Research

NSF microscope

Three more UMaine students earn prestigious NSF graduate fellowships

Three University of Maine graduate students have received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which recognizes outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The three fellows awarded in 2016 — incoming students Anna McGinn and William Kochtitzky in the Climate Change Institute and School of Earth and Climate Sciences, respectively, […]

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Chen lab boat ocean marine

UMaine graduate students help inform sustainable ocean management practices

Nineteen graduate students in the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine are helping ensure that European fisheries sustainably utilize ocean resources. The students participated in 20 stock assessment student reviews for European fisheries in early June through the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). ICES is the oldest intergovernmental […]

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Inilchek Glacier

Grigholm: Ice cores indicate increases in atmospheric heavy metals

Glacial ice core records indicate that humans have significantly altered the atmosphere in Central Asia during the 20th century, say climate scientists from the University of Maine. Climate Change Institute researchers say evidence from ice cores extracted from Inilchek Glacier in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan reveals that rapid growth of industry and agriculture […]

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Saltmarsh Sparrow

Olsen recommends local habitat protection to save Saltmarsh Sparrows

When Laura Garey wades into tidal marshes at sunrise to survey Saltmarsh Sparrows, the University of Maine graduate student also spies deflated balloons, trash and pollutants. These reservoirs at the intersection of land and sea also are increasingly being damaged by coastal development, sea-level rise and more frequent storm surges. All of which makes it […]

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fisher fishermen climate change mexico

Fishers’ decisions shaped by both climate, community distinctions

An international research team led by Heather Leslie found fishers’ decisions are shaped by differences in both natural and social environments. The team discovered the community with stronger fishing rights exerted more control over fishers’ decisions than communities with weaker rights, and did so in a way consistent with the impacts of climate variability on […]

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Padme students dairy cow Holstein

UMaine dairy cow sets state record for butterfat production

Holstein Association USA, the world’s largest dairy cattle breed organization, has verified the recent production record of UM Eden Padme as a new Maine state record for butterfat production in her age group. Padme is a member of the dairy herd at the University of Maine’s J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center in Orono. At […]

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Red tree coral fish urchin marine Alaska

Waller explores spectacular coral colonies in Glacier Bay

Rhian Waller received an incredible gift to celebrate the National Park System’s 100th anniversary in 2016. The University of Maine associate professor led the first-ever extensive expedition of the underwater fjords in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska. “Glacier Bay National Park is such an amazing area, it’s very hard to put it […]

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copepod Temora longicornis

Behavior of tiny ‘intoxicated’ crustaceans can get them killed

Intoxicated people aren’t alone in engaging in risky behavior. Intoxicated tiny crustaceans in the ocean — or copepods — do too. And it can get them killed. Rachel Lasley-Rasher studies small shrimp-like animals that become intoxicated from grazing on blooms of toxic phytoplankton. The University of Maine marine researcher said the common calanoid copepods Temora […]

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