Our Collaboratory

Anne R. KapuscinskiProfessor Anne R. Kapuscinski

Anne R. Kapuscinski is the inaugural Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of Sustainability Science and Chair of the Environmental Studies Program at Dartmouth College. Professor Kapuscinski received her BA in Biology from Swarthmore College in 1976 and MS and PhD degrees in Fisheries from Oregon State University (1980, 1984). Prior to Dartmouth, she was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota (1984-2009) in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, as well as Minnesota Sea Grant Extension Specialist in biotechnology and aquaculture. Her awards include an Honor Award from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for environmental protection (1997), a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation (2001), and the Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Conservation Biology (2008).

Professor Kapuscinski and her students have researched impacts of technology--from dams and hatcheries to aquaculture and genetic engineering--on aquatic biodiversity with an emphasis on fish genetic diversity. Results of this work thrust her into national and international policy arenas on food and environment and marine conservation. These experiences then stimulated Kapuscinski’s pursuit of research on society’s capacity to transition from unsustainable to flourishing interactions with the environment. She has proposed ecological and social criteria for organic aquaculture and led research on participatory scenario learning to address regional sustainability goals. At Dartmouth, she has begun research on integrated food-energy systems and assembled a scientist-practitioner team to study their dynamics, plausible trajectories, and policy context. Her laboratory experiments focus on linkages among tilapia aquaculture and microalgae components of the integrated food-energy system.

Kapuscinski has served as a scientific advisor on the safety of biotechnology to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under three administrations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and the European Union Food Safety Agency. She has advised the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Global Environment Facility, and the state of Minnesota on fish genetic conservation, aquaculture, biotechnology, and environmental planning. She served on the Board of Trustees and chaired the Science Advisory Committee of the WorldFish Center, which conducts research in developing countries. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Kapuscinski is lead editor of a CABI book series, Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms and guest editor of an issue of Biological Invasions on genetic biocontrol of invasive fish (in preparation). She recently submitted scientific comments on an FDA draft environmental assessment for aquaculture of genetically engineered salmon.

Professor Kapuscinski has initiated interdisciplinary programs on environment-society interactions throughout her career. At Dartmouth, she led a team of faculty to establish an undergraduate Sustainability Minor and sits on the Sustainability Steering Committee, co-chairing its working group on culture and learning. She recently began a new role of Co-Editor in Chief of Sustainability Transitions, a domain of the new online journal, Elementa. At Minnesota, she co-founded the Graduate Program in Conservation Biology and an undergraduate Minor in Sustainability Studies. While serving as Associate Director of the MacArthur Program on Global Change, Sustainability and Justice, she co-founded the Institute for Social, Economic and Ecological Sustainability. These efforts fed into formation of the Institute on the Environment, for which she was a Founding Fellow. She also co-led a PhD training program in ecological risk analysis of introduced species and genotypes funded by the National Science Foundation.

Anne enjoys artistic expressions of all kinds, especially live music, theater and indigenous arts. She is definitely a cat person. Her favorite past-times are sailing, beach walks, hiking, nature photography, reading, making collages, gardening, being with her loving husband and spending time with cherished family and friends around the world.

Selected Publications:

