Jessica J. Rykken, PhD
Entomologist
Denali National Park and Preserve
PO Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
(907) 683-5751
Jessica_Rykken@nps.gov
Education
Ph.D. 2004 Oregon State University, Corvallis OR, Entomology
M.S. 1995 University of Vermont, Burlington VT, Field Naturalist Program
B.A. 1987 Smith College, Northampton MA, Biology
Areas of Interest
Pollinator inventory and monitoring, arthropod ecology, community analysis, plant and insect phenology, bee and syrphid fly taxonomy, outreach
Awards
2008 Outstanding Scientist of the Year for Biodiversity Education, Discover Life in America
Professional Experience
2016-present Entomologist, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
2011-2016 Entomology Researcher, projects in multiple national park units across the U.S.
2005-2011 Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate, Harvard University, Massachusetts
1996-1999 Entomologist, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Waterbury, Vermont
1996 State Wetlands Assistant Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Waterbury, Vermont
Professional Affiliations
2020 North American Pollinator Partnership Climate Change Task Force
2020 Alaska Pollinator Monitoring Coordination Group
2018-present Research Affiliate, University of Alaska Museum Insect Collection
2017-present Affiliate, C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, Colorado State University
2011-present Associate, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
Educational Products
Rykken, J. and L. Mundy 2019 Pollinators of Alaska coloring book
Rykken, J. 2017 Denali Bumble Bee Guide
Rykken, J. and S. Stehn 2014 Insect Pollinators of Denali
Rykken, J. and J. Holmes 2013 Bee Observer Cards
Media
Stay Curious
Publications
Graves, T. A., W. M. Janousek, S. M. Gaulke, A. C. Nicholas, D. A. Keinath, C. M. Bell, S. Cannings, R. G. Hatfield, J. M. Heron, J. B. Koch, H. L. Loffland, L. L. Richardson, A. R. Rohde, J. Rykken, J. P. Strange, L. M. Tronstad, and C. S. Sheffield. 2020. Western bumble bee: declines in the continental United States and range-wide information gaps. Ecosphere 11: e03141.10.1002/ecs2.3141
Rykken J. J. 2020. What’s the buzz? Pollinator diversity and distribution along the Chilkoot Trail. Natural Resource Report. NPS/KLGO/NRR—2020/2136. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report-2274326.
Sikes, D. S. and J. J. Rykken. 2020. Update to the identification guide to female Alaskan bumble bees and a summary of recent changes to the Alaskan bumble bee fauna. Alaska Entomological Society Newsletter 13:31-38.
Williams, P. H., M. V. Berezin, S. G. Cannings, B. Cederberg, F. Ødegaard, C. Rasmussen, L. Richardson, J. Rykken, C. S. Sheffield, C. Thanoosing, and A. M. Byvaltsev. 2019. The arctic and alpine bumblebees of the subgenus Alpinobombus revised from integrative assessment of species’ gene coalescents and morphology (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus). Zootaxa 4625:1-68.
Rykken, J. 2018. Measuring and monitoring pollinator diversity along elevation gradients in Olympic and North Cascades National Parks. Natural Resource Report NPS/NOCA/NRR—2018/1634. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report-2253142.
Rykken, J. J. and B. D. Farrell. 2018. Six-legged colonists: the establishment and distribution of non-native beetles in Boston Harbor Islands NRA. Northeastern Naturalist 25:1-22.
Rykken, J. J. and B. D. Farrell. 2018. Exploring the microwilderness of Boston Harbor Islands NRA: terrestrial invertebrate All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. Northeastern Naturalist 23-44.
Rykken, J. J. 2017. Insect pollinators of Gates of the Arctic NPP: A preliminary survey of bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) and flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR—2017/1541. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report- 2245955.
Rykken, J. J. 2017. Catch the buzz—pollinator diversity, distribution, and phenology in Shenandoah National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/SHEN/NRR—2017/1441. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report-2240296.
Rykken, J. 2017. What’s that buzz? Senior Hiker 2:10-15.
