Graham MacDonald
Degrees Received
Master of Science – 2008 – Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
Supervisor: Elena Bennett
Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) – 2006 – Department of Geography, McGill University
Supervisor: Gail L. Chmura
Current Position
Ph.D. Candidate – 2009–present – Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
Supervisor: Elena Bennett
Master of Science – 2008 – Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
Supervisor: Elena Bennett
Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) – 2006 – Department of Geography, McGill University
Supervisor: Gail L. Chmura
Current Position
Ph.D. Candidate – 2009–present – Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
Supervisor: Elena Bennett
Research Interests
My research focuses on regional and global management of agricultural phosphorus (P), with an emphasis on understanding anthropogenic drivers of soil P and water quality at different spatial and temporal scales. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for agricultural production, but P use in excess of crop requirements can result in water quality degradation if surplus P moves into surface waters over time. Phosphorus is also a non-renewable resource on a human timescale, so efficient management of this nutrient will be critical for future food security. My other research interests include landscape ecology, urbanization, and ecosystem services.
As a M.Sc. student in the Bennett Lab, I used agricultural census inventories and other historical records to calculate cropland P balances for watersheds of the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin throughout the 20th century. This historical perspective on agricultural P management in this region is particularly insightful because P is prone to accumulation in soils, meaning that past management can have current implications for regional soil fertility and water quality. I have also been involved with other studies concerning historical land use and management in North America, primarily southern Quebec and coastal areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Selected Awards
FQRNT (Quebec) Doctoral Research Scholarship (B2) - 2011
NSERC: Post Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral–2) – 2009–2010
NSERC: Canada Graduate Scholarship (Masters) – 2006–2008
NSERC: Undergraduate Student Research Award – 2006
Best Presentation (session): McGill Annual Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium – 2008 & 2010
Award for Teaching Assistant Excellence: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University – 2007
Undergraduate Research Grant: Royal Canadian Geographic Society – 2005
Publications
MacDonald, G.K., Bennett, E.M., Taranu, Z.E. 2012. The influence of time, soil characteristics and land-use history on soil phosphorus legacies: a global meta-analysis. In Press at Global Change Biology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02653.x
MacDonald G.K., Bennett E.M., Potter P.A., and Ramankutty N. 2011. Agronomic phosphorus imbalances across the world’s croplands. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108: 3086-3091.
Keatley B.E., Bennett E.M., MacDonald G.K., Taranu Z.E. and Gregory-Eaves I. 2011. Land-use legacies are important determinants of lake eutrophication in the Anthropocene. PLoSOne 6: e15913.
Raudsepp-Hearne C., Peterson G.D., Tengo M., Bennett E.M., Holland T., Benessaiah K., MacDonald G.K., and Pfeifer L. 2010. Untangling the environmentalist's paradox: Why is human well-being increasing as ecosystem services degrade? BioScience 60: 576-689.
Richard Albert M., Chen G., MacDonald G.K., Vermaire J., Bennett E.M., Gregory-Eaves I. 2010. Phosphorus and land-use changes are significant drivers of cladoceran community composition and diversity: An analysis over spatial and temporal scales. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67: 1262–1273.
MacDonald G.K., Noel P.E., van Proosdij D., Chmura G.L. 2010. The legacy of agricultural reclamation on channel and pool networks of Bay of Fundy salt marshes. Estuaries and Coasts 33: 151-160.
MacDonald G.K.and Bennett E.M. 2009. Phosphorus accumulation in Saint Lawrence River watershed soils: A century-long perspective. Ecosystems 12: 621-635.
Selected Presentations
Applications of GIS for historical ecology and environmental change research. Dept. of Natural Resource Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, November 22, 2011. [Invited lecture]
MacDonald G.K., Bennett E.M., Potter P., and Ramankutty N. 2010. Mapping phosphorus imbalances in croplands globally: Too much or too little of a good thing? Oral presentation. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2010, San Francisco, USA, December 15, 2010.
MacDonald G.K. 2009. Human alterations to the global phosphorus cycle. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, October 26, 2009. [Invited lecture]
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M .2009. A century of phopshorus budgets for the Saint Lawrence sub-basin. University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology Seminar Series, Madison, USA, April 4, 2009. [Invited seminar]
MacDonald G.K. 2009. An historic account of agricultural phosphorus in the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin. North Temperate Lakes-LTER Young Scientists Presentation, Madison, USA, March 11, 2009. [Invited talk]
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M. 2008. A historical ecology of southern Quebec watersheds. Ecological Society of America Meeting. Milwaukee, USA, August 6, 2008.
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M. 2008. Phosphorus accumulation in Saint Lawrence watershed soils. Fifth Annual Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, April 4, 2008.
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M. 2008. Spatial and temporal dynamics of agricultural Phosphorus in the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin. Environment Canada – Saint Lawrence Centre, Montreal, Canada, February 8, 2008. [Invited seminar]
MacDonald G.K., Andrews K., and Bennett E.M. 2007. Phosphorus budgets for the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin (1871-2001): Long-term threats to water quality. Oral Presentation. Ecological Society of America Meeting. San Jose, USA, August 9, 2007.MacDonald G.K. 2007.
Using GIS for historical research in ecology. GIS Day 2007, Dept. of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, November 14, 2007. [Invited talk]
MacDonald G.K., Chmura G.L., and van Proosdij D. 2006. The hybrid tidal channel network of recovering salt marshes. Poster presentation. 7th Annual Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership Science Workshop.
MacDonald G.K. 2005. Detecting change in the hydrological networks of dyked Fundy salt marshes: a GIS approach to historical ecology. Poster presentation. First Annual Undergraduate Research Conference, McGill University.
