Sam Simkin, Ph.D. candidate Cornell University Department of Natural Resources and Program in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity Bruckner Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853 And joint graduate student at:
PO Box AB
Millbrook, NY 12545 Phone and E-mail contact info:
(607)351-7270
 Ph.D. Research topic:
Effect of sulfur on wetland plant diversity and ecophysiology: Calcareous rich fens as model systems Co-advisors: Dr. Barbara L. Bedford and Dr. Kathleen C. Weathers Ph.D. Research Interests
My current research interest is in linking wetland plant community composition to biogeochemical transformations of sulfur. Industrial, agricultural and consumer activity has polluted the air and water with excess sulfur. Filtration of excess nutrients and toxins is an ecosystem service attributed to wetlands, but plants and soil microorganisms that grow in wetlands are themselves influenced by nutrients and toxins. Sulfur plays multiple roles: it is itself an essential plant nutrient, but it can also be a plant toxin or help release phosphorus nutrition from soil. I hypothesize that sulfur gradients will help explain patterns of wetland plant diversity through direct and indirect ecophysiological effects that vary among individual plant species.
Other Research Interests
• Ecological effects of fire and faunal disturbance • Invasive species management |    Publications
• Weathers, K.C., S.M. Simkin, G.M. Lovett, and S.E. Lindberg. 2006. • Simkin, S.M. and W.K. Michener. 2005. Faunal soil disturbance regime of a longleaf pine ecosystem. Southeastern Naturalist 4:133-152. • Driese, K.L., W.A. Reiners, G.M. Lovett, and S.M. Simkin. 2004. A vegetation map for the Catskill Park, NY, derived from multi-temporal Landsat imagery and GIS data. Northeastern Naturalist 11:421-442. • Simkin, S.M., D.N. Lewis, K.C. Weathers, G.M. Lovett, and K. Schwarz. 2004. Determination of sulfate, nitrate, and chloride in throughfall using ion-exchange resins. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 153:343-354. • Simkin, S.M., W.K. Michener, and R. Wyatt. 2004. Mound microclimate, nutrients and seedling survival. American Midland Naturalist 152:12-24. • Simkin, S.M., W.K. Michener, and R. Wyatt. 2001. Plant response following soil disturbance in a longleaf pine ecosystem. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 128:208-218. |
