Bowdoin Scientific Station on Kent Island...Bowdoin Scientific Station – Kent Island 2016 Annual...

BowdoinScientificStation–KentIsland 2016AnnualReport

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BowdoinScientificStationonKentIslandReportofActivities

2016

TheBowdoinScientificStation(BSS)isabiologicalfieldstationlocatedonKentIsland,New

Brunswick,Canada.OperatedbyBowdoinCollegesince1935,thefieldstationalsoincludesthe

adjacentSheepandHayIslands.BSSisdedicatedto:

•SupportingtheliberalartsmissionofBowdoinCollege,theactivitiesofthebroader

scientificcommunity,andthosewholivearoundtheBayofFundy

•Trainingstudentstobecomefutureleadersoftheirfields

•Protectingtheflora,faunaandenvironmentalqualityoftheBayofFundy

•Promotingworld-classscientificresearchontheorganismsandhabitatsoftheBayofFundy

•Providingarusticworkingandlivingenvironmentthatisfreeofdistractions,allowing

scientistsandstudentstobecomefullyimmersedintheirworkandlivingcommunity,and

•Providingafocalpointtoencouragecollaborationanddiscourseamongallmembersofthe

Bowdoincommunityaswellasvisitorsandresearchersatthefieldstation.


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TAKINGTHEMEASUREOFASUMMERAsinthepastfewyears,theKentIslandopen-for-businessseasonwasalongonethisyear,runningfromApriltoOctober.Undergraduateresearchprojectsduringthenine-weeksummersessionrangedfromintertidalecologytostorm-petrelbehaviortoeidernestsuccess;intherealmofthehumanities,onestudentworkedonfictionwritingandanotheronpaintinganintertidalmuralattheGrandMananMuseum.OtherscientistsworkingonKIcollecteddataonSavannahSparrowvocalcommunication,stressresponse,coloration,andpopulationbiology;demographyandtheevolutionarygeneticsoftheimmunesysteminLeach'sStorm-petrels;andthemovementecologyofBlackGuillemotsandGreatBlack-backedGulls.Wealsohostedanarrayoftourgroups,writers,andclassvisitsfromBowdoin,Dalhousie,andArizona.KeyinfrastructureimprovementscontinuetobemadebytheskillfulhandsofMarkoMurrayandRussellIngalls,andaremarkablegiftfromPatty('76)andAndyTowlewillprovidestrongfinancialbackingforthiswork.

Thiswasalsoayearofcontinuingleadershiptransitions.OurownpresenceonKentIslandwasenabledbyDon'ssabbatical,whichlikeallgoodthingsdideventuallycometoanend.Aswewritethis,wearenowconsumedbytheworkofbeingaregularfacultymemberatBates(Don)andaresearchmanageratMaineMedicalPartners(Dre).WithNatWheelwright'sretirementonthetoo-nearhorizon,BowdoinisconductingasearchforafacultymemberwhowilldirectKentIslandforthelonghaul.Intheinterim,thesummerof2017willoperateundertheexperiencedguidanceofEdandMidgeMinot–BowdoinalumswhohavecontinuedtomakepilgrimagesandcontributionstoKentIslandovermanyyears.

Twomoreimportant'transitions'havehappenedsincewelasttouchedbase.WearesaddenedtorelaythepassingofJedBurttandChuckHuntington.Keepreadingfordetailedtributestothesetworeveredornithologists.

Asalways,stayintouch.

DonDearborn,[email protected]

DreGager,[email protected]

Revision Date 5/25/2011

Animal Subjects Protocol Application Form

Principal Investigator Information Name: Robert Mauck Department/Program: Bowdoin Scientific Station at Kent Island Campus Address/ Box #: N/A Email: [email protected] Telephone: 740-427-5076 Responsible Faculty Member (if PI is a student) or Other Investigator(s) (list all individuals authorized to conduct procedures involving animals): 1. Dr. Damon Gannon, Director, Bowdoin Scientific Station at Kent Island 2. Dr. Mark F. Haussmann, Assistant Professor, Bucknell University 3. Dr. Don Dearborn, Associate Professor, Bates College Project Title: Reproductive effort in a long-lived bird If this is a continuation of a previously approved project, please provide the ROC Approval # and previous title of the project. Reproductive effort in a long-lived bird (ROC#2008-15 r2009)

If this project is externally funded, please provide the name of the funding agency:

If the project is part of a course, please provide the course name and number: N/A

• By signing below, I certify that I am familiar with and will comply with all Federal regulations, College policies, and ethical principles of my discipline.

• I certify that I will obtain approval from the ROC before initiating any significant changes in this study. • I will personally conduct or supervise the described protocol activities. • I certify that I will notify the ROC regarding any unexpected study results that impact the animals.

Any unanticipated pain or distress, morbidity, or mortality will be reported to the attending veterinarian and the ROC.

• I certify that I have determined that the research proposed herein is not unnecessarily duplicative of previously reported research.

• I have completed the institutionally required investigator training course. Date completed: May 2008

For each inves t i ga tor named above p l ease a t ta ch a c e r t i f i ca t e o f comple t ion o f t ra in ing in an imal r e s ear ch .

