Kristina L. Paxton

Kristina L. Paxton serves as a Quantitative Ecologist with the Hawai'i Cooperative Studies Unit at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, affiliated with the Biology Department in the College of Natural and Health Sciences. Her work focuses on Movement Ecology, Avian Disease, and Conservation Genetics, with particular emphasis on Hawaiian forest birds and ecosystem conservation. She teaches courses including Biostatistics, Introductory Biology, Quantitative Ecology, and Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Field and Laboratory Methods.

Dr. Paxton's research integrates diverse statistical methodologies ranging from basic statistics to multivariate community analysis and spatial modeling to hierarchical Bayesian modeling. Her work addresses complex ecological questions critical for conservation initiatives throughout the Pacific Islands, with significant focus on native and invasive species interactions. She specializes in movement ecology of tropical birds, avian disease dynamics (particularly avian malaria), and conservation genetics of endangered Hawaiian species including honeycreepers and the 'Ōma'o.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent research productivity with 43 publications generating over 9,756 reads and 1,490 citations. Recent work examines landscape configuration effects on bird movement, acoustic communication in fragmented habitats, and molecular responses to disease in vulnerable native species. She collaborates extensively with researchers at the Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Geological Survey, and other institutions focused on Pacific Island conservation.

• Current Position: Quantitative Ecologist, Hawai'i Cooperative Studies Unit
• Past Positions: Lecturer at UH Hilo (2013-2016), Postdoctoral Researcher at Smithsonian Institution (2015), Teaching and Research Assistant at University of Southern Mississippi (2006-2013)
• Research Affiliation: Patrick Hart's Lab

Dr. Paxton's work has significant implications for conservation management of endangered Hawaiian species facing habitat loss, disease threats, and climate change impacts. Her research provides critical data for conservation planning and species recovery efforts across the Hawaiian archipelago.