Design emails people love to get.

Photo by Rachel Lewis

Greetings from Appledore Island!

It is hard to believe that we have passed the halfway point of the 2024 season. We have now had 10 classes come and go from Appledore. The Marine Docents have introduced Appledore and the Shoals Marine Lab to countless visitors on the garden and walking tours and the Shoals team has introduced the lab and marine sciences to a wide range of visiting groups and visitors.

I have spent a lot of time reading and listening to Jack Kingsbury’s Here’s How We’ll Do It this summer. His foresight, ingenuity, dedication, and commitment continue to impress me and to serve as a model for my own work here (although I must comply with many more regulatory and legal requirements). Jack’s primary focus was undergraduate education, although research was also encouraged and supported. Our current strategic plan includes those two key areas, and it also includes being leaders in sustainability and intentionally building community. On first glance this might seem like an expansion of our mission. However, Jack’s descriptions of the early years show a clear dedication to both of these key priorities. The original proposal for the lab included limiting the Lab’s capacity to have minimal environmental impacts; during the construction years the team reused and repurposed items to build and house our classrooms, labs, and dorms; and the contractors, donors, and host institutions provided overstock materials or items that were being replaced finding new life for items that otherwise would have been discarded (and kept our costs down). I am struck by how our mismatched plates, bowls, and flatware reflect this ethos of reuse and keeping items in use through their true useful life.

Likewise the creation and nurturing of community is a key part of the Shoals Marine Lab’s history and strength. Most classes are populated by students who have never met one another or their faculty members. Nonetheless, in two weeks the students have bonded closely and it is rare for a class to leave without at least some tears, which also harkens back to the classes during the first years of the Lab. Our students find a truly supportive environment that reduces the barriers to learning. Our newest faculty members typically leave with offers to return whenever they can. The returning faculty members speak of the satisfaction and joy of teaching in this environment, where students learn so much and can see so much more of the interconnectedness of the marine environment because of how our classes are taught. Students resonate with our emphasis on sustainable practices and see how their own actions affect the community. Of course, the luggage lines and food run lines demonstrate that everyone – students, faculty, and staff – are part of the community required to run the Lab. Next summer, I am going to try to track the number of different people who contribute to washing dishes after meals, which this year has included a wide range of people from tuition-paying students to the Director of UNH’s School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering and some of our generous financial supporters.

Next year will be the 60th season for the Shoals Marine Lab. Over the next couple of months, we will seek input as we prepare to celebrate this milestone for the Lab. The core mission and goals of the lab have not changed and continue to be as relevant today as they were in 1965 as Jack began planning for the Lab. I look forward to collaborating with many people to celebrate the history and legacy of the Shoals Marine Lab.

With gratitude for the opportunity to spend my summer on Appledore in this amazing community,

Meet the SURGs!

For those who don't yet know, SURG = Shoals Undergraduate Research Group! As interns, these students spend the summer on Appledore conducting independent research projects, learning about the environment, getting out in the field, and being a part of the larger SML living and learning community. Each summer these young scientists conduct independent projects on a wide variety of topics relating to Appledore and the Isles of Shoals - check out what they are up to this year below!

Kati Leitner, University of California, Santa Cruz '25

My name is Kati Leitner and I am a rising senior at University of California, Santa Cruz. I am studying the impacts of gulls on nesting Black Guillemots on Appledore and Smuttynose islands. For this work, I am evaluating how the proximity of guillemot nests to gull territories affects the growth of guillemot chicks, as well as the feeding strategies of the parents. To do this, I regularly survey the rocky cliffs where the guillemots nest and “grub” for chicks to measure their weight and wing length, and fit them with federally-issued bands. These data enable me to track chick growth over the season. In addition, I use a mix of in-person watches and GoPro footage to observe the guillemots as they bring food to their nests and note the frequency of kleptoparasitism (stealing food) by Herring Gulls.

Maddie Ellms, UNH Zoology '24

Hello wider SML community! I’m Maddie Ellms, a UNH zoology graduate as of this past May. My summer independent research project replicates a study done by Dr. Arthur Borror in the 1970s, during which he mapped the breeding songbird territories on Appledore in the 1970s. I am replicating that study for this summer to provide updated distribution information for our breeding birds. This summer, I’ve revisited 5 sections across the island and listened for the songs of singing territorial males. By doing this over repeated visits throughout the summer, I have mapped the locations of numerous breeding pairs representing eight songbird species across the island. In addition to my songbird surveys, I’ve been working with gull researchers on two projects. The first has involved collecting feather samples from chicks as they grow to investigate the differences in diets across siblings for Dr. Kristen Covino. Alongside this, I’ve gathered swab samples from deceased gulls for Dr. Nichola Hill’s lab monitoring the colony for signs of avian influenza.

Ondine Morgan-Knapp, Cornell University ‘26

My research aims to make the lobster fishery more sustainable by using fish processing byproducts to make an alternative lobster bait. The project is motivated by current ecologically and economically unsustainable bait sourcing practices connected with the overfishing of traditional baitfish stocks. I’ve spent the past academic year developing a formula for a bait “cake” composed predominantly of ground haddock frames (i.e., the bones, heads, and tails left over from filleting), and this summer, I’m conducting laboratory and field testing to determine the bait’s viability. So far, I’ve designed and conducted lab trials to determine and quantify lobster preference for the new bait – compared to commercially used bait – using a two-current choice flume. In the flume, a lobster can move between currents downstream of the two baits and select one bait or the other. Video data from each trial will be used to analyze each lobster’s bait choice and draw a conclusion about the comparative success of the new, more sustainable, bait.

