Conservation Biology at the University of Maine

Biological sciences and natural resource conservation are cornerstones for the University of Maine with 13 departments in two colleges covering various aspects of these disciplines. Because of this breadth, Conservation Biology--the applied science of maintaining the earth's biological diversity--is an interdepartmental activity at the University of Maine. There are about thirty faculty members in seven departments (Wildlife Ecology, Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences,  Biological Sciences, Forest Management, Forest Ecosystem Science, School of Marine Sciences, and Resource Economics and Policy) who constitute a Conservation Biology interest group. The University funds Conservation Biology activities specifically with an interdepartmental Conservation Biology Seminar Series, with monies for travel to Conservation Biology conferences, and with an endowed chair, the Libra Professorship of Conservation Biology. The forest, wetland, freshwater, and marine ecosystems of Maine offer a diverse biota near campus for conservation biology research.

DEGREES

Graduate students studying Conservation Biology at the University of Maine can earn any one of the following degrees depending on their specific interests:

COURSES

A wide variety of courses related to Conservation Biology are available. A small sample would include: Conservation Biology, Tropical Deforestation, Agricultural Ecology, Evolutionary Biology of Plants, Community Ecology, Population Biology, Evaluation of Wildlife Habitats, Tropical Field Ecology, Landscape Ecology and Conservation, and Resource Issues on Public and Private Lands.

APPLICATION

To inquire about specific opportunities and the availability of graduate assistantships, write to any of the faculty members listed below whose interests are close to yours. For general information about Conservation Biology at the University of Maine, write to Malcolm Hunter, Department of Wildlife Ecology, Nutting Hall, preferably by e-mail (Hunter@umenfa.maine.edu) or to the Department of Wildlife Ecology.

FACULTY

Andrei Alyokhin, Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts, 1999)

Department of Biological Sciences. Invasion biology, non-target effects of biological control.

Susan H. Brawley, Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley, 1978)

School of Marine Sciences. Ecosystem structure and function in estuaries and rocky intertidal zones.

 

Aram Calhoun, Ph.D. (University of Maine, 1996)

Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, wetland ecology and conservation with a special interest in wetland functions in the landscape.

 

Christopher S. Campbell, Ph.D. (Harvard University, 1980)

Department of Biological Sciences. Reproductive and evolutionary biology of forest trees, endangered plants conservation, systematics of grasses.

 

Katherine K. Carter, Ph.D. (West Virginia University, 1980)

Department of Forest Ecosystem Science. Forest genetics, tree improvement of Maine forest species.

 

Christopher S. Cronan, Ph.D. (Dartmouth College, 1978)

Department of Biological Sciences. Biogeochemistry and plant ecology, resource sustainability in forest ecosystems, effects of air pollution and global change on natural resources.

 

James R. Gilbert, Ph.D. (University of Idaho, 1974)

Department of Wildlife Ecology.  Population dynamics, biometrics, marine mammals, ungulates, carnivores.

 

William E. Glanz, Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley, 1977)

Department of Biological Sciences. Community ecology of mammals and birds, foraging ecology and social behavior of granivorous mammals and birds, evolution and biogeography of North and South American rodents.

 

Michael S. Greenwood, Ph.D. (Yale University, 1969)

Department of Forest Ecosystem Science. Genetic variation and environmental stress in forest species, effects of temperature on genetic variation, genetics of forest trees, genetics-environmental interactions.

 

Daniel J. Harrison, Ph.D. (University of Maine, 1986)

Department of Wildlife Ecology. Wildlife-habitat relationships, interactions among forest management practices and wildlife populations, predator ecology.

 

Rebecca L. Holberton, Ph.D. (State University of New York at Albany, 1991)

Department of Biological Sciences. Endrocrinology, ecology, and behavior of birds, ecophysiology of migrating birds; biology of Arctic - and temperate breeding birds; conservation biology.

 

Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., D. Phil. (Oxford University, 1978)

Department of Wildlife Ecology. Conservation biology, forest wildlife management, landscape ecology, international conservation.

 

George L. Jacobson, Jr., Ph.D. (University of Minnesota, 1975)

Department of Biological Sciences. Plant ecology, paleoecology, vegetational response to climate change, application of paleoecology to conservation biology.

 

Richard Jagels, Ph.D. (University of Illinois, 1968)

Department of Forest Ecosystem Science. Sustainability of tropical forests, anthropogenic influences on biological systems (particularly air pollutants).

 

Jody J. Jellison, Ph.D. (Oregon State University, 1983)

Department of Biological Sciences. Microbial ecology, forest pathology, wood biodegradation, metal metabolism in fungi.

 

Laura S. Kenefic, Ph.D. (University of Maine, 2000)

Department of Forest Ecosystem Science and Northeastern Research Station USDA Forest Service.  Silviculture and forest ecology.

 

Michael T. Kinnison,, Ph.D. (University of Washington, 1999)

    Department of Biological Sciences.  Fish ecology, contemporary evolution, conservation genetics.

 

Irv Kornfield, Ph.D. (State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1974)

School of Marine Sciences. Population biology of fishes, molecular systematics.

 

William B. Krohn, Ph.D. (University of Idaho, 1977)

Department of Wildlife Ecology. Migratory bird management, habitat evaluation, wildlife administration.

 

Cynthia S. Loftin, Ph.D. (University of Florida, 1998)

Department of Wildlife Ecology. Wetlands, Landscape, and Systems Ecology, GIS Applications.

 

Judith M. Rhymer, Ph.D. (Florida State University, 1988)

Department of Wildlife Ecology. Conservation genetics, conservation biology, population biology.

 

Steven Sader, Ph.D. (University of Idaho, 1981)

Department of Forest Management. Remote sensing, geographic information systems, monitoring tropical deforestation.

 

Frederick A. Servello, Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State University, 1985)

Department of Wildlife Ecology. Vertebrate nutrition and physiology, habitat relationships of birds and mammals.

 

Robert S. Seymour, Ph.D. (Yale University, 1980)

Department of Forest Ecosystem Science. Forest management and harvesting, land use policies.

 

Robert Steneck, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, 1982)

School of Marine Sciences. Marine benthic ecology, fisheries management.

 

Robert L. Vadas, Ph.D. (University of Washington, 1968)

Department of Biological Sciences. Marine ecology: seaweed recruitment, ecology and use, foraging behavior, community structure.

 

Les Watling, Ph.D. (University of Delaware, 1974)

School of Marine Sciences.  Ecology of marine benthic habitats and impacts of mobile fishing gear on marine benthic biodiversity.

 

Katherine Webster, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998)

Department of Biological Sciences. Aquatic ecology; long-term and regional limnology; effects of acid deposition, altered land-water interactions, and climate change on freshwater ecosystems.

 

Alan S. White, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota, 1981)

Department of Forest Ecosystem Science. Forest ecology, silviculture, plant competition, regeneration.

 

Stephen A. Woods, Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts, 1989)

Department of Biological Sciences. Insect ecology and taxonomy.

Joseph D. Zydlewski,

          Department of Wildlife Ecology.  Fish movement and migrations.

 Department of Wildlife Ecology's home page

 Department of Biological Science's home page

 College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture