Donna R. Francis
BA Otterbein College, MS University of Cincinnati, PhD University of Michigan

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Chironomid (midge) paleoecology,

paleoclimatology, lake studies

dfrancis@geo.umass.edu
Office: Morrill 231A
Phone: 413-545-2794
Fax: 413-545-1200
Link to CV  
 


Research Interests

Using midge remains (Insecta: Diptera: Chironomidae) in paleoclimate and paleolimnogic research.

The ecology and biogeography of modern Chironomidae.

 

Current Research Projects

Using 18O isotopic composition of midge remains as a paleotemperature proxy

Paleoclimate studies in Iceland

Little Ice Age signals in New England lakes

 Paleoclimate studies in the Cascade Mountains, Washington

 

Representative Publications:

Francis, D.R., Walker, I.R., and A.P. Wolfe. A 90,000 year record of climate change in the Canadian Arctic based on chironomid-inferred temperature reconstructions in Baffin Island cores. In preparation for Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research.

Francis, D.R., Wolfe, A.P., Walker, I.R., and G.H. Miller, 2006, Interglacial and Holocene temperature reconstructions based on midge remains in sediments of two lakes from Baffin Island, Nunavut, Arctic Canada. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (in press).

Briner, J.P., Michelutti, N., Francis, D.R., Miller, G.H., Axford, Y., Wooller, M.J., and A.P. Wolfe, 2006, A multi-proxy lacustrine record of Holocene climate change on northeastern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada. Quaternary Research, 65(3), 431-442.

Francis, D.R., 2004. Distribution of Midge Remains (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Surficial Lake Sediments in New England. Northeastern Naturalist, 11(4), 459-478.

M. J. Wooller, D. R. Francis, M. L. Fogel, G. H. Miller, I. R. Walker and A. P. Wolfe, 2004. Quantitative paleotemperature estimates from d18O of chironomid head capsules preserved in arctic lake sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology, 31, 267-274.

Francis, D.R. 2002. Bryozoan statoblasts (invited review). pp. 105-123, in: Smol, J.P., H.J.B. Birks, and W.M. Last, (eds), Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments, Vol. 4: Zoological Indicators. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

Francis, D.R. 2001. Reconstructing past hypolimnetic oxygen conditions in a temperate multidepression lake using chemical evidence and chironomid remains. Journal of Paleolimnology 25: 351-365.

Francis, D.R. and D.R. Foster. 2001. Response of small lake systems to changing land-use history in New England. The Holocene 11: 301-312.

Edlund, M.B. and D.R. Francis. 1999. Diet and habitat characteristics of Pagastiella ostansa (Diptera: Chironomidae). Journal of Freshwater Ecology 14(3): 293-300.

Francis, D.R., D.J. Jude, and J.A. Barres. 1998. Mercury distribution in the biota of a Great Lakes estuary: Old Woman Creek, Ohio.J.Great Lakes Research 24: 595-607.

Francis, D.R. 1997. Bryozoan statoblasts in recent sediments of Douglas Lake, Michigan. Journal of Paleolimnology 17: 255-261.

Francis, D. R., and T. C. Kane. 1995. Effect of substrate on colonization of experimental ponds by Chironomidae (Diptera). Journal of Freshwater Ecology. 10: 57-63.

Francis, D. R., and K. A. Bennett. 1994. Additional data on mercury accumulation in northern Michigan river otters. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 9:1-5.

Jude, D. J., D. R. Francis, J. A. Barres, and S. Deboe. 1993. Suspended solids and bedload transport of nutrients, heavy metals, and PCBs in 16 major tributaries to Saginaw Bay 1990‑92. Report to Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Francis, D. R. 1976. Some medicinal plants of Cedar Bog. Natural History Information Series, vol. 5, no. 2. The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, Ohio.



 Last revised 11 Jan 2003--webmaster@geo.umass.edu
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