A major theme of Chris Swan's research is to explore how changes in species diversity of riparian trees alters stream food webs and associated ecosystem processes.  More
Keith Harries’ research deals with the geographic aspects of crime, in support of police department crime analysis units. This work includes crime mapping and applications of geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and aerial photography.
Erle Ellis is investigating the global impacts of long-term ecological
changes in densely populated landscapes by integrating geospatial analysis
with field research in China and other areas, including Baltimore. More
This electronic atlas portraying physiographic and geologic quads of the coterminous United States is the product of the Advanced Cartographic Design course offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at UMBC under the direction of Tom Rabenhorst.

A Selection of Recent Faculty Publications:

Bennett, S. and School, J. 2002. Physiographic Map of Maryland

Ellis, E. C. 2004. Long-term ecological changes in the densely populated rural landscapes of China. Pages 303-320 in R. S. DeFries, G. P. Asner, and R. A. Houghton, editors. Ecosystem Interactions with Land Use Change. Geophysical Monograph Series Vol. 153. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC.

Ellis, E. C., R. G. Li, L. Z. Yang, and X. Cheng. 2000. Long-term change in village-scale ecosystems in China using landscape and statistical methods. Ecological Applications 10:1057-1073.

Ellis, E. C., R. G. Li, L. Z. Yang, and X. Cheng. 2000. Changes in village-scale nitrogen storage in China's Tai Lake Region. Ecological Applications 10:1074-1089.

Harries, K. 2002. Applications of geographic information systems in parole and probation. Perspectives, Journal of the American Probation and Parole Association 26:26-31.

Harries, K. 2003. Locational Precision in Crime Analysis: A Case Study in Baltimore County, Maryland. Justice Research & Policy, Journal of the Justice Research & Statistics Association. 5: 127-138.

Miller, A J, Smith, J A, Baeck, M L, Nelson, P A, Holland, E, Meierdiercks, K L, Diehl, J O, Ballantine, M, 2003. High-magnitude short-duration floods in small urban watersheds EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 84.

Rabenhorst, T. 2004. State of Maryland Digital Atlas for Elementary Schools.

Readel, Karin E., David S. Seigler, and David A. Young. 2003. 5-Methoxycanthin-6-one from Leitneria floridana Chapm. (Simaroubaceae), Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 31 167-170.

School, J. et al. 2004 US Department of Census: Homeland Security Symbols Project, 2003.

Crawford Sr. R,. , Crawford, R. and School, J., 2004 Military Living's European US Military Road Atlas.


Swan, C.M. & M.A. Palmer. Preferential feeding by an aquatic detritivore mediates non-additive decomposition of speciose leaf litter. Oecologia, in press.

Swan, C.M. & M.A. Palmer. 2006. Composition of speciose leaf litter alters stream detritivore growth, feeding activity and leaf breakdown. Oecologia 147:469-478.

Ellison, A.M., M.S. Bank, A.A. Barker-Plotkin, B.D. Clinton, E.A. Colburn, K. Elliott, C.R. Ford, D.R. Foster, S. Jefts, B.D. Kloeppel, J.D. Knoepp, G.M. Lovett, J. Malloway, B. Mathewson, R. McDonald, J. Mohan, D.A. Orwig, N.L. Rodenhouse, W.V. Sobczak, K.A. Stinson, P. Snow, J.K. Stone, C.M. Swan, J. Thompson, B. Von Holle and J.R. Webster. 2005. Loss of foundation species: consequences for the structure and dynamics of forested ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 3(9):479-486.

Swan, C.M. & M.A. Palmer. 2005. Leaf litter diversity leads to non-additivity in stream detritivore colonization dynamics. Oceanological & Hydrobiological Studies 34(3):19-38.


A Selection of Recent Faculty Presentations:

Ellis, E.C., Wang, H., Xiao, H.S., Peng, K., Liu, X.P., Li, S.C., Ouyang, H., Cheng, X., and L.Z. Yang. 2004. Measuring Long-Term Ecological Changes across Inhabited Landscapes. Ecology Society of America Annual Meeting.

Harries, K. 2003. GIS in community corrections. Joint lecture delivered by invitation to the 4th Annual Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference, Arlington, VA.

Harries, K. 2003. GIS and problem solving in crime and corrections. Lecture delivered by invitation of the Delaware Valley Geographical Association to the Pennsylvania GIS Conference, Harrisburg, PA.

Readel, Karin E. 2003. Using Technology to Build Student Engagement in Science 100. 4th Annual Internet and Multimedia Technology Conference and E-Business Conference, CCBC, Essex Campus, Baltimore, MD.

Readel, Karin E. 2003. Making Large Classes Small: Using Blackboard Learning System to Build Student Engagement. International Blackboard Users Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Readel, Karin E. and Kenneth T. Belt. 2002. Fecal Coliform Concentrations and Spatial and Temporal Patterns in the Gwynns Falls and Baismans Run. Society of Environmental Journalists, Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

C.M. Swan, L. Van-Tull, W. Lamp, G. Dively & P. Jensen. Consumer-Resource Dynamics can Regulate Decomposition of Transgenic Corn Residues in Agriculture Streams. Ecological Society of America, Memphis, Tennessee, 2006

C.M. Swan. Detritivore foraging alters the relationship between riparian forest diversity and in-stream decay of speciose leaf litter. North American Benthological Society, Anchorage, Alaska, 2006

C.M. Swan, L. Van-Tull, W. Lamp & G. Dively. Detritus generated from harvesting transgenic corn alters patterns of insect detritivory and organic matter decay in agricultural streams. Eastern Branch - Entomological Society of America Meeting, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2006

C.M. Swan & M.A. Palmer. Restoration of biodiversity in stream ecosystems: beyond the aesthetic endpoint. Ecological Society of America, Montreal, Canada, 2005

C.M. Swan & B. Healey. The Role of Native Tree Species on Leaf Breakdown Dynamics of the Invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in an Urban Stream. North American Benthological Society, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005

Van-Tull, L. & C.M. Swan. Implications of Transgenic Corn Cultivation on the Ecology of Agricultural Streams. North American Benthological Society, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005