4/30/2011 Signature of Principal Investigator Date Signature of Responsible Faculty Member Date (if other than Principal Investigator signing above)

FOR ROC USE ONLY

Date Received: _____________ Protocol Number:__________

Reasons for Board Decision: ___________________________________________________ Approval Date: ____________ Approval granted by: ____________________


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2016StudentProjectsWehadagreatgroupofstudentsthissummer–8fromBowdoinand1fromKenyon–spanningthefullrangeofclassyears,includingtwostudentswhohadjustcompletedtheirfirstyearatBowdoinandthreestudentswhohadjustgraduatedandwereusingKentIslandasalaunchingpadtothewiderworld.Wedescribetheirprojectshere.

DoBreedingLeach'sStorm-petrelsOceanodromaleucorhoaShowSex-matchedResponsetoConspecificVocalizations?ErinVoss,BowdoinCollege‘16

IfyouhaveeverawokeninthemiddleofthenightonKentIslandforatriptotheouthouse,youcanattesttothevocalenthusiasmofstorm-petrels.Theirchattercallsandpurrcallsarepartoftheislandsoundscape.Withthewidergoalofunderstandingsexratioandmatechoiceinthisspecies,Erinsetouttotestwhethermaleandfemalecallswereacousticallydifferent,andwhetherbirdsinburrowsrespondedtovocalizationsinasex-matchedway–inotherwords,canyoutellamalecallfromafemalecall,anddoindividualsresponddifferentlytothecallsofsame-sexversusdifferent-sexbirds.Erinfoundthatmaleshaveahigher-pitchedcallthandofemales(whichissurprising,giventhelackofdifferenceinbodysize),andthatbirdsinburrowstypicallygiveachattercallinresponsetoplaybackofsame-sexchattercallbutaresilentinresponsetoopposite-sexchattercall,suggestingthatchattersinthiscontextmightbeaggressivesignalsratherthanmate-choicesignals.Inthefuture,wehopetousetheacousticdifferencesbetweensexestoestimatethesexratioofbirdsflyingaroundtheislandearlyinthebreedingseason.

AggressiveResponsetoDisturbanceinBreedingLeach’sStorm-petrels(Oceanodromaleucorhoa)HillaryChavez,KenyonCollege‘16

HillaryjustgraduatedfromKenyonCollege,whereshehadbeenstudyingbiologywithDirectorEmeritusBobMauck(a.k.a.theNinthGiant).She'saLosAngelinawhohasfinallyseentheappealoftheEastCoast,atleastforonesummer.OnKentIsland,shewaspartofateamofthreestudentswhowerestudyingLeach'sStorm-petrels.Unliketherestofthegroup,though,Hillary'sprojectinvolveddeliberatelybeingbittenbystorm-petrelsonadailybasis.Askingtobebitten.Hopingtobebitten,almost.Hillarywasansweringquestionsaboutanimaltemperament:whethermalesandfemalesdifferinaggression,andwhethermatesarepairedupassortatively,disassortatively,orrandomlywithrespecttoaggression.Totestthis,shereachedintoeachburrowinastandardizedwayandgavethebirdtheopportunitytoattack,staystill,orretreat,scoringtheirresponseona5-pointscale.Aftertheencounter,sheremovedthebirdtorecorditsbandnumberforidentification,thenreturnedanotherdaytoassessitsmate.Resultsarepending,butit'sclearalreadythatyoushouldn'ttrythisexperimentwithmuskrats.

AreThereNon-breedingMalesandFemalesinLeach’sStorm-petrel(Oceanodromaleucorhoa)?SabineBerzins,BowdoinCollege‘16

SabinecametoKentIslandasabudding(haha)plantecologist,withaninterestinhowtheisland'splantcommunitieswerechanginginresponsetotheeradicationofsnowshoehares.(Asanaside,theshortansweris"alot.")Butsomehowshewasdrawntotheglitzandglamorofstorm-petrels–lyingfacedownonthesoggygroundandshovingyourarmintothewetdirtofaburrow,orstayinguphalfthe


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nighttocatchbirdswithmistnets.What'snottolove?SosheaskedtojoinErinandHillaryincollectinglong-termdemographydataonstorm-petrelsbreedingintheShire.Shealsoworkedatsheddinglightonthematingsystemofstorm-petrels.Inoneapproach,shecaughtbirdsthatwerevocalizingandflyingaroundtheisland,thenoutfittedthemwithsmallradiotransmittersforsubsequenttracking.Wehopedthatthesebirdswereonthehuntforamateandthatwecouldtracktheirbehavioroverseveralnights.Unfortunately,thetrackingpartoftheprojectprovedtobenearlyimpossible.Thesecond,andmorefruitful,approachtothinkingaboutthematingsystemwastocatchbirdsatnightinmistnetsandthentrytoassesstheirbreedingstatus.Inthespiritofinsularpolytechnology,werefurbishedChuckHuntington's10-metermistnetpolesandsetthemupontheedgeofasmallclearingbetweentheNorthFieldandtheDorm.Thesystemstackedthreemistnetsvertically,andoverthecourseofseveralnightswecapturedandsampled70storm-petrels.WithhelpfromErinandHillary,webandedbirdsandtookbloodsamplesforlaterdeterminingtheirsex,andthenSabinescoredtheextentofeachbird'sbroodpatch–aventralareathatbecomesde-featheredandhighlyvascularizedforincubatingeggsandbroodingyoungchicks.SabinecollectedsimilardataonbirdsthatwereactivelyincubatingeggsinburrowsintheShire.Thelabworkisstillpendingforthesexidentification,butit'sabundantlyclearthatbirdscaughtinmistnetsgenerallyhadeithernobroodpatchoralesswell-developedbroodpatchthanbirdsincubatingeggsinburrows,suggestingthatthesemistnettedbirdswerenotcurrentlybreeding.Theimplicationsformatechoicewilldependonwhetherthesenonbreedingbirdsaremostlymales,mostlyfemales,orabalanceofthetwo.


