Amy Patten

Project Manager | Staff Ecologist

Amy Patten is a wildlife biologist and botanist with over 15 years of experience working with special-status species and their habitats across California.

Amy earned her B.S. at U.C. Santa Cruz in 2009. She began her career studying behavioral genetics and climate change in lizards in Dr. Barry Sinervo's lab at UCSC, which cemented a lifelong passion for the reptiles and amphibians. Since UCSC, Amy has worked with nonprofits, agencies, and consulting firms to conduct surveys, protect habitat, and advise on management of senstive species. Amy extensive experience conducting protocol-level surveys and compliance monitoring with California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, western pond turtle, San Francisco gartersnake, burrowing owl, Swainson's hawk, salmonids, and hundreds of rare plant taxa. 

  • • University of California, Santa Cruz; Bachelor of Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; 2009

  • Reptiles, amphibians, birds, and rare plants

     

  • • Live Oak Associates, Inc., San Jose, CA. Project Manager/Staff Ecologist, December, 2024 – Present

    • Rare Plant Treasure Hunt Manager California Native Plant Society | Remote/California Statewide | 2018-2023

    • Administrative Assistant - Ventana Wilderness Alliance | Santa Cruz, CA | 2016-2018

    • Field Biologist - HT Harvey & Associates | Los Gatos, CA | 2014-2016

    • Biological Field Technician - US Geological Survey | Oakland, CA | 2013

    • Fisheries Technician - Humboldt State University | Arcata, CA | 2012

    • Junior Specialist - UC Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | 2008-2011

  • • California Tiger Salamander Workshop, Elkhorn Slough Foundation Coastal Training Program, 2014

    • Burrowing Owl Workshop, Elkhorn Slough Foundation Coastal Training Program, 2014

    • CEQA/NEPA Implementation, UC Davis Extension, 2015

    • Rare Plant Survey Protocols Workshop, CNPS, 2019

  • Amy enjoys tidepooling, birdwatching, hiking, and nature photography. She is a longtime resident of Santa Cruz County and loves to explore California's Central Coast and the Diablo Range. 

“I enjoy working with the friendly, competent team at Live Oak Associates. I also enjoy working outside.”
— Katrina