Student Work with the MERE Project

Research

Amber Boland - Assessment of Ice Storm Damage
Alexandra Coombs - Monadnock Plant Collection Project
Melissa Green - Distribution of Monadnock's Understory Communities
Matt Walter - Research Assistant
David Mallard - Description & Distribution of Monadnock's Natural Communities

Education/Outreach

Samantha Langolis - Summit Trail Steward 2009
Lauren Schottenfeld - Summit Trail Steward 2009
Josh Surette - Summit Trail Steward 2009
Emily Beck - Biodiversity Curriculum Project
Cheryl Freire - Curriculum Coordinator
Rose Lenahan - Education Coordinator - Facilitation of Keene High School Student Work
Meg Fairchild - Project Coordinator 2008-2009 - Outreach and Strategic Planning
Andrew Glikin - Lantern Slides Project
Christine Gleason - Monadnock Advisory Commission Brochure
Tyler Maikath, MERE Project Coordinator
Annie Jacobs - Writing/Journalism
Bonnie Hudspeth - Writing/Journalism

Additional Student Work with Mount Monadnock

Nathaniel Hoag - Voice of Monadnock
Diane Eno - Creative Explorations

Amber Boland, MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

In December of 2008, a severe ice storm struck Mount Monadnock and much of central New England. The occurrence of this ice storm presented the MERE Project with a unique opportunity, as there is not often baseline data available from which to estimate change in forest structure after such an event. Dave Mallard's and Melissa Green's research will be valuable to this assessment. Amber Boland will begin assessing canopy damage and calculating the volume of coarse woody debris on the forest floor this summer to assess the direct impact the storm had on the forest structure.

Alexandra Coombs, MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

In the Fall of 2008, Alexandra Coombs began working with the MERE Project to plan and conduct her Master's Project - an inventory and collection of the flora of Mount Monadnock. In 2009, Coombs began collecting samples of all flora found on Monadnock, which will be preserved and stored in the Herbarium at Antioch as a reference and teaching tool for future students who wish to study this important aspect of Mount Monadnock's ecology. This capstone project will be the perfect finish to Coombs time at Antioch, where she has been guided by her love of plants from day one.

Melissa Green, MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

During the summer of 2008, master's candidate Melissa Green conducted a study of the understory vegetation on Mt. Monadnock. Using the long-term research plots previously established by David Mallard, she recorded percent cover of understory species, tallied saplings, and measured environmental variables at each plot. Green is currently analyzing the data she collected, and is combining her data with Mallard's to get a more complete picture of the distribution of plant communities on the mountain.

As part of her analysis, Green is also looking back at historical data collected by Henry Thoreau in the 1850s, Henry Baldwin in the 1970s and Diane Eno's 2006 species lists to determine if any shifts in species composition have occurred over time. Analyzing past plant species distribution and current climate science, Green hopes to predict possible scenarios for future distribution of plant communities on the mountain in the face of climate change. Her research will serve as baseline vegetative data for the MERE long-term research project.

Matt Walter, MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

Through the early summer of 2007, Matt Walter contributed to the MERE Project by working as Dave Mallard's research assistant. Walter assisted by helping Mallard to establish permanent research plots and collect baseline data on the location, composition, size, and health of tree and shrub species inhabiting Monadnock's upper reaches between 2000 and 3000 feet in elevation.

Working directly with Mallard, under the direction of Dr. Peter Palmiotto, gave Walter the opportunity to develop field skills and exercise good research habits when navigating, taking measurements, and recording data. Palmiotto and Mallard presented a strong model of good research practices, making it clear that compiling a large data set requires organization, efficiency, and diligence. Their example served Walter well as he engaged in his own thesis work-examining red fox and eastern coyote movements in relation to development patterns. In addition to being grateful for the research experience he acquired on Monadnock, Walter is glad that he was able to lend a hand in building the MERE Project's ecological barometer: a valuable monitoring tool that will provide clear signatures of climate change and thereby inform ecologists, students, and others of climate induced ecological changes for years to come.

Dave Mallard, MS '08 Conservation Biology

To complete his master's degree in Conservation Biology, David Mallard established 88 permanent research plots on Mt. Monadnock during summer of 2007. Between 2000 and 3000 feet in elevation, he visited each five-meter radius plot, recording the diameter at breast height (DBH) and species of each tree greater than two inches in diameter; tree canopy height; a tally of saplings of each species; the percent cover of shrubs; the presence of ground cover plant species; and soil depths. Beyond the quantitative data, Mallard conducted a qualitative health assessment of live trees and dead tree decay, as well as the general community structure and composition of each transect outside of the plots.