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KelpGrowthinResponsetoPhysicalDamageandTidepoolTemperatureandpHMikeWalsh,Bowdoin‘19

MikeWalshfacedchallengingsummer,becausehewasdoingdoubledutyasascientistandacook.Notonlythat,hewasnewtocooking(muchlesscookingfor25people!)andhisresearchactivitieswereconstrainedbythetimingofthetides,whichmeantalotofearlymornings!Mike'sprojectwastestingforeffectsofstressonthegrowthofintertidalorganisms.Inparticular,hemeasuredgrowthof80horsetailkelp(Laminariadigitata)growingin10differenttidepools,andhecomparedtemperatureandpHofthosepoolsaspotentialtypesofabioticstress.Butthemostinterestingpartwashisexperimentalapplicationofstress,inwhichhecutoffpartofthebladesofindividuallymarkedkelps,simulatingherbivoryorwavedamage.Byestablishinglandmarksonthekelp,hewasabletomeasuregrowthoverthesummer.MikefoundthatalthoughpoolsvariedovertimeinpHandtemperature,thesevariablesdidnotdiffergreatlybetweenpoolsandwerenotpredictiveofkelpgrowth.However,Mikedidfindapronouncedeffectofhisexperimentaldamage:kelpgrewmoreinresponsetoahigh-damagetreatmentthaninalow-damagetreatmentorcontrolgroup.Thiseffectparallelsapatternsometimesseeninterrestrialplants,whereplantsresponsetoherbivorybyinvestingmore(ratherthanless)inleafgrowth.

InteractiveEffectsofRockweedHarvestandGreenCrabAbundanceonIntertidalCommunitiesSamWalkes,Bowdoin‘18

AlthoughSamwasnotacook,hedidshareMike'sconstraintofbeingboundtothetides.WithadvicefromBowdoinprofessorAmyJohnson,Samwasexploringhowtheintertidalcommunityrespondedtothepotentialinteractingeffectsofgreencrababundanceandrockweedharvest.IntheBayofFundy,rockweed(Ascophyllumnodosum)isharvestedonbothasmallscaleandcommercialscale,foruseinclambakes,asgardenfertilizer,andasadditivesinfoodsandcosmetics.NatWheelwrighthasheroicallyandsuccessfullyfoughttopreventrockweedharvestingonKent,Sheep,andHayIslands,butharvestingispervasiveelsewhere.Ecologically,thebestwaytoharvestisbycuttingratherthanbyremovingtheentireholdfast,asthisensuresfasterregrowth.Butevencuttingtherockweedchangesthe"canopy"oftheintertidalcommunity.Greencrabs(Carcinusmaenus),invasivesfromEuropebutnowfirmlyestablishedintheBayofFundy,havebeenshowntohavenegativeimpactsonothercrabsandonmollusksincludingthecommonperiwinkle,Littorinalittorea(whichis,itself,commerciallyvaluable).Samsetouttoconductafactorialexperimentinwhichhevariedthepresenceofrockweedharvestandgreencrabdensity.Asoftenhappenswithfieldprojects,heencounteredsomedifficultieswiththeinstallationandmaintenanceofmeshcagesdesignedtoexcludegreencrabsfromasubsetofhisexperimentalplots.Thiswasafrustratingprocess,butSampersistedwiththededicationofatruescientist.Infact,thisisworthmentioninginandofitself–Samhasfullyembracedtheroleofanecologist.Hecandizzyyouwithreferencestothevastliteratureonintertidalorganismsandcommunityecology,andheknowshisintertidalcreatureslikethebackofhishand.HegaveapresentationonhisprojectattheGrandMananMuseum,andheenthusiasticallyconveyedboththeintellectualsideandtheappliedsideoftheworkthatwedoonKentIsland.


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EggRecognitionandNestSanitationinHerringGullsLarusargentatus.AndrewBlunt,BowdoinCollege‘19

Foranyanimalwithparentalcare,itcanbecriticaltorecognizeyouroffspring.Inabird'snest,forexample,it'shighlybeneficialtodistinguishbetweenyoureggsanddebristhathasfallenintothenest,orbetweenyoureggsandtheeggsofabroodparasitewhoistryingtotrickyouintodoingtheworkofraisingherkids.OnKentIsland,HerringGullsnestindensecoloniesatthetopoftheintertidalzone,whereavarietyofnaturalandman-madeobjectsareconstantlybeingshiftedaroundintheenvironment.Andalthoughbroodparasitismhasnotbeenreportedfromthisspecies,colonialbreedingcertainlyprovidesplentyofopportunityforsneakinganeggintoanotherbird'snest.Tothatend,AndrewtestedwhetherincubatingHerringGullswouldrejectvariousobjectsthatwereexperimentallyaddedtotheirnests.Hisexperimentusedtheeightpossiblecombinationsoftwosizes,twocolors,andtwoshapesofobjects.ThecolorswerechosentomimicthemaincolorofHerringGulleggs(olivetan)ortheHerringGullbillspot(red),andshapewaschosentomimicHerringGulleggsorarectangularblock.Atthemostrealisticendofthespectrum,heuseda3D-printedeggthatwasthecolor,size,andshapeofarealHerringGullegg,basedonmeasurementsfromKentIslandeggsintheBerkeleyMuseumofVertebrateZoology.Attheleastrealisticendofthespectrumwasaredblockofwood.Across120experimentaltrials,AndrewwassurprisedtofindthatHerringGullsacceptedalmostalloftheobjectsheused!ThisstandsinstarkcontrasttotherefineddiscriminatoryabilitiesthathaveevolvedinmanyhostsofEuropeanCuckoos(Cuculuscanorus)orBrown-headedCowbirds(Molothrusater),andevenfallsshyofthelevelofnestsanitationseeninmanyspeciesofbirds.

ShortStoryWritingSavannahHorton,BowdoinCollege‘17

KentIslandcanbeaninspirationalplacetowrite,whetherthesubjectofyourwritingissituatedonKentIslandoryoujustbenefitfromthesimplicityandfocuspossibleinanisolatedandrusticsetting.ForSavannah'ssummerproject,itwasmostlythelatter.Shecamewithaplantowriteshortstories,andboydidshedeliver.Overthecourseofthesummer,shewrote11stories.Someareaboutseasidecommunities,butnotall.Regardlessofthestories'settings,theyfeaturetidbitsthatKentIslanderswillrecognize.Forexample,onestoryiscalledtheMuskratKing,inspiredbyapieceofartworkintheDorm;thestory'smaincharacterisanonlinesalesrepforanoutdoorequipmentcompany,butherbrotherisatrapperwhospecializesinmuskrats.Inadifferentstory,acharactercan'tresisttheurgetostaredownintothepitoftheouthouse.Anotherthemeishowthepassageoftimerevealsthebattlebetweenattritionandupkeepinarusticplace.Beforewritinganyofthesestories,though,Savannahworkedthroughasyllabusofreadings,devisedwithfeedbackfromBowdoinprofessorofEnglish,BrockClarke.SomeofherinspirationsincludedLorriMoore,LauraVanDenBerg,andRichardRusso.Savannahalsograppledwiththechallengesofbeingtheonlyfictionwriterinanoutpostofscientists.OnerespitewasashortvisitbyAlisonDeming,ProfessorofCreativeWritingattheUniversityofArizona,whobroughtasmallgroupofcreativewritingMFAstudentsplusseveralGrandMananhighschoolstudents,forawritingworkshoponKentIsland.


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CommonEiderNestDensityandSuccess:AreGullsPredatorsorProtectors?EricLink,Bowdoin‘17

TheearlyhistoryofKentIslandisintertwinedwiththesuccessoftheCommonEider(Somateria

mollissimadresseri),asAfredGrossstudiedeiderecologyinthe1930sandJ.SterlingRockefellerdonatedKentIslandtoBowdoinin1936withtheideathattheislandserveasaneiderpreserve.Thissummer,Ericfollowedinthefootstepsoftheseandotherpioneers,asheexploredthequestionofwhethergullsweregoodorbadforeidernestsuccess.Ontheonehand,HerringGullsandGreatBlack-backedGullsareopportunisticforagersthatwilleateggs,inwhichcaseeidersmightfarebetteriftheynestinareasoflowgulldensity.Ontheotherhand,gullsareraucousdefendersoftheirnestingcolonies,asevidencedbytheirconspicuousmobbingofBaldEagles,inwhichcaseeidersmightbenefitfromnestinginproximitytogulls.Ericlocated,mapped,andmonitoredeidernestsonKent,Sheep,andHay,butultimatelyhefoundnorelationshiponewayortheotherbetweeneidernestsuccessandgulldensity.Therewasalsonorelationshipbetweeneidernestsuccessandnestconcealment,thoughbetterconcealednestsdidhavelargerclutches.Aseiderseasonwounddown,Ericshiftedhisattentiontospittlebugs.Thisisagreatsystemfordetailedexperimentalwork,andheusedhisfinaltwoweekstobuildspittlebugenclosuresandcarefullytestthehostplantpreferencesoftheseinterestinglittlecreatures.


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ArtistinResidence-GrandMananMuseumIntertidalMuralProjectTraceyFaber,BowdoinCollege‘16

WelovetheideaofforgingclosertieswiththepeopleofGrandManan,andthisprojectisagreatoneinthatregard.Ifyou'veneverbeentotheGrandMananmuseum,locatedinGrandHarbor,itisdefinitelyworthavisit.Exhibitsrangefromnaturalhistory(birdsofAllanMoses)toculturalcuriosity(mysterious,miniaturedioramascarvedinsidegunstocksinthelate1800sbytwobrothersfromDarkHarbor)tolocalart.ThenewestadditionisanintertidalmuraldepictingtheecosystemandindustriesoftheintertidalzoneintheBayofFundy.TheprojectisorganizedbycuratorMJEdwards,withthepaintingitselfledbyGrandMananartistSaraGriffin.In2015,SarateamedupwithBowdoinstudentsTraceyFaber'16andIsaacJagerman'16,andtheycompletedPhaseIoftheproject.Thissummer,2016,TraceyreturnedtoworkonPhaseII,partneringwithSaraGriffinandalsowithShaunaGass,afineartsstudentfromMountAllisonUniversityinSackville,NewBrunswick.Theresultisstunning,withafloor-to-ceilingpanoramathatsweepsdownastaircaseandaroundacorner,burstingwithadiversityofalgae,mollusks,crabs,barnacles,fishes,birds,whales,aseal,salmonaquaculturepensandevensomehumans–dulseharvestersLeroyandRolandFlaggandclammerOliver“Smiles”Green.Whileworkingontheproject,TraceystayedrootedintheGrandManancommunity,livinginthekeeper'scottageatSwallowtailLighthouse,butshemaderegularforaystoKentIsland,whereshewasalwaysfoundinthethickoftheaction,bakinginthekitchen,knittingintheDingleberry,andprovidingextrahandstotheecologystudents.

