Category: News

2025 Grant Applications Open

2025 Grant Applications Open

The Explorers Club Washington Group’s Exploration and Field Research Grants Program is now open for the 2025 season! Submission deadline is February 2, 2025 (by midnight U.S. Eastern Time), with an expected announcement date of March 31st, 2025.

More information on the grants, as well as who is eligible to apply can be found at the Grants – 2025 page, which can be found at the top of the webpage or at the following link: https://www.explorersclubdc.org/grants/

Additional questions on this can be sent to our Grants Committee at ecwggrantscommittee@gmail.com.

2024 ECWG Exploration and Field Research Grant Recipients

2024 ECWG Exploration and Field Research Grant Recipients

Mary Efird (Ph.D.), University of Maryland College Park, Anthropology, Isotopic Analysis of Icelandic Cod Atlases: Tracing Trophic Changes Over a Millennium, Iceland. 

As climate change intensifies and human exploitation of fish stocks escalates, there is an urgent need to monitor the state of global fisheries. Both climate change and human activities can disrupt marine ecosystems by altering trophic webs, intricate networks of predation and energy transfer among organisms. Trophic web alterations can lead to biodiversity loss and ecosystem instability. Despite this, deep-time trophic changes in Iceland’s Atlantic cod population remain poorly understood. This dissertation seeks to address this research gap by employing zooarchaeological methods. However, to contextualize archaeological findings, understanding the trophic life histories of modern Atlantic cod is crucial. Samples of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) atlas vertebrae will be collected from four fish processing plants across Iceland. These modern specimens will serve as analogs for previously collected archaeological vertebrae, forming the basis for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Through comparing stable isotope signatures of modern and archaeological vertebrae spanning Iceland’s history, this study aims to elucidate historical shifts in the marine trophic webs of Iceland. The deep-time insights provided by this research can mitigate the common fisheries issue of shifting baseline syndrome and inform more effective fisheries management strategies for Iceland’s Atlantic cod fishery, which holds considerable socioeconomic and ecological significance.

 

Abdulwahab Omokolade Omigbule (Ph.D.), University of Virginia, Anthropology, The Bonny Island – Old Calabar Archaeological Project, Nigeria. 

The transatlantic economy has been extensively researched since the mid-20th century, with archaeologists contributing significantly on both sides of the Atlantic basin. While West African archaeologists have extensively explored the Senegambian region and the Bight of Benin, the Bight of Bonny has received little attention despite its centrality to transatlantic history. Old Calabar and Bonny Island served as crucial points in the transatlantic slave trade, facilitating complex African-European interactions and accounting for a substantial portion of enslaved captives transported through the region. Their geographical proximity to the Atlantic, access to trading posts via the Niger Delta, and unique political-economic structures positioned these ports strategically within the regional economy. This doctoral research focuses on daily life and material histories during the transatlantic and post-abolition periods in the Niger Delta area of the Bight of Bonny, Nigeria. By examining the lives of African traders and local inhabitants at Bonny Island and Old Calabar, this study aims to elucidate the global experiences and contributions of West Africans from the 17th to 19th centuries CE. Previous historical archaeological endeavors in West Africa have primarily emphasized the European perspective, making this interdisciplinary project vital in highlighting the role and agency of African elites and non-elites in shaping the modern world, particularly in Nigeria.

 

Robert Salerno (M.S.), University of Maryland College Park, Entomology, Soil Arthropod Diversity and Ecosystem Services in Response to Ecological Intensification of Agricultural Cropping Systems, Clarksville, Maryland. 

Modern agricultural practices, such as intensive soil tillage, crop monocultures, and overfertilization pose sustainability challenges in forage and livestock farming, impacting soil quality and ecosystem stability. Throughout the world, studies have revealed that agricultural intensification has imposed negative consequences on aboveground arthropods, prompting interest in ecologically intensified forage systems for agricultural sustainability. Belowground, soil arthropods provide many essential ecosystem services on the farm, including decomposition, biological control, and bioturbation however, these organisms are usually overlooked. Understanding their response to ecological intensification is vital for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this project aims to assess how different land use types in forage cropping systems influence soil arthropod biodiversity, their ecosystem services, and soil quality. Sampling across various treatments using subterranean pitfall traps will provide insights into soil arthropod biodiversity and its connection to soil properties and land use type. This research aligns with broader efforts aiming to transform the agricultural landscape dominated by conventional monocultures into a landscape possessing ecologically intensified perennial forage systems. By bridging knowledge gaps, this project seeks to promote ecologically intensified forage systems, benefiting farmers and fostering agricultural resilience while also exploring soil arthropod biodiversity, a group of organisms vital to agriculture but usually overlooked.

 

Ronita Sequeira (M.S.), University of Maryland Baltimore County-IMET, Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Sciences, Measuring the Abundance, Diet and Condition of Piscifauna Near Restoration Projects in an Urban Estuary, Baltimore, Maryland. 

