Dr. Caroline Cappello
Researcher
ORCID: 0000-0002-2687-4019
Dr. Caroline Cappello is a quantitative wildlife ecologist studying how global change and human activities impact wildlife behavior, performance, and population dynamics. By integrating data from field studies, remote sensing, and participatory science platforms, her research aims to inform the conservation of threatened species while advancing knowledge of avian ecology and natural history.
A seabirder by training, Caroline earned her PhD from the University of Washington and continues to collaborate on projects focused on the ecology and conservation of Magellanic and Galápagos penguins. More recently, Caroline’s research has brought her to dry land, where she am studying topics related to bird conversation in the Western United States.
Recent Publications
Other Publications
Fricke, E. C., Hsieh, C., Middleton, O., Gorczynski, D., Cappello, C. D., Sanisidro, D., Rowan, J., Svenning, J-C., & Beaudrot, L. (2022). Collapse of terrestrial mammal food webs since the Late Pleistocene. Science, 377,1008-1011.
McNeil, S. E., Tracy, D., & Cappello, C. D. (2015). Loop migration and Chaco wintering by a Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Western Birds, 46(3), 244-255
Latest News
-
Field Updates: Galápagos, Summer 2025
Dr. Dee Boersma, Dr. Sue Moore, and Dr. Caroline Cappello were in the Galápagos from July 25 – August 3 to survey the penguins on the islands. They were able to measure 36 of them—16 more than last year! Measuring penguins is an essential part of our project, which is maintaining continuity with our decades-long dataset on the…
-
Dr. Dee Boersma featured in latest National Geographic!
Make sure to pick up the latest copy of National Geographic and read about Dr. Dee Boersma‘s work on Galápagos penguins! Reporter Rene Ebersole traveled with Dee and recent grad Caroline Cappello last summer as they checked up on the human-built Galápagos penguin nests they built in 2010. Included in the article is a sweet…
-
Field Updates: Galápagos Islands, summer 2024
In July 2024, Dr. Dee Boersma and Dr. Caroline Cappello traveled to the Galápagos Islands for a penguin expedition unlike any they’d experienced before. Since 2010, CES has collaborated with Galápagos National Park and conservationist Godfrey Merlen to visit penguin breeding areas and conduct research. After Godfrey’s passing in 2023, CES—with heavy hearts but optimism…