Dr. Mark R. Lesser
Associate Professor
Center for Earth and Environmental Science
SUNY Plattsburgh
email: mless004@plattsburgh.edu
phone: 518 564 4139
Research Interests
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Plant ecology
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Dendroecology
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Species distributions
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Population dynamics
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Dispersal and colonization
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Herbivory
Current Undergraduate Research Students
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James Wholey
I'm a sophomore student in the Environmental science program. Growing up I was always surrounded by nature and this has taught me to have a great love for and appreciation of the
environment. Thanks to CEES, I have been given the opportunity to further learn through hands-on experience. My research involves a chronosequence of forest structure at the Altona flat rock. This will help show how disturbances of the forest structure affects the habitats of the organisms living at
the flat rock.
Amelie Przedwiecki
I am an Ecology major with a Geology minor here at SUNY Plattsburgh in the CEES department and am in the honors program. Recently I earned my AESP certificate from the department and am excited for my upcoming classes. I currently work for the Lake Champlain Research Institute on campus. I have worked on two previous research projects here, the first with Wildflowers in Rugar Woods and the second measuring and looking at variation in Silurian burrows made by sea anemones. My current research focuses on analyzing a sediment core taken from the Altona Flat Rock, looking at the fire history as well as identification and abundance of macrofossils found within the core.
Taylor Towne
Hi! My name is Taylor Towne and I am an undergraduate student studying Environmental Science and Ecology at SUNY Plattsburgh. As someone who hikes, skis, and spends the majority of their free time outside, following a career in Environmental Science felt perfect. I am very interested in Forest Ecology, and more specifically how climate change is affecting boreal ecosystems. My research focuses on the resilience of jack pine at the Altona Flat Rock following a wildfire disturbance and jack pine regeneration and growth is influenced by fine scale topography and microclimate.
Kaiser Beckford
My name is Keira, but everyone calls me Kaiser! I am a freshman and an Environmental Science major. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with very little exposure to the natural environment but always wishing I could experience it. Being at Plattsburgh, I have been handed opportunities that I could never have dreamed of living in a major city. I am largely interested in entomology specifically, as well as environment and society. Currently, I am aiding graduate student, Annie Arnold, with identifying insects collected from the Shingle Shanty Preserve in order to observe insect biodiversity.
Current Graduate Students
Meghan Bargabos
I’m a first year graduate student who has always been fascinated by how wildlife interacts with the environment. I grew up exploring mountains, lakes, forests, and more, which led me to fall in love with the outdoors and ultimately pursue a career centered around it. At Plattsburgh, I’m able to take advantage of the outdoors as my classroom, and immerse myself in the fascinating environments nearby. My research incorporates wildlife and forest ecology, focusing on the movement of wildlife across different landscapes. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, wildlife photography, and fishing.
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Annie Arnold
I’ve always been happiest when I’m in the woods and now have the opportunity to work toward my Master’s degree in Natural Sciences and Ecology. My interests in course study are dendrology and entomology. I’m currently researching insect biodiversity within boreal peatlands and am looking forward to field experience this summer at Shingle Shanty Preserve and Research Station. When I’m not learning about bugs I work at Adirondack North Country Association helping small businesses implement clean energy upgrades and taking every moment I can to be in the woods and share my love of nature with my two sons exploring, camping, animal tracking, skiing and biking.
Caley Doell
I grew up hiking, trail running, and playing outside in the Adirondack mountains, which has given me an infinite love for the outdoors. As a SUNY Plattsburgh graduate and now graduate student, the ecology program has provided me with the opportunity to dive into the ecological systems around us. My research as an undergraduate combined ornithology and forest ecology to understand how bird communities use differently aged burn sites at the Altona Flat Rock, which has contributed to an overall understanding of the area. As a graduate student, I am now shifting my focus to eastern whip-poor-wills, with a desire to understand how they use the Flat Rock ecosystem.
Lydia Harvey
I am a first-year graduate student in the Natural Resources and Ecology program. My fields of interest are wetland ecology and botany. My goal after graduation is to become a wetland scientist, so I decided to take the internship route in the program to gain work experience along with my coursework. Over the summer I will be doing an internship with the Adirondack Park Agency where I will be delineating wetlands and assisting with GIS data collection. I am also working on a research project studying a sediment core from the Altona Flat Rock, alongside Amelie. For this project I am looking at pollen assemblages and carbon content as loss-on-ignition.
Undergraduate Research Student Alumni
Ed Rosenberg
The mountains have always been very important to me, especially in the Adirondack park. The choice to come to Plattsburgh and enter a program that gives the opportunity to call the outdoors my classroom was an easy one. Classes in forest, wildlife, and wetland ecology have propelled my interest in ecosystem functions, with a focus on mountain forests. Through the independent study opportunity, I’ve been able to combine my love of the mountains with research on the change in forest composition along an elevation gradient in the high peaks. This data is crucial in both analyzing the current forest composition, but also the future of the forests and what they’re trending towards. This research provides insight on the effects of both climate change and direct human influence on our wild forests.
