Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Life Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Colby College

PDF

Maine

Discipline
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 1 - 30 of 45

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Ecological Predictors And Consequences Of Non-Native Earthworms In Kennebec County, Maine, Julia Rogers Jan 2016

Ecological Predictors And Consequences Of Non-Native Earthworms In Kennebec County, Maine, Julia Rogers

Honors Theses

Non-native earthworms are found throughout much of the United States and southern Canada in areas that were glaciated during the most recent glaciation. These earthworms are changing nutrient cycling, modifying soil structure, and influencing diversity in forests throughout the Northern United States, and their invasion northward is facilitated by human activities. Although worms are present in compost piles and gardens of all Maine counties, there are no comprehensive studies of earthworms distributions in forested areas of Maine. I documented the presence and absence of earthworms in forested recreation areas in Kennebec County, Maine, and investigated ecological and landscape level variables …


The Effect Of Cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia Echinulata In The Belgrade Lakes, Maine, Harriet T. Rothschild Jan 2016

The Effect Of Cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia Echinulata In The Belgrade Lakes, Maine, Harriet T. Rothschild

Honors Theses

Gloeotrichia echinulata is a cyanobacteria species that has been increasingly forming blooms in oligotrophic lakes in the Northeastern United States. The Belgrade Lakes in central Maine have experienced increasing blooms over the past decades. Long Pond and Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region are popular locations for summer tourism and year-round residents. Research into G. echinulata is important to the Belgrade community because of potential effects to water quality, public health, and recreation. Studying G. echinulata bloom density throughout the summer and how it may affect the phosphorous cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the plankton community will help scientists …


Using Choice Experiment Valuation Methods To Measure Public Preference For A New National Park In Maine, Alexander G. Wilsterman Aug 2015

Using Choice Experiment Valuation Methods To Measure Public Preference For A New National Park In Maine, Alexander G. Wilsterman

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

With global population increasing faster than ever, the need to protect land from development is at an all-time high. This paper seeks the measure the public preference for a new national park located in northern Maine. A national park will both protect the land and inject a much-needed economic stimulus to the surrounding communities. The study uses the choice experiment valuation method to quantify its results. Through this revealed preference we can quantify which characteristics are most important to the public so that these characteristics may be considered if the project is ever approved.


The Impact Of Dams On Nitrogen Cycling In The Messalonskee Stream, Rebecca K. Forgrave Jan 2014

The Impact Of Dams On Nitrogen Cycling In The Messalonskee Stream, Rebecca K. Forgrave

Honors Theses

The Messalonskee Stream in central Maine has five hydroelectric dams on 16.6km. Each dam drastically changes the flow regime of the stream, dividing it into segments with different patterns of sediment settling and organic matter retention. I investigated how these disruptions impact nitrogen cycling, specifically nitrification rates above and below each dam. I expected higher nitrification rates above the dams, where levels of organic matter are higher, and lower rates below the dam where scouring removes organic matter and fine sediment from the streambed. I measured sediment nitrification rates with a nitrapyrin-inhibition assay and potential drivers of nitrification including sediment …


Changing Water Quality In Great Pond: The Roles Of Lake Sediments, Invasive Macrophytes, And The Watershed, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2012

Changing Water Quality In Great Pond: The Roles Of Lake Sediments, Invasive Macrophytes, And The Watershed, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Great Pond (2012, 2010, 1998)

Eutrophication as a result of human activity is a threat to lake water quality globally and within the state of Maine. Great Pond, in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, has traditionally been an oligotrophic lake that is experiencing early signs of eutrophication and is currently classified as a mesotrophic lake. In the fall of 2012, the Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) measured the primary sources of nutrient loading to Great Pond including the catchment and the lake sediment, current water quality in Great Pond, and the potential impact of the variable milfoil invasion on the lake’s water quality. An …


The Missing Link: The Ecology Of The Serpentine And The Implications For East And North Ponds [Presentation], Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2011

The Missing Link: The Ecology Of The Serpentine And The Implications For East And North Ponds [Presentation], Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: East and North Ponds (2011, 1999, 1996, 1991)

No abstract provided.