Professional experience
Journal peer-reviewer for the following journals:
Ecosystems; Ecology & Society; Global Biogeochemical Cycles; Journal of Industrial Ecology; Ecological Applications.
Associate Faculty Member – Faculty of 1000 (F1000) Biology
Contact information
graham dot macdonald at mcgill dot ca
My research focuses on regional and global management of agricultural phosphorus (P), with an emphasis on understanding anthropogenic drivers of soil P and water quality at different spatial and temporal scales. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for agricultural production, but P use in excess of crop requirements can result in water quality degradation if surplus P moves into surface waters over time. Phosphorus is also a non-renewable resource on a human timescale, so efficient management of this nutrient will be critical for future food security. My other research interests include landscape ecology, urbanization, and ecosystem services.
As a M.Sc. student in the Bennett Lab, I used agricultural census inventories and other historical records to calculate cropland P balances for watersheds of the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin throughout the 20th century. This historical perspective on agricultural P management in this region is particularly insightful because P is prone to accumulation in soils, meaning that past management can have current implications for regional soil fertility and water quality. I have also been involved with other studies concerning historical land use and management in North America, primarily southern Quebec and coastal areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Selected Awards
FQRNT (Quebec) Doctoral Research Scholarship (B2) - 2011
NSERC: Post Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral–2) – 2009–2010
NSERC: Canada Graduate Scholarship (Masters) – 2006–2008
NSERC: Undergraduate Student Research Award – 2006
Best Presentation (session): McGill Annual Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium – 2008 & 2010
Award for Teaching Assistant Excellence: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University – 2007
Undergraduate Research Grant: Royal Canadian Geographic Society – 2005
Publications
MacDonald, G.K., Bennett, E.M., Taranu, Z.E. 2012. The influence of time, soil characteristics and land-use history on soil phosphorus legacies: a global meta-analysis. In Press at Global Change Biology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02653.x
MacDonald G.K., Bennett E.M., Potter P.A., and Ramankutty N. 2011. Agronomic phosphorus imbalances across the world’s croplands. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108: 3086-3091.
Keatley B.E., Bennett E.M., MacDonald G.K., Taranu Z.E. and Gregory-Eaves I. 2011. Land-use legacies are important determinants of lake eutrophication in the Anthropocene. PLoSOne 6: e15913.
Raudsepp-Hearne C., Peterson G.D., Tengo M., Bennett E.M., Holland T., Benessaiah K., MacDonald G.K., and Pfeifer L. 2010. Untangling the environmentalist's paradox: Why is human well-being increasing as ecosystem services degrade? BioScience 60: 576-689.
Richard Albert M., Chen G., MacDonald G.K., Vermaire J., Bennett E.M., Gregory-Eaves I. 2010. Phosphorus and land-use changes are significant drivers of cladoceran community composition and diversity: An analysis over spatial and temporal scales. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67: 1262–1273.
MacDonald G.K., Noel P.E., van Proosdij D., Chmura G.L. 2010. The legacy of agricultural reclamation on channel and pool networks of Bay of Fundy salt marshes. Estuaries and Coasts 33: 151-160.
MacDonald G.K.and Bennett E.M. 2009. Phosphorus accumulation in Saint Lawrence River watershed soils: A century-long perspective. Ecosystems 12: 621-635.
Selected Presentations
Applications of GIS for historical ecology and environmental change research. Dept. of Natural Resource Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, November 22, 2011. [Invited lecture]
MacDonald G.K., Bennett E.M., Potter P., and Ramankutty N. 2010. Mapping phosphorus imbalances in croplands globally: Too much or too little of a good thing? Oral presentation. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2010, San Francisco, USA, December 15, 2010.
MacDonald G.K. 2009. Human alterations to the global phosphorus cycle. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, October 26, 2009. [Invited lecture]
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M .2009. A century of phopshorus budgets for the Saint Lawrence sub-basin. University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology Seminar Series, Madison, USA, April 4, 2009. [Invited seminar]
MacDonald G.K. 2009. An historic account of agricultural phosphorus in the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin. North Temperate Lakes-LTER Young Scientists Presentation, Madison, USA, March 11, 2009. [Invited talk]
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M. 2008. A historical ecology of southern Quebec watersheds. Ecological Society of America Meeting. Milwaukee, USA, August 6, 2008.
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M. 2008. Phosphorus accumulation in Saint Lawrence watershed soils. Fifth Annual Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, April 4, 2008.
MacDonald G.K. and Bennett E.M. 2008. Spatial and temporal dynamics of agricultural Phosphorus in the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin. Environment Canada – Saint Lawrence Centre, Montreal, Canada, February 8, 2008. [Invited seminar]
MacDonald G.K., Andrews K., and Bennett E.M. 2007. Phosphorus budgets for the Saint Lawrence River sub-basin (1871-2001): Long-term threats to water quality. Oral Presentation. Ecological Society of America Meeting. San Jose, USA, August 9, 2007.MacDonald G.K. 2007.
Using GIS for historical research in ecology. GIS Day 2007, Dept. of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, November 14, 2007. [Invited talk]
MacDonald G.K., Chmura G.L., and van Proosdij D. 2006. The hybrid tidal channel network of recovering salt marshes. Poster presentation. 7th Annual Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership Science Workshop.
MacDonald G.K. 2005. Detecting change in the hydrological networks of dyked Fundy salt marshes: a GIS approach to historical ecology. Poster presentation. First Annual Undergraduate Research Conference, McGill University.
Professional experience
Journal peer-reviewer for the following journals:
Ecosystems; Ecology & Society; Global Biogeochemical Cycles; Journal of Industrial Ecology; Ecological Applications.
Associate Faculty Member – Faculty of 1000 (F1000) Biology
Contact information
graham dot macdonald at mcgill dot ca