Saint Joseph's College - ME
AC-9: Research and Scholarship

Saint Joseph’s College Sustainability Research Inventory Lucas Bernacki, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology 1) A project investigating the spatial genetics of variable-leaf milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), serves to inform invasive species management practices, which in turn has major repercussions on economic (lake-associated tourism and property values) and ecological (ecological community stability) considerations in Maine. 2) A Maine Space Grant Consortium-funded (student) project studying the efficacy of a smelt stocking program in Sebago Lake will contribute to the Maine IF&W's understanding of the impact of fish stocking programs. This project focuses on sustainability through its consideration of the population ecology and management practices of a game species. 3) With another Maine Space Grant Consortium-funded (student) project, the relationship between distance from forest edge and tick abundance in livestock pastures will be investigated. Furthermore the prevalence of the the Lyme disease-causing agent, Borellia burgdorferi, will be determined using genetic techniques. This project addresses sustainability through its goal of determining land management practices which will reduce the parasite loading on livestock, which in turn has both ecological and economic repercussions. Karen Croteau, Ed.D., Health and Wellness Promotion Croteau, K.A. (2016). A preliminary study examining the use of pedometers to increase the non-workday steps of hospital nursing and support staff. Workplace Health & Safety. Johan Erikson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Natural Sciences Erikson's research is quantifying the pollutant load accumulated in the snowpack near Mount Washington in the White Mountains. He's finding as much as 3x as much acidic pollutant stored in the high-elevation snowpack as compared to lower elevations. This has implications for nutrient flushing from near alpine forest soils. Emily Lesher, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ryan Dorland, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics Nina Eduljee, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology Sebago Lake is the drinking water source for 15% of Maine’s population. And like other Maine lakes, it is facing challenges due to climate change, competing uses, and development within the watershed. A new project led by Saint Joseph’s College and Portland Water District is planning for the deployment of a high frequency data collecting and transmitting buoy to provide the ability to monitor the lake’s response to stress and build an understanding of fundamental lake dynamics. The project is in the early stages. Once deployed, the data and research resulting from the buoy will inform sustainable management of the lake in the short and long term. While monitoring is a crucial technical need, we also view it as an opportunity for stakeholder engagement and education. Four stakeholder groups, along with key stakeholder partners have been identified, and will drive the delivery platform and design of data products resulting from the buoy measurements thus maximizing the opportunity for the data to inform stakeholders and encourage their sustainable use of the lake. Emily Lesher, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ongoing research on drinking water in the greater Portland area testing for lead contamination, working with schools for safe drinking water. Steven Jury, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology Jury researches behavioral physiology of lobsters and stress responses, to better understand how changing environments may impact Maine's most important fishery resource. Gregory Teegarden Ph.D. Professor of Environmental and Marine Science Teegarden studies coastal oceanography and plankton food webs, particulalrly red tide outbreaks and the response of plankton communities to environmental change. Mark Green Ph.D. Professor of Marine and Environmental Science Green's researches the impacts of ocean acidification on valuable fishery resources

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