CHRISTOPHER M. FREE Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University  71 Dudley Road New Brunswick, NJ 08901  [email protected]  http://marine.rutgers.edu/~cfree/

EDUCATION 2013-pres. Ph.D. Candidate in Oceanography, Rutgers University. Dissertation Topic: “Fisheries management in the face of data, capacity, and climate challenges” (Adviser: Dr. Olaf Jensen). NMFS-Sea Grant Population Dynamics Fellow. 2006-2010 B.A. in Environmental Studies & Biology, Middlebury College. Senior Thesis: “Modeling big-leaf mahogany population dynamics: the importance of spatially explicit processes” (Adviser: Dr. R. Matthew Landis). High Honors, Magna Cum Laude.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2013-pres. 2012 2010-2013 2010/2012 2009 2008 2007

Research Assistant, Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University Fisheries Ecology Technician, Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory Quantitative Ecologist, International Institute of Tropical Forestry GIS Analyst, Audubon Alaska GIS Analysis Intern, Continental Airlines Field Biologist, Loon Preservation Committee Divemaster, Florida Sea Base

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2016 2015 2015-2016 2012 2011 2009 2008-2010 2007-2010

Applied Population Ecology in R, National University of Mongolia (co-instructor) Ichthyology, Rutgers University (part-time lecturer) Intro to Programming in R, Rutgers University (co-instructor) Intro to R for Fisheries Scientists, Dauphin Island Sea Lab (co-instructor) Conservation Biology, Middlebury College (TA) Vertebrate Natural History, Middlebury College (TA) Geographic Information Systems, Middlebury College (TA) Ecology & Evolution, Middlebury College (TA)

HONORS & AWARDS 2016 2016 2016 2015 2015 2015 2015

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Wilbur M. Runk Award ($1000) MAC-AFS 2016 Meeting Best Student Presentation Award ($150) Rutgers Climate Institute Student Support Fund Award ($325) Rutgers TA/GA Professional Development Fund Award (2x: $1100, $870) Rutgers Graduate School of New Brunswick Conference Travel Award ($200) Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club Burlew Scholarship (2x: $1500, $1500) NJ Sea Grant Stew Tweed Fisheries & Aquaculture Scholarship ($2000) Updated January 2017

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2015 2014 2014 2014 2013 2012 2010 2008 2007

Enhancing Linkages Between Mathematics & Ecology Travel Award ($500) Wild Trout Symposium Marty Seldon Travel Scholarship ($500) Rutgers Graduate School of New Brunswick Conference Travel Award ($100) Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club Burlew Scholarship (2x: $1000, $1500) SESYNC Proposal Writing Workshop Travel Award ($500) Deep Submergence Science Committee Workshop Travel Award ($500) Northeast ArcGIS User’s Conference Registration Scholarship ($250) NESCAC All-Academic Scholar Athlete, Middlebury College Paul W. Ward (’25) Memorial Writing Prize Nominee, Middlebury College

GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS 2014

American Center for Mongolian Studies Research Grant. “Assessing the motivations and extent of illegal fishing in Mongolia and its potential impact on endangered Mongolian fish species.” Free CM. $4000.

2014

Grayling Research Trust Research Grant. “Assessing the extent of illegal fishing in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia and its potential impact on the endemic and endangered Hovsgol grayling (Thymallus nigrescens).” Free CM. $1600.

2013-2016 NMFS-Sea Grant Population & Ecosystem Dynamics Fellowship. “An evaluation of data-poor stock assessment methods using data-rich stock assessments from the RAM Legacy Stock Assessment Database.” Free CM, Jensen OP. $115,500. 2013-2014 SEBS Excellence Fellowship. Rutgers University, School of Environmental & Biological Sciences (SEBS). Free CM. $53,000 (declined).