  • Johnson, K. A., G. Dana, N. R. Jordan, K. J. Draeger, A. Kapuscinski, L. K. Schmitt Olabisi and P. B. Reich 2012. Using participatory scenarios to stimulate social learning for collaborative sustainable development. Ecology and Society 17(2): 9.
  • Dana, G., A.R. Kapuscinski and J. Donaldson. 2012. Integrating diverse scientific and practitioner knowledge in ecological risk analysis: a case study of biodiversity risk assessment in South Africa. Journal of Environmental Management 98: 134-146.
  • Hill, J.E., A. R. Kapuscinski and T. Pavlowich. 2011. Flourescent transgenic zebra rerio more vulnerable to predators than wild-type. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140(4): 101-105.
  • Pennington, K. M. and A. R. Kapuscinski. 2011. Predation and food limitation influence fitness traits of growth-enhanced transgenic and wild-type fish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140:221-234.
  • Pennington, K. M., A. R. Kapuscinski, M. S. Morton, A. M. Cooper, and L. M. Miller. 2010. Full life-cycle assessment of gene flow consistent with fitness differences in transgenic and wild-type Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). Environmental Biosafety Research 9(2010):41-57.
  • Schmitt-Olabisi, L., A.R. Kapuscinski, K. Johnson, P. Reich, B. Stenquist, and K. Draeger. 2010. Using scenario visioning and participatory system dynamics modeling to investigate the future: Lessons from Minnesota 2050. Sustainability 2(8):2686-2706. (Accessible atwww.mdpi.com/2071-1050/2/8/2686)
  • Cooper, A.M., Kapuscinski, A.R., and Miller, L.M. 2009. Conservation of population structure and genetic diversity under captive breeding of remnant coaster brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations. Conservation Genetics 11(3): 1087-1093.
  • Schmitt-Olabisi, L. P.B. Reich, K. A. Johnson A. R. Kapuscinski S. Suh and E. Wilson 2009. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions for climate stabilization: framing regional options. Environmental Science and Technology 43(6): 1696-1703.
  • Caroffino, D., L.M. Miller, A.R. Kapuscinski and J.J. Ostazeski. 2008. Stocking success of local-origin fry and impact of hatchery ancestry: monitoring a new steelhead stocking program in a Minnesota tributary to Lake Superior. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65: 309-318.
  • Kapuscinski, A.R., K. Hayes, S. Li, and G. Dana, eds. 2007. Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms, Vol. 3: Methodologies for Transgenic Fish, CABI Publishing, UK. 304 pp.
  • Kapuscinski, A. R. 2005. Current scientific understanding of the environmental biosafety of transgenic fish and shellfish. OIE Scientific and Technical Review Office International des Épizooties 24(1): 309-322.
  • National Research Council (Kapuscinski one of 12 authors). 2004. Biological Confinement of Genetically Engineered Organisms. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
  • National Research Council (Kapuscinski one of 13 authors). 2004. Atlantic Salmon in Maine. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
  • Miller, L.M., T. Close and A.R. Kapuscinski. 2004. Lower fitness of hatchery and hybrid rainbow trout compared to naturalized populations in Lake Superior tributaries. Molecular Ecology 13: 3379-3388.
  • National Research Council (Kapuscinski one of 15 authors). 1996. Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
  • Click here for an extended list of Professor Kapuscinski's publications.

    Pallab Sarker PhD.

    Pallab Sarker is appointed as a Fish Nutritionist in the Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College. He is an expert on the nutrition of fish and shrimp, mainly freshwater (rainbow trout, tilapia, Indian major carps, common carp, zebrafish, silver barb) and marinewater (yellowtail, Japanese flounder and shrimp) species for aquaculture. His research interests span from fish nutrition, physiology and aquaculture which include nutrient requirement of fish; ingredients digestibility and evaluation for nutritionally balanced, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective aquafeed formulation for aquaculture species; impacts of nutrition on physiology and gene expression.

    Dr. Pallab received his B.Sc in Fisheries and M.S. in Fisheries Technology from Bangladesh Agricultural University (1994, 1998). In October, 2002, he has been awarded the Japanese Government Scholarship (Monbukagakusho) for his M.Sc. (Lab of Fish Nutrition, Kochi University) and Ph.D. (United Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University) study in Japan (2004, 2007). In Japan he worked in the area of Aquaculture Nutrition, more specifically on developing nutritional strategies (feed formulation) to reduce the environmental impact of fish culture via nutrient requirement and the incorporation of enzymes into the diets of Japanese flounder and yellowtail. He has served as a Teaching Assistant during his Ph.D. study and he has invited speaker in numerous workshops and seminars in Japan.