OtherScientistsandVisitorsInadditiontothestudentswhoformthecoreoftheKentIslandexperience,wehadwonderfulvisitsfromanarrayofotherscientists.AbiggroupfromGuelphUniversitystudiedSavannahSparrowpopulationbiologyandphysiologyovermuchofthesummer,withPIsRyanNorrisandAmyNewman,


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plusgraduatestudentBradWoodworthandundergraduateMaddieEdmonds.AndwehadananimalbehaviorgroupfromtheUniversityofWindsor,studyingSavannahSparrowsongandcolor-basedsexualselectionwithPIsDanMennillandStephanieDoucet,plusgraduatestudentsandassistantsInesMoran,KristinaHick,RachelHasson,andSarahMackay.AlsointheworldofSavannahSparrowsong,wehadashortvisitbyHeatherWilliams(Bowdoin'77)andtwoofherWilliamsCollegestudents.TherewasalsoaBobMaucksighting,ashecontinuestospearheadhislong-termworkonthedemographyofLeach'sStorm-petrels.

RobRonconiandSarahWongbroughtamarineornithologycoursefromDalhousieUniversity,whichfortwodaysswelledthehumanpopulationoftheislandtoanincredible45.Thisissurelyarecordforthenumberofovernightvisitors!RobandacoupleofcollaboratorsalsomadeashortvisitortwotocontinuetheirworkusingtelemetrytotrackthemovementsofBlackGuillemotsandGreatBlack-backedGulls.Lastly,MarileeLovitandGartBishopfromtheNewBrunswickMuseumreturnedfora1-weekvisittocontinueinventoryingtheherbaceousfloraoftheisland,thistimefocusingongrasses,sedgesandrushes.

AdditionalvisitorsincludedtheBowdoinMarineScienceSemestergroup,AlisonDeming'screativewritingclass(seedescriptionofSavannahHorton'sproject,above);EmmaBothwell(partneredwithGuelphbiologistBradWoodworth);JasonHarding(ThePenningtonSchool);localsBarryandCherylRussellofWhiteHead;KI/GMalumsKateMcNally(Bates'17)andLiamTaylor(Bowdoin'17);PeterCunningham;NatandGenieWheelwrightandfamily;Bob,Susie,andKatieMauck(KenyonCollege);MarkHaussmannandfamily(BucknellUniversity);andBethCapaldi(BucknellUniversity).

KidsThiswasagoodyearforkidsontheisland,harkeningbacktotheeraofMurrays,Maucks,andWheelwrights.ForthemonthofJune,wehadtheNorris/NewmanprogenyEvie(3yrsold)plustheMennill/DoucetcreationsMax(2yrsold)andAmelie(4yrsold).FromtheGager/DearbornclanwehadEmma(5yrsold)forJuneandJuly,plusashortvisitbyfriendsWill(15)andLucy(12).Thestudentswereextremelypatientwiththekids'unendingdesiretobeinvolvedintheirgames,conversations,and–especially–cookingandbaking.Butthekidsalsohadtheusualarrayofislandfunontheirown,withlotsofbeachcombing,nestsearching,spiderwrangling...andofcoursethemud.Lotsandlotsofmud.

HeatherWilliams,toEmmaCatharineGagerDearborn:"HowwasyourtriptoMachias?"Emma(5):"Great!IsawpuffinsandIthrewup!"

Ifthatdoesn'tsumupthesummer,Idon'tknowwhatdoes.


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InsularPolytechnologyThesuccessoftheKentIslandprogramhingesonafinebalancebetweenhavingfacilitiesthataresimpleenoughtostaytruetotheisland'sethosbutrobustenoughtoletusdoourworkandhaveamodicumofcomfort.StrikingtherightbalancefortheumpteenthyearwasMarkoMurray.

Majorupgradesthisyearincludedanewwaterpurificationsystem,inresponsetosafetyconcernsfromtheBowdoinfacilitiesadvisors.Thenewsystemincludespumpingthewaterthroughafine-meshfilterandaUVlamp,bothofwhichsubstantiallyincreasedthedemandforelectricity.WewereluckytohaveanextremelysunnyJunethisyear!Onarelatednote,themaininverterthatconvertsDCsolarpowertoACoutletsneededsomerepairwork,andSethMurraywasthemanforthejob.Sethreplacedtworelaysthathadbeenarcing,andalliswellforthetimebeing.Inconcert,hewiredupthenewgenerator,whichshouldincreasethereliabilityofourfoggy-weatherelectricalproduction.Thesolarsystemandinverterarestillabitoutdatedandunderpoweredforthegrowingelectricaldemand,butseebelowforgreatnewsaboutagenerousgiftfromPattyandAndyTowle.

