Biological sciences and natural resource conservation are cornerstones for The
University of Maine with nine departments 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, Plant, Soil 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.
Graduate students studying Conservation Biology at The University of Maine can
earn any one of the following degrees depending on their specific interests:
Biological Sciences,Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Forest Resources,
Marine Biology, Oceanography, Plant Sciences, Wildlife Ecology, Zoology
Resource Economics and Policy, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Entomology,
Forestry, Marine Biology, Marine Policy, Oceanography, Botany and Plant
Pathology, Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Resource Utilization,
Wildlife Ecology, Zoology
Master of Forestry, Master of Wildlife Conservation
A wide variety of courses related to Conservation Biology are available. A small
sample would include: Conservation Biology, Tropical Deforestation, Coral Reefs,
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.
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)
Kevin Boyle, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin, 1985), Department of Resource
Economics and Policy. Resource economics, evaluation of environmental
commodities and quality.
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 Plant, Soil, 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.
Ronald B. Davis, Ph.D. (Cornell University, 1961), Department of Biological
Sciences. Limnology, wetland ecology, paleoecology, and application of these
subjects toward understanding human impacts.
James R. Gilbert, Ph.D. (University of Idaho, 1974), Department of Wildlife
Ecology. Population dynamics, biometrics, marine mammals, ungulates, carnivores.
William E. Glanz, (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 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-environment 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. Endocrinology, 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.
Alexander D. Huryn, Ph.D. (University of Georgia, 1986), Department of
Biological Sciences. River ecology: Effects of riparian land-use and exotic
organisms on river ecosystems.
George L. Jacobson, 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.
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.
Raymond J. O’Connor, D. Phil. (Oxford University, 1973), Department of Wildlife
Ecology. Bird population ecology, habitat dynamics, bio- indicator dynamics.
Judith M. Rhymer, Ph.D. (Florida State University, 1988), Department of Wildlife
Ecology. Conservation and wildlife genetics, population ecology, conservation
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.
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.
Graduate School
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