Staff Member
Alyson McKnight

Research Assistant
Phone: (207) 581 - 2921
Email: alyson.mcknight@maine.edu
Education
- Ph D University of Maine 2017
- MS University of Massachusetts 1999
- BA Connecticut College 1996
Biography
Born and raised a New Englander, I spent my early years studying green crab ecology in Long Island Sound. After earning my M.Sc., I spent 10 seasons working in Alaska on a variety of seabird projects for the FWS, many relating to the EVOS aftermath. When not chasing seabirds, I play flute in the Bangor Band and attempt to keep my two boys in line.. While I'm still in the early stages of project planning, I hope to address seabird colony dynamics in both Prince William Sound, Alaska, and the Gulf of Maine through a combination of historical dataset analysis and an ongoing tagging study.
Research Publications | Publication Date |
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McKnight, A., E.J. Blomberg, G.H. Golet, D.B. Irons, C.S. Loftin, and S.T. McKinney. 2018. Experimental evidence of long-term breeding costs in a colonial seabird. Journal of Avian Biology, 49: 1-14. Article DOI:10.1111/jav.01779; Data DOI:10.5061/dryad.qb3q5f3. | September 2018 |
McKnight, A., E.J. Blomberg, D.B. Irons, C.S. Loftin, and S.T. McKinney. 2019. Survival and recruitment dynamics of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) at an Alaskan colony. Marine Ornithology 47:209-222. doi:10.5061/dryad.ch2740k | October 2019 |
McKnight, A., D.B. Irons, C.S. Loftin, S.T. McKinney, and B.J. Olsen. 2020. Combined influence of intrinsic and environmental factors in shaping seabird productivity in a small pelagic gull, the Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 633:207-223. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13162 | January 2020 |
Presentations | Presentation Date |
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McKnight, Aly, C.S. Loftin, And S.McKinney. 2016. Does reproduction incur long-term costs in a colonial seabird? Presentation at the Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group Annual Winter Meeting, Bangor, ME. 7 March. | March 2016 |
McKnight, A., E. Blomberg, D. Irons, C. Loftin, and S. McKinney. 2017. Colony size influences fidelity in a colonial nesting seabird. Presentation at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Seabird Working Group, Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, Tacoma, WA, 22-25 February. | February 2017 |
McKnight, A., C.S. Loftin, and S.T. McKinney. 2017. Universal drivers of seabird productivity: Patterns across two systems. Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group Winter Meeting, Bangor, ME. 29 March. | March 2017 |
McKnight, A., C.S. Loftin, and S.T. McKinney. 2016. Individual, colony, and metapopulation level drivers of seabird colony dynamics.” Poster, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Annual Coordinating Committee Meeting, Orono, ME. 23 March. | March 2016 |
McKnight, A., C.S. Loftin, and S.. Mckinney. 2016. Does reproduction incur long-term costs in a colonial seabird? Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Annual Coordinating Committee Meeting, Orono, ME. 23 March. | March 2016 |