TheotherbiginfrastructureundertakingthisyearwasthestartofamajorrenovationtoHodgsonHouseandtheWarden'sHouse.Becauseofthescaleoftheproject,Markowaiteduntiltheendofthesummer,whenstudentswouldnolongerneedhim,andheenlistedhelpfromRussellIngallsandMarkWilcoxforthedemolitionphaseoftheproject.Allwascomplicatedbythepresenceofleadpaint,butpersistencefromMarkoandhelpfromBowdoin'sHazardousMaterialsAbatementbudget(andDonBorkowskiandLisaCoombs)eventuallywontheday.Workwillcontinuenextsummerandbeyond,andthankstothegenerosityofPattyandAndyTowletheneweditionsofthesebuildingswillbesnug,dry,androt-freeforyearstocome.

Warden'sHouse(L)andHodgsonHouse(R),inearlystagesofrenovation.

MinorbutstillimportantprojectsthissummerincludedreplacingtheanemometeratoptheWarden'sHouse,gatheringthebraintrusttomakeanothertryatfixingtheautomatedweatherstationwhichwehopewilleventuallylive-streamKIweatherdataonline,andchristeninganewcompostingtoiletdownbytheLowerLab.Asapartnertothislastactivity,wedeconstructedthetworottenouthousesinthe


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woodsnearthewharf,movedthemovertotheBasinbesidetheGillette,andburnedthematlowtideinamidsummerbonfire.Don’teatthemarshmallowsfromthatfire.

Wecameclosetoendingtheseasononanoteofinfrastructuresatisfaction,andthenErnestJoy'smotorblewacylinder.Sigh.PleasesendsparechangeorspareoarstoMarkMurray....:-)

AnAmazingGiftfromPattyandAndyTowleWearedelightedtosaythatPattyO’BrienTowle(‘76)andherhusbandAndyTowlearemakinganincrediblegifttoKentIsland,torenovatetheWarden’sHouse,upgradethesolarphotovoltaicpowersystem,andsupportongoingmaintenancework.TheWarden’sHousewasbuiltinthe1930sbyLesterTateandhasservedastemporaryhomeforanhistoricprogressionofcaretakersanddirectorsofKentIsland(culminating,lessfamously,withyourstruly).Despiteregularattentionandperiodicrepairs,thebuildingisshowingitsage.WithsupportfromtheTowles,wewillbeabletostabilizethefoundation,gutandrebuildtheinterior,replacetheroof,upgradethedoorsandwindows,andrefurnishtherooms,allwhilepreservingthehistoriccharacterofthebuilding.ThesecondlargechangeenabledtheTowles'giftisthecreationofanintegrated,large-capacitysolarpowersystem.SolarpanelsfirstcametoKentIslandin1987,duringNatWheelwright’syearsasdirector.Asdemandsforelectricityandwaterhaveincreased,thepowersystemhasbeenexpandedinanecessarilypiecemealmanner.Movingforward,wearenowpositionedtoinstallanintegratedsystemwithhighervoltageanda3kWcapacitytopowerthegreatscienceandlearningthatisahallmarkoftheKIprogram.Lastly,theTowlesrecognizethatthenaturalelementsofKentIslandthatwelovesomuch–fog,drivingrain,saltspray,temperaturefluctuations,andtheoccasionalblastsofsolarradiation–arebrutallyhard


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onthefacilities.Thus,thethirdpartoftheTowles’giftprovidesthemeansforthisperpetualmaintenance,creatinganendowedmaintenancefundfromwhichwecandrawforyearstocome.TheirdevotionandloyaltytoKentIslandwillensurethatfuturestudentshaveaccesstothesameuniqueandlife-changingopportunities.

OtherDoingsFourothereventsofthe2016summerareworthmentionhere.First,wefortifiedourGrandMananconnectionsbygivinganeveningpresentationattheGrandMananMuseum.DongaveanoverviewofKentIsland'secologyanditsresearchprogram,andtwostudents(ErinVossandSamWalkes)gavedynamitepresentationsoftheirsummerprojects.Weplayedtoapackedhouse,thankstoadoublebillingwithPeterCunningham,whogaveanillustratedhistoryofhisdad'slongloveaffairwiththestudyoffogonKentIsland.

Second,wemovedawhale.Indeed,awhale.Inthefallof2013,ajuvenilehumpbackwhale,dubbedHarmonicbyresearcherswiththeGulfofMaineHumpbackWhaleCatalog,diedofunknowncauses,wasspottedbyChrisIngalls,andeventuallywashedashoreonSheepIsland.After3yearsofdecomposition,mostoftheskeletonwascleanenoughfortransport,andwithagroupeffortwesucceededinmovingittotheGrandMananWhaleandSeabirdResearchStationinNorthHead.KeyplayerswereMarkMurray,RussellIngalls,MarkWilcox,LaurieMurison,andtheentirestudentpopulationofKentIsland.Theskullaloneweighedroughly400pounds.AnaddedbonuswaswatchingRussellbringIslandBoundsidewaysrightuptothebeach,wherewecouldusethehoisttogettheheaviestpiecesaboard.PeterCunninghamtooksomegreatphotosoftheprocess,andwewereluckytobeinterviewedafterwardsonCBCradio.TruetoKentIslandfashion,Ilostcellservicepartwaythroughtheliveon-airinterview,whichiswhatIdeserveforstrayingintotherealmofmodernconnectivityinamindfullyisolatedplace!


