NE CASC News

Over the past century, ice cover in many Wisconsin lakes has declined by an average of one month during winter. Yet the consequences of this pronounced shift are unknown. The research of Hilary Dugan, an NE CASC principal investigator, aims to unravel this mystery by exploring the implications of ice loss for the health of Wisconsin lakes and the aquatic life inside them.

Adrian Jordaan and Michelle Staudinger recently completed their NE CASC project, Ecological and Management Implications of Climate Change Induced Shifts in Phenology of Coastal Fish and Wildlife Species in the NE CASC Region.

Species around the world are facing habitat degradation resulting from overharvesting, overhunting, invasive species, and pollution, in addition to climate change. A new paper by NE CASC researcher Toni Lyn Morelli and her collaborators details the severe impacts of deforestation and climate change in Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot and habitat to two critically endangered species of ruffed lemur found nowhere else in the world. These lemurs are indicators of overall rainforest health and play a critical role in seed dispersal across the ecosystem.  

Karen Terwilliger has released an interim report detailing results from the first year of her work on the NE CASC project "Assessing Climate Change Threats and Actions in Northeast State Wildlife Action Plans". This research synthesizes and prioritizes climate change threats and associated adaptation strategies for regional species of greatest conservation need as identified in recent State Wildlife Action Plans to support coordinated conservation and adaptation by Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA) states.

The Gulf of Maine 2050 International Symposium took place November 4-8 in Portland, Maine. Sponsored by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and its partner organizations, the meeting succeeded in bringing together environmental, economic, social and institutional perspectives on climate resilience in the Gulf of Maine. NE CASC researchers contributed to several aspects of the program, which featured more than 50 presentations, workshops, and panel discussions. 

The Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center is delighted to announce the availability of two research positions that will play a key role in advancing the CASC network's mission—the cultivation of information and tools that facilitate climate adaptation for natural and cultural resource management. The CASC network provides an engaging work environment that is highlighted by a vibrant, collegial, and collaborative community of students, faculty, and staff. Interested researchers are enthusiastically invited to apply after reviewing the position descriptions.

NE CASC PI and University of Vermont faculty member Anthony D'Amato collaborated with Paul Catanzaro, a colleague at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, on the recently released publication, Forest Carbon: An Essential Natural Solution for Climate Change. This guide was developed to help woodland owners and managers consider how their forest management strategy affects the carbon within their forest and thus the forest’s ability to mitigate climate change.

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, in partnership with the USGS Climate Adaptation Science Center Network, is leading a one-year project to understand and prepare for emerging challenges related to fish and wildlife health, disease, and climate change across North America.

The Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center is pleased to announce that the United States Geological Survey has appointed Dr. David Reidmiller as the center’s Acting Federal Director. In this capacity, Dr. Reidmiller will play a major role in advancing the mission of the center by helping shape its vision, develop its strategic plan, and increase engagement within its expansive network of partners. Reidmiller has also recently assumed duties as the Acting Federal Director for the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.

NE CASC Research Fellow Amanda Davis investigates how climate change is affecting the New England seafood industry and how to support consumers in making climate-smart seafood buying decisions. 

We are excited to announce our fall series for NE CASC Brown-bag Talks! These talks provide brief updates on NE CASC research and outreach followed by the opportunity to join in discussions and get your questions answered.  All NE CASC Brown-bag Talks will be recorded and posted on our webinars archive.  

NE CASC Graduate Fellow Jamie Mosel works to “support future forests" and the community she lives in. Jamie conducts her research in her home state of Minnesota, working with the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota and the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) experiment in the Chippewa National Forest.