Acadia University

Quantifying environmental processes that control the fate of mercury and other toxic chemicals in ecosystems

Lilianne Arsenault (Ph.D. Student 2011-2014)

Lili is co-supervised by Karen Kidd and Mark Mallory through UNB St. John. She is examining mercury speciation and biomagnification with changing latitude (Arctic and Nova Scotia, Locations).

Ravinder Pannu (Ph.D. Student 2009-2012)

Ravinder is examining soil characteristics and mercury emissions to the atmosphere. Collaborators include Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada. Ravinder is co-supervised by Dr. Steven Siciliano (Soil Science at U Sask).

Erin Mann (Ph.D. Student 2011-2014)

Erin is examining mercury speciation in snow and snow melt. She is co-supervised by Susan Ziegler at Memorial University (PhD Environmental Science) and is part of the NSERC CREATE program.

Gordon McArthur (M.Sc. Student 2009-2012) - St. FX

Gordon is co-supervised by Dr. Risk and Dr. Belltrami at St. FX and is examining both mercury and green house gas fluxes from salt marsh ecosystems.

Hilary White (M.Sc. Student 2010-2012)

Hilary is examining the paleolimnology of lakes in the Tantramar Marsh region. Focusing on the dynamics of carbon, mercury and other temporal indicators. Hilary is co-supervised by Dr. Ian Spooner (Earth Science at Acadia) and David Risk (Earth Science at St FX) and is part of the NSERC CREATE program.  

Emma is examining mercury photo-reduction and photo-oxidation in freshwater lakes in Kejimkujik Park and across Canada to determine their sensitivity to mercury inputs.

James Kuchta (Research Assistant 2009-2012)

James is examining the association between atmospheric aerosol LIDAR measurements and on ground air quality readings in the Annapolis Valley. James is co-supervised by Mark Gibson (Dalhousie) and Kevin Strawbridge (Environment Canada)

Adam Godfrey (Co-Op Student; Honours Candidate 2011-2012)

Adam worked with our group in the summer of 2011 to help with lab and field work. He is currently writing his ENVS honours thesis on mercury speciation with wetland reclamation in Beaubessain, NB.   

PREVIOUS GROUP MEMBERS

Tom Sizmur (Postdoctoral Fellow 2011-2012)

Tom was a postdoctoral fellow in our group in 2011 coming from Reading University in the UK. His research with us focused on mercury accumulation in polycheate worms.

He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa State University.

2007-2008)

Dr. Canario is currently collaborating on a project examining mercury speciation in coastal wetland sediments and vegetation.

He is currently a research scientist for IPIMAR in Portugal.

Asif Qureshi (Ph.D. Student 2008-2010)- ETH, Zurich

Asif performed controlled experiments to create a quantitative model of mercury oxidation and reduction in ocean water. This is a component of a global mercury model for ocean -air exchange.

He is currently starting a postdoc with Elsie Sunderland at Harvard University.

Samuel Edmonds (M.Sc. Student 2008-2010)

Sam examined the relationship between mercury speciation in wetlands and mercury concentrations in rusty blackbirds (a rapidly declining wetland species.

He is currently working employed by the BioDiversity Research Institute as a field and lab technician.

Stephanie examined the use of a fluorescence based LIDAR system for examining water quality. She was co-supervised by Tim Webster and at AGRG. She is currently working on  her PhD in Sweden examining climate change and glacier melt.    

Amy Buckland - Nicks (Undergraduate Honours Student 2010-2011) NSERC USRA Scholar

Amy completed her ENVS honours researching mercury accumulation in dragonflies with life history co-supervised by Dr. Kirk Hillier (Biology, Acadia). Amy is a masters candidate at Dalhousie University.

Amy Larkin (Undergraduate Honours Student 2010-2011)

Amy completed her Biology honours investigating mercury toxicity effects on damsel flies in Kejimkujik Park co-supervised by Dr. Kirk Hillier (Biology, Acadia). Amy is currently travelling across Canada.

Jillian Hanmore  (B.Sc. Honours Student 2009-2010) NSERC USRA Scholar

Jill examined mercury volatilization from soils across Canada in response to solar radiation using a controlled lab technique.

Jill is working as a lab technician and starting in the audiology program.

Jennifer Herrick (B.Sc. Honours Student 2008-2009)

Jennifer examined mercury deposition in North America between 1998-2008 and relationships with atmospheric chemistry and emission reduction policies.

Sarah Haverstock (B.Sc. Honours Student 2008-2009) NSERC USRA Scholar

Sarah examined the photo-oxidation of dissolved organic matter by ultra-violet radiation in freshwater lakes. She is currently working with Parks Canada in BC.

Tammy examined factors controlling carbon nanotube (CNT) suspension in freshwaters. She completed the engineering program at Dalhousie.

                           Scott Ryan (Lab Technician 2007-2008)

Scott was a lab technician performing nutrient analyses with the Estuarine Center at Acadia through my lab. He currently has a technician position with the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.