Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Cooperative Research Units
Education, Research And Technical Assistance For Managing Our Natural Resources

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Biography

Dr. Loftin joined the Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 1999 as the Assistant Unit Leader-Wildlife. She became the Unit Leader in 2011. She holds a graduate faculty appointment as an Associate Professor in the Wildlife Ecology department in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture.

Research Interests

Dr. Loftin's interests in systems, landscape, and wetlands ecology drive her research program involving wetlands restoration issues. Her research interest is aquatic ecology with an emphasis on conservation and restoration of perturbed, freshwater systems. The research program encompasses two concentrations: hydrological influences on aquatic vegetation dynamics and identifying effects of selected human-introduced stressors on Maine’s aquatic systems and their inhabitants. Current studies include identifying effects of fish introductions on invertebrate and amphibian communities in Maine's naturally fishless lakes; examining amphibian use of aquatic systems and the surrounding terrestrial landscape; identifying characteristics of wetlands supporting shrubby cinquefoil, host plant for Clayton's copper butterfly; developing algorithms with remote sensing data to estimate water clarity in Maine's lakes; examining uptake of marine derived nutrients by food web components in Atlantic salmon nursery streams; developing methods to remotely monitor disturbance of nesting seabirds; and, studying vegetation response to fire in Okefenokee Swamp, GA.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Loftin teaches a graduate level course (INT527 Applications of Remote Sensing and GIS in Natural Resource Management; 3 credits lecture and lab) each fall semester at the University of Maine. The course is team taught with Dr. Steven Sader, UMaine School of Forest Resources, and provides instruction on using remote sensing and GIS tools to conduct spatial analysis for projects with a conservation focus.

Research Publications

Shearin, A.F., A.J.K. Calhoun, and C.S Loftin. 2012. Evaluation of Listener-based Amphibian Surveys with Automated Audio Recording Devices. Wetlands 32:737-751. | Download |

Freeman, R.C., K.P. Bell, A.J.K. Calhoun, and C.S. Loftin. 2012. Incorporating economic models into vernal pool conservation planning: using local land regulations to enhance state regulations. Wetlands 32:509-520. | Download |

McCullough, I.M., C.S. Loftin, and S.A. Sader. 2012. High-frequency remote monitoring of large lakes with MODIS 500 m imagery. Remote Sensing of Environnment 124:234-241. | Download |

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Maine University Committees and Workgroups

Cyndy LoftinFaculty Search Committee, University of Maine (January 2010 - March 2010)

Cyndy LoftinMember, Necropsy Room renovation committee (September 2007 - June 2008)

Cyndy LoftinMember, Search Committee, Fisheries Biologist faculty position (January 2006 - April 2006)

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Technical Publications

Krohn, W., and C.S. Loftin, eds. 2010. Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Department of Wildlife Ecology 2008 Annual report to Cooperators, 43 pp.

Krohn, W. B., and C. S. Loftin (compilers and editors). 2009. Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Department of Wildlife Ecology. 2008 Report to Cooperators. Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine, Orono. 43 pp.

Schilling, E.G., C.S. Loftin, and A.D. Huryn. 2008. Effects of fish introductions on the geographic distribution and native invertebrate fauna of naturally fishless lakes in Maine. A Technical Summary Submitted to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

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