Return to flip book view

Message CHESAPEAKE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY I SOLOMONS, MDISSUE 105Lab LinesMay 20251Directors ViewThis is certainly the month for celebrations! The Spring semester’s classes andexams are over, and on May 30 UMCES saw the largest number of studentsgraduating at our 2025 commencement ceremony held at the Horn PointLaboratory in Cambridge. A number of CBL students receiving their PhD’s and MScwere hooded by their advisors. It is always a bittersweet moment as wecongratulate them on their achievements and wish them well in the next chapter oftheir careers. CBL also received two of the three awards from the UMCESPresident, Anna Hildebrand received the UMCES student service award and MikeO’Brien the President’s Award for outstanding research, such deserving recipients,congratulations all!thNow the field season for many labs starts, we have some new (and returning)faces on campus, including summer interns, although sadly this year we have noMaryland Sea Grant REU students on campus due to a delay in funding forcontinued support of this program. There are many activities to partake in,including the seine survey, an important long-term monitoring program that CBLhas run for decades, led by Dr. Woodlands group. It seriously is a lot of fun to do(even in the rain), personally I love it when we get to see a seahorse! I want to thank all of those who have taken time to organize and attend manyoutreach events, showcasing our 100-year legacy and commitment toenvironmental research, education and public service. Many members of thepublic at the Southern Maryland Heritage Festival at Historic Sotterley (May 17and 18 ) and the College of Southern Maryland (May 31 ) events were amazed tolearn that we have Dolphins in the Bay! On June 8 CBL will be co-hosting theAnnual Patuxent River Wade in event, which this year is dedicated to the late GregBowen; a Calvert county resident was also a champion of environmentalprotection. thth stthWe have a couple of CBL community events coming up, please join us MondayJune 16 from 9-10.30 am for a 100-year CBL celebration breakfast and awardevent. On Friday June 27 at noon, there is a AFS and AAUW cookout by Nice Hall.thth

In Case You Missed It2CLICK HEREHave any noteworthy news toshare with the public? Don’t forget to share it with theUMCES communication team!Members of the AAUW CBL subunit tabled at the Fairy & Gnome Home Festival at Annmarie Sculpture Garden onSunday, April 27th. Anna Hildebrand, Nina Santos, and Madison Sholes had kids design their own "climate fairy",showcased different species found in the Bay, and talked to a lot of community members about CBL and what we do. Photo Credit: Anna Hildebrand Photo Credit: Anna HildebrandI’d like to thank all of the volunteers we had forthis year’s Christmas in April project! We had agreat turnout for the project this year and gotmany things done for a local member of ourcommunity. We installed a new bathroom floor,toilet, vanity and fixtures, cleaned up a literaldumpster load of yard debris, completed somebadly needed plumbing repairs, cleaned stoppedup gutters, improved safety and aesthetics withsome flooring transitions, hung and patchedseveral areas of drywall, and installed a safe andworking sliding glass door, quite the list, thankyou all for supporting this effort every year,CBL’ers rock! Thanks to you and yours that cameout to support this community project with yourtime and talents!!! Thank you, ChrisTurnerOn May 12 Carys Mitchelmore ran a scientific sessionat SETAC Europe’s 35 Annual meeting in Vienna,Austria. Carys presented two posters on UV filtermonitoring and toxicity in corals resulting fromcollaboration with colleagues from Nova SoutheasternUniversity, the Personal Care Products Council,together with CBL’s Stefanie Landeweer, Andrew Heyesand Michael Gonsier.thth

