Gregory Zimmerman,

Associate Professor and Department Chair

Commonly taught classes: General Ecology (BL337), Biometrics (BL280), Epidemiology (EV285), Bio I (BL131), Plant Ecology (BL437)

scenes from this fall's Robertson Lake Cliffs Ecology Field Trip:

(Robertson Lake Cliffs stand about 200 m above the Goulais River valley, just north of Sault, Ontario.

The property is owned and managed by the Algoma Highlands Conservancy www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org.

Ashmun Creek Natural Area

One of my ongoing projects is promoting the Ashmun Creek Natural Area. It's a 300-acre woodland right in the city. A series of interpretive signs explains the forests' structure and function. The nature trail is a great place to hike, mtn bike, ski, snowshoe (but be very careful of the snowmobiles!)

Directions to the trail:

From the corner of 12th and Easterday (by the recycling center), turn south on 12th. At the dead end (2 blocks s) turn left. Park at that dead end (1 block to the east). walk s on the gravel road, look for the trail on your left (1/2 block s). Follow the trail up through the tunnel, up the hill, down the hill, across the creek, and at the top of the next hill, look for the nature trail on your right (blue blazes).

Research interests:

any aspect of plant ecology, biostatistics methods, epidemiological investigations

Some recent student senior thesis projects:

    Canopy tree composition and gaps in a mid-successional forest: Nathan Prince

    Photosynthetic rates and shade tolerance: Kris Fulk

    Plant communities of the Round Island Point Preserve: Alexis Berke

    Meta-Analysis of side effects of cholesterol-reducing drug: Luke Fera

    Power and efficiency of percentile regression: Adam Manninen

    Biocontrol of purple loosestrife: Faye Pendaz

Current and recent externally funded projects:

Delisting Criteria for F&W Beneficial Use Impairments. Funded by Greatr Lakes Commission. 2007-8

Potential of reedcanary grass as a biofuel. Funded by Michigan Bioenergy Program 2007-8.

Ashmun Creek Natural Area Interpretive Signage. Funded by Michigan Community Forestry Program, Spring 2006.

Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program for Chippewa, Mackinac and Luce Counties. Funded by Michigan Dept of Agriculture renewed for 2007-2010

Scoping contaminated sediments on the St Marys River. Funded by US EPA Great Lakes National Program Office 2002-2006

Resource Office for the Binational Public Advisory Council for the St Marys River Area of Concern. Funded by Great Lakes Commission (ongoing)

Epidemiological investigations in the Algoma District of Ontario. Funded by Algoma Health Unit.(ongoing)

Integrity of a wetland on a local military base. Funded by Mich Dept of Mil Affairs, 2005-2006.

Recent reports:

Infectious Diseases in the Algoma Region, Algoma Health Unit 2006

Cancer in the Algoma Region, Algoma Health Unit 2004

Michigan common loon survey. G. Zimmerman, Michigan Dept of Natural Resources. 2000, 2001, 2002

Dynamics of Coarse Woody Debris -- a literature review. G. Zimmerman, National Council on Air and Stream Improvement. 2003

Recent presentations:

G. Zimmerman. 2008. Stand structure of a sustainably managed forest compared to reference sites in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Michigan Academy of Sciences

G.Zimmerman.2007. St. Marys River coastal wetland plant communities. Michigan Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting

G Zimmerman 2003. Small-scale variation in the canopy tree component of a shade tolerant forest in northern Michigan. Michigan Academy of Sciences Annual Meetings.

G. Zimmerman and FW Bell. 2001. Allometric tradeoffs in seedlings of three early successional trees. Ecological Society of America Annual Meetings, Madison, Wisconsin

G. Zimmerman 2001. Plant community response to purple loosestrife biocontrol on a Lake Huron island. International Association of Great Lakes Researchers Annual Meetings, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Zimmerman, G. and CS Rajewski. 2000. Succession on a Lake Superior Beach. Society of Wetlands Scientists Annual Meetings, Quebec City, August 2000

Education:

Epidemiology of Cancer, Logistic Regression. week-long courses at the University of Michigan Epidemiology Summer Institute Summer 2000

PhD Ecology, Colorado State University 1985 Thesis: "Soil and plant relationships on a southeastern Wyoming mixed prairie"

MS Statistics, Oklahoma State University 1981 Report "Statistical methods useful for analysis of ecological data"

MS Botany, North Dakota State University 1983 (coursework completed 1981) Thesis: "Effects of an October wildfire on a Little Missouri River Badlands prairie"

BS Botany, Ft Hays State University 1977

When not working on my classes or projects, I like to go hiking or cross country skiing through the forests, enjoying the views from upper Great Lakes beaches, just hanging out with family and friends and reading good fiction (you know, good fiction, like Terry Pratchett writes!).

On the Minneapolis Woods XC trail with our son Alex (that's Al on the right)

Spring 2007