Merrymeeting Bay / Kennebec Estuary Research Program (Bowdoin)

Environmental History

Introductory Environmental Studies - ES 101

As part of ES 101 Introduction to Environmental Studies, students participate in a a day long field trip out to a site on Merrymeeting Bay - Swan Island or Bowdoinham Wildlife Refuge. It is the students' first chance to experience Merrymeeting Bay as while learning more about water quality, soil sampling techniques, and vegetation studies at the two sites.
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Developing an environmental history of the Kennebec Estuary - ES 203


In the spring of 2006, students in ES 203 are working on a range of community based research projects that will contribute to an environmental history of the Kennebec Estuary and Merrymeeting Bay. 

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Environmental history through core analysis

 

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Water Flow in Merrymeeting Bay

Velocity Measurements
Most years, there is a distinct seasonality to the annual hydrograph , with high flow in late winter/spring related to snowmelt and spring rains, low flow during the dry summers and sub-freezing winter, and variable flow related to wet and dry periods during autumn
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Water-Mass Measurements

Management and Policy Issues

Environmental Policy and Politics - ES 202

Water Quality along the Androscoggin River
In the Fall of 2004, students in DeWitt John’s Environmental Policy and Politics researched the role of industrial dischargers in terms of impacting the water quality of the Androscoggin River. 

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Land Use Planning Environmental Studies - ES 241

As part of our introductory Environmental Studies class, we have a day long field trip out to a set at Merrymeeting Bay - Swan Island or Bowdoinham Wildlife Refuge. It is ES students first chance to experience Merrymeeting Bay as part of a day long lab exercise looking at water quality and vegetation studies at the two sites.
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Biogeochemistry

Biogeochemical processing in Merrymeeting Bay and the lower Kennebec estuary
Nutrient and light constraints on aquatic productivity

Community and Ecosystem Ecology - BIO 225
Community ecology is the study of the dynamic patterns in the distribution and abundance of organisms. Ecosystem ecology is the study of the flow of energy and cycling of matter through ecological communities across multiple spatial scales. Explores the multitude of interactions among populations of plants, animals, and microbes, and between those populations and the physical and chemical environment. Topics include the creation and function of biodiversity, the complexity of species interactions in food webs, the role of disturbance in ecosystem processes, the relative magnitude of top-down versus bottom-up controls in ecosystems, and much more. Laboratory sessions consist of local field trips, team research exercises, and independent field research projects. Time is also set aside for discussions of current and classic scientific literature.

The Ecology and Environmental History of Merrymeeting Bay - BIO 394
Merrymeeting Bay, a globally rare, inland freshwater river delta and estuary that supports productive and diverse biological communities, is home to numerous rare and endangered species and is critical habitat for migratory and resident waterfowl, as well as anadromous fish. This seminar explores the ecology and environmental history of Merrymeeting Bay in order to understand how its rare natural habitats might best be managed. Students participate in a thorough review of the scientific and historical literature related to Merrymeeting Bay, and help plan, conduct, and analyze a group study investigating some aspect of the ecology and/or environmental history of the bay, with the intent of submitting a manuscript for publication in an appropriate scientific journal

Plant Ecology

Wild rice community dynamics
Distribution and abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation
Nutrient constraints on intertidal plant productivity and microbial activity

Animal ecology

Distribution and movement of snapping turtles »
Spawning and nursery habitat of anadromous fish
Waterfowl status and ecology

Archeology

2004 Androscoggin River dig