People
Jim Cotner
I have been studying freshwater and marine ecosystems for over 30 years--the tropics, the arctic, but mostly the temperate region. My area of expertise is primarily focused on heterotrophic bacteria and ecological stoichiometry. I work with individual strains and communities of ecologically relevant microbes in the laboratory as well as in the field. I feel that understanding gained in the lab can help generate understanding and questions that can be addressed in the field and vice versa.
My teaching responsibilities in EEB are fairly diverse. In the past, I taught Limnology, but more recently my primary course has been Biogeochemical Processes (EEB 4611). In this course, we basically try to understand the Earth as a collection of functioning ecosystems, but we also spend a lot of time thinking about microbes because they are the motors that drive most of the transformations in biogeochemical cycles. I also teach a course with a professor in Microbiology on the beer: Brewing: The Biology, History and Practice.
Here I am prepping for one of my lectures:
Current personnel
Post-doc(s)
Nicole Hayes @NMHayes
I am interested in how human activities transform the cycling of nutrients in freshwater ecosystems, specifically how nitrogen acts as a pollutant, a substrate for metabolism, a limiting nutrient, and a greenhouse gas. To that end, my research examines nitrogen pollution effects on the magnitude and seasonality of harmful algal blooms, feedbacks between climate change and greenhouse gas emissions from freshwaters, and the impacts of management on nitrogen biogeochemistry in lakes versus reservoirs. Currently, I am working to understand how agricultural best practices alter nutrient quality for primary producers (organic versus inorganic) and the phytoplankton community downstream.
Graduate Students
Seth Thompson
I study freshwater biogeochemistry and am particularly interested in the role of aquatic microbes in coupling the carbon and phosphorus cycles of inland waters. My current project focuses on quantifying the bioavailability of dissolved organic matter in lakes throughout Minnesota. In addition to my limnological interests, I am also passionate about bringing high level science education opportunities to students across the K-20 space and studying novel and transformative ways to approach science instruction.
Bri Loeks-Johnson
I am a PhD student in the Water Resources Science program with an emphasis in Oceanography and Limnology. I am interested in closing the knowledge gap in the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle in lakes. My MSc research focused on net nitrogen processing in lakes looking at N2 saturation throughout the water column to infer net denitrification or nitrogen-fixation. Future research will look into non-photoautrophic nitrogen-fixation and N2O emissions/storage in lakes. I also have a passion for science communication and have hosted events to help scientists connect with the community through outreach and the use of data visualization.
Joe Rabaey
I am a graduate student in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program. I am interested in freshwater biogeochemical cycles, and how changes in these cycles can effect ecosystem processes. Currently I am using data to assess lake metabolism, and what factors lead to more/less ecosystem production.
Sara Crader
I am an undergraduate studying ecology, evolution, and behavior and chemistry. My current project is on characterizing the dissolved organic matter produced by microbes from lakes in Minnesota.
Ben Fry
The goal of my research is to determine how nitrous oxide production in lakes changes throughout the summer. I will also be sampling in areas with variable vegetation and on lakes that have different percent littoral. At the end of the summer I hope to be able to conclude if lakes in temperate forests are sources or sinks of nitrous oxide and what areas of the lake have the largest influences on nitrous oxide production.
Julia Turnbow
Julia is all about phosphine gas. She is trying to determine if, when and how it is produced in freshwaters and the role of aquatic plants in facilitating its presence.
Undergraduates
Meghan Gustafson
Danielle Menge: Danielle is studying the effects of nutrient stoichiometry and temperature on the biomass stoichiometry of bacterial isolates from lakes.
Alumni
Graduate students
Casey Godwin (PhD): Dissertation Title: Ecological Stoichiometry of Assemblages; Currently working at CILER/NOAA-GLERL in Ann Arbor, MI; cgodwin@umich.edu
Meghan Funke (PhD): Dissertation Title: Biological and Photochemical Degradation of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Peatland Ecosystems; Currently working as an environmental consultant at EOR, Inc. in the Twin Cities; mfunke@eorinc.com
Kate Phillips (PhD): Dissertation Title: The effects of temperature and phosphorus availability on the biomass composition, phosphorus allocation, size and morphology of freshwater bacteria; phil8620@umn.edu
Leah Domine (PhD): Dissertation Title: Mechanisms Influencing Carbon Burial in Prairie Pothole Shallow Lakes; Currently teaching at the University of St. Thomas; domi7653@stthomas.edu
Jon Kenning (PhD): Dissertation Title: Carbon sequestration in macrophyte-dominated wetlands; Currently working for the State of Montana in water protection.
Becky Stark (MSc): Thesis Title: Nitrate Production and Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in Lake Superior Sediments
Ted Stets (PhD): Dissertation Title: Interactions between heterotrophic bacteria, bacterial grazers and autotrophic phytoplankton - consequences for net ecosystem productivity; Currently working at the USGS in Boulder, CO; estets@usgs.gov
Brian Johnson (MSc): Thesis Title: Sulfate reducing bacteria and the role of nutrients in mercury methylation in Spring Lake, Minnesota. Currently working for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council; brian.johnson@metc.state.mn.us
Ed Hall (PhD): Dissertation Title: Interacting Effects of Temperature and Nutrients on Natural Bacterioplankton Communities. Currently an Assistant Professor at the Colorado State University; ed.hall@colostate.edu
Yesim Büyükates (MSc): Thesis Title: Determination of Phosphorus Composition and Availability from Various Feedstuffs to Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); Currently an Associate Professor Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey; ybuyukates@yahoo.com
David Shormann (PhD): DIVE Interactive Education
Kelly Gloger (MSc) Renewable Energy Consulting, Asheville, NC;
Mike Suplee (PhD) Montana Department of Environmental Quality; msuplee@mt.gov
Casey Moore (MSc) The first one willing to take a chance on me! caseykmoore@hotmail.com
Post-docs
Bopaiah Biddanda (1998-02) Annis Water Research Station, Grand Valley State University; biddandb@gvsu.edu
Wataru Makino (2000-02) Assistant Professor; Tohoku University ; makinowataru＠m.tohoku.ac.jp
Rose M. Cory (2006-2008) Assistant Professor; University of Michigan; rmcory@umich.edu
Thad Scott (2007-2008) Associate Professor; Department of Biology, Baylor University; Thad_Scott@baylor.edu
Leah Domine (2010-13) Clinical Faculty, University of St. Thomas, Department of Biology; domi7653@stthomas.edu
Will Hobbs (2011-13) Department of Ecology, State of Washington; whob461@ecy.wa.gov
Casey M. Godwin (2013-2016) Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan; cgodwin@umich.edu
Ana (Mindy) Morales-Williams (2016-2017) Assistant Professor, School of the Environment, University of Vermont; Ana.Morales@uvm.edu
Greg Sindberg (2016-2017) Senior Medical Writer, Medtronic, Twin Cities, MN
Visiting Scholars
Galina Kapanen (2013-2014) galya@tlu.ee
Andre Amado (2006-2007) andre.amado@gmail.com
Natalie Pessoa Noyma npnoyma@gmail.com
Ermeton Duarte do Nascimento ermeton_duarte@yahoo.com.br