The Missing Link: The Ecology Of The Serpentine And The Implications For East And North Ponds, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2011

The Missing Link: The Ecology Of The Serpentine And The Implications For East And North Ponds, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: East and North Ponds (2011, 1999, 1996, 1991)

During the fall of 2011, the Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) studied the Serpentine connecting East Pond and North Pond. East and North Ponds are members of the larger seven-lake system known as the Belgrade Lakes, located in central Maine. There are over 5,500 lakes in Maine that contribute $6.7 billion to the economy annually through activities including boating, fishing, swimming etc. Additionally, Maine’s lakes are sources of municipal and agricultural water, act as flood buffers, and host a wide range of plant, animal, and fish life. Lakes in Maine are a crucial part society and should be studied and …


Impacts Of Shoreline Development On The Littoral Zone Of Great Pond, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College Jan 2010

Impacts Of Shoreline Development On The Littoral Zone Of Great Pond, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Great Pond (2012, 2010, 1998)

The Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) investigated the littoral zone of Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region of central Maine. Data collection occurred in September and October and analysis followed in October and November of 2010. Physical, biological, and chemical parameters were assessed to examine the impacts of shoreline development on the health of the littoral community. The littoral zone and adjacent riparian areas were sampled to allow comparison of aquatic and terrestrial parameters among different levels of shoreline development.


Movement Patterns And Feeding Behavior Of The Limpet Tectura Testudinalis (Müller) Along The Mid-Maine Coast, Joshua Lord Jan 2008

Movement Patterns And Feeding Behavior Of The Limpet Tectura Testudinalis (Müller) Along The Mid-Maine Coast, Joshua Lord

Honors Theses

Tectura testudinalis is a limpet that lives in the mid-intertidal zone along the coast of Maine and grazes on a variety of encrusting algae. A previous study asserted that T. testudinalis preferred to feed and rest on the encrusting alga Clathromorphum circumscriptum and that this species of limpet displayed homing behavior. However, I show that T. testudinalis does not home or return to any specific substrate while resting. Conclusive evidence was found for nocturnal movement. I show that C. circumscriptum was the preferred food source for this limpet, closely followed by Hildenbrandia rubra, another encrusting alga. Field and lab experiments …


A Watershed Analysis Of Pattee Pond: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College Jan 2008

A Watershed Analysis Of Pattee Pond: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Pattee Pond (2008, 1992)

The Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) investigated the impact of land use patterns on the water quality of Pattee Pond in Winslow, Maine, during the summer and fall of 2008. Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water quality were analyzed to evaluate the current health of the lake. Data collected were compared with previous studies conducted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and CEAT to examine changes in water quality and land use over time. Trends in Pattee Pond water quality suggest an improvement since the 1970s. However, the lake is still experiencing algal blooms resulting from phosphorus …


Microhabitat Selection By The Tortoiseshell Limpet, Tectura Testudinalis (Müller), In Tide Pools On The Mid-Maine Coast, Emily R. Lyczkowski Jan 2008

Microhabitat Selection By The Tortoiseshell Limpet, Tectura Testudinalis (Müller), In Tide Pools On The Mid-Maine Coast, Emily R. Lyczkowski

Honors Theses

Microhabitat selection of the limpet Tectura testudinalis, an important grazer along the rocky Maine coast is examined using both mensurative and manipulative experiments. T. testudinalis substrate selection is essential to its survival in the unpredictable and harsh regime of the intertidal zone. At three sites studied in the Gulf of Maine, T. testudinalis selectively inhabits tidal pools and vertically oriented substrates. Both of these microhabitats reduce the degree of environmental stress (desiccation, extreme temperature, and hypersaline conditions) and predation experienced by individuals. Differences among sites are common, indicating the importance of varying environmental factors in regulating and influencing habitat selection …


The Effect Of Orientation To Growing Season Sunlight On Stomatal Parameters Of Q. Rubra In The Belgrade Lakes Region, Central Maine, Rachel G. Daly Jan 2008

