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 vegetation-fire dynamics in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA, with a Bayesian belief network
Experimental evidence of long-term reproductive costs in a colonial nesting seabird
How well do proxy species models inform conservation of surrogate species?
Landscape capability models as a tool to predict fine-scale forest bird occupancy and abundance
Pairing field methods to improve inference in wildlife surveys while accommodating detection covariance
Landscape capability predicts upland game bird abundance and occurrence
Amphibian terrestrial habitat selection and movement patterns vary with annual life-history period
Intraspecific functional diversity of common species enhances community stability
Predictors of breeding site occupancy by amphibians in montane landscapes
Hibernal habitat selection by Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in a northern New England montane landscape
Parameterization of the InVEST Crop Pollination Model to spatially predict abundance of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) native bee pollinators in Maine, USA
Environmental predictors of shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) habitat and quality as host for Maine’s endangered Clayton’s copper butterfly (Lycaena dorcas claytoni)
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 45
Evaluation of vegetation-fire dynamics in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA, with a Bayesian belief network
Vegetation response to wildfire has been studied extensively in upland ecosystems, but fire effects on temperate wetlands are less understood. We evaluated vegetation response to extensive wildfire in wetlands of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR), USA, with a spatially explicit Bayesian belief network model informed with data recorded during 1990–2012. We assessed model accuracy and effecAuthorsCyndy Loftin, Margaret Q. Guyette, Paul R. WetzelExperimental evidence of long-term reproductive costs in a colonial nesting seabird
Trade-offs between current and future reproduction are central to the evolution of life histories. Experiments that manipulate brood size provide an effective approach to investigating future costs of current reproduction. Most manipulative studies to date, however, have addressed only the short-term effects of brood size manipulation. Our goal was to determine whether survival or breeding costs oAuthorsAly McKnight, Erik J. Blomberg, Gregory H. Golet, David B. Irons, Cyndy Loftin, Shawn T. McKinneyHow well do proxy species models inform conservation of surrogate species?
ContextProxy species, which represent suites of organisms with similar habitat requirements, are common in conservation. Landscape Capability (LC) models aim to quantify the spatially-explicit capability of landscapes to support proxy species that represent suites of forest birds.ObjectivesWe evaluated the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NALCC) proxy models of LC and representedAuthorsZachary. G. Loman, William V. Deluca, Daniel J. Harrison, Cyndy Loftin, W. Scott Schwenk, Petra B. WoodLandscape capability models as a tool to predict fine-scale forest bird occupancy and abundance
ContextSpecies-specific models of landscape capability (LC) can inform landscape conservation design. Landscape capability is “the ability of the landscape to provide the environment […] and the local resources […] needed for survival and reproduction […] in sufficient quantity, quality and accessibility to meet the life history requirements of individuals and local populations.” Landscape capabilAuthorsZachary G. Loman, William DeLuca, Daniel J. Harrison, Cynthia S. Loftin, Brian W. Rolek, Petra B. WoodPairing field methods to improve inference in wildlife surveys while accommodating detection covariance
It is common to use multiple field sampling methods when implementing wildlife surveys to compare method efficacy or cost efficiency, integrate distinct pieces of information provided by separate methods, or evaluate method-specific biases and misclassification error. Existing models that combine information from multiple field methods or sampling devices permit rigorous comparison of method-speciAuthorsJohn Clare, Shawn T. McKinney, John E. DePue, Cynthia S. LoftinLandscape capability predicts upland game bird abundance and occurrence
Landscape capability (LC) models are a spatial tool with potential applications in conservation planning. We used survey data to validate LC models as predictors of occurrence and abundance at broad and fine scales for American woodcock (Scolopax minor) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). Landscape capability models were reliable predictors of occurrence but were less indicative of relative abundAuthorsZachary G. Loman, Erik J. Blomberg, William DeLuca, Daniel J. Harrison, Cyndy Loftin, Petra B. WoodAmphibian terrestrial habitat selection and movement patterns vary with annual life-history period
Identification of essential habitat is a fundamental component of amphibian conservation; however, species with complex life histories frequently move among habitats. To better understand dynamic habitat use, we evaluated Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825)) habitat selection and movement patterns during the spring migration and foraging periods and described the spatiotemporal variabAuthorsLuke A. Groff, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Cynthia S. LoftinIntraspecific functional diversity of common species enhances community stability
Common species are fundamental to the structure and function of their communities and may enhance community stability through intraspecific functional diversity (iFD). We measured among-habitat and within-habitat iFD (i.e., among- and within-plant community types) of two common small mammal species using stable isotopes and functional trait dendrograms, determined whether iFD was related to short-AuthorsConnor M. Wood, Shawn T. McKinney, Cynthia S. LoftinPredictors of breeding site occupancy by amphibians in montane landscapes
Ecological relationships and processes vary across species’ geographic distributions, life stages and spatial, and temporal scales. Montane landscapes are characterized by low wetland densities, rugged topographies, and cold climates. Consequently, aquatic-dependent and low-vagility ectothermic species (e.g., pool-breeding amphibians) may exhibit unique ecological associations in montane landscapeAuthorsLuke A. Groff, Cynthia S. Loftin, Aram J.K. CalhounHibernal habitat selection by Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in a northern New England montane landscape
Poikilothermic species, such as amphibians, endure harsh winter conditions via freeze-tolerance or freeze-avoidance strategies. Freeze-tolerance requires a suite of complex, physiological mechanisms (e.g., cryoprotectant synthesis); however, behavioral strategies (e.g., hibernal habitat selection) may be used to regulate hibernaculum temperatures and promote overwintering survival. We investigatedAuthorsLuke A. Groff, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Cynthia S. LoftinParameterization of the InVEST Crop Pollination Model to spatially predict abundance of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) native bee pollinators in Maine, USA
Non-native honeybees historically have been managed for crop pollination, however, recent population declines draw attention to pollination services provided by native bees. We applied the InVEST Crop Pollination model, developed to predict native bee abundance from habitat resources, in Maine's wild blueberry crop landscape. We evaluated model performance with parameters informed by four approachAuthorsShannon C. Groff, Cynthia S. Loftin, Frank Drummond, Sara Bushmann, Brian J. McGillEnvironmental predictors of shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) habitat and quality as host for Maine’s endangered Clayton’s copper butterfly (Lycaena dorcas claytoni)
Population size of habitat-specialized butterflies is limited in part by host plant distribution and abundance. Effective conservation for host-specialist species requires knowledge of host-plant habitat conditions and relationships with the specialist species. Clayton’s copper butterfly (Lycaena dorcas claytoni) is a Maine state-endangered species that relies exclusively on shrubby cinquefoil (DaAuthorsSarah A. Drahovzal, Cynthia S. Loftin, Judith Rhymer