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS Free CM, Jensen OP, Wiedenmann J, Deroba JJ. The refined ORCS approach: a catch-based method for estimating stock status and catch limits for data-poor fish stocks. In first review at Fisheries Research. Crate SA, Free CM, Mendsaikhan B. Tracking the complexity of change in Mongolia: Implications for global change research. Submitted to Ambio. 9. Gill DA, Mascia MB, Ahmadia GN, Glew L, Lester SE, Barnes M, Craigie I, Darling E, Free CM, Geldmann J, Holst S, Jensen OP, White AT, Basurto X, Coad L, Gates RD, Guannel G, Mumby PJ, Thomas H, Whitmee S, Woodley S, Fox HE (accepted with minor revisions) Capacity gaps hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally. Nature. 8. Tsogtsaikhan P, Mendsaikhan B, Jargalmaa G, Ganzorig B, Weidel BC, Filosa CM, Free CM, Young T, Jensen OP (in press) Comparison of age and growth of Hovsgol grayling (Thymallus nigrescens), Baikal grayling (T. baicalensis), and lenok (Brachymystax lenok) in lentic and lotic habitats of Northern Mongolia. Journal of Applied Ichthyology: DOI: 10.1111/jai.13247 7. Free CM, Jensen OP, Mendsaikhan B (2015) A mixed-method approach for quantifying illegal fishing and its impact on an endangered fish species. PLoS One 10(12): e0143960.

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6. Norghauer JM, Free CM, Landis RM, Grogan J, Malcolm JR, Thomas SC (2015) Herbivores limit the population size of big-leaf mahogany trees in an Amazonian forest. Oikos 125(1): 137–148. 5. Free CM, Jensen OP, Mason SA, Eriksen M, Williamson NJ, Boldgiv B (2014) High-levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake. Marine Pollution Bulletin 85(1): 156–163. 4. Free CM, Landis RM, Grogan J, Schulze MD, Lentini M, Dünisch O (2014) Management implications of long-term tree growth & mortality rates: A modeling study of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest Ecology & Management 330: 46–54. 3. Smith MA, Walker NJ, Free CM, Kirchhoff MJ, Drew GS, Warnock ND, Stenhouse IJ (2014) Identifying marine Important Bird Areas using at-sea survey data. Biological Conservation 172: 180–189. 2. Grogan J, Landis RM, Free CM, Schulze MD, Lentini M, Ashton MS (2014) Big-leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla population dynamics and implications for sustainable management. Journal of Applied Ecology 51(3): 664–674. * June 2014 Editor’s Choice. 1. Powers SP, Hernandez FJ, Condon RH, Drymon JM, Free CM (2013) Novel pathways for injury from offshore oil spills: Direct, sublethal and indirect effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on pelagic Sargassum communities. PLoS One 8(9): e74802.

PUBLICATIONS NEAR SUBMISSION Free CM, Grogan J, Pinelo Morales G, Johnson A, Alegria R. The sustainability of Guatemalan harvest regulations in the forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve: Part 2. Four secondary tropical timber species. Near submission to Conservation Biology. Grogan J, Free CM, Landis RM, Johnson A, Pinelo Morales G, Alegria R. The sustainability of Guatemalan harvest regulations in the forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve: Part 1. Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King). Near submission to Conservation Biology. Jensen OP, Free CM, et al. Blood from a stone: A taxonomy and brief review of catch-only stock assessment methods. In prep for Fisheries.

TECHNICAL REPORTS & DATASETS Jensen OP, Free CM (2017) Testing and comparison of data-limited assessment models for estimating global and regional stock status. UN Food & Agriculture Organization. Free CM, Grogan J, Schulze MD, Landis RM, Brienen RJW (2017) Current Brazilian forest management guidelines are unsustainable for Swietenia, Cedrela, Amburana, and Copaifera: A response to da Cunha and colleagues. Forest Ecology & Management 386: 81-83. Grogan J, Schulze M, Paz Pires I, Free CM, Landis RM, Pinelo Morales G, Johnson A (2016) How sustainable is mahogany management? ITTO Tropical Forest Update 25(1): 5-9. Hernandez M, Free CM (2015) Digital Atlas of Mongolian Fish. Available online: http://marine.rutgers.edu/~cfree/atlas-of-mongolian-fish/ Grogan J, Free CM, Johnson A, Pinelo Morales G, Alegria R (2014) Assessment of the conservation status of big-leaf mahogany, Spanish cedar, and three secondary timber species

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populations in the forestry concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Petén, Guatemala. CATIE-Finnfor. * Featured in the November 25, 2015 NY Times.

