John Lichter

Samuel S. Butcher Associate Professor in the Natural Sciences

Director of Environmental Studies Program

Phone 2077253653
Title Samuel S. Butcher Associate Professor in the Natural Sciences
Department Biology
2nd Title Samuel S. Butcher Associate Professor in the Natural Sciences
2nd Department ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
3rd Title Program Director
3rd Department BIOLOGY
Work Location 232 Druckenmiller Hall
E-Mail jlichter@bowdoin.edu
John Lichter: Bowdoin College

Research

Community and ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, global change

Historical and projected changes in carbon export to the Gulf of Maine from land use and climate change. NASA Earth Science Division Research Grant (2011-14)

Soil carbon chemistry and dynamics under elevated CO2 at the Duke Forest FACE experiment. NSF Research Grants (2003-07) (2008-2011) (Duke University FACE research site)

Ecological and economic recovery and sustainability of the Kennebec and Androscoggin rivers and their common estuary and nearshore marine environment. Sustainability Solutions Partner with U. Maine-Orono (2009-14; NSF-EPSCoR Program) (Merrymeeting Bay / Kennebec Estuary Research Program)

Recent Publications

Student contributions in bold

Lichter, J. and E.O. Ames. 2012. Reaching into the past for future relilience: Recovery efforts in Maine rivers and coastal waters. Maine Policy Review. In press.

Lichter, J., M.E. H. Burton, S.L. Close, J.M. Grinvalsky, and J. Reblin. 2011. Waterfowl habitat change over five decades in a freshwater tidal ecosystem in mid-coast Maine. Northeastern Naturalist 18: 161-176.

Drake, J. E., E. H. DeLucia, A. Gallet-Budynek, K. S. Hofmachel, E. S. Bernhardt, S. A Billings, R. D. Jackson, J. Lichter, M. L. McCormack, D. J. P. Moore, R. Oren, S. Palmroth, R. P. Phillips, J. S. Pippen, S. G. Pritchard, K. K. Treseder, and A. C. Finzi. 2011. Increase in the flux of carbon belowground stimulate nitrogen uptake and sustain the long-term enhancement of forest productivity under elevated CO2. Ecology Letters 14: 349-357.

Billings, S. A., J. Lichter, S. E. Ziegler, B. A. Hungate, and D. B. Richter. 2010. A call to investigate drivers of soil organic matter retention vs. mineralization in a high CO2 world. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42: 665-668.

Lichter, J. S. Billings, S. Ziegler, D. Gaindh, R. Ryals, A. C. Finzi, R. B. Jackson, E. A. Stemmler, and W. H. Schlesinger. 2008. Soil carbon sequestration in a pine forest after nine years of atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Global Change Biology 14:2910-2922. *Nature Reports-Climate Change (January 2009) 3:2.

Koster, D., J. Lichter, P. D. Lea, and A. Nurse. 2007. Historical eutrophication in a river-estuary complex in mid-coast Maine. Ecological Applications 17:765-778.

Lichter, J., H. Caron, T. Pasakarnis, S. Rodgers, T. S. Squiers, Jr., and C. S. Todd. 2006. The ecological collapse and partial recovery of a freshwater tidal ecosystem. Northeastern Naturalist 13:153-178.

Finzi, A., D. Moore, E. DeLucia, J. Lichter, K. Hofmackel, R. Jackson, H. Kim, R. Matamala, H. McCarthy, R. Oren, J. Pippen, and W. H. Schlesinger. 2006. Progrssive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem processes under elevated CO2 in a warm-temperate forest. Ecology 87:15-25.

Peterson, T. S., A. Uesugi, and J. Lichter. 2005. Limitation of tree regeneration by introduced snowshoe hare on Kent Island, New Brunswick. Canadian Field Naturalist 119:569-572.

Lichter, J., S.H. Barron, C. E. Bevacqua, A. C. Finzi, K.F. Irving, E.A. Stemmler, and W.H. Schlesinger. 2005. Soil carbon sequestration and turnover in a pine forest after six years of atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Ecology 86:1835-1847.

Student Honors Research

Rebecca Austin. Soil carbon and nitrogen turnover under elevated atmospheric CO2.

Norris Wong. 2009-10. Chemical fractionation of soil organic matter under elevated and ambient CO2 concentration.

Adam Hall (with Dharni Vasudevan). 2008-09. Phosphorus source-sink dynamics in the intertidal sediments of Merrymeeting Bay.

Alexa Kaubris. 2008-09. Soil carbon sequestration and turnover in a pine forest under atmospheric enrichment.

Kendra Neff. 2007-08. Constraints on tree recruitment on Kent Island, New Brunswick, following snowshoe hare eradication.

Keirnan Willett (with Bruce Kohorn). 2006-07. Soil microbial response to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization along an estuarine salinitiy gradient.

Mark Burton 2006-07. Spawning and nursery habitat of anadromous fish in Merrymeeting Bay and the lower Androscoggin River.

Thomas Buehrens 2006-07. Use of nearshore habitat by migrating Pacific salmon.

Sarah Close 2005-06. Nutrient dynamics of Lake Tanganyika.

Lucy Van Hook 2005-06. Snapping turtle population ecology and conservation in Merrymeeting Bay.

Christina Souther 2004-05. Primary productivity and nutrient cycling along the Kennebec estuary salinity gradient.

Greg Goldsmith (with Lindsay Whitlow). 2004-05. Impacts of long-term research on the seedling dynamics of a permanent sample plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Forest Ecology and Management 234:34-39, Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 4:122-123.

Katie Irving. 2003-04. Soil carbon turnover and chemistry under elevated atmospheric CO2 at the Duke Forest Free-air Enrichment experiment. Ecology 86:1835-1847.

Mark Roberts (with Beth Stemmler). 2003-04. Soil microbial composition and biomass at the Duke Forest Free-air CO2 Enrichment experiment.

Julie Grinvalsky. 2003-04. Population ecology of Eriocaulon parkerii in Merrymeeting Bay and its tributaries.

Pasakarnis, Tim. 2002-03. Carbon and nutrient content of intertidal soils of Merrymeeting Bay. Northeastern Naturalist 13:153-178.

Barron, Stacy. 2002-03. Soil carbon sequestration after six years of experimental CO2 fumigation at the Duke Forest FACE experiment. Ecology 86:1835-1847.

Peterson, Trevor. 2001-02. The effect of snowshoe hare browsing on tree recruitment in maritime boreal forest. Kent Island, New Brunswick. Canadian Field-Naturalist 119:569-572.

Other Interests

Running, Hiking, Outdoor Photography