. L. Woodworth, and T. Pratt. 2009. Distribution, density, and population status of native Hawaiian passerines. Chapter 5 in Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds (T. K. Pratt, C. A. Atkinson, P. Banko, J. Jacobi, and B. L. Woodworth, eds.). Yale University Press.

Pratt, T. K., L. Mehrhoff, C. T. Atkinson, P. Banko, J. Jacobi, and B. Woodworth. 2009. The future of Hawaiian forest birds.  Chapter 24 in Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds (T. K. Pratt, C. A. Atkinson, P. Banko, J. Jacobi, and B. L. Woodworth, eds.). Yale University Press.

Eggert, L. S., L. A. Terwilliger, B. L. Woodworth, P. J. Hart, D. Palmer, and R. C. Fleischer. 2008. Genetic structure along an elevational gradient in Hawaiian honeycreepers reveals contrasting evolutionary responses to avian malaria. BMC Evolutionary Biology 8:315.

Foster, J. T., B. L. Woodworth, P. J. Hart, D. Palmer, D. C. Duffy, and R. C. Fleischer. 2007. Genetic structure and evolved malaria resistance in Hawaiian honeycreepers. Molecular Ecology 16:4738-4746 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03550.x

Tweed, E. J., J. T. Foster, B. L. Woodworth, W. Monahan, J. Kellerman, and A. Lieberman. 2006. Breeding biology and nesting success of a reintroduced population of the critically-endangered Puaiohi. Auk 123:753-763. 

Kilpatrick, A. M., D. A. LaPointe, C. T. Atkinson, B. L. Woodworth, J. K. Lease, M. E. Reiter, and K. Gross. 2006. The effects of chronic avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) infection on the reproductive success of Hawaii Amakihi (Hemignathus virens). Auk 123:764-774.

Spiegel, C. S., P. Hart, E. Tweed, C. Henneman, J. LeBrun, and B. L. Woodworth. 2006. Distribution and abundance of native and alien forest birds in low-elevation forests on Hawai'i. Bird Conservation International 16:175-185.

Woodworth, B. L., C. T. Atkinson, D. A. LaPointe, P. J. Hart, C. S. Spiegel, E. J. Tweed, C. Henneman, J. LeBrun, T. Denette, R. DeMots, K. L. Kozar, D. Triglia, D. Lease, A. Gregor, T. Smith, and D. Duffy.  2005. Host population persistence in the face of introduced vector-borne diseases:  Hawaii amakihi and avian malaria.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  102:1531-1536.

Foster, J. T., E. J. Tweed, R. Camp, B. L. Woodworth, C. Adler, and T. Telfer.  2004.  Long-term population changes of native and introduced birds in the Alaka‘i Swamp, Kaua‘i. Conservation Biology 18:716-725. 

Klein, A., P. J. Hart, K. Stumpf, E. J. Tweed, C. Henneman, C. Spiegel, J. LeBrun, K. McClure, and B. Woodworth.  2004.  Nests of Hawaii 'Amakihi near sea level on Hawaii Island. 'Elepaio 63:1-2.

Tweed, E. J., J. T. Foster, B. L. Woodworth, C. Kuehler, A. Lieberman, P. Oesterle, A. T. Powers, K. Whitaker, W. B. Monahan, J. Kellerman, and T. Telfer.  2003.  Survival, dispersal, and home-range establishment of reintroduced captive-bred Puaiohi, Myadestes palmeri. Biological Conservation. 111:1-9.

Lepson, J. K. and B. L. Woodworth. 2002. Hawaii Creeper (Oreomystis mana).  In The Birds of North America,  No. 680 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 

Chace, J. F., B. L. Woodworth, and A. Cruz. 2002. Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus).  In The Birds of North America, No. 607 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Nelson, J. T., B. L. Woodworth, S. G. Fancy, G. D. Lindsey, and E. J. Tweed. 2002. Effectiveness of rodent control and monitoring techniques for a montane rainforest. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30:82-92.

Woodworth, B. L., J. T. Nelson, E. J. Tweed, S. G. Fancy, M. P. Moore, E. B. Cohen, and M. S. Collins.  2001.  Breeding productivity and survival of the endangered Hawai'i Creeper in a wet forest refuge on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i.  In The Status, Ecology, and Conservation of the Hawaiian Avifauna.  Studies in Avian Biology 22:164-172.

Kuehler, C., A. Lieberman, P. Oesterle, T. Powers, M. Kuhn, J. Kuhn, J. T. Nelson, T. Snetsinger, C. Herrman, P. Harrity, E. Tweed, S. Fancy, B. Woodworth and T. Telfer. 2000. Development of restoration techniques for Hawaiian thrushes: Collection of wild eggs, artificial incubation, hand-rearing, captive-breeding, and reintroduction to the wild. Zoo Biology 19:263-277. 

Woodworth, B. L. 1999. Modeling population dynamics of a songbird exposed to parasitism and predation and   evaluating alternative management options. Conservation Biology 13:67-76.

Woodworth, B. L., J. Faaborg and W. J. Arendt. 1999. Survival and longevity of the Puerto Rican Vireo.  Wilson Bulletin 111:376-380.

Caro, T. M., N. Pelkey, M. Borner, K. L. I. Campbell, B. L. Woodworth, B. P. Farm, J. ole Kuwai, S. A. Huish and E. L. M. Severre. 1998. Consequences of different forms of conservation for large mammals in Tanzania: preliminary analyses. African Journal of Ecology 36:303-320.

Caro, T. M., N. Pelkey, M. Borner, E. L. M. Severre, K. L. I. Campbell, S. A. Huish, J. ole Kuwai, B. P. Farm and B. L. Woodworth. 1998. The impact of tourist hunting on large mammals in Tanzania: an initial assessment. African Journal of Ecology 36:321-346.

Woodworth, B. L., J. Faaborg and W. Arendt. 1998. Breeding and natal dispersal in the Puerto Rican Vireo.  Journal of Field Ornithology. 69:1-7.

Woodworth, B. L. 1997. Brood parasitism, nest predation, and season-long reproductive success of a tropical island endemic. Condor 99:605-621.

Woodworth, B. L., B. P. Farm, C. Mufungo, M. Borner, and J. ole Kuwai. 1997. A photographic census of flamingos in the Rift Valley Lakes of Tanzania.  African Journal of Ecology 35:326-334.

Faaborg, J., K. Dugger, W. J. Arendt, B. L. Woodworth, and M. Baltz. 1997. Population declines of the Puerto Rican Vireo (Vireo latimeri) in Guánica Forest.  Wilson Bull. 109:195-202.

Sorenson, L. G., B. L. Woodworth, L. Ruttan, and F. McKinney. 1992. Serial monogamy and double-brooding in the White-cheeked (Bahama) Pintail Anas bahamensis. Wildfowl 43:156-159.

Research interests

Population dynamics and limiting factors of endangered species

Conservation and management techniques for endangered Hawaiian forest birds

Interaction of climate change and avian disease in limiting populations of Hawaiian forest birds

Impact of climate change on ecosystems and wildlife

Interdisciplinary education in environmental studies and climate change