About me
I received my BA in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic in 2011 and my PhD in Biology in May 2018 with Dr. Jason Fridley in the Biology Department at Syracuse University.
My drive began in the wilderness of New England, where I've had the opportunity to practice the arts of wilderness survival for over 12 years. Although the physical skills of survival were important, the aspect that impassioned me most was the need to track and understand patterns in nature—crucial for finding appropriate materials. It inspired me to pursue the study of natural history and ecology in an academic setting. My other interests include learning about and using wild edible and medicinal plants, practicing the skills of wilderness survival, rock climbing, running, drawing, photography, taxidermy, museum studies, teaching, and conservation through curiosity. Download my CV here (English and Spanish):
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Research
My research interest in plant ecology come from the epitomic question: Why does a plant grow where it does?
More specifically, I am interested in the processes that drive plant community assembly and ecosystem function. My research currently focuses on the role of plant dispersal and the link between dispersal and ecosystem function. I am also particularly interested in plant communities on islands and how islands can be used both as model systems for ecological research as well as teaching tools for ecology and natural history education. My past projects include a study of plant functional trait variation across Maine islands, a study of dispersal processes during plant succession using available data from the Chicken Creek artificial catchment site, an experiment to directly test the link between plant dispersal and ecosystem function, and a study of the plant communities and ecosystems of Clarks Hill Lake Islands, Georgia. |
Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase
Below is a video I submitted to the 2015 Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase, and here is a link to the site: Linking dispersal and ecosystem function
Past Research Projects and Fieldwork
Case Study of Little Duck Island, Maine (2009-current)
Plants play a vital role in shaping the ecology of the undeveloped Maine coast because they both affect and are affected by the unique physical and biotic features of this region. By better understanding plant life in the Maine coastal communities we can better appreciate the multitude of ecological features in the region. And by better understanding the ecological features of the region we can better decipher the plant communities of Maine coastal habitats.
Little Duck Island (LDI), about 8 miles south of Mount Desert Island (MDI), is one of a handful of botanically under-explored islands off of the coast of Maine. With the assistance of fellow College of the Atlantic (COA) student Matthew Dickinson and grants from the Garden Club of America as well as the NASA Maine Space Grant Consortium, I inventoried the vascular plants and soils of Little Duck Island during the summer of 2010. The data include a collection of over 250 pressed voucher specimens, 67 plots describing the percent cover of each species within 2x10m quadrats, soil samples from each plot—analyzed for nutrient concentrations, and other observational data such as a checklist of birds, a count of gull and cormorant nests, and notes on various patterns relating to the ecology of the island.
The project:
I have been using this data to compile a report that describes the ecology of Little Duck Island. This report will provide a useful comparison to several previous studies describing the plants and birds of the island--as a way to describe changes on the island over time.
The ultimate value of this study will be to use the biotic and abiotic data from Little Duck Island to generate a model that can predict the presence of plant species on other regional islands. I hope to test this on islands that already have plant lists in order to gauge the accuracy the model. It can be very difficult to create a deterministic model that actually works, but I hope I can do that by keeping to a regional scale and using as many ecological and species-specific factors as possible.
Advisers:
Although I will consult with many during this project, Dr. Nishi Rajakaruna and Glen Mittelhauser will be my primary advisers. Their extensive background of field research in botany and ecology is essential in guiding me as I analyze and compile the collected data as well as begin work on preparing and submitting a paper for publication. Dr. Rajakaruna's experiences of working with people throughout the world on projects such as ethnobotanical studies and cleaning toxic waste dumps via phytoremediation make him an ideal advisor to help me reach a vast audience with my research. Glen Mittelhauser's extensive field work on regional island floristics and ecology make him a crucial adviser regarding the regional flora and the ecological factors that influence it.
Report for Acadia National Park and National Audubon Society
Click here to download a report describing the plant communities and natural history of Little Duck Island. The file is 13.8megs, so just keep that in mind if you have a slow download speed (Right-click and "save as" or just click to open in the browser) The report is the result of my senior thesis at College of the Atlantic.
Below is the poster recently presented at the 2011 Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium in Biddeford, ME, as well as the 2011 Northeast Natural History Conferencein Albany, NY
Little Duck Island (LDI), about 8 miles south of Mount Desert Island (MDI), is one of a handful of botanically under-explored islands off of the coast of Maine. With the assistance of fellow College of the Atlantic (COA) student Matthew Dickinson and grants from the Garden Club of America as well as the NASA Maine Space Grant Consortium, I inventoried the vascular plants and soils of Little Duck Island during the summer of 2010. The data include a collection of over 250 pressed voucher specimens, 67 plots describing the percent cover of each species within 2x10m quadrats, soil samples from each plot—analyzed for nutrient concentrations, and other observational data such as a checklist of birds, a count of gull and cormorant nests, and notes on various patterns relating to the ecology of the island.