The proposed study explores the impact of shoreline and floating wetland resiliency projects on fish ecology in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Middle Branch areas. Although wetlands are known to have many ecological benefits, it is relatively unknown how beneficial they are in urban estuaries. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by quantifying fish abundance and conditions adjacent to restoration efforts and evaluating habitat restoration’s influence on juvenile fish diversity. Focusing on mummichogs and silversides, the research will assess abundance, condition, and potential diet variations near restoration sites compared to reference areas, including stands of Phragmites australis. By conducting statistical analyses and collecting biological specimens, the study will provide insights into the interaction between habitat restoration projects and fish communities in urban estuarine environments. Anticipated results of this exploration include identifying correlations between fish abundance, condition, and restoration efforts, crucial for guiding future restoration initiatives and supporting sustainable fish populations. Moreover, the study will establish a baseline for future research on fish diet, biodiversity, and mercury content, while also fostering outreach activities to engage youth and collaborate with relevant stakeholders and organizations invested in estuarine conservation and restoration.

 

Matthew Stefanak (Ph.D.), University of Maryland-UMCES, Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Sciences, Exploring the Offshore Estuary: Applying Stable Isotopes to Understand Fish Trophic Dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay Plume, Chesapeake Bay and Solomons, Maryland. 

The Chesapeake Bay offshore estuary is an important transitional zone that transports large amounts of nutrients and organic matter from the estuary onto the continental shelf. These “plume” zones have been shown to be areas of enhanced biological activity, yet the magnitude and mechanisms by which the Bay plume influences fishery production in the adjacent inner continental shelf ecosystem is poorly understood. In this project, my objectives are to use measurements of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition of basal resources, benthic invertebrates, and several juvenile fish species to 1) characterize the primary sources of production in the plume system (i.e., marine, autochthonous, and (or) estuarine), and 2) estimate the relative contribution of these various energy sources to higher trophic level productivity. Sampling will occur during June 2024 to build on previous collections from April/September 2023 at multiple stations across an inshore-offshore gradient within the plume using a variety of gears. All prepared samples will be analyzed for δ13C and δ15N signatures using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled with an elemental analyzer. Findings from this study will elucidate the spatiotemporal role of the Chesapeake Bay plume as a structuring agent of the nearshore food web and its higher trophic level dynamics.

Professor Carrie Dolan, Explorers Club 50 Class of 2023

Professor Carrie Dolan, Explorers Club 50 Class of 2023

 

Congratulations to one of our Explorers Club Washington Groups’ very own, Professor Carrie Dolan, for being selected to the 2023 Class of the prestigious Explorers Club 50!

As a spatial epidemiologist at William & Mary, Assistant Professor Carrie Dolan’s research and teaching expertise in global health are tightly integrated through her work as the Director of Ignite, a multidisciplinary research lab based in William & Mary’s Global Research Institute and in partnership with the Department Kinesiology. Her research is grounded in a well-established framework for evidence-based global health, focusing on the effective, efficient, and equitable distribution of global health resources, especially among women and children. (1)

Carrie has logged enough time investigating health care issues in the world’s remote locations from Jamaica to Kenya to be named a Fellow of the Explorers Club. Her on-site work is vital to understanding the effectiveness of individual public health initiatives and pointing out where things aren’t working. Carrie’s work contributes value in three arenas that don’t always overlap: practitioners in the area of study, governmental and funding agencies, and academia. Her research includes a hefty data science component and she is a member of the AidData Research Consortium and the Center for Geospatial Analysis Steering Committee at William & Mary. (1)

For more information on Professor Dolan or the EC50, please follow the links below.

1. Carrie Dolan, Assistant Professor, College of William & Mary

https://www.explorers.org/the-explorers-club-50/

2022 Exploration and Field Research Grant Recipients

2022 Exploration and Field Research Grant Recipients

Melissa Collier, (Ph.D.), Georgetown University, Biology, “The impact of social behavior on disease dynamics in the bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) of the Chesapeake Bay”, Virginia, District of Columbia.

Animal social behavior affects infectious disease dynamics in wildlife populations which can have detrimental ecosystem effects, such as declining wildlife populations and even extinctions. With the recent increase in marine related disease reports, there is a need for evaluating the impact of behavior on infectious disease spread in marine species. However, social behavior is not homogenous across demographic groups; there is variation in disease spreading behaviors across age and sex classes that can affect which individuals are most at risk for contracting disease in certain populations. This project will evaluate how differences in social behavior among demographic groups affect the vulnerability of individual bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to infectious disease by collecting behavioral data on the dolphins of the Chesapeake Bay. This work will help to explain how unique dolphin behavior contributed to a recent epizootic that killed more than 1,600 bottlenose dolphins, depleting mid-Atlantic coastal populations of bottlenose dolphins. The vulnerability of a marine sentinel species to disease will be assessed and a forecast the demographics most at risk for future outbreaks will be made. This is essential for modeling the population dynamics of this vulnerable species.

