Megan Bartholomew is an M.S. student in Natural Resources whose wetland research is supported by the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface (CESURI) and the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program (EMRRP) in the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

1. Name: Megan Bartholomew
2. Status: Master’s Student
3. Previous Degrees: Bachelor’s in Biology, Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies, Iowa State University
4. Titles and Honors: Top Student Presenter Alabama Water Resources Conference, Kykenkee Fellowship
5. Research Interests: Wetland Ecology and Wetland Restoration

Megan Bartholomew is an M.S. student in Natural Resources whose wetland research is supported by the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface (CESURI) and the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program (EMRRP) in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. A native of Iowa, Megan received her B.S. degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She then moved to Massachusetts, where she conducted research for the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole and the Buzzards Bay Coalition in New Bedford. Her research there focused on salt marsh ecology in New England, the impacts of cranberry agriculture on Buzzards Bay, and the environmental impacts of tropical mangrove deforestation in Panama.

Megan joined the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University as a graduate student in January 2015 and began working with Dr. Christopher Anderson on wetland ecology and restoration. Growing up along the Mississippi River, she was always fascinated with wetlands and that childhood curiosity turned into scientific inquiry during her time at Auburn University. Working at the J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, a municipal well field near Tampa, Florida, Megan explored how wetland vegetation and soil within the park responded to hydrologic alteration and recovery. Using a long history of hydrology and environmental data at the park, her goal was not only to further understand the recovery of wetlands but also to provide information to guide managers for increased restoration success.

Megan said, “CESURI has given me the opportunity to conduct outreach activities and realize the importance of sharing and exciting people about science.” She plans to continue working in environmental quality and restoration and eventually sees herself working for an organization that manages and protects natural resources.

Selected Publications

Bartholomew, M. & Anderson, C.J. In prep. Long term vegetation response to hydrologic recovery in cypress dome wetlands in west central Florida. Anticipated submission to Restoration Ecology.

Valiela, I., Barth-Jensen, C., Stone, T., Crusius, J., Fox, S., & Bartholomew, M. (2013). Deforestation of watersheds of Panama: Nutrient retention and export to streams. Biogeochemistry, 115, 299-315.

Valiela, I., Bartholomew, M., Giblin, A., Tucker, J., Harris, C., Martinetto, P., Otter, M., Camilli, L., & Stone, T. (2013). Watershed deforestation and down estuary transformations alter sources, transport, and export of suspended particles in Panamanian mangrove estuaries. Ecosystems, 17, 96-111.