MARGUERITE C. PELLETIER
Research Biologist
401-782-3131
pelletier.peg@epa.gov
B.A., Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1989
M.S., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1995
Coursework, Environmental Coastal and Ocean Sciences, University of
Massachusetts, 1999-2000, Boston, MA
Ph.D. studies, Natural Resources, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, anticipated graduation: 2010
Professional Experience:
2000-present
1999-2000
1995-1999
1993-1995
1990-1993
Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Teaching Assistant, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Biologist/Task Manager, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Environmental Testing Center,
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills
Marguerite (Peg) is an estuarine ecologist with expertise in the effects of environmental stressors on aquatic
communities. She has with expertise in development of toxicity identification evaluation procedures, development
of methods to allow the diagnosis of impacts to estuarine waterbodies in support of the TMDL process, and
multivariate statistical procedures to assess benthic community condition. She compiles and analyzes various
sources of environmental data to assess estuarine impairment and restoration options.
Professional Societies and Publication Boards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1993-present
Member, North Atlantic Chapter of SETAC, 1997-present (Board Member 2008 to present)
Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1998-present
Member, Estuarine Research Federation, 2003-present
Member, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, 2005-present
Periodic peer reviewer for: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology, Archives of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Ecotoxicology, Illinois Sea Grant, NOAA IOOS Grants
Assistance/Leadership Provided to the Scientific Community:
Northeast Ecosystem Research Cooperative workshop: Mercury Issues, Portland, ME, 2001, invited participant
Northeast Ecosystem Research Cooperative workshop: Mercury data sets & potential analysis, Portland, ME, 2002,
invited participant
Mapping Partnership for Coastal Soils and Sediment user conference, Narragansett, RI. April 2004. invited
participant.
2006 Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, invited presenter
NAC SETAC 13th Annual Meeting, Bristol, RI, invited presenter
SETAC Student Careers Workshop Mentor
Assistance/Leadership Provided to the Agency:
U.S. EPA Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) Research Work Group
U.S. EPA Cross-Divisional Watershed Diagnostics Research Work group
U.S. EPA Biological Advisory Committee, member and ORD co-chair
U.S. EPA Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) project with Region 2
Selected Publications:
Burgess RM, Perron M, Cantwell M, Ho K, Pelletier M, Serbst J, Ryba S. 2007. Marine sediment toxicity
identification evaluation methods for the anionic metals arsenic and chromium. Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry. 26:61-67
Campbell DE, Detenbeck NE, Ho KT, Hill BH, Kurtz JC, Burgess RM, Engle VE, Perez KT, Pelletier MC, Snarski .
2006. Conceptual models and methods to guide diagnostic research. EPA 600/R-06/024. US Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects
Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Nacci D, Pelletier M, Lake J, Bennett R, Nichols J, Haebler R, Grear J, Kuhn A, Copeland J, Nicholson M, Walters
S, Munns WR Jr. 2005. An approach to predict risks to wildlife populations from mercury and other
stressors. Ecotoxicology 14:283-293.
Burgess RM, Pelletier MC, Gundersen J, Perron M, Ryba S. 2005 Effects of different forms of organic carbon on
the partitioning and bioavailability of nonylphenol. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 24:16091617.
Burgess R, Chancy C, Campbell D, Detenbeck N, Engle V, Hill B, Ho K, Lewis M, Kurtz J, Norberg-King T,
Pelletier P, Perez K, Smith L, Snarski V. 2004. Classification Framework for Coastal Systems. EPA 600/R04/061. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and
Environmental Effects Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Ho KT, Burgess RM, Pelletier MC, Serbst JR, Cook H, Cantwell MG, Ryba SA, Perron MM, Lebo JA, Huckins JN,
Petty JD. 2004. Use of powdered coconut charcoal as a TIE manipulation for organic toxicants.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 23:2124-2131
Burgess RM, Pelletier MC, Ho KT, Serbst JR, Ryba SA, Kuhn A, Perron MM, Raczelowski P, Cantwell MG 2003.
Removal of ammonia toxicity in marine sediment TIEs: a comparison of Ulva lactuca, zeolite and aeration
methods. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 46:607-618.
Nacci, Diane E., Michael Kohan, Marguerite Pelletier and Elizabeth George 2002. Effects of benzo[a]pyrene
exposure on a fish population resistant to the toxic effects of dioxin-like compounds. Aquatic Toxicology
57:203-215.
Pelletier, Marguerite C., Kay T. Ho, Mark Cantwell, Anne Kuhn-Hines, Saro Jayaraman and Robert Burgess 2001.
Use of Ulva lactuca to identify ammonia toxicity in marine and estuarine sediments. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 20:2852-2859.
Pelletier, Marguerite C., Robert M. Burgess, Jonathan R. Serbst, Mark Cantwell, Kay T. Ho and Stephan Ryba 2000.
Importance of maternal transfer of photo-reactive PAHs from benthic adults bivalves to their pelagic
larvae. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19:2691-2698.
Ho, Kay, Leslie Patton, James S. Latimer, Richard J. Pruell, Marguerite Pelletier, Richard McKinney, and Saro
Jayaraman, 1999. The chemistry and toxicity of sediment affected by oil from the North Cape spilled into
Rhode Island Sound. Marine Pollution Bulletin 38:314-323.
Pelletier, Marguerite, Robert Burgess, Kay Ho, Anne Kuhn-Hines, Richard McKinney and Stephan Ryba 1997.
Phototoxicity of individual PAHs and petroleum to marine invertebrate larvae and juveniles.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 16(10):2190-2199.
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