NOAH CHARNEY
Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology
University of Maine
Click Here for CV
In research, writing, and teaching, work in the Charney Lab spans landscape ecology, conservation biology, natural history, public policy, and environmental education. Dr. Charney is author of These Trees Tell a Story and coauthor of the award-winning Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A Guide to North American Species. On the side, he runs a nonprofit conservation organization and helps run a jazz club, both in Nashville, TN. Email: noah.charney@maine.edu.
HARRISON GOLDSPIEL
Pursuing PhD in Ecology and Environmental Science
Started Fall 2021
Topic: Vernal Pools, eDNA, and Unisexual Salamanders
Brief Biography: I grew up in Queens, NY. My interests in ecology have brought me to New England, Florida, California, and Ecuador, where I’ve worked on conservation science programs for threatened wildlife, including vernal pool amphibians and Galapagos tortoises. When not deep in data or the field, I enjoy cooking, reading, writing, and staying active outdoors.
Research Interests: My research interests are broad and mostly reside in the realms of restoration ecology and population biology of amphibians and reptiles. I am most interested in studying wildlife populations over different disturbance gradients and using various sampling and quantitative techniques to advance our understanding and management of cryptic ecological communities. I’m also interested in the social dimensions of wildlife conservation and using interdisciplinary frameworks to better understand complex conservation stories.
STEVIE BENSON
(Co-Advised by Christina Murphy)
Pursuing MS in Ecology and Environmental Science
Started Fall 2022
Topic: Aquatic Ecology of Northern White-Cedar Lowlands
Brief Biography: I’m from the Chicago area and have been interested in the natural world for most of my life. I became interested in aquatic ecology after spending a field season as an intern in Alaska working on various freshwater projects that included working with both aquatic insects & juvenile salmon. In my free time, I enjoy gaming, hiking, & cooking.
Current Research: My research is focused on the wetland ecology of northern white-cedar lowland forests in Maine. The project will be working to help inform understanding of the biological processes & intermittent wetland habitat of these areas by looking at insect biomass, assemblages, & biodiversity as well as wood decomposition & aquatic leaf litter processing.
MARISA MONROE
Pursuing MS in Ecology and Environmental Science
Starting Fall 2023
Topic: Amphibian Road Crossings in Acadia National Park
Brief Biography: I’m originally from Oregon and I have been working on public lands around the West since 2015. Most recently I have been working for the National Park Service on long-term monitoring protocols throughout the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. When not out in the field, I spend my time birding, rock climbing, gardening, and botanizing.
Topic: My research will use community science data to predict seasonal movements of amphibians along roads in Acadia National Park; these data will be used to mitigate amphibian road mortality by informing park management.
Noah Charney 