Cooperative and cultural effects on resource harvesting are likely to influence forestry, fisheries, and agriculture in Maine through a variety of mechanisms. Maine’s local food industry is poised for growth that entails economic, environmental an social benefits. But to provide lasting positive impacts on all three fronts, local food organizations need to be socially and […]
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Decisions regarding the use and management of our natural resources are important for the state of Maine. If Maine is to take a leadership role in sustainable natural resource use, researchers and policymakers must be able to effectively communicate with Maine citizens about the economic, social, and environmental implications of local and statewide decisions regarding […]
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Groundwater may be an underutilized resource for irrigation that could benefit the production of crops in Aroostook County. Increasing use of groundwater resources, however, may impact surface-water systems by decreasing base flow that sustains low flow conditions and by altering flow patterns that organisms, such as brook trout, rely on during parts of their life […]
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The single defining challenge to our modern biological resources is one of rapid landscape evolution. To manage these impacts and make informed choices concerning the tradeoffs between biological conservation, economic prosperity, and the Maine way(s) of life, we need to understand what species and communities are most at risk to different disturbances. The proposed project […]
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Drinking water districts are facing challenges with the changing climate. Across Maine, there are more than 40 surface freshwater sources used for drinking water; 10 of these (including Bangor and Portland) are not filtered as part of the treatment process. Increasing lake water temperatures and DOC concentrations will alter biological activity in Maine’s lakes, yet […]
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The underlying biogeochemical processes that support forest ecosystem function and, therefore, the ecosystem services they provide, are not adequately understood. This leads to uncertainties in the sustainability of ecosystem services (e.g., the sustainability of forests with increased use for biomass energy, the continued supply of high-quality freshwater from lakes and streams in a changing climate) […]
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The “quality of place” that defines Maine is represented by a diverse landscape mosaic containing innumerable lakes, rivers, and streams that offer prime outdoor recreational opportunities, provide clean water, and support aquatic biodiversity. Unfortunately, too many of these aquatic resources are either currently degraded or at risk of impairment from human activities. With over 1,000 […]
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Evidence of anthropogenic climate change has become increasingly stronger and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has called for strong, global action to reduce the risk of human-induced climate change. Agricultural practices adopted since the mid-twentieth century have progressively diminished soil quality through the reduction of soil organic matter levels. Sustainable agricultural practices provides a […]
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Weeds remain the foremost production problem on organic farms. Organic farmers rely mostly on cultivation for managing weeds, yet weed density is generally high, and often increasing on these farms. There are two central problems with physical weed control: First, cultivation efficacy is often low and is highly variable. We aim to characterize this variability […]
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Biologically based soil fertility systems provide multiple ecosystem and crop production services. These systems rely on organic sources of nutrients (e.g., manure, compost, green manure, and plant and seed meals) to meet crop needs. They can replace some or all of the need for synthetic fertilizer, improve soil quality and productivity, and recycle nutrients that […]
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