Research topics: Ecology of lakes and management of aquatic ecosystems

Research program: My primary research interests are in limnology, aquatic ecology and management of freshwater ecosystems. Recently, I've integrated long-term and landscape perspectives to explain spatial heterogeneity in limnological attributes and temporal responses to disturbance. In particular, I'm interested in how multiple regional disturbances, such as acid deposition, climate change, and land use alteration, affect aquatic ecosystems and how responses are mediated by the position of lakes along hydrologic flowpaths. Other interests are in lake classification, long-term responses of lakes to acid deposition, and the influence of shoreline development on land-water interactions.

Current Research Projects:

• Seepage lakes in Maine and Wisconsin as indicators of climate change
• Sense-of-place attitudes of lake users in Maine
• Effects of shoreline development on littoral habitats in Maine lakes
• Application of a landscape framework for evaluating the impacts of regional and local stressors on lakes in Maine

Selected Publications

Webster, K.E., P.A. Soranno, S.B. Baines, T.K. Kratz, C.J. Bowser, P.J. Dillon, P. Campbell, E.J. Fee, and R.E. Hecky. 2000. Structuring features of lake districts: landscape controls on lake chemical responses to drought. Freshwater Biology 43:499-416.

Riera, J.L., J.J. Magnuson, T.K. Kratz and K.E. Webster. 2000. A geomorphic template for the analysis of lake districts applied to the Northern Highland Lake District, Wisconsin, USA. Freshwater Biology 43:301-318.

Baines, S.B., K.E. Webster, T.K. Kratz, S.R. Carpenter, and J.J. Magnuson. 2000. Synchronous behavior of temperature, calcium and chlorophyll in lakes of northern Wisconsin. Ecology 81:815-825.

Stoddard, J.L., D.S. Jeffries, A. Lukewille, T.A. Clair, P.J. Dillon, C.T. Driscoll, M. Forsius, M. Johannessen, J.S. Kahl, J.H. Kellogg, A. Kemp, J. Mannio, D. Monteith, P.S. Murdoch, S. Patrick, A. Rebsdorf, B.L. Skjelkvale, M.P. Stainton, T. Traaen, H. van Dam, K.E. Webster, J. Wieting, and A. Wilander. 1999. Regional trends in aquatic recovery from acidification in North America and Europe 1980-95. Nature. 401:575-578.

Soranno, P.A., K.E. Webster, J.L. Riera, T.K. Kratz, J.S. Baron, P. Bukaveckas, G.W. Kling, D. White, N. Caine, R.C. Lathrop, and P. Leavitt. 1999. Spatial variation among lakes within landscapes: ecological organization along lake chains. Ecosystems 2:395-410.

Frost, T.M., P.K. Montz, T.K. Kratz, T. Badillo, P.L. Brezonik, M.J. Gonzalez, R.G. Rada, C.J. Watras, K.E. Webster, J.G. Wiener, C.E. Williamson, and D.P. Morris. 1999. Multiple stresses from a single agent: diverse responses to the experimental acidification of Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin. Limnol. Oceanogr. 44:784-794.

Other publications from this laboratory