Marinus Otte, professor of biological sciences, has been named editor-in-chief of Wetlands, an international scientific journal. The Society of Wetland Scientists Board and Executive announced the appointment, which begins immediately and extends to 2016. Otte succeeds Darold Batzer of the University of Georgia, who served as editor-in-chief from 2006 to 2011.
The Society of Wetland Scientists is an international organization of about 3,500 members dedicated to fostering sound wetland science, education and management.
Wetlands includes all aspects of wetlands biology, ecology, hydrology, water chemistry, soil and sediment characteristics, laws, management and regulations according to Springer that publishes the journal six times per year. The publication includes peer-reviewed material that covers pioneering work in wetland science across many disciplines.
“I consider the appointment as editor-in-chief of Wetlands a great honor, and an opportunity to promote NDSU and North Dakota, and am very excited to take on this position,” Otte said. He notes that submissions to the journal have more than doubled during the past six years, with the majority of submissions by international scientists. “I am looking forward to the work and to meeting new people through this position over the coming years,” he said.
Otte is a lifetime member of the Society of Wetland Scientists and from 2002 to 2006, served as chairperson of the Society’s International Chapter. “Wetlands have been the theme of my research and teaching throughout my career; during my Ph.D. research in the Netherlands, my postdoctoral on the saltmarshes of South Carolina, my 14 years in Ireland and now in the Upper Midwest,” he said.
Otte has led the Wet Ecosystem Research Group at NDSU since 2006. The group trains graduate and undergraduate students in scientific research, particularly wetlands, plants, biogeochemistry, watershed ecology and metals in the environment. The group collaborates with soils scientists, geologists, environmental engineers, microbiologists, and with groups underpinning management of natural resources.
In addition, Otte serves as co-director of the North Dakota IdeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Metal Analysis Core, providing laboratory facilities and mentoring for researchers in undergraduate colleges throughout the state. Otte also is a member of the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Otte’s research interests include wetlands, ecology, ecotoxicology, ecophysiology and biogeochemistry.
For more information on Wetlands, visit www.sws.org/wetlands. For more information on the Society of Wetland Scientists, visit www.sws.org.