Salome Pintado-Vertner, Stony Brook University '25

My research is investigating what is causing the increase in shark and seal interactions on Duck Island. So far, I have collected temperature data from the three buoys nearest Duck Island, shark interaction data from previous years, and seal abundance counts. I have also found estimates of white shark abundance and distribution from papers. I am now plotting all the possible variables against each other to find any relationships.

GRACE GUO, CORNELL UNIVERSITY '25

My project focuses on understanding the potential effects of GPS transmitter attachment on the provisioning behavior and reproductive success in roseate terns, a federally endangered seabird. I’ve been working with the Shoals Marine Lab tern program to tag roseate terns in the Seavey Island breeding colony, then setting out GoPros to record footage of the nests of tagged and untagged terns. I am conducting video data analysis to compare the feeding frequency, species, and biomass of prey brought by the parents between the two groups. In order to compare reproductive success, we are also monitoring the chicks and taking field measurements of wing length and body mass for growth rate and survival data.

MARCUS STOKES-REES, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY '27

Hi! My name is Marcus Stokes-Rees, and I am in the class of ’27 at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. This Summer I am working as one of the two Seal Interns on Appledore. Besides adding to a long-term data set on the Gulf of Maine's seal population changes, I'm diving into my own project! I'm investigating how the relationship between Gray and Harbor seals has influenced their hangout spots over the past 13 years. Specifically, I'm curious if an uptick in Gray seals on a ledge prompts Harbors to find new areas to haul-out on. While I've spent a ton of time data cleaning and wrangling, I'm now onto the exciting part: crunching numbers to see if the growing Gray population is correlated with the distribution of the Harbors. Can't wait to see what secrets the seals reveal!

MAX ZELTSAR, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE (Class of 2024.5)

Hi, my name is Max Zeltsar, and I am about to start my last semester at Middlebury College in Vermont. This summer it’s muskrat mania here at the Shoals Marine Laboratory! My research is focused on studying the unique population of muskrats here on the island. The goal is to understand their distribution, diet, and behavior and how these may (or may not) differ from typical mainland populations. Studying all these facets of the population requires many different approaches including camera trap surveys, scat transects, hair sampling, isotope analysis, and more! Data analysis will start in the next couple of weeks so I am excited to see what we can learn about these adorable furry friends that call Appledore Island home.

ROHAN MENEZES, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE '24

Hello, I am Rohan Menezes, a recent graduate of Dartmouth College. My project aims to shed light on the importance of seabird guano for supplying nutrients to rock pool ecosystems on Appledore. Recent research has shown that seabird populations are declining globally due to human encroachment, climate change, and invasive rats on the islands they inhabit. Given this trend, scientists are trying to understand the level of change that these ecosystems will experience, especially since their excrement is a major source of nutrients. To help investigate this question on one system, I am sampling organisms at different levels of the food chain in rock pools and conducting stable isotope analysis of nutrients to determine how much these organisms depend on seabird guano for nutrients.

If you are interested in learning more about the SURGs and their work - keep an eye out for the link to their symposium in August!

A Special Day on Appledore

Photos by Rachel Lewis

SML’s most loyal supporters, The Navigator Circle, enjoyed a spectacular day on the island last week. The NH Sea Grant’s film, Women on the Water, inspired an experience that took our guests from previewing the film, to a panel discussion with 4 SML alumnae in the field of aquaculture, a lunch prepared by chef Evan Mallett of the Black Trumpet Bistro using ingredients from the film’s featured women-owned businesses, to an open house with our undergraduate researchers. It was a full-circle moment featuring the best of everything Shoals Marine Lab offers to promote science education and marine conservation. If you have an interest in becoming a Navigator Circle member, please contact Amy Fish at amy.fish@unh.edu to learn more.

Shoalers Honored in Ichthyology

At the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in July Dr. Willy Bemis (former SML Director, 2005-2013), was presented with the 2024 Meritorious Teaching Award in Ichthyology sponsored by both the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and the American Elasmobranch Society. At the same meeting, Dr. Jacqueline Webb (Chair of the SML Alumni and Friends Association, SML Alumna 1977) was presented with the 2024 Robert K. Johnson Award for Excellence in Service to the American Society of Ichthyologists. Congratulations to both, SML is fortunate to have many wonderful members of our community!

Thanks for being so JAW-some!

A number of friends of Shoals and visitors to the island ask about what the island needs. Our staff are developing a Wish List to answer that question. Please contact Amy Fish at amy.fish@unh.edu if you are interested in donating one of these items:

Mooring Balls ($475)

Ferno NAJO Lite Spineboard ($540)

Spinning rods for student fishing - 3 ($660)

AIS (automatic identification system) for the R/V John B. Heiser ($800)

18--64"x39" Blackout Fabric Honeycomb Blinds for commons dining room ($1,100)

Student Recreation Fund ($1,500)

Winter boat electric motor ($4,000)

New Winter Boat ($5,700)

Once a Shoaler, always a Shoaler!

Susan Clark ’86 joined the UNH alumni group on a trip to SML this June. She majored in chemical engineering but was inspired to go into a career in environmental engineering because of her experience as an SML student. She mentioned that Jan Factor was her teacher and remembers adding rocks to the cairn while singing the song at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ABesPHGUA

We love when alumnae come back - it is always wonderful to see what Shoalers do once they leave the island!

Did you know SML has an online store?

Are you looking for Shoals gear for the Shoaler in your life? Missed the on-island store last time you were at Appledore? Didn't see a size or a color you liked? Not to fear! SML has an online store with our merchandise in a variety of colors and sizes we don't offer in person. Check it out here!

Follow Shoals on Instagram!

Belonging at SML | Student Courses | Research Internships | Public Programs

Alumni & Friends Association | Contact Us | Give to SML

Shoals Marine Laboratory is a joint partnership between Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire.

8 College Road, Morse Hall Suite 113
Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States