The purpose of Mallard's study: to describe the natural communities and their current distribution on Mt. Monadnock. Mallard used the information he gathered from each plot to delineate the distribution of forest communities on the mountain. He identified seven distinct community types within the study area: subalpine rocky bald; sheep laurel-labrador tea heath-krummholz; red spruce-heath-cinquefoil rocky ridge; high elevation spruce-fir forest; northern hardwood-spruce-fir forest; sugar maple-beech-yellow birch forest; and hemlock-beech-oak pine forest. Mallard discovered that subalpine rocky bald and sheep laurel-labrador tea heath-krummholz communities are both rare statewide, extremely rare in this region, and considered to be highly sensitive to climate change. Additionally, the dominant community type, high elevation spruce-fir forest, is also extremely rare in this region and considered to be highly sensitive to climate change. His research will serve as baseline vegetative data for the MERE long-term research project. Learn more about Dave Mallard's work on Mount Monadnock.
Read Dave Mallard's Master's Thesis (PDF 850K)

Samantha Langlois, MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

During the summer of 2009 Samantha Langlois will be working as a Summit Steward on the slopes of Mount Monadnock. As the second most climbed mountain in the world, Mount Monadnock experiences the impact of many human feet. As a Summit Steward Langlois looks forward to a lot of time spent hiking Monadnock's trails and hanging out above treeline, acting as an educational resource for the many thousands who visit Monadnock State Park each year.

Lauren Schottenfeld, MS Candidate, Environmental Education

Lauren Schottenfeld joined the MERE project in the summer of 2009 for a practicum working as a Monadnock Trail Steward. She has spent the last four years working as an environmental educator at various educational centers and camps on the East Coast, and has found so much joy in sharing her knowledge and love of the outdoors with folks of all ages. Schottenfeld is hoping to continue sharing her respect and admiration for the natural world with multitudes of hikers on Monadnock this summer and fall. She aspires to point out the “hard to see” critical life processes of the mountain's numerous ecosystems to educate all guests towards a sustainable enjoyment of the second most climbed mountain in the world!

Emily Beck, MS Candidate, Ecological Literacy

Emily came on board with MERE in spring 2009 for a practicum working with Keene High School AP Environmental Science class. She will be teaching a unit on biodiversity in a local context and the resulting lesson plans will be available on website. This experience relates directly to her career goals of promoting ecological literacy in high school students. Emily hopes that this partnership with MERE will help inform her final project at Antioch.

Cheryl Freire, MS Candidate, Science Teacher Certification

In January 2009, Cheryl Freire joined the MERE project and their mission of educating youth of the importance in protecting Mount Mondanock's culture and fragile ecosystems. As the first ever curriculum coordinator one of Freire's main goals has been to develop grant opportunities, which will be used to recruit and train teachers through workshops that benefit the community and represent the curriculum. The secondary education curriculum is designed to educate students with real-world educational experiences focused on alpine ecosystems and the current threats they face due to climate change. Freire continues to develop this curriculum and is looking forward to the completion and application of her work in schools in the Monadnock region. Until then she will continue to earn her master's degree, housed in environmental science and focused on biology teacher certification. The skills and experiences she has gained through her work with the MERE Project will most certainly serve her well once she too becomes a school teacher.

Rose Lenahan, MS Candidate, Science Teacher Certification

Rose Lenahan joined the MERE project in the fall of 2008 with the goal of educating others about the importance and beauty of Monadnock. She took the role of Education Coordinator, which enabled her to work with Keene High School's AP Environmental Studies students. Lenahan coached the students in designing research methods and helped to organize and carry out a study trip up the mountain. She hopes to continue working with MERE and Keene High students to establish a permanent study site in order to monitor crevice communities over many years. Lenahan is a New Hampshire native and has always loved Monadnock. She is very enthusiastic about this project and hopes that its results will help educate people about the mountain, and preserve it for future generations to experience.

Meg Fairchild-Project Coordinator 2008-2009
MS Candidate, Environmental Education

In the fall of 2008, Meg Fairchild began working with the MERE Project as the first ever Project Coordinator. In this role, Fairchild has had the opportunity to work on a variety of tasks to keep the MERE Project moving forward. Some of her accomplishments include: taking aerial photographs of Mount Monadnock's summit to be used to identify crevice communities to be surveyed by the Keene High School Students; preparing for and helping facilitate a strategic planning meeting to identify the mission and goals of the MERE Project; editing and maintaining content on the MERE Project Website; and preparing a slide presentation to show how change has occurred on Mount Monadnock throughout time. As a native of the topographically flat state of Michigan, Fairchild has been grateful for the opportunity to fall in love with such a beautiful, unique, and iconic mountain, which seems to provide a grounding consistency to both residents and visitors to this region, even though change is indeed the only true constant.

Andrew Glikin, MS Candidate, Environmental Education

Andrew Glikin joined the MERE Project in the spring of 2008 to work on the Lantern Slides Project. Glikin began by studying several photographs of Monadnock taken from 1903 to 1907. Then he scouted out the same locations where these older photographs were shot and retook the same photos today. The resulting pairs of images effectively capture the landscape changes that have taken place over the past century due to vegetation regrowth and human influence on the land of Mount Monadnock and its surroundings. Glikin was grateful for the opportunity to use his photographic skills on a project that will have an educational impact on people who will view these images as part of the MERE Project.