Rykken J. 2015. Insect pollinators of Denali National Park and Preserve: A survey of bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) and flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Natural Resource Report. NPS/DENA/NRR—2015/952. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report-2221734.
Rykken, J. J. and B. D. Farrell. 2015. Developing a pollinator monitoring program for Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: A pilot study. Natural Resource Report. NPS/BOHA/NRR—2015/950. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report-2221699.
Rykken, J., A. Rodman, S. Droege, and R. Grundel. 2014. Pollinators in Peril? A multipark approach to evaluating bee communities in habitats vulnerable to effects from climate change. Park Science 31:84-90.
Rykken, J. 2014. Insect pollinators of Denali: A survey of bees and flower flies. Park Science 31: 91-93.
Rykken, J. 2014. Monitoring bee diversity and abundance in Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Park Science 31:92-93.
Rykken, J. J. and B. D. Farrell. 2013. Boston Harbor Islands all taxa biodiversity inventory: Discovering the “microwilderness” of an urban island park. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/BOHA/NRTR—2013/746. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Published Report-2195282.
Rykken, J. J. and B. D. Farrell. 2013. Discovering the microwilderness in parks and protected areas. Pages 306-322 in Lemelin, R.H. (Ed.) The management of insects in recreation and tourism. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY.
Rykken, J. J. and M. Albert. 2012. Boston Harbors Islands All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory: Integrating science, education, and management in an urban island park. Park Science 29:26-28.
Rykken, J. J. 2011. Discovering the microwilderness of the Boston Harbor Islands. Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine LXI:26-35.
Rykken, J. J., P. C. Jepson, A. R. Moldenke. 2011. Ground-dwelling arthropod distribution and movement across a fragmented riparian forest. Northwest Science 85: 527-541.
Clark, A. T., J. Rykken, and B. D. Farrell. 2011. The effects of biogeography on ant diversity and activity on the Boston Harbor Islands, Massachusetts, U.S.A. PLoS ONE 6(11): e28045.
Davidson, R. L. and J. J. Rykken. 2011. Rediscovery of Bembidion (Lymnaeum) nigropiceum (Marsham) (=puritanum Hayward) (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini) in Massachusetts, with remarks on biology and habitat. ZooKeys 147: 487-496.
Davidson, R. L., Rykken, J. J., and B. D.Farrell. 2011. Carabid beetle diversity and distribution in Boston Harbor Islands national park area (Coleoptera: Carabidae). ZooKeys 147:497-526.
Rykken, J. J. and R. L Davidson. 2008. Carabid beetle rediscovered in Massachusetts. Newsletter of the Vermont Entomological Society 61:7-8.
Rykken, J. J., S. S. Chan, and A. R. Moldenke. 2007. Headwater riparian microclimate patterns under alternative forest management treatments. Forest Science 53:270-280.
Rykken, J. J., A. R. Moldenke, and D. H. Olson. 2007. Headwater riparian forest-floor invertebrate communities associated with alternative forest management practices. Ecological Applications 17:1168-1183.
Poinar, G. Jr., J. Rykken, and J. LaBonte. 2004. Parachordodes tegonotus n. sp. (Gordioidea: Nematomorpha), a hairworm parasite of ground beetles (Carabidae: Coleoptera), with a summary of gordiid parasites of carabids. Systematic Parasitology 58: 139-148.
Schowalter, T. D., Y. L. Zhang, and J. J. Rykken. 2003. Litter invertebrate responses to variable density thinning in western Washington forests. Ecological Applications 13:1204-1211.
Hanson, T. and J. J. Rykken. 2000. Forest insect discovery program. Vermont Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Waterbury, VT. 60pp.
Rykken, J. J. and T. Hanson. 1999. A guide to common bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) endemic to the northeastern United States. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, FHTET-98-15. Morgantown, WV. 36pp.
Rykken, J. J., D. E. Capen, and S. P. Mahabir. 1997. Ground beetles as indicators of land type diversity in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Conservation Biology 11:522-530.