The Effect Of Orientation To Growing Season Sunlight On Stomatal Parameters Of Q. Rubra In The Belgrade Lakes Region, Central Maine, Rachel G. Daly

Honors Theses

Stomatal frequencies of fossil-plant species are used to estimate past pCO2 levels based on the physiological functions of living taxa. Numerous studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between pCO2 and stomatal frequency parameters. As levels of pCO2 increase, the Stomatal Density (SD) and Stomatal Index (SI) decrease. However, pCO2 is not the only factor affecting SD and SI values, which are a product of leaf growth and expansion. Stomatal characteristics differ between genera, and studies also have shown that SD and light intensity have a positive correlation. The present study hypothesizes that SD and SI are not …


A Watershed Analysis Of Long Pond South: Implications For Water Quality And Land-Use Management [Presentation], Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2007

A Watershed Analysis Of Long Pond South: Implications For Water Quality And Land-Use Management [Presentation], Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Long Pond, South (2007, 1995)

No abstract provided.


A Watershed Analysis Of Long Pond South: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2007

A Watershed Analysis Of Long Pond South: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Long Pond, South (2007, 1995)

The water quality of the South Basin of Long Pond, located in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, was investigated by the Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) from May to September of 2007. The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water quality were analyzed to evaluate the current health of the lake. The Long Pond South watershed was examined to investigate the effect of land-use patterns, including residential and commercial development, on the lake water quality. Data were also collected from road and shoreline surveys to produce maps highlighting areas that could potentially contribute to the degradation of water quality. …


Environmental Studies: Interdisciplinary Research On Maine Lakes, Philip J. Nyhus, F Russell Cole, David H. Firmage, Daniel Tierney, Susan W. Cole, Raymond B. Phillips, Edward H. Yeterian Jan 2007

Environmental Studies: Interdisciplinary Research On Maine Lakes, Philip J. Nyhus, F Russell Cole, David H. Firmage, Daniel Tierney, Susan W. Cole, Raymond B. Phillips, Edward H. Yeterian

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.


Analysis Of Optimum Location, Viability, And Potential Effects Of Wind Farm Construction In Maine, Elizabeth Benson, Ryan Scott Jan 2007

Analysis Of Optimum Location, Viability, And Potential Effects Of Wind Farm Construction In Maine, Elizabeth Benson, Ryan Scott

Undergraduate Research Symposium (UGRS)

Maine has the highest potential for wind energy in New England and falls within the top twenty states in the nation. It falls just behind Wisconsin and California with an estimate electrical output of 56 billion kWhs. The geological makeup of Maine’s mountains in the western part of the state, and the exposed coastline provide opportune areas to capture wind and convert it into energy. The information included in this poster will suggest the most likely areas for wind development based on a number of factors as recommended by the American Wind Energy Association.


Environmental Studies: Interdisciplinary Research On Maine Lakes, Philip J. Nyhus, F Russell Cole, David H. Firmage, Daniel Tierney, Susan W. Cole, Raymond B. Phillips, Edward H. Yeterian Jan 2007

Environmental Studies: Interdisciplinary Research On Maine Lakes, Philip J. Nyhus, F Russell Cole, David H. Firmage, Daniel Tierney, Susan W. Cole, Raymond B. Phillips, Edward H. Yeterian

Philip J. Nyhus

No abstract provided.


Watershed Assessment Of Long Pond North [Presentation], Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2006

Watershed Assessment Of Long Pond North [Presentation], Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Long Pond, North (2006, 1994)

No abstract provided.