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ThethirditemofnoteisadocumentedcaseofaviancholerainaCommonEidercarcassonSheepIsland.RobRonconiandSarahWongfoundthecarcassandfacilitatedthediagnosis.Aviancholeraisascarydisease–theriskoftransmissiontohumansisextremelylow,butitcancausemassivemortalityinbirds,particularlyincolonialwaterfowl.AsubsequentsurveyonSheepIslandturneduponlyacoupleofeiderandgullcarcasses;thecauseofdeathinthosecaseswasunclear,butIfollowedprotocolsfromtheUSGSNationalWildlifeHealthCenterandincineratedthecarcasseson-sitetoreducetheriskofspread.Wewerehappytoseenofurthersignsofanoutbreak.

Andfourth,inthe'newsofislanders'column,NatWheelwrightreportsthatthe2016NorthAmericanOrnithologicalConferencesawareunionofnolessthan18KentIslanders,picturedbelow.

Seatedfromleft:SamiNichols’09,Prof.NatWheelwright,LiamTaylor’17,BryantDossman’11,DavidZonana’09,MikeButler’02,ClaraCooper-Mullin(KenyonCollege’09),KristinaHick(UniversityofWindsor,Mastersstudent),GrahamSorenson(KenyonCollege’12),SheelaTurbek’13,BradWoodworth(UniversityofGuelph,PhDstudent),LisaHarn(KenyonCollege’09).Standingfromcenter:KevinOh’01,NathanElliott’09,AndreaKudrezTownsend’98,IrisLevin’05,InesMoran(UniversityofWindsor,Mastersstudent).PhotobyToddFosgren’03.

AtthatsameNAOCconference,NatwaselectedtotheCounciloftheAmericanOrnithologicalSociety,DonwontheStorrsOlsonAwardfortheyear'sbestbookreviewpublishedinTheWilsonJournalof

Ornithology,andJedBurtt'70posthumouslywontheMargaretMorseNicePrize,thehighesthonorgivenbytheWilsonOrnithologicalSociety.


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Passages:JedBurtt(22April1948–27April2016)JedButt('70)passedawayon26April2016attheageof68.JedcametoKentIslandasastudentofChuck's,wherehestudiedstorm-petrelsforhishonorsthesis.Aswithmanyofus,Jed'sexperiencesonKentshapedthearcofhiscareerandhislife.AfterBowdoin,hecompletedaMSandPhDinZoologyunderJackHailmanattheUniversityofWisconsin.Followinga1-yearvisitingpositionattheUniversityofTennessee,in1977hejoinedthefacultyatOhioWesleyan,wherehetrulyexcelledatallthreecompetingpartsofafacultyjob–teaching,research,andservice.Atastudent-centeredschool,Jedwasknownasanoutstandingteacherandmentor.In2011,hewasrecognizedastheOhioProfessoroftheYearbytheCarnegieFoundationfortheAdvancementofTeaching.Inresponsetoreceivingthataward,hesaid"Awakeningapassioninayoungpersonandhelpingeachstudentfulfillanewlyformulateddreamistheessenceofteaching.Thereisnohigher

calling,nogreaterpurposeinlife."HisdedicationtoteachingandmentoringisfurtherevidencedbytheWilsonOrnithologicalSociety'screationoftheJedBurttMentoringGrantsprogram,tosupportfacultywhoaresimilarlydedicated.

Butsomehowatthesametime,Jedwasaproductiveandinternationallyrecognizedscientist.Hisworkcenteredonthebiologyofaviancoloration,fueledbymorethan$3millioninresearchgrants.Inthelate1990s,heusheredinanewfieldattheintersectionoffeatherstructure,coloration,andbacteria,sparkingenormousinterestintheunappreciatedrolethatbacteriamighthaveindegradingbirds'feathersandimpactingthingsasdiverseassexualsignaling,flightperformance,andthetimingofannualcyclesofmigration,breeding,andmolt.Despitehavingsuchanaction-packedresearchprogram,Jedwasextraordinarilygenerouswithhistime.WhenIwasapostdocinPattyParker'slabatOhioStateUniversity,Iwasstudyingsexualselectioninfrigatebirds.Asatangentialpartofmywork,Iwantedtoknowabitmoreaboutthestructureandmorphologyoffrigatebirds'infamousinflatableredgularpouch,andJed(whodidn'tknowmefromanybody)wasextraordinarilykindinapplyinghiselectronmicroscopyskillstotheproblem.Hisgenerositywasmorewidelyevidentinhisservicetohisprofession,includingatermaspresidentoftheAmericanOrnithologistsUnion,thepremiereNorthAmericanorganizationofscientistswhostudythebiologyofbirds.

AlthoughJed'sresearchledhimawayfromstorm-petrels,heneverlostsightofKentIslandandtheimpactithadonhim–andonhissister,Martha,whoservedattheKIcookonesummerinthelate1960s!AfterJedpassedaway,MarthacametoscatterhisashesonKentIsland,nearthestorm-petrelsandoceanandfieldsthathadmeantsomuchtohim.