Celebrating a Century of Discovery: CBL’s 100-Year Legacy Honored in Spring 2025 Science for Community SeriesThis spring, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL), the oldest state-supported marine laboratory on the East Coast, marked amomentous milestone—its 100th anniversary. As the founding institution of the University of Maryland Center for EnvironmentalScience (UMCES), CBL has been at the forefront of environmental research, education, and public service for a full century. Tocelebrate this legacy, the Spring 2025 Science for Community series offered a powerful journey through time, highlighting CBL’spivotal role in marine science and environmental stewardship.The series featured weekly talks throughout April and early May, drawing attention to key Scientists, groundbreaking research, andthe laboratory's enduring impact on both local and global scales. All of the talks are available to view and download on our Sciencefor Communities web page. Thank you to all who gave talks, our volunteers and those behind the scenes making this work.April 8, 2025 – A Century of Predictive EcologyThe series opened with UMCES President Emeritus Dr. Donald Boesch, who shared insights from his new book, Predictive Ecology.His reflections chronicled the 100-year evolution of UMCES, beginning with Reginald Truitt’s founding of CBL and extending to theinstitution’s modern status as a global environmental leader. Dr. Boesch highlighted the foundational work of CBL scientists inunderstanding and protecting the Chesapeake Bay, a legacy that continues to guide research and policy today.April 15, 2025 – Solomons Island: A Historical PerspectiveHistorian Ralph Eshelman delivered a vivid illustrated presentation on Solomons Island, painting a picture of the town’stransformation through the centuries. Once the “bugeye capital” of the Chesapeake and home to the renowned Patuxent Brandoysters, Solomons Island played a vital role in regional trade and wartime production. Eshelman’s narrative intertwined local heritagewith maritime history, showcasing how CBL’s location is steeped in scientific and cultural significance.April 22, 2025 – A Century of Water Quality MonitoringDr’s. Jeremy Testa, Andrew Heyes, and Carys Mitchelmore took the stage to reflect on 100 years of water quality monitoring on thePatuxent River. Their presentation highlighted how CBL’s long-term data collection has deepened our understanding of nutrientcycling, pollution, and ecosystem health. This legacy of monitoring has provided critical insights for managing one of theChesapeake’s most vital waterways.April 29, 2025 – The Vision of Reginald V. TruittDr. Tom Miller revisited the life and legacy of CBL’s founder, Reginald V. Truitt, in a talk titled If we lay a strong enough foundation….He explored how Truitt’s early vision—to combine rigorous science with service to the public—remains embedded in CBL’s mission.From its modest beginnings to its current status as a cornerstone of UMCES, Truitt’s philosophy continues to inspire generations ofscientists.In Case You Missed It3May 6, 2025 – Mansueti’s Legacy and the Post-War EraClosing out the series, Dr. Dave Secor delved into the post-World War II era atCBL and the profound legacy of Dr. Romeo Mansueti. His presentation, CBLafter WWII: Mansueti’s Legacy, highlighted how Mansueti’s scientificachievements and dedication are memorialized on campus, notably in theMansueti building. Dr. Secor’s talk illustrated how the lab’s physical andintellectual landscape reflects the passion and progress of its many trailblazers.As Spring 2025 drew to a close, so too did this unforgettable tribute to CBL’s100-year journey. The Science for Community series not only honored the pastbut also cast a hopeful gaze toward the future of environmental science. With alegacy of excellence and a commitment to public service, the ChesapeakeBiological Laboratory continues to chart a course for the next century ofdiscovery.Photo Credit: Amir Azarnivand

On May 6 Jacqueline Villafañe, Psy.D., UMCES Ombudsman broughta workshop to CBL about “Navigating Difficult Discussions,” WeTalked About What’s Hard to Talk About—Together In uncertain times,navigating difficult conversations becomes not only more important—but often more complex. Whether addressing sensitive topics,managing power dynamics, or offering and receiving feedback, manyat the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science(UMCES) recognized the need for better tools and support. That’s whyan interactive session was held on May 6th, facilitated by the UMCESOrganizational Ombudsman, to help our community engage in toughconversations with more confidence, clarity, and compassion.th,The session offered a confidential and supportive environment forparticipants to explore common communication challenges. Thefocus was on promoting understanding, building trust, and guidingconversations toward constructive, solution-oriented outcomes.What Participants Gained:Techniques for communicating across power differencesStrategies for giving and receiving feedback effectivelyTools to manage conflict and reduce tensionApproaches that encourage trust, psychological safety, andmeaningful dialogueThe session welcomed students, FRA’s, staff, and faculty—each groupengaging in time-specific discussions tailored to their uniqueexperiences and communication needs.In Case You Missed It4Ombuds Workshop: Navigating Difficult ConversationsCheck out the upcoming volunteeropportunities (click on the pic)Dr. Lora Harris traveled to Sweden in May to attend andprovide a keynote presentation for the Baltic Sea NitrogenCycling Network at Uppsala University. Photo Credit: Lora HarrisPhoto Credit: Angela WhitneyPhoto Credit: Angela Whitney

Graduation 20255Carys Mitchelmore, Anna Hildebrand, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Laura LaphamJJerry Frank, Mike O’Brien & Fernando Miralles-WilhelmLee Cooper, Syeda Sadia Ali, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Lawrence SanfordMike Wilberg, Maya Drzewicki, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Lawrence SanfordJeremy Testa, Isabel Butler-Viruet,Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Lawrence SanfordSamara Nehemiah, Mike Wilberg, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Lawrence SanfordBrian Marx, Jackie Grebmeier, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Lawrence SanfordLee Cooper, Nicholas Silverson, Jackie Grebmeier, Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm & Lawrence SanfordLots of celebrations to be had at our 2025 graduate commencement ceremony. In addition to thePhD & MSC graduates at CBL. Anna Hildebrand received the UMCES Student Service Award andMike O’Brien received the President’s Award for Outstanding Research Support. Our Graduates were:Congratulations all, this was the biggestcommencement for UMCES to date.(Photo Credit: Andrew Benson)Isabel Butler Viruet, Ph.D.Samara Nehemiah, Ph.D.Syeda Sadia Ali, M.S.Maya Drzewicki, M.S.Brian Marx, M.S.Nicholas Silverson, M.S.

