Samantha Baxter

Writer, Managing Editor at Fondriest Environmental

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Articles

Spring 2025 Environmental Monitor Available Now

1 week ago | fondriest.com | Samantha Baxter

In the Spring 2025 edition of the Environmental Monitor, we highlight partnerships across the world and the importance of collaboration between government agencies, universities, environmental groups, local communities, and other stakeholders. From great white shark research in Cape Cod to monitoring fisheries in Lake Erie, this latest edition underscores partnerships that connect stakeholders in a watershed through environmental data.
Monitoring Mariculture in the Gulf of Alaska

1 week ago | fondriest.com | Samantha Baxter

The mariculture industry in the Gulf of Alaska has been steadily growing in recent years, guided by ongoing research to help refine farm location and cultivation practices. A subset of aquaculture, mariculture focuses on rearing organisms in the open ocean. In Alaska, finfish farming is illegal, so most farms cultivate kelp, oysters, or a combination of the two.
Anglers Take the Lead: England’s Angling Trust Monitors Rivers and Streams - FishSens Magazine

2 weeks ago | fishsens.com | Samantha Baxter

Rivers and streams are home to millions of aquatic organisms, from freshwater mussels to the most sought-after trophy fish. However, freshwater resources across the world have been impacted by increased rates of pollution in recent years as industry and urban centers expand. Pollutants like phosphates, nitrates, and ammonia flood waterways and impact the native fish community.
Expanding the Port Everglades: Real-Time Monitoring of Water Quality Conditions from Planned Dredging Operation

3 weeks ago | fondriest.com | Samantha Baxter

The Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida, serves large trade vessels and cruiseliners and incoming and outgoing recreational boaters. However, as cargo ships become larger, the port must expand. A dredging project led by the US Army Corps of Engineers will substantially deepen and widen the port’s navigation channel to accommodate larger Panamax cargo ships and modern cruise liners. As a result of this project, a large amount of sediment will be displaced into the water column.
It’s Time to React to Water Quality: Proteus Multiparameter Probe aboard NexSens Buoy

1 month ago | fondriest.com | Samantha Baxter

Water quality monitoring is essential for safeguarding public health, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring the sustainability of water resources. Contaminants such as industrial pollutants, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge can severely impact aquatic life and pose serious risks to human health if left unchecked.
Research Brief: Algae and Zooplankton Relationships in Lake Warnołty

1 month ago | lakescientist.com | Samantha Baxter

Cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater lakes have become a popular research topic in limnological circles due to their influence on water quality, temperature dynamics, food web structure, interactions, and ecosystem functioning. Cyanobacteria can dominate phytoplankton communities, leading to recurring blooms and shaping the rest of the ecosystem like zooplankton abundance and structure.
Impacts of Thermal Stress on Aquatic Species - FishSens Magazine

1 month ago | fishsens.com | Samantha Baxter

Under a rapidly changing climate, aquatic ecosystems are exposed to varying temperature extremes—both cold and hot—leading to thermal stress on aquatic species. As defined by Scient Direct, thermal stress refers to the impact on normal physiological functioning as a result of extreme temperatures. Depending on the severity of temperatures and the species, reactions can vary and shape ecosystems.
Research Brief: Drivers of Winter Stratification in Lake Superior

1 month ago | lakescientist.com | Samantha Baxter

Winter stratification and lake thermal dynamics set up conditions in the spring and summer, as well as being heavily influenced by fall conditions. In a dimictic lake like Lake Superior, how and when winter stratification and lake cooling begin to form is still largely unknown. A 2024 study published in Limnology and Oceanography examined 15 years of temperature data on Lake Superior to evaluate drivers of winter stratification.
Monitoring in the Great Barrier Reef - FishSens Magazine

1 month ago | fishsens.com | Samantha Baxter

Weather station deployed on Davies Reef. (Credit: Marie Roman / AIMS) An international icon and critical marine ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a cornerstone of the region’s economy, biodiversity, culture, and history. However, anthropogenic stressors and climate change have led to some deterioration of areas of the reef over time, making protecting the reef a challenge for local and global institutions.
Great Lakes Research Center: Designing Targeted Monitoring Solutions

1 month ago | fondriest.com | Samantha Baxter

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Great Lakes have more miles of coastline than the contiguous Atlantic and Pacific coasts combined and contain 20 percent of the world’s freshwater, making it a critical region to protect and conserve. Continuous monitoring and data-informed resource management are key components of managing waters in the region.