Cassondra R. Thomas has over 17 years of experience in biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling in wetland environments. She holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences and has extensive experience modeling material and energy flows within estuarine systems. Her research has focused on phosphorus and nitrogen cycling in prescribed burns in the Everglades and carbon sequestration in scrub oak systems. She has also examined the effects of fiddler crab burrows on salt marsh biogeochemistry and created models of nitrogen cycling in Atlantic coast salt marshes and the Neuse River Estuary.

1. Cassondra R. Thomas, PhD
Senior Environmental Scientist
Education/Training The specific focus of the study is to investigate
PhD, Environmental Sciences, 2004 the biogeochemistry of prescribed burns in the
MS, Biology, 1998 Everglades including examining phosphorus
BS, Environmental Science/Economics, 1992 cycling, phosphorus storage through peat
accretion, vegetation productivity and
speciation, surface and pore water quality and
Experience the flow of phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon
17 Years
through the ecosystem pre- and post-fire along
a phosphorus loading gradient.
Expertise
Dr. Thomas has extensive experience in NASA Postdoctoral Fellow
biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling in marsh Used carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling
and riverine environments as well as ecosystem to research the effect of land management
restoration. She also has experience with practices at Merritt Island National Wildlife
systems ecology and steady-state modeling of Refuge to determine what impact different
material and energy flow within estuarine management protocols may have on the Indian
systems. Her models have focused on the effect River Lagoon and associated impounded salt
restoration efforts have on the ecosystem of marshes. Nutrient cycle models for marsh
interest as well as theoretical ecology. impoundments and lagoon, both linked and
separated, were created and analyzed using
Key Project Experience Ecological Network Analysis, a suite of
analyses that evaluates the flow and cycling of
Cardno TBE - West Palm Beach, FL, Senior energy or material through ecosystem networks
Environmental Scientist: As part of the South and indexes the ‘structure’ of the networks.
Florida Water Management District’s Long-term Examine carbon sequestration using eddy
Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals, this study covariance techniques to monitor CO2 fluxes
involves key elements for analysis and between the biosphere and atmosphere in a
interpretation of enhanced understanding of the scrub oak system pre- and post-fire.
Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) and for
monitoring any possible downstream impacts of University of Virginia - Research Assistant
the STAs or other areas. This project involves Research the effect of fiddler crab (Uca
field staff to collect water quality, vegetation and species) burrow holes on salt marsh
sediment samples as well as maintain, operate biogeochemistry including microbial processes,
and collect experimental data from experimental pore water chemistry, and plant productivity as
units under the direction of District staff. This it relates to sediment organic matter
program provides research and analysis of accumulation and marsh surface accretion
optional management scenarios for accelerating potential. Study focused on sulfate reduction,
recovery of impacted areas of the Everglades decomposition, root growth, and iron chemistry.
Protection Area and preparing reports and peer- Continue research and data collection for long-
reviewed journal articles documenting term experiment begun while Senior Lab
environmental responses of impacted areas to Technician.
different management options. Specifically, the
scientists are conducting small- and large-scale Additional Experience
manipulations including the use of prescribed fire
to explore cattail removal methods and vegetation University of Virginia - Senior Laboratory
establishment. They are using predictive models Technician, 1998-1999
to conduct meta-analysis of monitoring data and • Implement a long-term monitoring study
the manipulations to recommend effective following the effects of increased
recovery methodologies, prioritize restoration relative sea-level rise on salt marshes.
efforts, and predict the natural recovery process.