Also published in Spanish: Estado de conservación de las poblaciones de cinco especies maderables en concesiones forestales de la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, Guatemala: Swietenia macrophylla, Cedrela odorata, Lonchocarpus castilloi, Bucida buceras, Calophyllum brasiliense

Grogan J, Schulze M, Lentini M, Zweede J, Landis RM, Free CM (2013) Managing big-leaf mahogany in natural forests. ITTO Tropical Forest Update 22(1): 12-19. Smith MA, Walker N, Free CM, Kirchhoff M, Warnock N, Weinstein A, Distler T, Stenhouse IJ (2012) Marine Important Bird Areas in Alaska: Identifying globally significant sites using colony and at-sea survey data. National Audubon Society, Audubon Alaska. Free CM, Landis RM, Grogan J (2011) User Manual for the Big-Leaf Mahogany Growth & Yield Model. US Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry.

Also published in Spanish: Manual del Usuario para el Modelo de Crecimiento y Rendimiento de la Caoba

INVITED PRESENTATIONS Free CM, Jensen OP, Young T, Mendsaikhan B, Hrabik T, Weidel B, Chandra S (2016) Ecological change in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia's largest lake. American Center for Mongolian Studies. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Jun 14, 2016. Free CM, Jensen OP, Wiedenmann J, Mendsaikhan B (2016) Data-poor fisheries management: A global problem with local solutions. NJ Sea Grant. Sandy Hook, NJ. Feb 28, 2016. Free CM, Jensen OP, Mendsaikhan B (2015) Illegal fishing for the endangered endemic Hovsgol grayling. Kean University. Union, NJ. Nov 19, 2015. Free CM, Jensen OP, Mendsaikhan B (2014) Illegal fishing for the endangered endemic Hovsgol grayling. American Center for Mongolia Studies. Philadelphia, PA. Nov 12, 2014. Free CM, Grogan J, Johnson A, Pinelo G (2014) Conservation status of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and other lesser-known species of the forestry concessions in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Petén, Guatemala. CATIE-Finnfor. Flores, Guatemala. Oct 28-31, 2014. Grogan J, Free CM (2013) The sustainable management of big-leaf mahogany in natural forests. The Forestland Group, LLC. Chapel Hill, NC. Nov 12, 2013.

CONTRIBUTED PRESENTATIONS (selected, >20 last five years) Free CM, Jensen OP, Wiedenmann J, Deroba JJ (2016) Evaluating and refining the ORCS Working Group approach to data-poor fisheries stock status and catch estimation. AFS Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting. Bordentown, NJ. Oct 27-28, 2016. * Best student presentation award Free CM, Jensen OP, Young T, Mendsaikhan B, Hrabik T, Weidel B, Chandra S (2016) Ecological change in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia's largest lake. SIL 2016 Congress. Torino, Italy. Aug 1-5, 2016. Free CM, Jensen OP, Wiedenmann J, Deroba JJ (2015) Evaluating the ORCS Working Group approach for data-poor catch estimation using the RAM Legacy Stock Assessment Database. AFS Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. Aug 16-20, 2015. *POSTER

