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
Filter Total Items: 45
High-frequency remote monitoring of large lakes with MODIS 500 m imagery
Satellite-based remote monitoring programs of regional lake water quality largely have relied on Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) owing to its long image archive, moderate spatial resolution (30 m), and wide sensitivity in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, despite some notable limitations such as temporal resolution (i.e., 16 days), data pre-processing requirements to improve data q
Authors
Ian M. McCullough, Cynthia S. Loftin, Steven A. Sader
Mercury bioaccumulation in wood frogs developing in seasonal pools
Seasonal woodland pools contribute significant biomass to terrestrial ecosystems through production of pool-breeding amphibians. The movement of amphibian metamorphs potentially transports toxins bioaccumulated during larval development in the natal pool into the surrounding terrestrial environment. We documented total mercury (THg) in seasonal woodland pool water, sediment, litter, and Lithobates
Authors
Cynthia S. Loftin, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Sarah J. Nelson, Adria Elskus, Kevin S. Simon
Algal bioassessment metrics for wadeable streams and rivers of Maine, USA
Many state water-quality agencies use biological assessment methods based on lotic fish and macroinvertebrate communities, but relatively few states have incorporated algal multimetric indices into monitoring programs. Algae are good indicators for monitoring water quality because they are sensitive to many environmental stressors. We evaluated benthic algal community attributes along a landuse gr
Authors
Thomas J. Danielson, Cynthia S. Loftin, Leonidas Tsomides, Jeanne L. DiFranco, Beth Connors
Predators shape distribution and promote diversification of morphological defenses in Leucorrhinia , Odonata
Predators strongly influence species assemblages and shape morphological defenses of prey. Interestingly, adaptations that constitute effective defenses against one type of predator may render the prey susceptible to other types of predators. Hence, prey may evolve different strategies to escape predation, which may facilitate adaptive radiation of prey organisms. Larvae of different species in th
Authors
Zlatko Petrin, Emily Gaenzle Schilling, Cyndy Loftin, Frank Johansson
Effects of introduced fish on macroinvertebrate communities in historically fishless headwater and kettle lakes
Widespread fish introductions have led to a worldwide decline in the number of fishless lakes and their associated communities. Studies assessing effects of fish stocking on native communities in historically fishless lakes have been limited to high-elevation headwater lakes stocked with non-native trout. Little is known about the effect of fish stocking in historically fishless and hydrologically
Authors
Emily Gaenzle Schilling, Cynthia S. Loftin, Alexander D. Huryn
Influence of observers and stream flow on northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) relative abundance estimates in Acadia and Shenandoah National Parks, USA
We investigated effects of observers and stream flow on Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) counts in streams in Acadia (ANP) and Shenandoah National Parks (SNP). We counted salamanders in 22 ANP streams during high flow (May to June 2002) and during low flow (July 2002). We also counted salamanders in SNP in nine streams during high flow (summer 2003) and 11 streams duri
Authors
J.B. Crocker, M.S. Bank, Cynthia S. Loftin, R.E. Jung Brown
Mercury bioaccumulation in northern two-lined salamanders from streams in the northeastern United States
Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in salamanders has received little attention despite widespread Hg contamination of aquatic ecosystems and worldwide amphibian declines. Here we report concentrations of methyl Hg (MeHg) and total Hg in larval northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) collected from streams in Acadia National Park (ANP), Maine, and Bear Brook Watershed, Maine (BBWM
Authors
Michael S. Bank, Cynthia S. Loftin, Robin E. Jung
Development of a grid-cell topographic surface for Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia
The Okefenokee Swamp is a 160,000 ha freshwater wetland in Southeast Georgia, USA that developed in a landscape basin. Hydrologic variability across the swamp suggests that water-surface elevations are not uniform across the swamp. The topographic surface map discussed herein was developed to describe the swamp topography at local to landscape scales and relate the swamp peat- and sand-surface ele
Authors
Cynthia S. Loftin, Wiley Rasberry, Wiley M. Kitchens
The Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and wildlife education: Historic development, future challenges
In 1932, J. N. 'Ding' Darling proposed a 3-year tripartite arrangement between the Iowa Fish and Game Commission, Iowa State University, and himself to establish the first Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. Three years later, the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Program was broadened to include 9 land-grant colleges representing recognized ecoregions in the United States. In 1960, the Units wer
Authors
John A. Bissonette, Cynthia S. Loftin, David M. Leslie, L. A. Nordstrom, W. J. Fleming