Christine Gleason, MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

While studying at Antioch, Christine Gleason had the opportunity to work with the MERE project as Education Coordinator. In association with the Monadnock Advisory Commission, Gleason created an informational brochure to be displayed at Monadnock State Park. The pamphlet provides educational and outreach information regarding current threats, research, and management at Monadnock State Park. In addition, the Monadnock Advisory Commission brochure aims to raise visitors' awareness of our local, natural landmark. Gleason's work played an important role in bringing together three organizations-The Monadnock State Park, The Monadnock Advisory Commision and MERE-with same goal of preserving Mt. Monadnock for generations to come.

Annie Jacobs, MS Candidate, Environmental Writing and Creative Arts

Annie Jacobs' program at Antioch focused on educating the public through clear, engaging, and informative writing on environmental topics. Throughout her program, she sought creative and effective ways to educate with the written word. For the MERE Project, she felt that there must be a way to relate the research on Mount Monadnock to people living in surrounding towns. How, and with what type of information, was the biggest question, and she settled on two major media venues: newspaper and website. Annie wrote an article for the Keene Sentinel, and worked closely with Bonnie Hudspeth to write much of the material on this website.

After hiking the mountain with a the Keene High School students; interviewing people who love the mountain, and people working on the MERE Project; and researching the lore and history of the mountain, Jacobs tried to shed a big-picture light on this special mountain, and the important research taking place there. Along with editing Whole Terrain, Antioch's Journal of Reflective Environmental Practice, the MERE Project was an important piece of her Antioch program, and she will always feel a special kinship with Monadnock.

Bonnie Hudspeth, MS Candidate, Environmental Advocacy and Journalism

Bonnie Hudspeth

As part of her work in Environmental Communications, Bonnie Hudspeth explored many methods of blending the art of science and writing to effectively communicate with an extensive and diverse audience. As communications coordinator for the MERE Project in the spring of 2008 Hudspeth wrote content for and designed the MERE Project website and wrote grants to initiate funding.

In addition, Hudspeth wrote an article for the Keene Sentinel, published on February 25, 2008, reporting the start of the collaborative MERE Project to the greater Monadnock community. Hudspeth had the opportunity to practice and improve her interview skills by speaking with many of the individuals involved in MERE Project partner organizations, such as Charlie Royce of the Monadnock Advisory Commission and Marshall Davenson of Keene High School.

Hudspeth hiked Mt. Monadnock with Davenson's Keene High School AP Environmental Science class on their first ascent up the mountain to start identifying and describing pocket communities. During the hike Hudspeth took pictures for the MERE Project website and interviewed students about their experience.

Nathaniel F. Hoag, MS Candidate, Environmental Media Arts

As part of his Masters studies in Environmental Media Arts at Antioch University New England, Nathaniel Hoag is directing his creative talents toward Mount Monadnock. Following on the heels of an independent study in Music and Nature, Nathaniel is developing a CD that explores the mountain's natural and cultural soundscape.

The CD will include field recordings, music, interviews, poetry readings, and historic re-creations. It will guide listeners on a tour of Mount Monadnock's distinctive acoustic features, and will offer a unique perspective of some colorful events and characters from the mountain's history.

From Thoreau to noise pollution, and from ravens to crickets, Nathaniel's composition will feature the voice of one of New Hampshire's most beloved mountains. Listen to audio clips from Nathaniel's Project--The Voice of Monadnock..

Tyler Maikath - MERE Project Coordinator
MS Candidate, Conservation Biology

Tyler Maikath joined the MERE project in the Fall of 2009 as the new Project Coordinator. The diverse nature of his position includes working with colleagues to educate the public about MERE, develop curriculum, and expand research plots on Monadnock. He also works with Keene High School's AP Environmental Science students on their crevice communities project on Monadnock's summit. Enthusiastic about engaging the public in ecological research, Maikath hopes that as people learn more about Monadnock they will want to preserve this singular peak for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Joshua Surette - Summit Trail Steward
MS Candidate, Resource Management and Conservation

Josh Surette Joshua Surette is a fourth semester RMC student who works for MERE as aSummit Steward. Whereas the majority of his studies revolve around fresh water wetland management, he has strong interests in the MERE project. Having a fascination with sub-alpine zone ecology as well as an awareness of the importance in stewarding it, Joshua enthusiastically engages hikers with the natural history, ecology, and management challenges of Mt. Monadnock.

Student Work with the MERE Project

Research

Education/Outreach

Additional Student Work with Mount Monadnock

Joshua Surette - Summit Trail Steward MS Candidate, Resource Management and Conservation

Joshua Surette - Summit Trail Steward
MS Candidate, Resource Management and Conservation