MEES IN THE NEWS

NOVEMber 2024 - NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY month

NEWS ARCHIVE

MEES RESEARCH CENTER

Movement & Spatial Ecology: AN ANALYSIS OF SEA TURTLE MOVEMENT ECOLOGY IN THE EASTERN & WESTERN ATLANTIC REGIONS

nicole barbour (ph.D.,’22)

Nicole Barbour (Ph.D., ‘22) is a movement and spatial ecologist currently working as a postdoc in the Gurarie lab at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF).  Nicole is interested in using quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand the movement ecology and habitat use of species and inform "real life" management tools and policy.  Nicole’s work at ESF focuses on developing new quantitative movement ecology tools for caribou and other interesting species.   Nicole graduated with her Ph.D. in MEES in Fall 2022 from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.  Co-advised by Dr. Helen Bailey (UMCES) and Dr. William Fagan (UMCP), Nicole’s dissertation focused on sea turtle movement ecology in the eastern Pacific and Western Atlantic regions.  The majority of sea turtles, along with being endangered, have knowledge "gaps" on their migration and spatial use patterns throughout their different life history stages. Utilizing a combination of quantitative skills in statistics, modeling, and geographic information systems along with hands-on fieldwork using tagging technology, Nicole’s dissertation research aimed to answer: how anthropogenic activities like fishing are impacting their survival and migration paths, their overlap with pollution hotspots in the north and south eastern Pacific, how their different life stages are affected by these activities and other abiotic/biotic factors, and comparisons between the migration paths of different sea turtle species.  Prior to joining the MEES program, Nicole graduated with her Bachelor’s in Biology in Fall 2016 at the California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB); where, as part of the Honors Capstone required by her degree,  her undergraduate thesis research was on the impacts of disturbance on marine shelf sandy shelf communities in the Monterey Bay through working as an undergraduate researcher at the Marine Landscape Ecology Lab.  Nicole applied and was selected as a participant in the CSUMB Undergraduate Research Opportunities research program, where, during her first summer, under the guidance of Ms. Pamela Neeb-Wade, Nicole completed an independent study on whether or not an invasive bed forming annelid (worm), Ficopomaticus enigmaticus, facilitates colonization of other invasive species. According to Dr. Corey Garza, Principal Investigator for the Marine Landscape Ecology Lab at CSUMB who also directs the NSF funded CSUMB Undergraduate Research Program, this work had many ecological and social implications, particularly in regards to the benefits of oyster reefs. Nicole had the opportunity to present those research results as a poster at the 2015 meeting of the Western Society of Naturalists in Sacramento.  Nicole’s accomplishments and contributions go far beyond the academic; In addition to being a Dean’s List student, Nicole served as a science instructor for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s science summer camp, leading students in K-12 school groups from local marginalized communities in year long interactive curriculum which included learning about field observation techniques, pinniped veterinary care, marine mammalogy, and deep sea research with proactive learning activities and interactive lessons.  While in the MEES program, Nicole was an active participant in graduate student government, serving as the Graduate Student Representative on UMCES Sustainability Council. Nicole also served as a teaching assistant for many BSCI (Biological Sciences) courses over the length of her career in MEES including: principles of ecology and evolution, mammalogy, principles of molecular and cellular biology and human anatomy and physiology. While at CSUMB, Nicole received the CSUMB Fall Undergraduate Research Scholarship (2016), the Marine Science Teaching Assistant Scholarship, and the highly competitive and distinguished Garrison Fellow Award for outstanding academic excellence and leadership.  While in the MEES program, Nicole was the multiple recipient of the highly prestigious and Graduate Student Dean’s Fellowship (2019, 2020, 2021), the NSF Graduate Student Research Fellowship (2016) as well as recipient of the CRRSAA Grant (2021).  Nicole aspires to engage with the public in outreach efforts on the impacts of pollution on marine species like sea turtles and other endangered marine animals.   Dr. Barbour has recently accepted a position to start as Assistant Professor of Biology at Towson University starting in Fall 2025. For more information on Nicole, please click here.

