Cyndy Loftin, PhD
Regional Supervisor - Northeast Units - Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units
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.
Professional Experience
Supervisor, Cooperative Research Units Program Headquarters, 2021-
Education and Certifications
Ph D University of Florida 1998
MS Auburn University 1987
BA University of Virginia 1984
Science and Products
Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
Lithobates sylvaticus (wood frog). Habitat use.
Predicted changes in climatic niche and climate refugia of conservation priority salamander species in the northeastern United States
Carcass analog provides marine subsidies for macroinvertebrates and juvenile Atlantic 8 salmon in temperate oligotrophic streams
Carcass analog addition enhances juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) growth and condition
Lakes without Landsat? Implications of scale and an alternative approach to regional remote lake monitoring using MODIS 250 m imagery
A manual for remote sensing of Maine lake clarity
Shifts in controls on the temporal coherence of throughfall chemical flux in Acadia National Park, Maine, USA
Landsat imagery reveals declining clarity of Maine’s lakes during 1995-2010
An algal model for predicting attainment of tiered biological criteria of Maine's streams and rivers
Combining lake and watershed characteristics with Landsat TM data for remote estimation of regional lake clarity
Incorporating incorporating economic models into seasonal pool conservation planning
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 45
Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
Radiotelemetry provides fine-scale temporal and spatial information about an individual's movements and habitat use; however, its use for monitoring amphibians has been restricted by transmitter mass and lack of suitable attachment techniques. We describe a novel waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans and evaluate the percentages of resulting abrasions, lacerations, and shedAuthorsLuke A. Groff, Amber L. Pitt, Robert F. Baldwin, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Cyndy LoftinLithobates sylvaticus (wood frog). Habitat use.
Lithobates sylvaticus is the second most widely distributed anuran in North America (Martof and Humphries 1959. Am. Midl. Nat. 61:350–389), and its habitat use reflects the environmental variation that exists across its geographic range (Semlitsch et al. 2009. BioScience 59:853–862). Although L. sylvaticus post-breeding habitat selection has been described in Missouri (Rittenhouse and Semlitsch 20AuthorsLuke A. Groff, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Cynthia S. LoftinPredicted changes in climatic niche and climate refugia of conservation priority salamander species in the northeastern United States
Global climate change represents one of the most extensive and pervasive threats to wildlife populations. Amphibians, specifically salamanders, are particularly susceptible to the effects of changing climates due to their restrictive physiological requirements and low vagility; however, little is known about which landscapes and species are vulnerable to climate change. Our study objectives includAuthorsWilliam B. Sutton, Kyle Barrett, Allison T. Moody, Cynthia S. Loftin, Phillip G. deMaynadier, Priya NanjappaCarcass analog provides marine subsidies for macroinvertebrates and juvenile Atlantic 8 salmon in temperate oligotrophic streams
Anadromous fish populations entering freshwater ecosystems provide organic matter and marine-derived nutrients during spawning and subsequent mortalities of adults. Dams and other impediments to connectivity in rivers and streams have affected anadromous fish populations in many regions and prevented or reduced this influx of organic materials and nutrients. This study used historical data on theAuthorsMargaret Q. Guyette, Cynthia S. Loftin, Joseph D. Zydlewski, Richard CunjakCarcass analog addition enhances juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) growth and condition
Our study used historic marine-derived nutrient (MDN) delivery timing to simulate potential effects of restored connectivity on juvenile Atlantic salmon (ATS; Salmo salar) growth and condition. Four headwater streams were stocked with ATS young of the year (YOY) and received carcass analog additions (0.10 kg·m–2 wetted area) in treatment reaches to match the timing of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinAuthorsMargaret Q. Guyette, Cynthia S. Loftin, Joseph D. ZydlewskiLakes without Landsat? Implications of scale and an alternative approach to regional remote lake monitoring using MODIS 250 m imagery
We evaluated use of MODIS 250 m imagery for remote lake monitoring in Maine. Despite limited spectral resolution (visible red and near infrared bands), the twice daily image capture has a potential advantage over conventionally used, often cloudy Landsat imagery (16 day interval) when short time windows are of interest. We analyzed 364 eligible (≥100 ha) Maine lakes during late summer (Aug–early SAuthorsIan M. McCullough, Cynthia S. Loftin, Steven A. SaderA manual for remote sensing of Maine lake clarity
The purpose of this manual is to support use of satellite-based remote sensing for statewide lake water-quality monitoring in Maine. The authors describe step-by-step methods that combine Landsat and MODIS satellite data with field-collected Secchi disk data for statewide assessment of lake water clarity. Landsat can be simultaneously used to assess more than Maine 1,000 lakes ≥ 8 ha, whereas MODAuthorsIan M. McCullough, Cyndy Loftin, Steven A. SaderShifts in controls on the temporal coherence of throughfall chemical flux in Acadia National Park, Maine, USA
Major ion and mercury (Hg) inputs to terrestrial ecosystems include both wet and dry deposition (total deposition). Estimating total deposition to sensitive receptor sites is hampered by limited information regarding its spatial heterogeneity and seasonality. We used measurements of throughfall flux, which includes atmospheric inputs to forests and the net effects of canopy leaching or uptake, forAuthorsSarah J. Nelson, Katherine E. Webster, Cynthia S. Loftin, Kathleen C. WeathersLandsat imagery reveals declining clarity of Maine’s lakes during 1995-2010
Water clarity is a strong indicator of regional water quality. Unlike other common water-quality metrics, such as chlorophyll a, total P, or trophic status, clarity can be accurately and efficiently estimated remotely on a regional scale. Satellite-based remote sensing is useful in regions with many lakes where traditional field-sampling techniques may be prohibitively expensive. Repeated samplingAuthorsIan M. McCullough, Cynthia S. Loftin, Steven A. SaderAn algal model for predicting attainment of tiered biological criteria of Maine's streams and rivers
State water-quality professionals developing new biological assessment methods often have difficulty relating assessment results to narrative criteria in water-quality standards. An alternative to selecting index thresholds arbitrarily is to include the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) in the development of the assessment method. The BCG describes tiers of biological community condition to helpAuthorsThomas J. Danielson, Cyndy Loftin, Leonidas Tsomides, Jeanne L. DiFranco, Beth Connors, David L. Courtemanch, Francis Drummond, Susan DaviesCombining lake and watershed characteristics with Landsat TM data for remote estimation of regional lake clarity
Water clarity is a reliable indicator of lake productivity and an ideal metric of regional water quality. Clarity is an indicator of other water quality variables including chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus and trophic status; however, unlike these metrics, clarity can be accurately and efficiently estimated remotely on a regional scale. Remote sensing is useful in regions containing a large numberAuthorsIan M. McCullough, Cyndy Loftin, Steven A. SaderIncorporating incorporating economic models into seasonal pool conservation planning
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maine have adopted regulatory zones around seasonal (vernal) pools to conserve terrestrial habitat for pool-breeding amphibians. Most amphibians require access to distinct seasonal habitats in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems because of their complex life histories. These habitat requirements make them particularly vulnerable to land uses that desAuthorsRobert C. Freeman, Kathleen P. Bell, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Cyndy Loftin