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Passages:ChuckHuntington(8December1919-2January2017)WritingatributetoChuckisatallorder.Perhapsthesimplestapproachisjusttothrowoutastringofphrasesthatwilltriggeryourownmemories.Thecaribousweater(okay,sweaters,plural,anditeratively).TrivialPursuit.Choogle.Thefueldepot.Well-lovedbakedbeansfromtheMarjoryStandishcookbook.Lesswell-lovedpeanutbuttersoup.Yellow.TheX-axis.Chuckingthepanoflasagnaorbrownies.Wearingahardhatforgrubbing.DymoTapelabels.Thewhiteradio.Theburrowcards.Hisencyclopedicknowledgeofthebreedinghistoriesofsomanyindividualstorm-petrels.

AloveofbirdsandoftravelbothcametoChuckearlyinlife.Becausehisfather,Ellsworth,wasaYalegeographerwhostudiedclimateandhumanculture,thefamilyspenttimeinfar-flungplaces.Asanadult,ChuckandWeezwouldtakeadvantageofsabbaticalsforresearchvisitstoNewZealandandEngland,andofcoursetotravelrecreationallytoseebirds.

ChuckreceivedhisBSandPhDfromYale,withaninterveningstintintheNavy.HecametoBowdoinin1953,replacingthejust-retiredAlfredGross,anditwasduringChuck’ssecondyearatBowdointhathemetWellesleyCollegeseniorLouiseSlaterataconference.HeproposedduringadateonKentIsland,andtheymarriedin1956.(Apersonalcrossingofpaths:duringthefirstyearoftheirmarriage,WeeztaughtattheNorthfieldSchoolforGirls,whereDre’smomwasthenajuniorinhighschool–athomewehaveayearbookwithWeez’spicture!)

ChuckservedasdirectoroftheBowdoinScientificStationonKentIslandfor34years.Yes,34years.Andlong,longafterheretiredandpassedthattorchtoNat,hecontinuedtocometoKentIslandforresearch.In2008,whenDrewasservingascookforthesummer,shealsohadthefunofbeingChuck'sgrubbingassistantonPetrelPath.Hewas88yearsold,hunchedover,andmovingslowlywithawalkingstick,butinaYoda-likewayhewasstillgettingitdone.Atonepointhetrippedoverabranchandtoppledintotheundergrowth,disappearingbeneathaclosedcanopyoffernsandraspberries.Dre,whohadbeenfeelingveryresponsibleforthewell-beingofanoctogenarianonaremoteisland,immediatelythought"Ohno,IjustbrokeChuck!"Butafterapause,afaintvoicefloatedupoutofthegreenery,unexpectedlyreporting"Somethingdownheresmellswonderful!"

Chuck'sstudyofstorm-petreldemographywasaZenpursuit,motivatednotbytherewardofpublicationbutbyhisownpersistentcuriosity.I'llremindyouthatthesearebirdsthatcanlivenearly


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40years,andChuckwastryingtochronicletheirlifestories.Fittingly,Chuckwasinitforthelonghaul.Remember,thisisthemanwhograduallyreadtheentiretyofMobyDickintheouthouse.

OutsideofBowdoin,ChuckmadeimportantcontributionsbyhelpingfoundtheNaturalResourcesCouncilofMaineandbyservingaspresidentoftheAssociationofFieldOrnithologists,presidentoftheNortheasternBird-BandingAssociation,andvice-presidentoftheMaineAudubonSociety.

ButhisbiggestpassionwasthedetailedindividualhistoryofKentIsland'sstorm-petrels.Notsurprisingly,hisfamilyhassuggestedthatwell-wishersmakememorialcontributionstoTheKentIslandFundatBowdoinCollege.Andifyouhaveabandanaorshirtthatstillsmellslikeastorm-petrel,thinkofChuckwhenyousniffit,andpleasedon'twashit.

AhistoricalcompositeoftheKentIslandbraintrust:ChuckHuntington(Director,1953-1988),NatWheelwright(Director,1987-2003),BobMauck(Director,2004-2008),DamonGannon(Director,2008-2015),andMarkMurray(ChiefofInsularPolytechnology,1990-1995,2000-2001,2004-present).

TheKentIslandFundBowdoinCollege4100CollegeStationBrunswick,ME04011


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2016Publications(*=atleastoneundergraduateauthor)

*DearbornDC,GagerAB,McArthurAG,GilmourME,MandzhukovaE,andMauckRA.2016.Gene

duplicationanddivergenceproducediverseMHCgenotypeswithoutdisassortativemating.MolecularEcology25:4355-4367.

PakkalaJJ,NorrisDR,SedingerJS&NewmanAEM.2016.Experimentaleffectsofearly-lifecorticosteroneontheHPAaxisandpre-migratorybehaviorinawildsongbird.FunctionalEcology30:1149-1160.

WheelwrightNT.2016.Eradicationofanecosystemengineer.FrontiersinEcologyandtheEnvironment14:53-54.

*WheelwrightNT,BeginE,EllwangerC,TaylorSH,andStoneJL.2016.Minimallossofgeneticdiversityandnoinbreedingdepressioninblueflagiris(Irisversicolor)onislandsintheBayofFundy.Botany94:643-554.

*Woodworth,BK,NewmanAEM,TurbekSP,DossmanBC,HobsonKA,WassenaarLI,MitchellGW,WheelwrightNT,andNorrisDR.2016.Differentialmigrationandthelinkbetweenwinterlatitude,timingofmigration,andbreedinginasongbird.Oecologia181:413-422.

WoodworthBK,WheelwrightNT,NewmanAE,SchaubM,andNorrisDR.2017.Wintertemperatureslimitpopulationgrowthrateofamigratorysongbird.NatureCommunications(inpress).


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