Margaret A. Palmer
Born
Florida
Alma materEmory University (B.S.), University of South Carolina (M.S., Ph.D.)
Known forRestoration ecology, Limnology, Ecotoxicology
Scientific career
InstitutionsWabash College, University of Maryland
ThesisThe role of behavior and flow in the dispersal of marine meiofauna (1983)
Websitepalmerlab.umd.edu

Margaret A. Palmer (/ˈpɑːlmər/) is a Distinguished University Professor[1] in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland and director of the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). Palmer works on the restoration of streams and rivers, and is co-author of the book Foundations of Restoration Ecology.[2] Palmer has been an invited speaker in numerous and diverse settings including regional[3] and international forums, science-diplomacy venues (e.g., in North Korea[4][5]), and popular outlets such as The Colbert Report.[6]

Education and career

Palmer has a B.S. in biology from Emory University (1977),[7] and completed her M.S. (1979)[8] and Ph.D. (1983)[9] in coastal oceanography at the University of South Carolina with a focus on hydrodynamics and dispersal of benthic organisms. Palmer was an assistant professor at Wabash College from 1983 to 1987,[7] and then moved to the University of Maryland in 1987.[10] Palmer was a program officer in Ecology at the National Science Foundation from 1999 to 2000.[7] From 2005 to 2011, Palmer was the director of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory at which point she transitioned into her current position as director, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.[7]

Research

Palmer's research focuses on restoration ecology, offering a new approach of incorporating human needs for ecosystem services into restoration plans to create sustainable environments for all species.[11] Her research suggests it is unlikely for a disrupted ecosystem to be restored to original conditions so it is necessary to engineer a productive ecosystem that will serve the needs of the current biological community as well as the growing human population.[12][13] Palmer also documents the relationship between stream recovery and water quality, finding that recovery is often dependent on removing the source of contamination rather than improving any physical stream structures.[14]

Restoration ecology

Palmer conducted multiple research projects in the field of restoration ecology and co-authored the book Foundations of Restoration Ecology.[2] She outlines the methods and goals associated with restoring ecosystems and works to bridge the gap between ecological theory and restorative ecology in practice. The book provides a history of ecological theory and restoration, requirements for a functional ecosystem, and planning for environmental stressors like climate change. In her research, she challenges the traditional methods of stream restoration that focus solely on improving the physical aspects of stream habitats such as adding meanders.[15] She suggests a more holistic approach that observes the inputs and outputs of the ecosystem and how biodiversity can be increased.[14][15]

Mountaintop mining

Palmer led a study on the impacts of mountaintop mining, a method of extracting coal by removing the summits of mountains to access coal seams close to the surface, on stream ecosystems.[16] The study concluded that the controversial method of resource extraction has irreversible effects on the ecosystem, specifically headwater systems. Palmer documents the change in stream health showing a decrease in species biodiversity, poor water quality, higher stormwater runoff, and high concentrations of contaminants.[17] She has been called as an expert witness to testify before congress on the issue of mountain top mining and joined other scientists in calling for an end to the practice.[18]

Contributions to ecotoxicology

Palmer's research extends into the field of ecotoxicology where her research has shown that the addition of physical structures or improvements to habitat complexity is not sufficient for increasing biodiversity when contaminants are still entering the ecosystem.[15] In Chesapeake Bay, she has research nonpoint source pollution in stream-wetland complexes which were designed to increase hydraulic conductivity and filter out pollutants to reduce the total suspended solids (TSS).[19] Palmer's research concluded that stressors such as intense storms and the volume of TSS upstream were more likely to affect stream health than increasing stream-wetland complexes.[19][14]

Selected publications

  • Palmer, M.A. et al. 2004. Ecology for a crowded planet. Science 304: 1251-1252.[13]
  • Bernhardt, E.S., M. A. Palmer et al. 2005. Restoration of U.S. Rivers: a national synthesis. Science 308:636-637.[12]
  • Palmer, M.A. et al. 2010. Mountaintop Mining Consequences. Science 327 (5962): 148-149.[11]
  • Palmer, M.A., C. Reidy, C. Nilsson et al. 2008. Climate change and the world's river basins: anticipating response options. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 6: 81-89.[20]
  • Palmer, M.A., B. Koch, and K. Hondula. 2014. Ecological restoration of streams and rivers: shifting strategies and shifting goals. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 45: 247-269[14]

Awards

  • Ruth Patrick Award, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (2018)[21]
  • Fellow, Society for Freshwater Science (2017)[22]
  • Sustainability Science Award, Ecological Society of America (2016)[23]
  • Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland (2015)[1]
  • Award of Excellence, Society for Freshwater Science (2015)[24]
  • Fellow, Ecological Society of America (2012)[25]
  • Henry J. Oosting Memorial Lecturer, Duke University (2012)[26]
  • University System of Maryland, Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence (2011)[27]
  • University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, President's Award for Excellence in Application of Science (2010)[28]
  • Distinguished Ecologist citation, Colorado State University (2006)[29]
  • Distinguished Service Award, Ecological Society of America (2006)[30]
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2002)[31]
  • Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow (2001)[32]
  • Distinguished Scholar Teacher, University of Maryland (1993)[33]

