Crystal Anderson
Wildlife Biologist III
Doctoral Student
Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science
Contact
Office: 177 Hobcaw Rd, Georgetown, SC 29442
Phone: 864-634-2170
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E-Mail: crhode2@clemson.edu
Personal Website: Prof. Crystal Anderson
Research Projects: Pollinators and Community Gardens
Profile
Crystal Anderson is a Wildlife Biologist at the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetland Center and a Ph.D. student under the mentorship of Dr. Jim Anderson in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University. Crystal commenced her Ph.D. studies in August 2023 and began her role as a wildlife biologist in December of the same year. Prior to joining the Kennedy Center, she was a professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, where she taught courses in Forest Mensuration, Recreation Management, Soil Fertility, Forest Ecology, Forest Protection, and Vertebrate Biology. She earned her B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University in 2019 and her M.S. in Forest Resources from Clemson University in 2023.
In her role at the Kennedy Center, Crystal focuses on writing proposals to secure funding for graduate student research projects related to waterfowl, wetlands, and other wildlife species, while assisting fellow students with their graduate projects and fieldwork. As a Ph.D. student, Crystal's research engages with underserved communities adjacent to coastal wetlands to enhance education on pollinators, develop sustainable community gardens aimed at improving food security, and assess local wetland pollinator diversity and abundance to identify rare and threatened species. Additionally, her work includes performing salinity testing on endangered and threatened pollinator host plants and mapping potential range shifts in response to rising sea levels and associated saltwater intrusion.
Crystal is a published author, having co-written "Winter Tree Identification for the Southern Appalachians and Piedmont - a Photographic Guide" with Dr. Donald Hagan and Hailey Malone. She utilized her photography skills to capture detailed images for this identification guide, which is now used in teaching dendrology at schools and universities across the southeast.
In her spare time, Crystal advocates for Autism awareness, makes valiant attempts at gardening, and spends quality time with her husband and two teenage children in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Research Interests
My research interests lie at the intersection of human dimensions and disturbance ecology, especially as it relates to climate change. I am driven by a passion for understanding the dynamic interactions between human activities and climate variability. I would like to employ advanced spatial analysis techniques to unravel the spatial patterns and ecological consequences of disturbances, exploring how these disturbances influence wildlife populations and ecosystems. Additionally, my focus extends to examining the human dimensions of conservation and resource management, seeking to bridge the gap between ecological research and sustainable decision-making. By integrating these diverse elements, my research aims to contribute valuable insights into the complex relationships between wildlife, humans, and the changing environment, ultimately informing effective conservation strategies in the face of ongoing global challenges.
Education
Clemson University 2028
Ph.D. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Clemson University 2023
M.S. Forest Resource Management
Clemson University 2019
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Publications
Strickland, C., Hagan, D., & Malone H. (2019). Winter Tree Identification for the Southern Appalachians and Piedmont: A Photographic Guide. Clemson University Press.
Strickland, C., Norman, C., Slater, William., Markus, T., Young, K., Crout, K., & Hartshorn, J. (2023). Ambrosia Beetles. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.