Author Biography: About the Authors
Bruce Wright earned a master’s degree in ecology studying birds of prey at San Diego State University. Bruce was a professor at the University of Alaska where he taught courses about bald eagles, orcas, humpback whales, and brown, black and polar bears. He was the president of the board of directors of the Bald Eagle Research Institute. When Bruce was a section chief for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), he continued his work with predators in Alaska by managing the Alaska Predator Ecosystem Experiment and the Alaska Shark Assessment Project. He was actually bitten by one of the 350-pound sharks his crew landed during the field research. Bruce was selected as the chief science advisor to Alaska’s Governor Tony Knowles when the governor worked with the Pew Ocean Commission on ocean’s issues. Bruce is the executive director of the Conservation Science Institute. (www.conservationinstitute.org).
Sadie Wright received her master’s degree in wildlife science from Oregon State University. Her research focused on predatory seabirds such as pelicans, cormorants and terns. She wants to expand her research to examine Alaska’s marine ecosystem. Large-scale changes are occurring across the planet due to rapidly increasing human populations and their influence, and marine ecosystems are particularly sensitive to these changes. Sadie intends to focus her future research efforts on climate change effects in sensitive northern ecosystems.
Bruce and Sadie have shared many experiences involving most of the predators described in this book. They continue to be fascinated by the natural history of Alaska’s predators. They hope their work helps people realize predators must be protected and they hope predator populations flourish for future human generations to enjoy. |