References

  1. 1 2 "Four Named 2015 Distinguished University Professors in UMD College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences". 2015-07-16.
  2. 1 2 "Foundations of Restoration Ecology". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  3. ↑ Friedrichsen, Amber. "Margaret Palmer discusses restoration for America's water systems". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  4. ↑ Stone, R. (2012). "Seeking Cures for North Korea's Environmental Ills". Science. 335 (6075): 1425–1426. Bibcode:2012Sci...335.1425S. doi:10.1126/science.335.6075.1425. PMID 22442451.
  5. ↑ Chemnick, Jean (April 18, 2019). "North Korea: Starving people cut trees to grow food. That made it worse". www.eenews.net. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  6. ↑ "Coal Comforg - Margaret Palmer". January 18, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Margaret A. Palmer CV" (PDF).
  8. ↑ Palmer, Margaret A (1979). Reproductive ecology of the meiobenthic copepod Microarthridion littorale (Poppe) (Crustacea: Copepoda, Harpacticoida) (Thesis). OCLC 7259361.
  9. ↑ Palmer, Margaret A (1983). The role of behavior and flow in the dispersal of marine meiofauna (Thesis). OCLC 10449724.
  10. ↑ Sprugel, Doug. "Margaret Palmer – The Ecological Society of America's History and Records". Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  11. 1 2 Palmer, M. A.; Bernhardt, E. S.; Schlesinger, W. H.; Eshleman, K. N.; Foufoula-Georgiou, E.; Hendryx, M. S.; Lemly, A. D.; Likens, G. E.; Loucks, O. L.; Power, M. E.; White, P. S. (2010-01-08). "Mountaintop Mining Consequences". Science. 327 (5962): 148–149. Bibcode:2010Sci...327..148P. doi:10.1126/science.1180543. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 20056876. S2CID 206522928.
  12. 1 2 Bernhardt, E. S.; Palmer, M. A.; Allan, J. D.; Alexander, G.; Barnas, K.; Brooks, S.; Carr, J.; Clayton, S.; Dahm, C.; Follstad-Shah, J.; Galat, D. (2005-04-29). "Synthesizing U.S. River Restoration Efforts". Science. 308 (5722): 636–637. doi:10.1126/science.1109769. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 15860611. S2CID 140618169.
  13. 1 2 Palmer, Margaret; Bernhardt, Emily; Chornesky, Elizabeth; Collins, Scott; Dobson, Andrew; Duke, Clifford; Gold, Barry; Jacobson, Robert; Kingsland, Sharon; Kranz, Rhonda; Mappin, Michael (2004-05-28). "Ecology for a Crowded Planet". Science. 304 (5675): 1251–1252. doi:10.1126/science.1095780. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 15166349. S2CID 82172150.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Palmer, Margaret A.; Hondula, Kelly L.; Koch, Benjamin J. (2014-11-23). "Ecological Restoration of Streams and Rivers: Shifting Strategies and Shifting Goals". Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 45 (1): 247–269. doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091935. ISSN 1543-592X.
  15. 1 2 3 Palmer, Margaret A.; Menninger, Holly L.; Bernhardt, Emily (2010). "River restoration, habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity: a failure of theory or practice?". Freshwater Biology. 55 (s1): 205–222. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02372.x. ISSN 1365-2427.
  16. ↑ Bernhardt, Emily S.; Palmer, Margaret A. (2011). "The environmental costs of mountaintop mining valley fill operations for aquatic ecosystems of the Central Appalachians". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1223 (1): 39–57. Bibcode:2011NYASA1223...39B. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.05986.x. ISSN 1749-6632. PMID 21449964. S2CID 2106549.
  17. ↑ Palmer, M. A.; Bernhardt, E. S.; Schlesinger, W. H.; Eshleman, K. N.; Foufoula-Georgiou, E.; Hendryx, M. S.; Lemly, A. D.; Likens, G. E.; Loucks, O. L.; Power, M. E.; White, P. S. (2010-01-08). "Mountaintop Mining Consequences". Science. 327 (5962): 148–149. Bibcode:2010Sci...327..148P. doi:10.1126/science.1180543. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 20056876. S2CID 206522928.
  18. ↑ "Experts Urge Officials To End Mountaintop Mining". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  19. 1 2 Filoso, Solange; Smith, Sean M. C.; Williams, Michael R.; Palmer, Margaret A. (2015-07-16). "The Efficacy of Constructed Stream–Wetland Complexes at Reducing the Flux of Suspended Solids to Chesapeake Bay". Environmental Science & Technology. 49 (15): 8986–8994. Bibcode:2015EnST...49.8986F. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00063. ISSN 0013-936X. PMC 9813913. PMID 26181355.
  20. ↑ Palmer, Margaret A.; Liermann, Catherine A. Reidy; Nilsson, Christer; Flörke, Martina; Alcamo, Joseph; Lake, P. Sam; Bond, Nick (2008). "Climate change and the world's river basins: anticipating management options". Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 6 (2): 81–89. doi:10.1890/060148. hdl:10072/40955. ISSN 1540-9309.
  21. ↑ "ASLO 2018 Award Winners". Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin. 27 (2): 49–56. 2018. doi:10.1002/lob.10240. ISSN 1539-6088.
  22. ↑ "2017 SFS Fellows | Society for Freshwater Science". freshwater-science.org. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  23. ↑ "Sustainability Science Award" (PDF).
  24. ↑ "Award of Excellence | Society for Freshwater Science". freshwater-science.org. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  25. ↑ "ESA Fellows – The Ecological Society of America". Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  26. ↑ "Henry J. Oosting Memorial Lecture". 5 February 2019.
  27. ↑ "UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Director Margaret Palmer Receives Highest University Award". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2011-04-15. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  28. ↑ "President's Award". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  29. ↑ "Past Distinguished Ecologists | Graduate Degree Program in Ecology | Colorado State University". ecology.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  30. ↑ "Distinguished Service Citation Margaret Palmer" (PDF). Society Actions. October 2006.
  31. ↑ "Historic Fellows | American Association for the Advancement of Science". www.aaas.org. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  32. ↑ "FELLOWS". Earth Leadership. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  33. ↑ "Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award Recipients | The Office of Faculty Affairs". faculty.umd.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
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