Jeffrey
A. Simmons, M.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Environmental Science
210 Coad Science Building
(301)447-5820 ext4863
simmons@msmary.edu
Research
Research Interests
I am an ecosystem ecologist specializing in aquatic ecosystems, in particular the effects of pollutants on streams and lakes. I have studied the effects of acid mine drainage on streams in West Virginia and Maryland as well as the effects of coal mining on ecosystem structure and function. Currently I am studying the distribution and transport of phosphorus in central MD streams. Phosphorus is one of the main causes of eutrophication (algae blooms) so its abundance and chemical form are important determinants of algal productivity. I am also interested in the influence of metals (like copper, zinc, lead and cadmium) on algal productivity, pigments and algal enzyme activities.
| Environmental Laboratory | |
| Most of the laboratory work is done in the Environmental Laboratory. Undergraduate research assistants participate in research projects during the academic year and during the summer. Spring 2009 Research Team
Fall 2008 Research Team
Summer 2008 Research Team
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| Current Projects | |
| Collaboration Through Appalachian Watershed Studies: Phase III (CAWS) | |
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The purpose of the CAWS project is to enhance ecology education at several small Appalachian colleges and universities by collaborative study of ecosystems using the small watershed approach. Each of the participating schools maintains and monitors a small watershed for research and teaching purposes. These watersheds serve as the focus of ecological, geochemical, and botanical research projects conducted by faculty and students. Students gain valuable experience and acquire technical skills by studying the watershed in class and in summer internships. Information collected by researchers at each site are shared online so that students at any of the participating institutions can access data from any of the other institutions (CAWS Website).
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| Downstream Phosphorus Transport in Tom's Creek Watershed | |
| Phosphorus (P) is an essential limiting nutrient for aquatic plants and it is also responsible for eutrophication of the Chesapeake Bay. Thus, it would be useful to be able to predict the amount of P exported by a stream each year. We are monitoring the mouth of Tom's Creek for discharge (water flow), dissolved P, particulate P and total P. It is expected that most P is in the dissolved form during base flow, but that most will be in particulate form during storm events. Stream sediments can influence the amount of dissolved P in water by adsorbing it. This "P buffering capacity" of sediments is being measured at several locations to determine the stream's ability to absorb P pollution from agriculture and wastewater treatment plants. |
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| Nutrient Sources in Tom's Creek | |
Phosphorus (P) pollution is one of the leading water quality concerns in central Maryland. My students and I are monitoring stream flow, P concentrations and suspended sediment amounts in Tom's Creek and all of its major tributaries. A State of the Watershed report will be written at the end of 2008 summarizing our findings. Funding for this project was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and The New Forest Society.
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St. Mary's Run Watershed Study |
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Mount St. Mary's University is located within St. Mary's Run watershed. Students and faculty in the Science Department are studying the structure, function and species diversity of this ecosystem (go to website). In particular, we are interested in algal productivity of the streams and the effects of nutrients and metals on the algal community.
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Recent Publications
[*
denotes student co-authors]
Simmons, J.A. (Jan. 2009) Decomposition and Soil CO2 Emission. Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology: Vol. 6. http://tiee.ecoed.net/index.html [an online journal]
Simmons, J.A., K.N. Eshleman, M.S. Castro, W.S. Currie, G. Frech, B.R. Pohlad, C.L. Thomas. K. Kuers, S. Monteleone. 2008. Forestry and mining land use effects on ecosystem structure and function in western Maryland. Ecological Applications 18(1):104-118.
Castro, M. S., K. N. Eshleman, L. F. Pitelka, G. Frech, M. Ramsey, W. S. Currie, K. Kuers, J. A. Simmons, B. R. Pohlad, C. L. Thomas, and D. M. Johnson. 2007. Symptoms of nitrogen saturation in an aggrading forested watershed in western Maryland. Biogeochemistry 84(3):333-348.
Simmons, J.A., T. Andrew*, A. Arnold*, N. Bee*, J. Bennett*, M. Grundman*, K. Johnson*, and R. Shepherd*. 2006. Small-scale chemical changes caused by in-stream limestone sand additions to streams. Mine Water and the Environment 24(4):241-245. [full article in pdf]
Simmons, J.A., and W.S. Currie. 2005. Comparison of soil and stream phosphorus dynamics in mined and selectively-logged watersheds. Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science 77(2):1-14. [full article in pdf]
Simmons, J.A., E.R. Lawrence*, and T.G. Jones. 2005. Acid mine drainage effects on periphyton productivity, leaf decomposition, and macroinvertebrate diversity. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 20(3):413-424.
Simmons, J.A., J.M. Long*, and J.W. Ray*. 2004. What limits productivity in acid mine drainage treatment ponds? Mine Water and the Environment 23(1):44-53. [full article in pdf]
Fernandez, I.J, J.A. Simmons, and R.D. Briggs. 2000. Indices of forest floor nitrogen status along a regional climate gradient in Maine, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 134:177-187.
Simmons,
J.A. 1999. Benefits of service-learning in environmental science.
In (Brubaker, D.C. and J. Ostroff, eds.) Life, Learning, and Community:
concepts and models for service-learning in biology. American Association
for Higher Education, Washington, D.C.
Technical Reports
Simmons, J.A. 2004. Watershed-based Implementation Plans for Pecks Run, Fink Run, and the Upper Buckhannon Watersheds. The Highlands Institute for Environmental Research and Education. 108 pp.
Simmons, J.A. 2003. The Buckhannon River Watershed: A summary of data. The Highlands Institute for Environmental Research and Education. 91 pp.
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