Mark Swinton

Mark W. Swinton
Research Scientist

Email: markwswinton@gmail.com
Phone: (518) 276-8382
Fax: (518) 276-2696

Materials Research Center (MRC), Room 238A
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street Troy, NY 12180 USA

Mark Swinton joined DFWI in 2003 as a graduate student studying the invasive macrophyte Eurasian watermilfoil. Upon receiving his degree he was kept on as a postdoctoral research associate investigating the effect of land-use on stream water quality and quantity. Transitioning from in-lake research to assessing water quality in streams made him take a more holistic view of water resources. He has had the opportunity to analyze long-term in-lake water quality data (30 years) and meteorological data sets (60+ year) which have enabled him to make connections between land-use, climate and water quality/quantity with particular attention to the movement of water through the watershed.

Currently Mark is focusing on mercury loading to the lake and biotic burden within various trophic levels. Mercury is of great interest in the Adirondacks but only a few short-term mercury projects have ever been conducted in the Lake George watershed. We plan on establishing a mercury assessment program in the hope of identifying mercury "hotspots" around the lake.

Education

Ph.D. Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2008)
M.S. Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, State University of New York (2003)
B.S. Marine Biology, Roger Williams University (1998)