Wing Goodale MPhil '01 works as a research biologist, GIS technician and web master for the Biodiversity Research Institute in Gorham, Maine.  I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his work:

Shawn: I came across an article in The New York Times about your work with the Biodiversity Research Institute on mercury testing of thrushes in
New York's Catskill Mountains.  Could you tell us a little about that
project, its goals and implications?
 
Wing: We are studying mercury levels of several thrush species, a group of migratory birds that have exhibited almost uniformly negative population trends over much of eastern North America, its breeding grounds.  Our objective is to determine to what extent mercury levels are contributing to this population decline.

The negative effects of mercury are well documented in aquatic and semi-aquatic systems, particularly in piscivorous birds such as loons.  In terrestrial ecosystems, however, the pathways of mercury accumulation are less well known.  Recent work indicates that accumulation in terrestrial environments occurs mostly through the process of absorption of gaseous mercury by tree leaves and subsequent accumulation on the forest floor upon leaf-drop.   Once on the forest floor, mercury is made available to snails, slugs, woolice, millipedes and earthworms; which comprise a significant portion of the diet of litter-feeding birds such as the wood thrush.

By studying the mercury levels of these thrushes, we can get a glimpse into the process and rate of mercury accumulation in terrestrial birds and the ecosystem as a whole.

Shawn: I know BRI has focused quite a bit of its research on the health of loon populations in Maine.  Have you been involved in research on loons or other projects in the state of Maine as well?
 
Wing: Yes my first two field seasons I worked on the loon project. I have also worked on saltmarsh sparrow, bald eagle, Louisiana water thrush and Bicknell's thrush projects in Maine and beyond.

Shawn: How long have you been working for BRI?
 
Wing: I have been working for BRI for the five years since I graduated from COA.

Shawn: How has your research and that of BRI been received in Maine and
beyond?  Has BRI's work prompted any specific legislative or community
action?
 
Wing: Yes, our data is routinely used by Maine DEP, has been used to pass legislation in Maine. Our executive director, Dr. Evers, has presented our data at many legislative hearings in the Northeast as well as at a congressional briefing in DC. Many of our results are free and available to the public and various nonprofits, DA's, and politicians have used the data, including Hillary Clinton in a recent press release.

Shawn: Are there any particularly interesting collaborations you or BRI
have been a part of with local or regional businesses, non-profits or
other groups that have helped advance your work?

Wing: Almost all of our projects involve collaborators. In Maine we work with the DEP, IF&W, Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, Maine Audubon, National Audubon, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, as well as many local landtrust, nonprofits, and businesses.
 
Nationally we work with USFWS, EPA, NWF, many state agencies, Ocean Alliance, many universities (Tufts, Dartmouth, Texas A&M). You can go to http://www.briloon.org/bri/collaborators.htm for more info.

Shawn:  Are there any upcoming projects that you will be working on that you are particularly excited about?

Wing: I am constantly excited about all that we are doing. In particular, I am working on a number of papers that we hope to submit to high level journals, such as Science; I am overseeing a seabird mercury monitoring project; and I am working on setting up an eagle web camera and continuing our very successful loon web camera.

Shawn:  Unlike most COA grads, you received a masters of philosophy in human ecology.  Are there any specific aspects of your education at COA that you feel prepared you particularly well for your current work?

Wing: COA provided me with a strong background in research design, data analysis, GIS, law, economics, and policy. Each day I use all of these tools at work and as a board member of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Visit the the Biodiversity Research Institute website for more information about their current reserach and programs