Nina Schoch, D.V.M.
Photo © S. Lowe
Director, Wildlife Health Assessment Program
Coordinator, BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation
Phone: (207) 887-7160 x 145
Fax: (207) 887-7160
nina.schoch@briloon.org
Nina has a deep and enduring passion for conservation and natural history, evidenced by more than two decades of experience in veterinary medicine, wildlife rehabilitation, and wildlife conservation. She works actively to share this passion and encourage others to become involved.
Her work spans a variety of programs--from spending nights capturing and sampling loons for health and contaminant evaluations, to establishing BRI’s Wildlife Health Assessment Program, Nina is excited to be involved in the fascinating fields of wildlife health, conservation medicine, and environmental toxicology. During the summer, she is often found on the water surveying and capturing loons throughout New York’s six-million acre Adirondack Park. Throughout the year, she spends much time educating the public about loon ecology by giving presentations, writing general audience articles and reports, developing school curricula, and hosting field excursions. She is thrilled that her work contributes to enhancing the health of the environment and its wild inhabitants.
In her role as director of the Wildlife Health Assessment Program, she provides ecotoxicology and conservation medicine expertise, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the biotic response to environmental pollutants and expanding awareness of the interconnections of human, wildlife, and ecosystem health.
Nina’s research has focused on Adirondack Common Loons as a sentinel species to better understand the impact of environmental contaminants on aquatic ecosystems. She has coordinated studies to learn more about the natural history of Adirondack loons, including their migratory patterns and population trends, and the effect of contaminants on the health and reproductive success of the Adirondack loon population.
Education
- Envirovet – Conservation Medicine Externship, 2003
- D.V.M., Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1990
- M.S., Natural Resources - Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, 1993
- B.A., Biology-Behavioral Ecology Cornell University, Coll. of Arts and Sciences, 1983
Certifications
- New York State Veterinary License
- Maine Veterinary License
- Drug Enforcement Administration License
- New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
- Federal Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
- Safe Capture International, Inc., Certification for Chemical Immobilization of Animals
Areas of Expertise and Years of Experience
- Veterinary medicine – 22 years experience
Conservation medicine – 9 years experience
Wildlife rehabilitation – 28 years experience
- Wildlife conservation – 29 years experience
Loon conservation and loon mercury research – 12 years experience
Research Interests
- Evaluating the impacts of exposure to environmental contaminants to wildlife, particularly their health, behavior, reproductive success, and populations.
- Identifying and assessing emerging wildlife diseases and their impacts to wildlife populations, and potential impacts to human and domestic animal populations.
- Understanding and addressing the linkages and interdependence between wildlife, human, and domestic animal health, with the goal of improving ecological integrity and the health of all species.
Books and Publications
- Evers, D.C., K. A. Williams, M. W. Meyer, A. M. Scheuhammer, N. Schoch, A. Gilbert, L. Siegel, R. J. Taylor, R. Poppenga, C. R. Perkins, 2011. Spatial gradients of methylmercury for breeding common loons in the Laurentian Great Lakes region. Ecotoxicology Special Issue.
- Yu, X., C.T. Driscoll, M. Montesdeoca, D. Evers, M. Duron, K. Williams, N. Schoch, N. C. Kamman, 2011. Spatial patterns of mercury in biota of Adirondack, New York lakes. Ecotoxicology Special Issue.
- Kenow, K.P. D. Adams, N. Schoch, D. C. Evers, W. Hanson, D. Yates, L. Savoy, T. J. Fox, A. Major, R. Kratt, J. W. Ozard. 2009. Migration Patterns and Wintering Range of Common Loons Breeding in the Northeastern United States. Waterbirds 32(2):234-247.
- Evers, D.C., L. Savoy, C. DeSorbo, D.E. Yates, W. Hanson, K.M. Taylor, L. Siegel, J.H. Cooley, Jr., M.S. Bank, A. Major, K. Munney, B. Mower, H.S. Vogel, N. Schoch, M. Pokras, M.W. Goodale, and J. Fair. 2008. Adverse effects from environmental mercury loads on breeding Common Loons. Ecotoxicology. 17:69–81.
- Schoch, N. 2008. Common Loon (Gavia immer). In McGowan, K.J. and K. Corwin, eds. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.
- Schoch, N. 2006. The Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program: Loon Conservation in the Adirondack Park. Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies.13(2):18-22.
