Andrew Pershing,
Director and Captain
Andy is currently an Assistant Professor in the
University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences
and a Research Scientist at the
Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
His research aims to understand how physical conditions
in the atmosphere and ocean
influence the distribution and abundance of animals in the ocean.
His work has focused mainly on how zooplankton populations
in the Gulf of Maine change from year-to-year
and how these changes relate to climate
and how they influence fish and whales.
In addition to his interests in climate, copepods, and whales,
Andy is interested in how computers can be used to study the ocean.
Nick Record,
First Mate
Nick is a Research Associate in the
University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences.
He is responsible for keeping the lab computers well behaved.
Research interests include: computational ecology, sea surface photogrammetry, and science education.
More details on Nick's research interests can be found on his
website.
Frederic Maps,
Stowaway
Frederic studied during his Ph.D. the interactions between the zooplankton and its physical environment in "le golfe du St-Laurent". His current project is part of an NSF funded GLOBEC pan-regional synthesis entitled "Life histories of species in the genus Calanus in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans and responses to climate forcing". He really tried hard to do it all by himself, but finally was asked to use, more specifically, individual-based numerical models to study the control of the diapause by the lipid metabolism in Calanus finmarchicus. Essential to allow this species to thrive in its highly seasonal environment, the diapause phase of its life cycle could be criticaly sensitive to changing climate in the Gulf of Maine.
This work is done with Prof. Jeffrey Runge and Prof. Andy Pershing in the Ecosystem Modeling Lab at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
Kathy Mills,
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Kathy is a postdoctoral research associate with a joint appointment with
the University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences and the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute. Her current research focuses on understanding
factors that affect marine growth and survival of Gulf of Maine Atlantic
salmon. She uses temporal and spatial analyses to identify and quantify
the influence of oceanographic conditions, environmental factors, and
trophic interactions on Atlantic salmon while they are at sea.
Kathy's broader research interests center on understanding how fish
populations and communities are affected by environmental change, human
activities, and ecological interactions. She is also interested in
bringing scientific information to bear on management challenges
affecting the sustainability of marine fisheries and ecosystems. Her
recent research has investigated shifts in the biological condition and
community composition of fish in the Gulf of Maine region, while also
exploring ways such information could support ecosystem-based fisheries
management. In addition, she is involved in a tri-state initiative to
investigate how rainbow smelt are affected by water quality and habitat
conditions and to integrate the results into conservation planning
efforts for this threatened species.
Carrie Byron,
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Carrie's research experience is rooted in marine ecology and integrates several other disciplines including shellfish aquaculture, fisheries, and coastal management. Previous research projects have been based in both freshwater and marine habitats including: temperate lakes, Atlantic rocky shorelines, temperate barrier-beach coastal lagoons, tropical coral reefs and Pacific glacial fjords. Carrie enjoys working on projects that look at the big picture and have direct application to conservation or development issues. Previous research topics include: invasive species, marine protected areas, shellfish aquaculture, and carrying capacity for coastal management.
Kraken,
Horrible Monster
Kraken is a multi-headed abomination made up of 8 Mac Mini computers, an Apple Xserve, and various cables and attachements. When Kraken is feeling happy, it purrs along, churning out numerologic insights into the functioning of the ocean. When Kraken is angry, it reaches out with its tentacles and frustrates overly ambitious modelers.
ALUMNI
Peter Stetson,
Chief Harpooner
Peter was a M.Sc. student at the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences and is working with Dr. Pershing in the EMLab in Portland.
Peter's research interests include the coupling of the physical and biological systems in the ocean, using mathematics to answer ecological questions, and applying novel technologies to marine problems.
During his tenure here, Peter spent his time surfing internal waves with the Kraken and watching how euphausiids (krill) respond to the waves as they pass offshore banks.
Before work, he was often found surfing (surface waves), experiencing the Gulf of Maine firsthand.
Other interests include: photography, teaching, and rock climbing.
After completing his degree, Pete moved on to the University of Texas in Austin.
Dan Pendleton,
Ph.D. Candidate, Cornell University
Dan completed his Ph.D. studies in our lab in Portland.
The overarching question addressed by Dan's research is:
How can point observations of animals be used to estimate
the geographic range of the species?
This question becomes particularly challenging when applied to a
highly mobile, migratory and endangered species, such as
the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis).
Dan pairs the time and location of right whale presence records with near realtime environmental data to estimate potential geographic range of these animals. Dan is generally interested in developing and applying field and computational methods to estimate the range of endangered species. He has a strong interest in applying these techniques in Earth's polar regions.
After completing his degree, Dan moved on to a post-doc position in Seattle.
Stubb,
Second Mate
Stubb was a member of an ecosystem model located in the lab.
He was also a crayfish. Until his tragic demise, he chronicled his experiences in a
blog.
