Mark Mendelsohn

Biologist @National Park Service

As a Biologist at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, I efficiently and accurately identify all plant species found at each monitoring location to the required taxonomic level; using flowers and/or vegetative plant parts; verify, document, and report findings following appropriate botanical procedures; collect data on vegetation and individual plant species at randomly selected locations, assuring accuracy of all data collected and subsequently enter into databases, summarize and assess data to determine status and trends, assess efficacy of protocols for meeting desired purpose, and recommend and test changes to improve protocols; serve as program manager for field implementation of vegetation and plant monitoring protocols, perform planning; logistics and staff scheduling, assure all safety protocols are implemented, monitor and assess staff effectiveness, timeliness and material costs, and recommend changes for improvement; and efficiently and safely navigate crew to monitoring sites and conduct data collection. Continuously monitor health and safety of self and other crew members and proactively respond to unsafe conditions and emergencies.2020 was the final monitoring season in the first 7-year monitoring cycle of a long-term vegetation and invasive plant monitoring program. This first monitoring cycle was critical to the development of this program. Information and data gathered will be used to evaluate program effectiveness and determine any necessary changes to meet management\'s goals, as we embark on the next cycle.In my role as an ISA-certified Arborist, I support the park\'s goals of maintaining healthy trees and mitigating hazard trees.