{"id":488,"date":"2012-05-15T13:26:12","date_gmt":"2012-05-15T17:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/geology\/?page_id=488"},"modified":"2025-06-30T11:38:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T15:38:54","slug":"theses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/earth-climate-sciences\/facultystaff\/beverly-johnson-2\/theses\/","title":{"rendered":"Theses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senior thesis research is an exciting opportunity for students and faculty to collaborate on a project of interest and significance.\u00a0 Bev Johnson’s thesis students tend to focus on an environmental or paleoenvironmental problem through the lens of geology and\/or environmental geochemistry.\u00a0 The following is a list of senior thesis research projects directed or co-directed by Bev.\u00a0 Students interested in pursuing such projects are encouraged to contact Bev at any point (bjohnso3@bates.edu).<\/strong><\/p>\n

2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Margo Danahy (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2025)
\n<\/strong>Short-term greenhouse gas dynamics and long term carbon storage in Southwestern Portion of Sprague Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/p>\n

Adi Kolff (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2025)
\n<\/strong>The Impact of a Tidal Restriction on the Marsh-Forest Ecotone of Sprague Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/p>\n

Izzy Larson (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2025)
\n<\/strong>Sweetgrass: Habitat Assessment and Plant Physiology in Salt Marshes.<\/p>\n

Sam Turtle (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2025)
\n<\/strong>Using CSIA-AA of Ancient Cod Bone Protein to Uncover Changes in Basal Nitrogen Sources and Trophic Position in the Gulf of Maine over the Past 4,400 years (Honors Thesis).<\/p>\n

Adelle Welch (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2025)
\n<\/strong>High Resolution Mapping of Carbon Stocks and Sequestration and Organic Matter Sources Over the Last 4,000 Years in the Sprague River Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine (Honors Thesis).<\/p>\n

2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Katarina Dickson (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2024)
\n<\/strong>Carbon dynamics upstream and downstream of a tidal restriction, Spurwink Marsh, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.<\/p>\n

Jamie Hollander (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2024)
\n<\/strong>Carbon Dynamics Upstream and Downstream of a Tidal Restriction in Drakes Island Salt Marsh, Wells, Maine (Honors Thesis).<\/p>\n

John Hough (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2024)
\n<\/strong>Beach Profiles at Seawall Beach, Phippsburg, ME.<\/p>\n

Anna Sarrazin (Earth and Climate Sciences, 2024)
\n<\/strong>Tidal restriction affects carbon dynamics in the Jones Creek Salt Marsh, Scarborough, ME, USA (Honors Thesis).<\/p>\n

2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On Sabbatical<\/p>\n

2022<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Parker Caswell (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>Methane emissions, carbon sequestration, and groundwater hydrology along the freshwater margin of the Sprague River salt marsh.<\/p>\n

Rex Chen (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>Road Salt Retention and Its Impacts on the Water Quality of the Impaired Hart Brook Watershed (Lewiston, Maine).<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Henry King (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>Assessing the Impacts of a Ditch Plug on Groundwater Hydrology, Sedimentation, and Carbon Dynamics in a Salt Marsh, Phippsburg ME.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Chenemi Maji (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>Nitrogen isotopes in Zostera marina<\/em>: tracking anthropogenic nitrogen in Casco Bay.<\/p>\n

Essie Martin (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>Investigation of Laminaria saccharina<\/em> Burial below Damariscotta River Seaweed Farms Using eDNA and Stable Isotopes.<\/p>\n

Meg O\u2019Brien (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>Spatial Elevation Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration Variability Within Sprague Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Emily Torkelson (Geology, 2022)
\n<\/strong>A comparison of carbon sequestration and vegetation history in two Maine salt marshes.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

2021<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Summer Dias (Geology, 2021)<\/strong>. Impacts of sea-level rise, accretion, and subsidence on recent changes in elevation of the Sprague Marsh in Phippsburg, Maine<\/a><\/p>\n

Briana Karboski (Geology, 2021)<\/strong>.\u00a0The effect of tidal flow restriction on carbon density in Sprague and Small Point marsh, Phippsburg, Maine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 First Advisor: Beverly Johnson<\/p>\n

Carolyn Snow (Geology, 2021).<\/strong> A Comparison of Sediments from Above and Below a Tidal Restriction and the Proposed Geologic History of the Back River Marsh, Woolwich, ME<\/a><\/p>\n

Vanessa Lee Paolella (Geology, 2021).<\/strong> Data Analysis and Spatial Mapping of Dissolved Oxygen in the Surface Waters of the Androscoggin River from 1930-2019<\/a><\/p>\n

2020<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hamilton, Forrest (Geology, 2020)<\/strong>
\nImpact of Lead Mining on Sediments in a Proximal Pond to the Mascot Mine in Gorham, New Hampshire<\/a><\/p>\n

