Lauren D. Quinn,^1,2,* Adda Quinn,^1,3,** Mietek Kolipinski,^1,4,*** Bonnie Davis,^5,**** Connie Berto,^6,***** Mark Orcholski,^1,****** Sibdas Ghosh<sup>1,*******,********

1</sup>1Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA 94901
²7Current address: Energy Biosciences Institute University of Illinois 1206 W. Gregory Dr. Urbana IL,
³2EnviroHorse www.californiastatehorsemen.com
⁴3National Park Service Pacific West Regional Office Oakland, CA 94607
⁵4Two Horse Enterprises (www.twohorseenterprises.com) PO Box 15517 Fremont CA 94539
⁶5Marin Horse Council, Inc. 171 Bel Marin Keys Novato, CA 94948

^*Lauren Quinn is a plant ecologist interested in questions of habitat susceptibility to plant invaders and impacts of plant invaders on native ecosystems. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside studying the invasion of giant reed (Arundo donax) in California's riparian systems. She has since studied the effects of water quality and land use on freshwater plant invasions in Australia's river systems, and is now investigating the invasion of Japanese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis) in the eastern United States.
^**Adda Quinn was involved in environmental research with the Electric Power Research Institute for 21 years. She is knowledgeable in contaminated soil and groundwater issues, and became interested in equine trail impacts and invasive plant species as she approached retirement in the mid 1990s and was able to do more horseback riding in remote areas. Since retirement she has edited documents for the USDA and other agencies, raised funding for university research to understand the impact of equids on public land through a not-for-profit group she helped found, EnviroHorse, and produced synthesis documents on various aspects of horse use and the environment.
^***Mietek Kolipinski began his career in microbiological cancer research. Later he received a Ph.D. in marine science in Miami, Florida. Kolipinski then conducted research in marine and freshwater hydrobiology in South Florida as an employee of the U.S. Geological Survey. Since 1971 and currently, he is a natural resources and research administrator with the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service. Kolipinski is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at Dominican University of California and conducts studies with faculty and students in U.S. national parks.
^****Bonnie Davis has been an avid trail rider and horsecamper for over 40 years. She has presented workshops, clinics, lectures, presentations on horsecamping, trail riding, preserving trails, and developing and keeping trails accessible to equestrians and trail riders. Her columns, articles and stories have appeared in local, national, and worldwide publications. Her recognized, informational, educational website focuses on locating Certified Weed Free Feeds nationwide. She maintains a nation-wide presentation schedule, Consulting Editor to ‘The Trail Rider Magazine’, and owner of Two Horse Enterprises (www.twohorseenterprises.com), a website/catalog business dedicated to low impact, environmentally sensitive trail riding and horsecamping.
^*****Constance Berto graduated from Seton Hill University with a B.A. in chemistry. She competes in cross-country events with the American Endurance Ride Conference, with over 11,000 miles of sanctioned rides 50 miles per day and longer, and has trained and ridden her Morgans to national trail championships. As well as being an advocate for equestrian access and safe usage of public trails, she is a founding member of EnviroHorse. This group collects and archives reputable international research regarding the true impact of equines on the environment.
^******Mark Orcholski graduated in the spring of 2008 from Dominican University of California, where he began research with a group of students studying the reticulation process in lichen and then assisted in studies of germinating invasive plant seeds after their digestion by horses. Mark completed his Master of Science degree through Dominican University and the Buck Institute for Age Research. He studied the intracellular signalling pathway involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
^*******Corresponding author: sibdas.ghosh@dominican.edu
^********Sibdas Ghosh is Professor of Biology and Associate Dean, School of Health and Natural Sciences, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California. Dr. Ghosh earned a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Physiology and Biochemistry from the University of Waterloo, Canada. Ghosh has over 20 years of teaching experience with over 30 publications and 100 conference presentations to his credit, many with student co-authors.