The project:
I have been using this data to compile a report that describes the ecology of Little Duck Island. This report will provide a useful comparison to several previous studies describing the plants and birds of the island--as a way to describe changes on the island over time.
The ultimate value of this study will be to use the biotic and abiotic data from Little Duck Island to generate a model that can predict the presence of plant species on other regional islands. I hope to test this on islands that already have plant lists in order to gauge the accuracy the model. It can be very difficult to create a deterministic model that actually works, but I hope I can do that by keeping to a regional scale and using as many ecological and species-specific factors as possible.
Advisers:
Although I will consult with many during this project, Dr. Nishi Rajakaruna and Glen Mittelhauser will be my primary advisers. Their extensive background of field research in botany and ecology is essential in guiding me as I analyze and compile the collected data as well as begin work on preparing and submitting a paper for publication. Dr. Rajakaruna's experiences of working with people throughout the world on projects such as ethnobotanical studies and cleaning toxic waste dumps via phytoremediation make him an ideal advisor to help me reach a vast audience with my research. Glen Mittelhauser's extensive field work on regional island floristics and ecology make him a crucial adviser regarding the regional flora and the ecological factors that influence it.
Report for Acadia National Park and National Audubon Society
Click here to download a report describing the plant communities and natural history of Little Duck Island. The file is 13.8megs, so just keep that in mind if you have a slow download speed (Right-click and "save as" or just click to open in the browser) The report is the result of my senior thesis at College of the Atlantic.
Below is the poster recently presented at the 2011 Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium in Biddeford, ME, as well as the 2011 Northeast Natural History Conferencein Albany, NY
Post-Fire Vegetation Regeneration in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (2011)
In the summer of 2011, I was contracted through Humboldt State University (HSU) of California to work for the US Forest Service (USFS) as a field biologist. I worked with one other person, my crew-leader, to sample the post-fire vegetation regeneration of a 2008 fire in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Dr. Erik Jules of HSU and Dr. Hugh Safford of USFS supervised this research project. I worked with my crew leader to stratify our plot locations based on burn severities and substrate. We set up permanent plots and collected data on vegetation regeneration from July through mid-September. The data we gathered will be used to test the differences in regeneration on a serpentine versus non-serpentine substrate.
Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (2009)
I worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) on the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP)—a 100 year study (at the time in year 16) examining the influence of timber management on the regional ecosystem. I worked on a twelve-person botany crew, sampling the understory vegetation in sites throughout the Ozark forest. The project was supervised by MDC plant community ecologist Susan Farrington.
Ecotypic Differentiation in Achillea millefolium (2008)
This pilot study was the final project for a class I took during my freshman year at College of the Atlantic. The objective of the study was to determine the occurrence of ecotypic differentiation in Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) on serpentine versus non-serpentine substrates of Maine.
My professor, Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna, outlined the methods I should use for this study, including how to conduct a common garden study. After germinating the seeds in different substrates, I measured the seedlings’ root and cotyledon lengths. The results provide compelling evidence of ecotypic differentiation, but strongly suggest the need for data on potentially confounding factors.
My professor, Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna, outlined the methods I should use for this study, including how to conduct a common garden study. After germinating the seeds in different substrates, I measured the seedlings’ root and cotyledon lengths. The results provide compelling evidence of ecotypic differentiation, but strongly suggest the need for data on potentially confounding factors.
Publications
Negoita, L., Fridley, J.D., Lomolino, M.V., Mittelhauser, G., Craine, J.M., and Weiher, E. 2016. Isolation-driven functional assembly of plant communities on islands. – Ecography. [online]
Negoita, L., Dickinson, M., Mittelhauser, G., Rajakaruna, N. 2016. A comparative study of the flora and soils of Great Duck and Little Duck Islands, Maine, USA. – Rhodora 118: 46-85. [online]
Stern, M., Medeiros, I. D., Negoita, L., and N. Rajakaruna. (2016). Limestone flora of the Simonton Corner Quarry Preserve, Rockport, Maine, USA. – Rhodora.
Negoita, L., Dickinson, M., Mittelhauser, G., Rajakaruna, N. 2016. A comparative study of the flora and soils of Great Duck and Little Duck Islands, Maine, USA. – Rhodora 118: 46-85. [online]
Stern, M., Medeiros, I. D., Negoita, L., and N. Rajakaruna. (2016). Limestone flora of the Simonton Corner Quarry Preserve, Rockport, Maine, USA. – Rhodora.