Onion, Sam (Geology, 2020)<\/strong>
\nA Historical Account of Atmospheric Lead Deposition in Basin Pond, Fayette, Maine<\/a><\/p>\n

2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Barker, Nick (Environmental Studies, 2018)
\n<\/strong>An investigation of a stand\/stump horizon in Scarborough Marsh (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Doyle, John (aka Jack) (Geology, 2018)
\n<\/strong>Eelgrass bed carbon storage in Casco Bay (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Kulesza, Ashley (Geology, 2018)
\n<\/strong>Assessing the amount of carbon stored in Maine salt marshes (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Slattery, Hannah (Geology, 2018)
\n<\/strong>Urbanization: impact on dissolved oxygen and sedimentation in the Hart Brook watershed (Lewiston, Maine) (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

2017<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chenoweth, Kelsey (Geology, 2017)
\n<\/strong>Methane emissions above and below a ditch plug, Sprague River marsh, Phippsburg, Maine (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Stames, Daniel (Geology, 2017)
\n<\/strong>Assessing the effectiveness of using Typha<\/em> sps. as a proxy for estimating seasonal methane emissions on salt marshes in Maine (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Sylla, Yacine (Geology, 2017)
\n<\/strong>Stable isotopic evidence for nutrient cycling in two Zostera marina<\/em> meadows, Cape Cod, MA (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

2016<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tannenbaum Brittis, Andre (Geology, 2016)
\n<\/strong>Monitoring the effects of marine derived nitrogen due to an alewife migration, Nequasset Lake, Woolwich ME (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Kaplan Cohen, Dana (Geology, 2016)
\n<\/strong>Methane emissions from a hydrologically altered region of the Sprague River salt marsh, Phippsburg, ME (one-semester thesis, Fall 2015).<\/p>\n

Cailene Gunn\u00a0(Geology, 2016)
\n<\/strong>Methane emissions along a salinity gradient of a restored salt marsh, Harpswell, ME \u00a0(full year thesis).<\/p>\n

Patterson, Elizabeth (Geology, 2016)
\n<\/strong>Stocks and sources of carbon buried in the salt marshes and seagrass beds of Patos Lagoon, Southern Brazil (full year thesis).<\/p>\n

2015<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On Sabbatical<\/strong><\/p>\n

2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ashley Braunthal (Geology)
\n<\/span><\/strong>Quantifying the spatial and temporal variability in the extent of the urban dome surrounding Fairbanks, AK.\u00a0(REU with\u00a0Czimczik, C.I., and others)<\/span>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wells (aka. Tanner) Cunningham (Geology)<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Nutrient dynamics of Nequasset Lake: Effects of anadromous alewife subsidies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Megan Kearns (Environmental Studies)<\/strong>
\n<\/span>A phosphorus budget for Lake Auburn, Auburn Maine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrea Lauden (Geology)<\/strong>
\nLate Holocene changes in the nitrogen isotope composition of a sediment core from Nequasset lake, Woolwich, ME.<\/p>\n

Cameron Russ (Geology)<\/strong>
\n<\/span> Stable Carbon Isotope Analyses of Sediments Cores and the Origin of the Sprague River Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/span><\/p>\n

2013<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Eric Barry\u00a0(Geology)<\/strong>
\nA comparison of the major ion chemistry of two Maine watersheds, Pleasant River (Bethel, ME) and Stetson Brook (Lewiston, ME).<\/p>\n

Chester Chaio\u00a0(Geology)<\/strong>
\nThe effect of the 2012 alewife migration on nutrient dynamics in Nequasset Lake, Woolwich, Maine.<\/p>\n

David Harning\u00a0(Geology)<\/strong>
\nA geochemical investigation of Late Holocene lake sediment cores from Pyramid Lake, Fiordland, New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Conor Maginn\u00a0(Geology)<\/strong>
\nVariations in hypoxia and productivity along the Oregon Margin during the Younger Dryas and early Holocene.<\/p>\n

Rachel Morrison\u00a0(Geoarchaeology\/Individual Design Major in Interdisciplinary Studies)<\/strong>
\nIsotopic reconstructions of swordfish diets in the Gulf of Maine.<\/p>\n

Margaret Pickoff\u00a0 (Geology)<\/strong>
\nMaine\u2019s blue carbon: estimating carbon stocks in Maine salt marshes.<\/p>\n

2012<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Colin Barry\u00a0(Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nA study of the impact of ditch-plug alteration on the hydrogeology of the Sprague River Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Lindelof\u00a0(Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nUsing sedimentary and geochemical proxies for Little Ice Age climate change reconstructions, south mainland Shetland.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Sonshine. (Geology)<\/strong>
\nThe characterization of organic carbon in sedimentary cores from\u00a0Zostera marina<\/em>\u00a0beds, Maquoit Bay, Maine.<\/p>\n

