Applied Ecology is excited to welcome Summer Manestar to our growing team of environmental professionals.

Summer graduated from Flagler College with BS in Coastal Environmental Science and a minor in Biology. She completed her MS in Marine Science and Oceanography at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), focusing her thesis research on the use of drone surveys and traditional methods to examine environmental and anthropogenic influences on loggerhead sea turtle nest site selection. At FAU she was part of the Coastal Studies Lab, which provided her with a strong knowledge of remote sensing and geospatial analyses applied to coastal resilience.

She also interned with the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, mapping invasive species and assisting with wetland delineations and water quality monitoring, and worked with St. Johns County Beach Services, where she monitored sea turtle nests and rescued ill or stranded wildlife. During her time at FAU, she completed an internship with Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management Department, where she worked in the listed species section and assisted with marine turtle surveys and lighting compliance surveys.

Summer, an FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot, is excited to expand her skillset in remote sensing, geospatial applications, and natural resources management while contributing to a team of individuals that are passionate about the environment.

In her free time, she enjoys SCUBA diving, paddleboarding, yoga, and cooking.