    Prior to Dartmouth he has been served as a postdoctoral Researcher at the Laval University in Canada (2008-2012) and conducted and coordinated a number of aquaculture nutrition and physiology related core research programs: 1) Optimization of the composition of practical diets to minimize production costs and waste outputs of trout reared by using alternative feedstuffs fish meal and fish oil for sustainable rainbow trout aquaculture; strategies to minimize nutrient waste output, contaminants level, and to ensure benefits of fish for human health, while simultaneously seeking to maximize ecological sustainability, 2) a novel nutritional approach for biological containment of fish: effects of vitamin (biotin) on growth, survival, deficiency, and gene expression of Nile tilapia, zebrafish and rainbow trout, and 3) strategies to prevent off-flavors in fish raised in aquaculture system (seek improve fish product quality and quality of water resources).

    Dr Pallab has served as a Scientific Officer at the Brackishwater Station in Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (1998-2002); he conducted research in adaptive aquaculture and practical aspects of fish/shrimp nutrition. He had expanded the initiative of shrimp feed formulation research from locally available fishmeal and alternative feed ingredients for the sustainable development of this industry in Bangladesh. At Brackishwater Station, he was able to apply a wide variety of skills and gained valuable research experience in applied aquaculture, and nutrition. Integrated rice-fish farming technology research led to the development and dissemination of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) and common carps in coastal region of Bangladesh. In addition, he was asked to participate in writing grant applications and was involved in the technical assessment of new venture possibilities. He had special responsibility as a workshop/seminar coordinator at the Brackishwater Station and disseminated the technology by coordinating and organizing workshop/ seminar/meeting with stakeholders such as the shrimp/fish industry, regulatory agencies, educators and the public; businesses, consumers, local communities, and academic and federal scientists.

    He is the member of the manuscript Review committee of Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition and Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. He is a member of World Aquaculture Society, Aquaculture Association of Canada, Network in aquaculture Quebec (Réseau Aquaculture Québec, RAQ), Canada, Agriculturist Institution, Bangladesh, Society of Fisheries Science of Japan (2002-2008), and Japanese Society for Aquaculture Research (2002-2008). He successfully supervised a number of Ph.D. and master’s students in Canada and Japan.

    As a Fish Nutritionist at Dartmouth, he is currently investing his thought about the potential of evaluating microalgae digestibility and developing various tilapia feed formulae to replace fish meal and fish oil for sustainable aquaculture. Aquaculture production has been playing an increasing important role in the economy of many regions over the past four decades. Consumer demand for fish products is predicted to grow, with, aquaculture filling the shortfall from static or declining capture fisheries. Governments, industry, and academic stakeholders have invested very significant resources to support research and development activities in aquaculture. Sustainably produced nutritionally complete aquafeeds must keep pace with consumer demand for edible fish. However, the over-reliance of the aquaculture industry on marine-derived resources has also raised concern among environmentalists regarding the impacts of fish meal and oil demand on reduction fisheries specifically and marine ecosystems in general. Additionally, the use of fish meal and fish oil in fish feeds has been linked with elevated levels of environmental contaminants in farm-raised fish, raising (unfounded) concerns about human food safety.

    Above all these issues have created a strong incentive to drive research for alternative feedstuffs to reduce the reliance on marine-derived fishmeal and fish oil. Consequently, like in all other animal production sectors, feed manufacturers and fish nutritionists play a central role in assisting aquaculture operations address these current challenges. Our research team at Dartmouth is currently giving efforts in this area to demonstrate that technology can be effective to meet this end. This is one component of research on integrated food energy systems characterized by nutrient recycling such as fish culture effluents fertilizing microalgae, and coupled to biogas renewable energy and greenhouse aquaponics. I join scientists and engineers (Dartmouth) and practitioners (Carbon Harvest Energy) who are collaborating on research on integrated food energy systems for multifunctional sustainability at community and larger scale.

