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Education
Professional Interests Megan's primary interest was the dynamic relationship between surface water nutrient sources and the biologic processes affecting these concentrations. She was especially fascinated with the effect nutrient loads can have on stream and river ecosystems. Current Research The aquatic free-floating fern, Azolla, and its symbiont, the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae, have been widely studied in laboratories and in agricultural fields because of the their ability to transform atmospheric N2 into ammonia. Throughout the summer and early fall Azolla exists along the lower Truckee River banks. It is unknown if the Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis is a significant non-point source of nitrogen to the Truckee River. The goals of Megan's thesis research was: to quantify the nitrogen loading to the lower reaches of the river by the Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis, to characterize how light intensities, temperature, and nutrient levels affect the nitrogen loading rates, and to compare the Azolla nitrogen loading to other non-point sources. To accomplish these goals nutrient, light, and temperature bioassays were performed, nitrogen-fixation rates determined using the acetylene-reduction technique, and two diurnal assays performed in-situ. Awards
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