Stefanie Whitmire

Assistant Professor
Agricultural Sciences Department, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science

Office: Baruch Institute, Georgetown, SC
Phone: 843-546-1013
Fax: 8435466296

Email: whitmi6@clemson.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D. Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior
Michigan State University 2003

BS Biology with Mathematics minor
University of Richmond 1995

Courses Taught

Graduate Seminar
Graduate Introduction to Scientific Writing (online Master’s Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program)
Reading Seminar (team-taught)

Research Interests

My research experiences have been very broad and interdisciplinary. I am interested in wetland ecology with a focus on water quality, determining the presence of microplastics in relationship to watershed and ecosystem influences, microbial processes and how they control wetland function, effects of invasive species on ecosystem function especially in wetlands, biogeochemistry, and science education. My current research focuses on topics of particular relevance to Carolina coastal areas including nutrient dynamics in response to hurricane storm surge, biogeochemical changes associated with sea-level rise and floods, and distribution of microplastics both at the continental scale and in salt marshes.

Publications

Chappell, J., S.L. Whitmire, D. Sotomayor-Rameriez, G. Martinez-Rodriguez. 2019. Effects of Corbicula fluminea on the nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton biomass of tropical reservoirs. International Aquatic Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40071-019-00247-x

Yu, X., S. Ladewig, S. Bao, C.A. Toline, S.L. Whitmire, and A.T. Chow. 2018. Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the seashores of the southeastern United States. Science of the Total Environment, 613-614: 298-305.

Whitmire, S.L. 2017. Quantification of Microplastics on National Park Beaches. Technical Report of NOAA Marine Debris Program. Contract GSI-CU-1505.

Chow, A., S.L. Whitmire, X. Yu, C.A. Tolin, S. Ladewig, and S. Bao. 2016. Occurrence and distribution of microplastics from coastal national park units of the southeastern United States. Report to the National Park Service (with two supplements).

Jenkins, D.A., R.F. Mizell, S.J. Van Bloem, S.L. Whitmire, L. Wiscovitch, K. Zaleski, and R. Goenaga. 2013. An analysis of Arthropod Interceptions by APHIS-PPQ and Customs and Border Patrol in Puerto Rico. American Entomologist, 60(1): 44-57.

Jenkins, D.A., P.E. Kendra, S.J. Van Bloem, S.L. Whitmire, R. Mizell, and R. Goenaga. 2013. Forest fragments as barriers to fruit fly dispersal: Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations in orchards and adjacent forest fragments in Puerto Rico. Environmental Entomology, 42(2): 283-292.

Thaxton, J.M., S.J. Van Bloem, and S.L. Whitmire. 2012. Fuel conditions associated with native and exotic grasses in a subtropical dry forest in Puerto Rico. Fire Ecology, 8(3): 9-17.

Tobin, P.C., C. Robinet-Makdoud, D.M. Johnson, S.L. Whitmire, O.N. Bjørnstad, and A.M. Liebhold. 2009. The role of Allee effects in gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.)) invasions. Population Ecology 51: 373-384.

Whitmire, S.L. and S.K. Hamilton. 2008. Anaerobic microbial metabolism in southwest Michigan wetlands. Wetlands 28(3): 703-714.

Tobin, P.C., S.L. Whitmire, D.M. Johnson, O.N. Bjørnstad, and A.M. Liebhold. 2007. Invasion speed is affected by geographic variation in the strength of Allee effects. Ecology Letters 10: 36-43.

Whitmire, S.L. and P.C. Tobin. 2006. Spatial patterns of gypsy moth persistence. Oecologia, 147: 230-237.

Whitmire, S.L. and S.K. Hamilton. 2005. Rapid removal of nitrate and sulfate in wetland sediments. Journal of Environmental Quality, 34: 2062-2071.
Cited in Majority opinion of Supreme Court Case: Rapanos v. United States, 2006, No. 04-1034 to support regulation of wetlands.

Tobin, P.C. and S.L. Whitmire. 2005. The spread of gypsy moth and its association with defoliation. Journal of Environmental Entomology 34(6): 1448-1455.

Whitmire, S.L. and P.C. Tobin. 2004. The spatial patterns of gypsy moth persistence. Annual Gypsy Moth Review.