Samantha McGarrigle

Investigated associations between bird abundance, wind energy, and CRP using generalized additive models. Completed spatial analysis using QGIS and R, and is currently publishing manuscripts for both wind energy only analyses and the interaction of CRP and wind energy analyses.

Evaluated a newly developed rapid assessment protocol for tidal marsh bird communities. Performed statistical modeling of relationships between a newly developed index and demographics of tidal marsh bird species.

Conducted a novel literature review of publications utilizing eBird data. Investigated who uses it, what it is used for, when it was used, where the data is being used, why they chose it, and how they are analyzing it.

Examined spatial and temporal variation in tidal marsh health based on a newly developed index of environmental condition. Modeled a new marsh health index and salt marsh restoration projects to determine the most effective technique for restoring marsh health.

Focused on species listed by Partners in Flight as watch list species or common species in rapid decline. Utilized QGIS and R for spatial analysis and generalized additive modeling.

Combined datasets from 10 partner organizations to develop a coherent, usable database with multiple tables to be stored in AWS. Built a SQL database from scratch to enable partner organizations to build a website for the project with dynamic dashboards and GIS maps.

Completed the analysis of experiments and prepared a manuscript for publication based on previous graduate student work. The experiments established how 6-week exposures to water column acidification impacted the growth, survival, and burrowing behaviour of three species of benthic invertebrates.

Completed a laboratory experiment looking at the effects of variability in water column acidification on two infaunal invertebrate species. Investigated infaunal community responses to sediment chemistry manipulation through the addition of green algae and/or shell hash.

Used mixed effect linear modeling and multinomial regression to determine which weather and/or oceanographic conditions impacted the length, directionality, and number of foraging trips for each tern species. Additional analysis is ongoing with the goal of submitting a manuscript in collaboration with Linda Welch at US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Investigated the effects of urbanization on avian communities around vernal pools in central Maine. Modeled avian species richness based on site characteristics, Julian date, and detectability variables.

Activities and societies: Dissertation: “The Effects of Water Column and Sediment Carbonate Chemistry on Infaunal Invertebrates in New Brunswick, Canada” Committee: Dr. Heather Hunt, Dr. Remy Rochette, Dr. Ben Speers-Roesch

Completed a laboratory experiment looking at the effects of variability in water column acidification on two infaunal invertebrate species. Investigated the infaunal community responses to sediment chemistry manipulation through the addition of green algae and/or shell hash. Determined what environmental conditions impact infaunal invertebrate communities and bivalve abundance in the Bay of Fundy

Completed a diploma in University Teaching from the University of New Brunswick.

Grade: Highest Honours

Activities and societies: Thesis: “The impacts of weather conditions on Common ( Sterna hirundo ) and Arctic Tern ( Sterna paradisaea ) Foraging Patterns” Minored in Ecology

Studied Marine Biology with Highest Honours, focusing on the impacts of weather conditions on Common and Arctic Tern Foraging Patterns. Minored in Ecology.