2. Cassondra R. Thomas, PhD
Page 2
Responsibilities include scouting out Miao, S.L, S. Carstenn, C. Thomas, C.
potential sites, performing the initial site Edelstein, E. Sindhoj, and B. Gu. 2009.
characterization including establishing Integrating multiple spatial controls and
GPS benchmarks, collecting and temporal sampling schemes to explore short-
analyzing soil, vegetation, and water and long-term ecosystem response to fire in an
samples. Everglades wetland. In S. Miao, S. Carstenn, &
M. Nungesser (eds.), Real World Ecology,
East Carolina University – Research Assistant, Large-Scale and Long-Term Case Studies and
1997-1998 Methods. Springer.
• Research the nitrogen cycle of Atlantic
coast salt marshes using field and Sklar, F., E. Cline, M. Cook, T. Dreschel, C.
literature data to create models of the Coronado, D.E. Gawlik, B. Gu, S. Hagerthey, S.
creek bank, low marsh, and high marsh Lantz, C. McVoy, S. Miao, S. Newman, J.
zones. Models were analyzed using Richards, K. Rutchey, C. Saunders, L. Scinto,
Ecological Network Analysis, a suite of R. Shuford, and C. Thomas. 2008. Chapter 6:
analyses that evaluates the flow and Ecology of the Everglades Protection Area.
cycling of energy or material through South Florida Environmental Report. Vol. 1.
ecosystem networks and indexes the
‘structure’ of the networks. Sklar, F. P. Balci, E. Cline, M Cook, B. Cooper,
• Create a model of the Neuse River C. Coronado, C. Edelstein, M. Ferree, C. Fitz,
Estuary nitrogen cycle and analyze the M.A. Furedi, B. Garrett, D. Gawlik, B. Gu, S.
system using Ecological Network Analysis Hagerthey, M. Kobza, S.L. Miao, S. Newman,
for the Water Resource Research B. Orem, J. Palmer, K. Rutchey, E. Sindhoj, C.
Institute’s MONMOD program to Thomas, J. Volin, N. Wang. 2007. Chapter 6:
determine the ramifications of a proposed Ecology of the Everglades Protection Area.
40% nitrogen load reduction to the Neuse South Florida Environmental Report. Vol. 1.
River by the State of North Carolina.
• Maintain the water quality database for Schramski, J.R., D.K. Gattie, B.C. Patten, S.R.
the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Borrett, B.D. Fath, and C.R. Thomas, and S.J.
Ecological Research program. Whipple. 2006. Indirect effects and distributed
control in ecosystems: Distributed control in
Peer-Reviewed Publications and the environ networks of a seven-compartment
model of nitrogen flow in the Neuse River
Technical Reports Estuary, USA - steady-state analysis.
Ecological Modelling, 194:189-201.
Thomas, C.R. and L.K. Blum. The importance of
the fiddler crab, Uca pugnax, to salt marsh soil Christian, R.R., and C.R. Thomas. 2003.
organic matter accumulation. Wetlands (in Network Analysis of Nitrogen Inputs and
review). Cycling in the Neuse River Estuary, North
Carolina, USA. Estuaries, 26(3):815-828.
Miao, S.L., C.R. Thomas, and E. Sindhoj. Litter
quality and habitat effects on plant decomposition Thomas, C.R. and R.R. Christian. 2001.
along a nutrient gradient in an Everglades Comparison of nitrogen cycling in salt marsh
wetland. Oecologia (in review). zones related to sea-level rise. Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 221:1-16.
Thomas, C.R., S.L. Miao, and E. Sinhoj. 2009.
Environmental factors affecting temporal and Christian, R.R., L. Stasavich, C. Thomas, and
spatial patterns of soil redox potential in Florida M.M. Brinson. 2000. Reference is a moving
Everglades wetlands. Wetlands (in press). target in sea-level controlled wetlands. In:
Weinstein, M.P. and D.A. Kreeger (eds)
Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh

3. Cassondra R. Thomas, PhD
Page 3
Ecology. Kluwer Academic Publishing,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Christian, R.R. and C.R. Thomas. 2000. Neuse
River Estuary Modeling and Monitoring Project
Stage 1: Network analysis for evaluating the
consequences of nitrogen loading. Water
Resource Research Institute, Report No. 325-F.
44pp.