The Paleoecology Research Laboratory (PeRL) provides the foundation for research about the ecological history and prehistory of our study regions. Sedimentary depositions and plant and animal remains provide evidence about the vegetation, climate, and lake levels. Our research sites include New England, Florida, Scotland, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Antarctica, New Zealand and Chile.
Link to: Guide to New Zealand sub-fossil chironomids
CONSULTING SERVICES:
PeRL conducts studies of past and present environmental, ecological, and climatic conditions through analyses of lake and wetland sediments. Our diverse field and analytical services are supported by an inter-disciplinary team of experienced research personnel at the Climate Change Institute and the University of Maine. Our research results aid conservation and forest biologists and natural resource managers to build modern management plans based on thousands of years of ecological data. Archaeologists and geoscientists apply paleoecological data to the assessment of environmental conditions that impacted ancient cultures, ice mass behavior, and deposition processes.
ANALYTICAL SERVICES:
PeRL scientists offer specialized services in pollen and chironomid analyses of Quaternary sediments from both northern and southern hemisphere environments. PeRL also performs a number of geophysical and biophysical analyses. These analyses are supported by a well equipped optical laboratory with dissecting and compound microscopes, photographic and digital imagery.
- Sediment core stratigraphy
- Magnetic susceptibility screening
- Dry and wet bulk density analysis
- Organic carbon / carbonate analysis
- Particle size analysis
- Pollen concentration (standard HF and heavy liquid floatation)
- Pollen analysis
- Chironomid analysis
- Plant macrofossil and charcoal analysis
- Microscope slide and reference specimen preparation
- Sample preparation for AMS carbon- 14 dating, including pollen isolation
Lake core extraction from an anchored platform using a Wright piston corer
COOPERATIVE SERVICES:
The following specialized analyses are available through our cooperative relationship with laboratories on the University of Maine campus. We can subcontract the work for you, or refer you directly to the laboratory offering the services your project requires.
- Stable isotope, water chemistry, and foraminifera
- Geochemical studies including ICPSMS for trace metals
- Ice-sample ion chromatography
- Ground Penetrating Radar scanning for bathymetric and sediment profiling.
FIELD SERVICES:
PeRL has a wide range of field equipment for studying paleohydrology and sediment composition of aquatic, wetland, and forest environments. Field services include:
- GPS and landscape mapping
- Lake, peat, and wetland sediment core recovery
- Rare plant population monitoring
- Invasive species detection and eradication
- Aquatic and terrestrial plant inventory
Service Charges:
Charges for PeRL services depend on the level of analytical or consulting expertise required, time commitment, equipment use, materials, and other costs. We provide a detailed service agreement and cost analysis for each project proposal.
Climate Change Institute
Paleoecology Research Laboratory
112 Sawyer Environmental Research Center
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469–5764
phone: 207–581–3007
fax: 207–581–9390
Staff
Ann C. Dieffenbacher-Krall,Director
Assistant Research Professor,
207–581–2956
Jasmine Saros
Associate Professor
207–581–2112
Marcus VanDergoes,
Assistant Research Professor
207–581–2784
Andrea Nurse,
Research Scientist,
207–581–3007