    Selected Publications:

    Graduate Students


    Tyler Pavlowich, PhD Student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    Education: BS from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in Biology, 2005

    Tyler’s research aims to contribute to the understanding of dynamics between social and ecological systems: how humans affect and are affected by ecosystems. He plans to address these questions in cBuen, Hombre Dominican Republic. In the summer of 2012, Tyler traveled to Buen Hombre—a community of 600 residents on the northwestern coast of the country—to assess the status and functioning of coral reef fisheries accessed by artisanal fishermen. He performed fish-community surveys, benthic assessments, catch surveys, and social research on how the fishing system in Buen Hombre operates. Coral reef ecosystems harbor tremendous biodiversity, perform important functions in the biogeochemical cycles of the planet, and provide the foundation upon which humans create unique and diverse relationships with nature. His dissertation work will include modeling fish population dynamics to help the community and resource managers establish harvest guidelines and promote ecosystem recovery. He will study the effects of artisanal fishing on the coral-reef ecosystem, the impacts of reef resources on human wellbeing, and how stressors, like overfishing and climate change, affect the adaptive capacity of the community and ecosystem. When Tyler can't be snorkeling at the beach or fishing, he enjoys basketball and stoking the wood stove.

     

    Marcus Welker, PhD student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    Education: BS from University of Alaska Anchorage in Natural Sciences; MSc from King's College London in Aquatic Resource Management
    Awards: National Science Foundation East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (NSF EAPSI), June 12 - August 22, 2012; Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results Fellowship (EPA STAR), beginning Fall 2012

    In college, Marcus was first exposed to conflicts between natural resource extraction, fisheries, climate change, and indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. His thesis examined the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies of Tatabanya, Hungary and Tromso, Norway and culminated in a collaborative process to draft Anchorage’s first Carbon Action Plan, identifying local and regional climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and public policy actions. For his MSc thesis, Marcus initiated an Anchorage Adopt-A-Stream program that gives community members the opportunity to directly participate in improvement of salmon habitat quality.

    At Dartmouth, Marcus is exploring Atlantic salmon imprinting, homing, and restoration in Lake Champlain. He hopes to identify why hatchery supplementation to create river-runs and naturally reproducing populations has failed in the past and improve hatchery rearing and outplanting techniques. Marcus is conducting three studies: 1) exploring the spatial and temporal variability of amino acid compositions and concentrations (NSF EAPSI- Japan); 2) testing if Atlantic salmon imprint and home to amino acids present in stream waters (EPA STAR ); and 3) investigating the molecular mechanisms for amino acid olfaction in Atlantic salmon. Restoring river-runs of Atlantic salmon would provide numerous ecosystem services to the Lake Champlain basin, while also strengthening the environment and economy. When Marcus isn’t splashing around in rivers collecting water samples, tracking down fish, and getting his tan on, he is exploring the vast wilderness of New England, riding his bike (or fixing it, because he tends to break it), or playing in the snow.

    Research Assistants

    Suzanne Kelson '12, Research Assistant; Previously:Senior Honors Thesis
    Education: BA from Dartmouth College, 2012, Biology, Sustainability Minor, Japanese Minor

    Currently, Suzanne is mapping the genetic structure of a local population of brook trout. Learning how a trout populations organize in a watershed will help guide future conservation and management efforts of a declining native species.Suzanne is drawn to this resarch by her enjoyment of applying molecular biology techniques to ecology questions. "It is exciting to be discovering new information about the movement of brook trout." Suzanne hopes to use science and applied ecology to help create a sustainable planet, in whatever career path she chooses to follow. She also participates actively inthe Dartmouth Outing Club and Dartmouth Dance Ensemble. Fun Fact: She's a twin!

     

     

     

    Current Undergraduate Projects

    Madi Gamble '13, Senior Honors Thesis

    Bonita Langle '13, Senior Honors Thesis

    For information on past collaboratory contributors CLICK HERE.

    Collaborators

    See more information about our various research collaborations here.

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Last Updated on Monday, 01 April 2013 12:37

© 2012 Kapuscinski Sustainability Science Collaboratory · Environmental Studies Program · 6182 Steele Hall, Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH 03755
Tel. 603.646.2721 · Anne.Kapuscinski@dartmouth.edu