Nicholas A. Baer
Nicholas A. Baer

Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
nbaer@colby-sawyer.edu
603.526.3066

Nicholas A. Baer

Joined the faculty in 2004. Received B.A. from University of Vermont and Ph.D. from University of Maryland. Teaching interests include freshwater biology, conservation biology, ecology, water resources, and environmental studies. Research interests are in freshwater foodweb dynamics, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water quality, ecosystem structure and function, particularly relating how aquatic organisms respond to changes in water parameters such as pH, conductivity, and nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon concentrations.

Professor Baer teaches courses in ecology, freshwater biology, conservation biology, community and environmental studies, and other sciences. Courses concentrate on exploring the surrounding landscape, flora, and fauna, as well as how humans interact with natural resources. Professor Baer leads activities and field trips throughout New Hampshire, and takes advantage of the natural resources in the lakes around New London.

Professor Baer's research interests in water quality and how human derived impacts affect water resources allow him to incorporate students in his on-going studies in the region. Professor Baer is currently collaborating with a community-based lake association, as well as several other researchers from additional institutions to investigate how water quality changes in the Lake Sunapee watershed affects the foodweb dynamics in streams, and heavy metal transport within the foodweb.

Areas of Expertise

  • Ecology
  • Environmental Studies
  • Conservation Biology
  • Aquatic Entomology
  • Aquatic Chemistry
  • Hydrology

Publications and Presentations

  • Chaves-Ulloa, R., Taylor, B.W., Broadley, H.J., Cottingham, K.L., Baer, N.A., Weathers, K.C., Ewing, H.A., Chen, C.Y. Dissolved organic carbon modulates mercury concentrations in insect subsidies from stream to terrestrial consumers. Ecological Applications. (In Review)

  • Baer, Nicholas A., Shrestha, J., Broadley, H.J., Chaves-Ulloa, R., Weathers, K.C., Ewing, H.A., Cottingham, K.L., Chen, C.Y. Mercury bioaccumulation in Lake Sunapee Tributaries, linkages to terrestrial food webs, and the influence of water chemistry. New England Association of Environmental Biologists and the NH Water and Watershed Conference. Bartlett, NH. March 2015.

  • Baer, Nicholas.A., Weathers, Kathleen.C., Ewing, Holly.A., Roebuck, Hannah.J., Chickering, Jessica.S, Wilson, Adam.M., Cottingham, Kathryn.L., Chen, Celia.Y. The influence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on methylmercury bioaccumulation in stream food webs. North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Fairlee, VT. June 2013.

  • Boynton, P., Shrestha, J., Sherpa, P., Slogic, C., Watson, C., Zegans, M., Roebuck, H., Pierson, E., Baer, N., Weathers, K., Chen, C. The relationship between spatial mercury bioaccumulation in rock bass and water quality of the Lake Sunapee watershed. North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Fairlee, VT. June 2013.

  • Shrestha, J.,Boynton, P.,Sherpa,P., Slogic, C., Watson, C., Van Scoyoc, A., Zegans, M., R. Chaves-Ulloa,R., Roebuck, H., Baer, N.,Weathers. K, Chen, C. The transport of mercury to terrestrial ecosystems through emerging aquatic invertebrates. Science on the Hill Conference for the Council for Undergraduate Research. Washington, DC. March 2013.

  • Chaves-Ulloa, R., Baer, N.A., Chen, C.Y., Cottingham, K.L., Ewing, H.A., Roebuck, H., Taylor, B.W., Weathers, K.C. Movement of mercury from streams to terrestrial consumers by aquatic insects across a gradient of land cover types and dissolved organic carbon. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August, 2012.

  • Baer N.A., Weathers K.C., Ewing H.A., Roebuck H.J., Chickering J.S, Wilson A.M., Cottingham K.L., Chen C.Y. Methylmercury bioaccumulation dynamics in stream food webs and the role of dissolved organic carbon. NISBRE Conference. Washington D.C. June 2012.

  • Baer N.A., Weathers K.C., Ewing H.A., Roebuck H.J., Chickering J.S, Wilson A.M., Cottingham K.L., Chen C.Y. The Role of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Determining Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in Stream Food Webs. Society of Freshwater Science Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY May, 2012.

  • Chickering, J.S., Baer, N.A., Richardson, D.C., Ewing, H.A., Roebuck, H.J., Weathers, K.C. Spatial and temporal patterns of DOC bioavailability in six streams, Sunapee, New Hampshire. Society of Freshwater Science Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. May 2012.

  • Weathers, K.C., *Ewing, H.A., Baer, N.A., Chen, C.Y., Roebuck, H.J., Maki, C.E., Richardson, D.C., Lindsey, A.M., Wilson, A., Chikering, J., Fiorillo, A.U., Cottingham, K.L. 2011. From Air to Water: Hg deposition and biogeochemistry, Sunapee, NH watersheds. National Atmospheric Deposition Program 2011 Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium. NADP at the Nexus: Cross-System Connections. Providence, RI, 25-28 October 2011.