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 45
High-frequency remote monitoring of large lakes with MODIS 500 m imagery
Satellite-based remote monitoring programs of regional lake water quality largely have relied on Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) owing to its long image archive, moderate spatial resolution (30 m), and wide sensitivity in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, despite some notable limitations such as temporal resolution (i.e., 16 days), data pre-processing requirements to improve data qAuthorsIan M. McCullough, Cynthia S. Loftin, Steven A. SaderMercury bioaccumulation in wood frogs developing in seasonal pools
Seasonal woodland pools contribute significant biomass to terrestrial ecosystems through production of pool-breeding amphibians. The movement of amphibian metamorphs potentially transports toxins bioaccumulated during larval development in the natal pool into the surrounding terrestrial environment. We documented total mercury (THg) in seasonal woodland pool water, sediment, litter, and LithobatesAuthorsCynthia S. Loftin, Aram J.K. Calhoun, Sarah J. Nelson, Adria Elskus, Kevin S. SimonAlgal bioassessment metrics for wadeable streams and rivers of Maine, USA
Many state water-quality agencies use biological assessment methods based on lotic fish and macroinvertebrate communities, but relatively few states have incorporated algal multimetric indices into monitoring programs. Algae are good indicators for monitoring water quality because they are sensitive to many environmental stressors. We evaluated benthic algal community attributes along a landuse grAuthorsThomas J. Danielson, Cynthia S. Loftin, Leonidas Tsomides, Jeanne L. DiFranco, Beth ConnorsPredators shape distribution and promote diversification of morphological defenses in Leucorrhinia , Odonata
Predators strongly influence species assemblages and shape morphological defenses of prey. Interestingly, adaptations that constitute effective defenses against one type of predator may render the prey susceptible to other types of predators. Hence, prey may evolve different strategies to escape predation, which may facilitate adaptive radiation of prey organisms. Larvae of different species in thAuthorsZlatko Petrin, Emily Gaenzle Schilling, Cyndy Loftin, Frank JohanssonEffects of introduced fish on macroinvertebrate communities in historically fishless headwater and kettle lakes
Widespread fish introductions have led to a worldwide decline in the number of fishless lakes and their associated communities. Studies assessing effects of fish stocking on native communities in historically fishless lakes have been limited to high-elevation headwater lakes stocked with non-native trout. Little is known about the effect of fish stocking in historically fishless and hydrologicallyAuthorsEmily Gaenzle Schilling, Cynthia S. Loftin, Alexander D. HurynInfluence of observers and stream flow on northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) relative abundance estimates in Acadia and Shenandoah National Parks, USA
We investigated effects of observers and stream flow on Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) counts in streams in Acadia (ANP) and Shenandoah National Parks (SNP). We counted salamanders in 22 ANP streams during high flow (May to June 2002) and during low flow (July 2002). We also counted salamanders in SNP in nine streams during high flow (summer 2003) and 11 streams duriAuthorsJ.B. Crocker, M.S. Bank, Cynthia S. Loftin, R.E. Jung BrownMercury bioaccumulation in northern two-lined salamanders from streams in the northeastern United States
Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in salamanders has received little attention despite widespread Hg contamination of aquatic ecosystems and worldwide amphibian declines. Here we report concentrations of methyl Hg (MeHg) and total Hg in larval northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata bislineata) collected from streams in Acadia National Park (ANP), Maine, and Bear Brook Watershed, Maine (BBWMAuthorsMichael S. Bank, Cynthia S. Loftin, Robin E. JungDevelopment of a grid-cell topographic surface for Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia
The Okefenokee Swamp is a 160,000 ha freshwater wetland in Southeast Georgia, USA that developed in a landscape basin. Hydrologic variability across the swamp suggests that water-surface elevations are not uniform across the swamp. The topographic surface map discussed herein was developed to describe the swamp topography at local to landscape scales and relate the swamp peat- and sand-surface eleAuthorsCynthia S. Loftin, Wiley Rasberry, Wiley M. KitchensThe Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and wildlife education: Historic development, future challenges
In 1932, J. N. 'Ding' Darling proposed a 3-year tripartite arrangement between the Iowa Fish and Game Commission, Iowa State University, and himself to establish the first Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. Three years later, the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Program was broadened to include 9 land-grant colleges representing recognized ecoregions in the United States. In 1960, the Units werAuthorsJohn A. Bissonette, Cynthia S. Loftin, David M. Leslie, L. A. Nordstrom, W. J. Fleming