Mortelliti awarded fellowship to conduct research in Acadia National Park

Alessio Mortelliti, an assistant professor of wildlife habitat conservation at the University of Maine, is one of three scientists who have been awarded fellowships to conduct research in Acadia National Park.

The fellowships were awarded as part of Second Century Stewardship, an initiative of the National Park Service, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The Second Century Stewardship was launched in 2016 upon the centennial of the National Park Service to provide top-quality science research for park stewardship, build public appreciation for science, and pursue solutions to critical issues for parks and society. The collaboration is initially focused at Acadia National Park, with plans to partner with national parks across the country over time, according to the Schoodic Institute’s news release.

The fellowship will fund Mortelliti’s research on how small mammals may affect the expansion of plants due to climate change in Acadia National Park.

“The results of our field experiments will allow managers to predict how local forest communities might change in the coming years and thus allow them to take the appropriate actions in time,” Mortelliti said.

The full news release is on the websites of AAAS and the Schoodic Institute.