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Dr. eguono ‘wayne’ omagamre

Understanding Low-Level ‘Forever Chemical’ contaminant exposure on ecosystem interactions

Dr. Eguono “Wayne” Omagamre is Assistant Professor of Biology in the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), and was recently featured in a UMES article regarding a USDA funded research project addressing Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of synthetic chemicals that are used in many products and are known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily.  Dr. Omagamre, who was recently appointed as a MEES faculty member,  is interested in understanding the effect of low-level chemical contaminant exposure on ecosystem interactions. Currently, Dr. Omagamre is investigating the low dose effects of single and mixed perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using an array of model organisms.  According to the article, UMES was the recipient of nearly $1 million research project addressing PFAS research projects that “prioritizes helping farmers, ranchers and rural communities manage PFAS impacts, reduce exposure in the food supply and promote farm viability”(link).   Dr. Omagamre is part of the PFAS research team at UMES investigating, among other issues, PFAS levels present in Maryland, the Chesapeake Coastal Bays and associated aquatic species.  In addition to investigating the types and levels of PFAS present, the researchers are also determining whether PFAS exposure correlates with infection rates in blue crabs.  Prior to joining the MEES graduate program, Dr. Omagamre earned his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental and Industrial Chemistry from the University of Benin in Nigeria.  Dr. Omagamre went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Toxicology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Dr. Omagamre post doctoral fellowship was with the NSF RISE UPP and involved utilizing advanced biochemical and molecular tools to investigate the impacts of chemical contaminants on the environment and ecosystems.   At UMES, Dr. Omagamre has taken on many roles including introductory Biology lecturer, organic chemistry and physics labs, as well as a Lecturer at the University of Benin, delivering lectures to freshman and sophomores spanning subjects like: general chemistry, environmental chemistry and organic chemistry.  Dr. Omagamre’s  outstanding achievements have earned recognition, including honors for innovative solutions, excellence in poster presentations, prestigious scholarships, and active involvement in professional workshops.  Dr. Omagamre is interested in teaching MEES courses in environmental chemistry & environmental toxicology and environmental intervention.  Dr. Omagamre is dedicated to empowering students with the skills, tools and mindset to become change agents in environmental science, designing and implementing effective solutions to environmental threats. For more information on Dr. Omagamre, please click here.

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MEES RESEARCH CENTER

Habitat Suitability Index: assessing the chesapeake bay black sea bass

Laura Almodovar Acevedo (Ph.D., ‘24) is set to graduate with her Ph.D. in MEES this Fall 2024 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) specializing in Ecology as part of the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science program. Her doctoral research focuses on black sea bass dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay. Under the advisement of Dr. Bradley Stevens and Dr. Howard Townsend, who is now over at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Laura’s dissertation research focused on working on a habitat suitability model to investigate if the historical decline in black sea bass landings is associated with a decrease in available habitat. The ultimate goal of their work is to develop an Estuarine Habitat Affinity Index that can be incorporated into a stock assessment model to explain some variability in black sea bass juvenile. Prior to joining the MEES Graduate Program, this Puerto Rican native developed a passion to protect, conserve and preserve marine organisms and investigate ocean processes.  Laura obtained a bachelor's degree in Biology graduating magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez (UPRM) in Fall 2010, where, through different research experiences, Laura learned to appreciate estuarine studies.  These ecosystems have great ecological value because they are the transition zone between marine and terrestrial environments. During the summer of 2009 Laura participated in the Maryland Sea Grant Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU) where she had the opportunity to study sediment dynamics in a freshwater marsh with Dr. Lora Harris (UMCES).   Laura had the opportunity to further develop her research skills in modeling, wetland ecology, data management and field work.  Over the course of that summer, according to Dr. Harris, Lora embarked on an ambitious field program to evaluate sediment dynamics, and drafted and wrote a proposal and final report,  presenting the results of that research in an oral presentation at that year’s Estuarine Research Federation's Biennial Meeting in Portland, Oregon.  During Laura’s second year at the UPRM, Laura joined the Association of Biology Students, and was elected President.  This student group, which promotes understanding and appreciation for Earth’s natural resources through various activities, organized  field trips to places of ecological and scientific importance and prepared workshops and activities to promote interest in ecology and biology which were open to the whole university community.  Laura joined the MEES doctoral program in Fall 2013,  and was awarded the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship (2020, 2021) and worked full time as a legislative fellow with Congressman Alan Lowenthal on ocean and environmental policy issues. Throughout her MEES career, Laura has participated in seafloor mapping expeditions aboard the E/V Nautilus and as part of the on-shore team of the Okeanos Explorer and has also worked as an outreach facilitator for the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. Laura’s dissertation aimed to assess the available habitat for juvenile black sea bass in the Chesapeake Bay.  Large sea bass utilize the Chesapeake Bay from late spring to fall, but its importance for their populations has been scarcely studied.  The research results showed that black sea bass are using reefs and areas that are outside the trawling stations and that the bottom structure in the Chesapeake Bay may be of more importance to them than previously thought.  Laura hopes these research findings can be used to help make management decisions, assess the possible impacts of climate change on available habitat and identify reefs where conservation and restoration efforts can be prioritized.  Laura enjoys reading, traveling, and playing guitar; for more information on Laura, please click here.

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