2011<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Greg Flynn\u00a0(Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nNitrogen isotopes in\u00a0Zostera marina<\/em>: a potential indicator of anthropogenic nutrient loading in Casco Bay, Gulf of Maine.<\/p>\n

Carrie Harris (Biology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nStable Isotopic Shifts in Fish Bones From Multiple Archeological Coastal Middens in Penobscot Bay, Maine.\u00a0\u00a0Co-Adviser = Will Ambrose.<\/p>\n

Ingrid Knowles (Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nA Biogeochemical Study of Ditchplug and Natural Pools in the Sprague River Marsh, Phippsburg, ME.<\/p>\n

Dava Wool (Geology)<\/strong>
\nNitrogen isotopes in lake sediments from the Androscoggin watershed: a proxy for anadromous fish runs?<\/p>\n

2010<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Elyse Judice (Environmental Studies)<\/strong>
\nStable isotope analysis of\u00a0Fundulus Heteroclitus<\/em>\u00a0and the effectiveness of ditch-plug restoration at the Sprague River Salt Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/p>\n

William (aka Dots) Loopesko (Geology, Honors<\/strong>)
\nZostera marina<\/em>\u00a0as a proxy for anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment in Casco Bay, Maine.<\/p>\n

2008<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dylan Eberle (Geology)<\/strong>
\nA 300 year record of lead deposition at Taylor Pond, Auburn, Maine.<\/p>\n

Greg Henkes (Biology)<\/strong>
\nMineral and isotopic geochemical evidence for environmental change in the shells of the smooth Greenland cockle, Serripes groenlandicus, from the Barents Sea. Co-advisor – Will Ambrose.<\/p>\n

2007<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Carl Noblitt (Geology)<\/strong>
\nStable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in mollusk tissue and shell organic matter: potential tracers of primary production in the nearshore Gulf of Maine.<\/p>\n

2006<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Erin Beirne (Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nA Geochemical Investigation of Organic Matter Composition, Deposition, and Preservation at Sprague Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine.<\/p>\n

Morey Hallett (Geology)<\/strong>
\nA 4,000 Year Record of Relative Sea Level Rise and Carbon Sequestration in the Webhannet Marsh, Wells, Maine.<\/p>\n

Seth Hubbard (Geology)<\/strong>
\nA Recent History of Lead and Zinc Deposition in Four Maine Lakes.<\/p>\n

Hallie Preston (Environmental Studies)<\/strong>
\nPhosphorus Cycling in the Gulf Island Pond.<\/p>\n

2005<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kim Rodgers (Geology)<\/strong>
\nStable Carbon Isotope Analysis of Lake Core Sediments and Lipid Biomarkers as a Proxy for Late Pleistocene Carbon Cycling at Elikchan Lake, NE Siberia.<\/p>\n

Daniel Frost (Geology)<\/strong>
\nPaleoclimate Reconstruction Using Physical Sedimentology and Organic Matter Biogeochemistry of Varved Sediments, Basin Pond, Fayette, ME. \u00a0Co-advisor – Mike Retelle.<\/p>\n

Kelton McMahon (Biology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nImpacts of a Changing Food Supply on Arctic Benthos: Digestibility of Ice Algae and Phytoplankton.\u00a0Co-advisor – Will Ambrose.<\/p>\n

2004<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Anna Felton (Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nOrganic Carbon Cycling in Laminated Sediments from Coastal Lacustrine and Marine Environments, Eastern Canadian Arctic.<\/p>\n

Karen Moore (Geology)<\/strong>
\nInvestigation of Terrestrial Organic Carbon Cycling in Maine Coastal Environments through the last 3,000 Years.<\/p>\n

Rachel Booty (Environmental Studies)<\/strong>
\nSoil Lead Determinations inThree Urban Community Gardens, Lewiston, Maine.<\/p>\n

2003<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nicole Ouellette (Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nLipid Biomarkers and Paleovegetation eterminations of the last 30,000 Years at Elikchan Lake, Northeast Siberia.<\/p>\n

Jeff Burnap (Environmental Studies)<\/strong>
\nSoil Quality: An Investigation at Willow Pond Farm.<\/p>\n

2002<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Elizabeth Miller (Geology)<\/strong>
\nA Study of the Surface Textures and Morphology of Quartz Grains Taken From the Northern Dune at the Wolfe Creek Crater, Western Australia.<\/p>\n

Bethany Thienel (Geology, Honors)<\/strong>
\nPotential Remediation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) by Sorption on Aspen Wood Wool.<\/p>\n

Andrew Wilkie (Environmental Studies)<\/strong>
\nA Modern Ecological Survey of the Wolfe Creek Crater Meteorite Impact Crater, NW Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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