Anna Skolnick
Growing up, I always wanted to be a veterinarian because I like animals more than I like people. However, I want to somehow make a large scale change for these animals and ecosystems. I chose to study environmental science and environmental planning and management because I am interested in learning more about the natural world and how we can work to protect it. I am currently working with tree cores to determine how climate change and atmospheric deposition effect tree growth. Being out in nature brings me peace and I hope to research, plan, and raise awareness in a way that will lead others to want to adapt to save the planet.
Hannah Cave
I am a junior studying ecology who has always been interested in the natural world and how wildlife interacts in different ecosystems. I plan on making a career out of conserving and protecting natures most vulnerable species and learning about what makes them so important in their environment. My field research on how wildfires at the Altona Flatrock impact native wildlife reflect my interest in learning about how all areas of the environment are impacted by one another. I hope to pursue higher levels of education to better be able to protect our natural world and make it a better place for the species living in it.
Zach Hart
One of the most transformative moments in my life was when I got the opportunity to work with Common Ground Relief in New Orleans, planting grasses to help mitigate erosion in Southern Louisiana. When I decided to return to school, I knew I needed a program that would emphasize nature being the classroom, like what I experienced in New Orleans. Working with Dr. Lesser and the lab to build a spatial database for the Altona Flat Rock for use with wildfire management practices allows me to continue working with nature and the betterment of our environment.
Rob Kruse
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Tierney Mayette
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Megan Grega
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Harleigh Green
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Linh Le
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Jesse Pruden
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Helena Mueller
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Wayne Stokes
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Troy Tetreault
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Pat Bly
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Michael Hurban
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Rachel Penders
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Maeve Sherry
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Matt Nasner
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Erin Gaare
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Sierra Fowler
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Kyle Clark
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Amaris Jalil
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Demian Nunez
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Elizabeth Eaton
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Audrey Delos Santos
Devan Bushey
Growing up backpacking, biking, and kayaking around the Adirondacks I developed an inevitable appreciation for the beauty that wilderness has to offer. As a senior here at SUNY Plattsburgh, studying Environmental Science has taught me how to deepen this appreciation with understanding. The ability to identify what is present in our surroundings and have insight into the dynamic systems which take place within them can foster a connection to the natural world which I think is necessary for scientists and humans alike in future management of our ecosystems. My research this semester involves analysis of variables to regeneration success of jack pine in the barrens of the Altona Flat Rock, which experienced it's most recent fire disturbance in 2018. I'm looking forward to doing research with fire and forest ecology and hope to do more work in this field in the future.
Mikayla Osmer
I’m a double major in Environmental Studies and Environmental Planning/Management and I’m extremely interested in many environmental topics such as forest fires and climate change. Growing up on the very East End of Long Island has made me accustomed to being on the water all the time, which began my love for the natural world. By coming to Plattsburgh and the Adirondack region this appreciation only grew and in my free time, I love to hike and kayak. I’m excited to be studying jack pine regeneration at the Altona Flat Rock, following the most recent wildfire in 2018, and being able to study the factors that could be hindering or assisting the jack pine seedlings. My future goal is to work for the National Parks and be able to continue this outdoor work/research as a career path.
Sophia Griffiths
I am a sophomore environmental studies major with a minor in ecology. I’ve always been interested in doing field research. I’m currently studying how tree species are shifting their range in the high peaks. I enjoy hiking, roller blading and exploring new places around Plattsburgh.
Shannon Cooper
From as long as I can remember, my fondest memories took place outdoors. I spent my childhood taking walks in my local forest and flipping rocks in the creek. The Adirondacks have always felt like my second home and I knew I wanted to work in the environmental science field after high school. When I found the Ecology program at SUNY Plattsburgh, I instantly applied. Throughout my college career I have learned so much about ecological systems and discovered my passions for studying the environment. Working with Dr. Lesser on how climate change influences tree encroachment into a wetland system combines my love for forest and wetland ecology, and allows us to understand the implications that climate change has on one of our most valuable ecological assets; wetlands.
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Maddie Lehman
I’ve grown up in the Adirondack region and an appreciation of nature runs in my family for multiple generations. In my free time I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and skiing. For me, it was an easy decision to continue my education in an area where I could be surrounded by natural beauty and in a program that would encourage curiosity and learning. I love doing field work in ecology because it allows me to gain a deeper insight to the ecosystems around me. Through the independent study program, I’m able to learn more hands-on skills by helping Zach Hart with his research on changes in Jack Pine and Pitch Pine range-limits in the Altona Flat Rock area.