A Watershed Analysis Of Long Pong North: Implications For Water Quality And Land-Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2006

A Watershed Analysis Of Long Pong North: Implications For Water Quality And Land-Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Long Pond, North (2006, 1994)

The Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) investigated the water quality of Long Pond North, located in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, from June through December 006. CEAT analyzed several physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters to determine the current health of the lake. Attributes of the watershed such as land-use patterns and residential and commercial development were also studied to determine their impact on water quality. Data collected were used to produce models of the watershed that enabled CEAT to identify possible sources of degradation to the current and future water quality of Long Pond. To examine historic …


The Isolation And Characterization Of Multiply Antibiotic Resistant Strains Of Fish Pathogenic Flavobacterium Species, Sarah E. Clark, Jaehee Yun, Justin Guay Jan 2006

The Isolation And Characterization Of Multiply Antibiotic Resistant Strains Of Fish Pathogenic Flavobacterium Species, Sarah E. Clark, Jaehee Yun, Justin Guay

Undergraduate Research Symposium (UGRS)

Since the development of the first antibiotics in the 1940’s, there has been widespread overuse in both clinical and agricultural applications. Antibiotic resistance has become a significant problem as a result of subsequent dissemination of antibiotics into the environment, and multiply-resistant strains of bacteria are now a major pathogenic threat. In this study eight separate strains of Flavobacterium responsible for recent disease outbreaks in fish hatcheries throughout Maine were collected and analyzed. All eight strains were found to be resistant to high levels of a number of different antibiotics, including those used for aquaculture as well as human chemotherapeutic applications. …


The Economic Effects Of Ski Resorts On Communities In The State Of Maine, Rachel Freierman Jan 2006

The Economic Effects Of Ski Resorts On Communities In The State Of Maine, Rachel Freierman

Undergraduate Research Symposium (UGRS)

Skiing and snowboarding is a fairly expensive activity for participant and one in which the industry as a whole makes handsome profits. In the 2005/06 season, resorts in the Northeast reported an average gross revenue of $18.5 million. (NSAA) With the current weather phenomenon of El Nino, however, resorts in New England especially, have been suffering economically. The gross revenue in New England in the ’05/’06 season was down 4% from the previous year, likely due to the fact the total snowfall declined by 16%. (NSAA) Much of this loss in revenue came during the Christmas to New Years vacation …


The Impact Of Land Use Patterns And Watershed Characteristics On China Lake, Kennebec County, Maine, Rachel N. Carr, Caroline A. Polgar, Jakob B. Moe, F. Russell Cole, David H. Firmage, Kirsten L. Ness Jan 2006

The Impact Of Land Use Patterns And Watershed Characteristics On China Lake, Kennebec County, Maine, Rachel N. Carr, Caroline A. Polgar, Jakob B. Moe, F. Russell Cole, David H. Firmage, Kirsten L. Ness

Undergraduate Research Symposium (UGRS)

China Lake is located in Kennebec County, Maine. Since 1983 the lake has suffered from yearly algal blooms as a result of the addition of excess nutrients. The nutrient load was amplified by erosion within the watershed. Erosion varies widely depending on a number of factors, including the slope of the land, the type of soil, and the way the land is being used. Certain land use types have a high potential to add nutrients to the environment, while others may help absorb excess nutrients and prevent erosion and runoff into the lake. A comprehensive examination of the China Lake …


China Lake Buffer Strip Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

China Lake Buffer Strip Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.


A Watershed Analysis Of China Lake, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

A Watershed Analysis Of China Lake, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

The Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) investigated the water quality of China Lake, located in China and Vassalboro Maine, from June through December 2005. The group analyzed physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters from samples taken on China Lake and from tributaries flowing into the lake. An analysis of land use patterns, especially the impact of residential, commercial, municipal, and institutional development in this watershed, enabled CEAT to study their impact on water quality trends. Data collected by CEAT in 2005 were compared to historic data from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) to gain a historical perspective …


Shoreline Survey Pictures Group 2, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

Shoreline Survey Pictures Group 2, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.


Rachel Road Survey Pictures Group 8, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

Rachel Road Survey Pictures Group 8, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.


Greg Road Survey Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

Greg Road Survey Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.


Stream Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

Stream Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.


Ethan's Land Use Photos, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

Ethan's Land Use Photos, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.


China Lake Ejbg Road Survey Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College Jan 2005

China Lake Ejbg Road Survey Pictures, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: China Lake (2005, 1989)

No abstract provided.