- Schoch, N. 2006. Call of the Loon. Wildlife Conservation. Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY.
- Schoch, N., S.B. James, and D.C. Evers. 2005. Common Loons – Indicators of How Energy Pollution Impacts Ecological Health. In Proceedings for Association of Avian Veterinarians 2005 Conference.
- Schoch, N., V. Trudeau, R. Godin, D. Adams, K. Kenow, M. Glennon, D.C. Evers, and F. Realbuto. 2005. Science on the Fly! Loon migration: linking people and the environment. Presentation at the Argos International Users Conference and Manufacturers Meeting. Annapolis, MD.
- Spilman, C.A., W.F. Porter, and N. Schoch. 2005. The effects of lakeshore development on Common Loon productivity in the Adirondack State Park, New York. In Proceedings for American Ornithologist Union 2005 Conference.
- Schoch, N. 2004. Science on the fly – Adirondack loons reveal their winter whereabouts. Natural History Magazine. 113(9):60-61.
Reports
- Schoch, N., A. Jackson, M. Duron, D.C. Evers, M. Glennon, C.T. Driscoll, X. Yu, and H. Simonin. 2011. Long-term monitoring and assessment of mercury based on integrated sampling efforts using the common loon, prey fish, water, and sediment. Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham, Maine. Report BRI 2011-28 to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for NYSERDA EMEP Project #7608.
- Schoch, N. and A. Jackson. 2011. Adirondack Loons – Sentinels of Mercury Pollution in New York’s Aquatic Ecosystems. BRI Report #2011-29, Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham, Maine.
- Evers, D., N. Schoch, C.S. Flegel, M. Duron, J. Fallon, W. A. Hopkins, M. Walsh, R. Valentine, J. Ellal, and D. Mensching. 2011. End-of-Study Draft Summary Report: Avian Health Assessment for Estimating Oiling and Mortality of Breeding Secretive Marsh Birds (Bird Study #3) and Colonial Waterbirds (Bird Study #4), NRDA Deepwater Horizon (MC 252) Oil Spill. Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham, ME. BRI-DWH-NRDA Report 3-4.3.
- Schoch, N., R.S. Hames, D.C. Evers, O.P. Lane, D. Yates, M. Duron, and J.D. Lowe. 2010. Biogeography of Mercury Contamination in New York State: Risk to Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Unpublished report to NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation in partial fulfillment of State Wildlife Grant Contract #C303564. 67pp.
- Schoch, N. 2002. The Common Loon in the Adirondack Park: An Overview of Loon Natural History and Current Research. WCS Working Paper No. 20. 64pp.
- Schoch, N. and D.C. Evers. 2002. Monitoring Mercury in Common Loons: New York Field Report, 1998-2000. Report BRI 2001-01 submitted to U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. and New York State Dept. Environ. Conservation. BioDiversity Research Institute, Gorham, ME.
Presentations and Posters
- Grasman, K. and Schoch, N. 2011. Assessment of Immunological Health and Mercury Exposure in Adirondack Common Loons. Presentation at the 2011 Wildlife Disease Association conference, Quebec City, Ottawa.
- Schoch, N., A. Jackson, M. Duron, D.C. Evers, M. Glennon, C.T. Driscoll, X.Yu, and H. Simonin. 2011. Results – Long-Term Monitoring and Assessment of Mercury Based on Integrated Sampling Efforts Using the Common Loon, Prey Fish, Water, and Sediment. Poster presented at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation, and Protection Program’s biennial conference. Albany, NY.
- Schoch, N., D.C. Evers, J. Fallon, W. Hopkins, and D. Mensching. 2011. Avian Health Assessments to Evaluate Sublethal Impacts of Oil Exposure to Wild Birds. Presentation at the 2012 Effects of Oil on Wildlife conference. New Orleans, LA.
Grants, Awards and Fellowships
- Women of the Gulf recognition by the Audubon Society’s Women in Conservation Program, 2011
- NYS Outdoor Writers Association M. Paul Keesler NY Outdoor Citizen Award, 2011: Dr. Schoch was recognized by the NYSOWA for her “outstanding efforts on creating awareness and significant achievement in preserving the Common Loon.”
- Adirondack Council’s Conservationist of the Year Award, 2007 – awarded to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program.
- Adirondack Park Agency Earth Day Certificate of Achievement, 2002