  • Wilson A.M., Chickering J., Baer N.A., Weathers K.C., Chen C.Y., Ewing H.A., Roebuck H.J., Cottingham K.L. 2011. How landscape and water quality parameters affect mercury dynamics and bioaccumulation within stream foodwebs. NH IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Annual Meeting. Whitefield, NH, August 2011.

  • Weathers K.C., Baer N.A., Buttick S., Cassirer R., Chaves-Ulloa R., Chen C.Y., Chickering J.S., Cottingham K.L., Crimm N., Ewing H.A., Fichter J., Fiorillo A.U., Gawarkiewicz E., Geng H., Griesinger L., Lindsey A.M., MacConnell, T., Maki C.E., Richardson, D.C., Roebuck H. J., Traver E., Warkentien J., Wilson A.M., Wood R. 2011. Linkages from citizen scientists to senior researchers: collaborations to investigate mercury dynamics in the Lake Sunapee watershed. NH IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Annual Meeting. Whitefield, NH, August 2011.

  • Baer, N.A., D.C. Richardson, H.A. Ewing, H.J. Roebuck, K.C.Weathers. 2010. Seasonal trends, watershed drivers, and bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in tributaries of a New England oligotrophic lake, Lake Sunapee. ASLO/NABS Annual Meeting. (abstract), submission.

  • Richardson, D.C., K.C. Weathers, H.A. Ewing, N.A. Baer. 2010. Fluxes of dissolved and particulate phosphorus into a New England oligotrophic lake, Lake Sunapee, with increasing cyanobacterial blooms. ASLO/NABS Annual Meeting. (abstract), submission.

  • Steele, B., N. Baer, and C. Kellogg. 2009. A new ecology text for introductory courses. Book review of C. Krebs. 2008. The Ecological World View. Univ California Press, Berkeley. Ecology 90: 573-574.

  • Baer, N.A. and B.B. Steele. 2008. Building quantitative literacy and data analysis skills in student designed ecology labs. The 93st Annual Meeting Abstract Bulletin for the Ecological Society of America. (abstract).

  • Steele, B.B. and N.A. Baer. 2008. Including the creative part of science in student designed ecology labs. The 93st Annual Meeting Abstract Bulletin for the Ecological Society of America. (abstract).

  • Baer, N.A. 2008. Unusual freshwater organisms: a closer look at macroinvertebrates. The Lake Sunapee Protective Association Seminar Series. Lake Sunapee Protective Association. Sunapee, NH.

  • Baer, N.A. 2008. Exercise to calculate river discharge. Spreadsheets across the curriculum. The Science Education Resource (SERC), Carleton College and The Washington Center, Evergreen College. Web publication: http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/ssac_home/general/examples/19127.html.

  • Baer, N.A. and K.C. Weathers. 2006. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and foodweb dynamics: Tea for two? The 91st Annual Meeting Abstract Bulletin for the Ecological Society of America. 19 (abstract).

  • Baer, N.A. 2006. In-stream dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the effect on macroinvertebrate community structure and function. Eastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America.

  • Baer, N.A. 2005. Within and among watershed variation of macroinvertebrate community structure in two Maryland Coastal Plain streams. The 2nd Maryland Stream Symposium.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. Macroinvertebrate community structure and ecological function in Maryland Coastal Plain streams. Diss. U of Maryland, 2004.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. and William O. Lamp. Detrital foodweb response to dissolved organic carbon and nutrient changes: Exploring Coastal Plain stream dynamics. The Ecological Society of America, Savannah. Aug. 2003.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. and William O. Lamp. Effects of nutrients and dissolved organic carbon on microbial and macroinvertebrate contributions to leaf litter breakdown. The North American Benthological Society, Athens. May. 2003.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. and William O. Lamp. Macroinvertebrates and leaf decomposition: a comparison across two Maryland Coastal Plain streams. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Restoration Conference, Baltimore. Sept. 2002.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. and William O. Lamp. Macroinvertebrate community structure vs. leaf decomposition: a comparison across two Maryland coastal plain streams. The North American Benthological Society, LaCrosse. May 2001.

  • Baer, Nicholas A., William O. Lamp and Doug Samson. Biohydrological comparison of the Nassawango and Nanjemoy watersheds in the Maryland coastal plain region. The North American Benthological Society, Keystone. May 2000.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. Summary report of the biohydrological survey in the Nanjemoy and Nassawango watersheds. Maryland: The Nature Conservancy, 1999.

  • Baer, Nicholas A. and Edward Ohanian. Comparison of the data used in the 1997 World Health Organization evaluation to the 1991 EPA's drinking water regulation for nitrate/nitrite. The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Seattle. Nov. 1998.

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Maryland
  • B.A., University of Vermont