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Free CM, Jensen OP, Mendsaikhan B (2015) A mixed-method approach for quantifying illegal fishing and its impact on an endangered endemic grayling in Lake Hovsgol National Park, Mongolia. AFS Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. Aug 16-20, 2015. *POSTER Free CM, Jensen OP, Mendsaikhan B (2014) Illegal fishing for the endangered endemic Hovsgol grayling. AFS Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting. Cape Henlopen, DE. Nov 6-7, 2014. Free CM, Jensen OP, Mason SA, Eriksen M (2014) High-levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote lake. Ocean Sciences Meeting. Honolulu, HI. Feb 24-28, 2014. *POSTER Free CM, Drymon JM, & Powers SP (2012) The impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the composition of marine megafauna in the northern Gulf of Mexico. MASGC Bays & Bayous Symposium. Biloxi, MS. Nov 14-15, 2012. Free CM (2011) Mahogany population dynamics: implications for international trade. Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS-NY). New York, NY. Oct 12, 2011. Free CM, Landis RM, Grogan J (2011) Big-Leaf Mahogany Growth & Yield Model. ITTO/CITES Workshop on Improving the Implementation of CITES for Mahogany. Brasília, Brazil. Feb 17, 2011. Free CM, Smith MA, Kirchhoff MD, Stenhouse IJ (2010) Mapping important areas for seabirds: Exploring solutions to common challenges. Northeast Arc Users Group Conference (NEARC). Newport, RI. Nov 9, 2010. Free CM (2010) Mahogany population dynamics: importance of spatial processes. Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS-NY). New York, NY. Nov 3, 2010. *POSTER

CONSULTANCIES & WORKING GROUPS 2017

UN FAO. Rome, Italy. “Testing and comparison of data-limited assessment models for estimating global and regional stock status.” Jensen OP, Free CM.

2016

Haskin Shellfish Research Lab. Bivalve, NJ. “Status and trends of hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, shellfish populations in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.” Free CM.

2014

CATIE-Finnfor Project. Petén, Guatemala. “Conservation status of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and other lesser-known species of the forestry concessions in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Petén, Guatemala.” Free CM, Grogan J.

2013

The Forestland Group, LLC. Chapel Hill, NC. “The sustainable management of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) in natural forests.” Grogan J, Free CM.

2013

National Socioeconomic Synthesis Center (SESYNC) Working Group. Annapolis, MD. “Solving the mystery of Marine Protected Area (MPA) performance.” Fox et al.

2012

Audubon California. Sonora, CA. “Developing a Python program to automate the submission of Important Bird Areas into the National Audubon database.” Free CM.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & PUBLIC OUTREACH Grant reviewer: South Carolina Sea Grant

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Manuscript reviewer: Ecological Applications, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, ICES Journal of Marine Science, Environmental Pollution, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Environmental Earth Sciences, Erdkunde–Archive for Scientific Geography; With Olaf Jensen: Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Ecology and Evolution, Fisheries Research, Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Journal of Great Lakes Research Professional membership: 2016-pres. International Society of Limnology 2015-pres. The Oceanography Society 2013-pres. American Center for Mongolian Studies 2013-pres. Association for the Sciences of Limnology & Oceanography 2013-pres. American Fisheries Society Outreach and service: Oceanography Graduate Student Association: 2013-16 Vice-President (2014-16, 2 years), Social Chair (2013-16, 4 years), Student Seminar Organizer (2013-14, 1 year), Distinguished Speaker Organizer (2016-17, 1 year) Outreach at Rutgers University: 2016 Rutgers Summer Science Program volunteer 2015-16 Climate Change Teen Summit moderator 2014-16 Aresty Program poster judge 2014-16 Rutgers Day volunteer 2014-16 Shorebowl volunteer 2013-15 Undergraduate research mentor Outreach at local schools: 2016 James Rhoads Elementary School science fair judge 2016 Monmouth Junior Science Symposium judge 2014 New Jersey Science Teacher’s Convention speaker 2014 Strath Haven Middle School Career Day speaker 2014 Englewood High School Senior Research panelist 2013-16 Malvern Prep High School marine biology mentor Other outreach 2016 2015

Watershed Limnology course guest lecturer Made interpretative panels on fish and pollution for Lake Hovsgol Visitor Center

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