Claudia Escue, (Ph.D.), The College of William and Mary, Anthropology, “Sustainable and Resilient Taro Farming in Rurutu, French Polynesia: A Multi-methodological Approach”, French Polynesia.

This project investigates the extent to which environmental factors and social factors resulted in the adoption or continued use of resilient farming methods in marginal communities. Research will be conducted on Rurutu (Austral Islands, French Polynesia), one of the last remaining Polynesian islands where traditional taro farming is practiced. Rurutu is an ideal location for research on traditional farming as the island’s terraces have likely been continuously cultivated for a 1,000-year sequence. This research consists of a multiphase project integrating geospatial analysis of Rurutu’s taro terraces with soil nutrient profiles and data on contemporary farming methods. Preliminary GIS data suggests that intra-island differences in productive capacity and population distribution are linked to environmental conditions. Ethnoarchaeological research will expand on such geospatial analysis by exploring the maintenance of traditional farming practices, when, where, and why land tenure and water rights issues arise, and how sustainable practices are maintained during shifts from subsistence to commercial farming. Finally, soil nutrient profiles of traditionally and commercially farmed plots will be examined to explore how farmers adapt to climate fluctuations, resource pressures, and population shifts and how such practices can inform contemporary decisions regarding sustainable, resilient agriculture and global efforts towards food sovereignty.

Jennifer Kane, (Ph.D.), West Virginia University, Plant and Soil Science, “Exploring the ground above the ground: canopy soil biodiversity and nutrient cycling in an old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest”, Washington.

Old-growth forests, which contain the world’s largest and oldest trees, are experiencing global decline. As trees are physically removed (e.g., during logging) or experience increased mortality rates (e.g., due to environmental stress), other plants and animals lose a critical source of shelter and food. Hence, the decline of these trees likely has cascading impacts on ecosystem-wide biodiversity. Much of this endangered biodiversity dwells in the canopy of these forests, as branches have become home to a diverse assemblage of plants, animals, and microbes. Abundant life in the canopy has resulted in the accumulation of soil as plant and animal biomass senesces and decomposes. These soils serve as an important source of nutrients for trees and epiphytes; yet little is known about nutrient cycling in these suspended canopy soils. One persisting knowledge gap is how soil organisms (invertebrates, bacteria, fungi) and their interactions influence these nutrient cycles. This project will be conducted in the suspended canopy soils in Olympic National Park with a focus on the structure, function, and interactions of soil organisms. These measurements will further the understanding of how the decline of old growth forests will impact biodiversity and nutrient cycling.

Diogo Viegas de Oliveira, (Ph.D.), The College of William and Mary, Anthropology, “Mozambique Island   in the Iron Age”, Mozambique.

This project brings together multiple lines of data in order to holistically approach archaeology and history in this region of the world. Although part of the Swahili coast, Northern Mozambique has received far less scholarly attention compared to other East African countries. Research will address these gaps by engaging in an interdisciplinary approach to archaeology in Northern Mozambique. This will include employing various methodologies across various disciplines, including archaeology, history, and anthropology. Archaeological and historical research, especially in northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania, is beginning to demonstrate the diversity of lifeways between Swahili coast sites. This project hopes to build on this work and create a cohesive chronology that addresses important cultural differences and transformations between the Southern and Northern sections of East Africa in the later Iron Age and Early Colonial era. The plan is to work with local scholars and archaeologists based at Mozambican universities and institutions to create a new registry of cultural heritage that is representative of Northern Mozambique’s long, unique history from the Later Stone Age to the Colonial Era. Additionally, by finding and mapping these sites around Mozambique Island, one can better assess cultural preservation strategies in Northern Mozambique as climate change will continue to intensify weather patterns and leave cultural heritage at higher levels of risk.

Elad Shdaimah, (M.S.), University of Maryland, Environmental Science and Technology, “Evaluating the impact of invasive vines on nutrient cycling in forest patches in Baltimore, MD”, Maryland.

Urban forests provide important environmental benefits and improve the well-being of city residents. However, invasive species may significantly alter urban forests’ structure and ability to provide these benefits. This study will explore how invasive vines impact the ability of urban forests in Baltimore, MD to cycle and retain carbon and nitrogen. Generally, invasive vines are understood to reduce native plant cover and diversity, altering nutrient cycling and other ecosystem services. Nutrient cycling is a valuable service provided by forests, but the influence of invasive vines on it is variable and poorly understood. Studying invasive vines on the species and local level is necessary for proper management. Field observations and soil samples will be used to test how degree of invasion impacts carbon and nitrogen cycling in forest patches along cover gradients of two invasive vines Hedera helix (English Ivy) and Ampelopsis glandules var. brevipedunculata (Porcelain Berry), two dominant invasive plants in Baltimore. Methods will include soil characterizations (i.e., temperature, pH), soil nutrient analyses (i.e., mineralization, respiration), and litter cover analyses (i.e., depth). The results will increase understanding of urban forest ecology and inform management of Baltimore’s forest patches by highlighting the impacts of invasive vine cover on ecosystem processes.