Recent Publications & Events 6PublicationsSolange Filoso has a new publication to share with the CBL community. The publication is the result of a collaboration with colleagues from theUniversity of São Paulo last year and has just been published inRestoration Ecology.The paper titled 'Evaluating the untapped potential of forest landscaperestoration to streams' emphasizes that to unlock the full potential offorest landscape restoration for stream health, efforts must adoptholistic, catchment-scale planning that integrates freshwaterecosystems, addresses ecological time lags, avoids harmful practices,and prioritizes the restoration of ecohydrological functions over foreststructure alone. Click Here for the complete article.On Wednesday, May 14th, LeadershipMaryland visited the Chesapeake BiologicalLaboratory (CBL). Dr. Carys Mitchelmoreprovided an overview of CBL’s mission andresearch. Thank you to our volunteerspresenting on DolphinWatch, Tailwinds, andthe ACES Center. (see photos below)Photo Credit: Stacy HutchinsonPhoto Credit: Stacy Hutchinson

7Welcome to CBLHello, I am Elena Blodnikar! I'm a rising sophomore at JohnsHopkins University, majoring in Molecular and CellularBiology, and I run cross country/track. This summer I amworking at CBL's Nutrient Analytical Services Laboratory andDr. Testa's lab. I am a general assistant with NASL and I willbe working at Dr. Testa's lab. I am looking forward to gaininglaboratory experience and collaborating with others.Hi I'm Pauline Lawrence. I am a mother of three and aSouthern Maryland native. I recently graduated from St.Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) with a double major inmarine science and biology. My undergraduate research atSMCM focused on exploring juvenile habitat use ofLeiostomus xanthurus (spot) through eye lens stable isotopeanalysis and assessing color as a potential factor influencingcolonization and recruitment in Crassostrea virginica reefcommunities. Over the last year, I have contributed to severalprojects within the UMCES community as an undergraduatestudent volunteer, and I am excited to continue supportingongoing projects in the Woodland Lab. Pauline can bereached at plawrence@umces.edu.Hi I'm Addy. I'm a rising senior at the University of Maryland,College Park, majoring in Environmental Science andGeographical Sciences. During the school year, I work inUMD's Bioenergy and Bioprocessing Lab—affectionatelynicknamed the "Poop Lab"—where I’m involved in researchcharacterizing the bioenergy potential of various municipalsolid waste streams through anaerobic digestion. I’ve been atthis lab for the past two years, but my academic interestslean more toward ecology, which has brought me to theWoodland Lab for the summer! Addy can be reached ataruff@terpmail.umd.edu.Hi my name is Julia Kleine. I’m a senior at St. Mary’s Collegeof Maryland majoring in Marine science with a double minorin biology and environmental science. I also play collegiatesoccer at St. Mary’s. My research interests include estuarineecology and the effects of climate change on estuarinespecies. I'm in the Woodland Lab this summer. Julia can bereached at jakleine@smcm.edu.

Medical EmergenciesKnow where eyewash stations, emergency showers, and first aid kits are located for your work area. Emergency procedures mayinclude:· Flushing eyes with water for 15 minutes in case of chemical contact.· Washing skin with soap and water, and removing contaminated clothing.· Moving to fresh air if a person has been inhaling hazardous dust, fumes, or vapors.· Getting emergency medical assistance if a person has swallowed a hazardous chemical. There are no general first aid measuresfor swallowing—vomiting may cause more harm; diluting with water may increase the risk. Call 911 or the Poison Hotline (1-800-222-1222) and have the appropriate SDS available.· Take the SDS of the chemical that caused the injury to the Emergency Room if possible. Chemicals on Skin or Clothing· Flush with water for no less than 15 minutes (except for Hydrofluoric Acid, Flammable solids, or >10% phenol). For largercontamination, the safety shower should be used. Do not waste time because of modesty. Remove all contaminated clothing orjewelry.· Solvents such as paints, varnishes, lacquers, adhesives, glues, and degreasing/cleaning agents, and in the production of dyes,polymers, plastics, textiles, printing inks, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals are capable of dissolving or dispersing one ormore other substances dissolved in them. Do not use solvents to wash skin. Solvents remove the natural protective oils from theskin and can cause irritation, inflammation, and the absorption of toxins into your body.· For flammable solids on skin, first brush off as much as possible, then flush with water for at least 15 minutes. Read the SDS andmake sure the flammable solid is not reactive with water before you rinse.· For hydrofluoric acid—rinse with water for at least 5 minutes followed by treatment with calcium gluconate gel.· For phenol concentrations >10%, flush with water for 15 minutes or until the affected area turns from white to pink.· In all cases of severe contamination, seek medical attention. Inhalation· Close containers, move to fresh air.· If symptoms such as headaches, nose or throat irritation, dizziness, or drowsiness persist, seek medical attention. Explain whatchemicals you were using and if possible take the appropriate SDS with you.Fires Ingestion· Call 911 or the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222).· Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by a health care provider. Injection· Wash area with soap and water and seek medical attention, if necessary.Excerpted from Hazard Communication Right to Know OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 COMAR 09.12.33 This document is available onthe P drive in Safety > Plans and Policies.WWW.UMCES.edu/cbl I 410-326-4281P.O. Box 38 I 146 Williams Street I Solomons, MD 20688-00388Safety Corner: Cheryl Clark