Kathleen Lavoie

Kathleen Hoey Lavoie (September 28, 1949 – May 23, 2022) was an American microbiologist and explorer who was Professor of Biological Sciences at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Lavoie was a Fellow of the National Speleological Society[1] and the Cave Research Foundation. She was a specialist in biospeleology, and, in particular, the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.

Kathleen Lavoie
Born(1949-09-28)September 28, 1949
DiedMay 23, 2022(2022-05-23) (aged 72)
Peru, New York, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of New Hampshire
Indiana University Bloomington
University of Illinois at Chicago
Scientific career
InstitutionsState University of New York at Plattsburgh
ThesisThe influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the successional decomposition of cave rat dung (1982)

Early life and education

Lavoie was an undergraduate student at the University of New Hampshire.[2] She graduated in 1972 and moved to Indiana University Bloomington, where she worked toward a master's degree in microbiology. Lavoie joined the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle for doctoral research, where she investigated the decomposition of cave rat dung.[3] After earning her doctorate, she joined the faculty at the University of Michigan–Flint.

Research and career

In 1997, Lavoie joined State University of New York at Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh) as Dean of Arts and Sciences.[4]

Lavoie was an expert and a fan of bats.[5] According to the State University of New York, the shelves in her office were full of stuffed animal versions of bats.[5] Lavoie led several research tips to caves, including the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. The cave contains several hundred miles of passages.[5] On such visits, Lavoie studied the terrestrial ecosystems. This involved counting the number of Hadenoecus subterraneus, which can be used to estimate the health of the cave. To fairly evaluate the number of crickets, she divided the cave into sections.[5] She also explored the Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Cueva de Villa Luz.[6] The Cueva de Villa Luz is rich in hydrogen sulfide and smells of rotten eggs.[6][7] Lavoie appeared in the 2004 National Geographic television program Amazing Caves.[4][5][8]

Lavoie stepped down as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Plattsburgh in 2012.[5] She was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2017.[9]

Personal life

Lavoie died in May 2022 after attending an orchestra recital in Peru, New York.[4]

Selected publications
  • Lavoie, Kathleen H.; Helf, Kurt L.; L. Poulson, Thomas (2007). "The biology and ecology of North American cave crickets". Journal of Cave and Karst Studies: 114–134. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.577.8608.
  • Northup, Diana; Dahm, Clifford; Lavoie, Kathleen H. (2000). "Evidence for geomicrobiological interactions in Guadalupe caves". Journal of Cave and Karst Studies: 1832.
  • Kathleen H. Lavoie; Ara S Winter; Kaitlyn J H Read; Evan M Hughes; Michael N Spilde; Diana E Northup (15 February 2017). "Comparison of bacterial communities from lava cave microbial mats to overlying surface soils from Lava Beds National Monument, USA". PLOS One. 12 (2): e0169339. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1269339L. doi:10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0169339. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5310854. PMID 28199330. Wikidata Q36281083.

References
  1. "NSS 2015 Fellow Awardees". caves.org. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  2. "Dr. Kathleen Lavoie". State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  3. Lavoie, Kathleen Hoey (1982). The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the successional decomposition of cave rat dung (Thesis). OCLC 8582538.
  4. "Longtime Arts and Sciences Dean, Biology Professor Emerita Kathleen Lavoie Dies". State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  5. "SUNY Plattsburgh Microbiologist Dr. Kathy Lavoie Goes Underground In Kentucky's Mammoth Cave". State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  6. "Cueva de Villa Luz Biological Investigations". www.i-pi.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  7. Riesch, Rüdiger; Plath, Martin; Schlupp, Ingo (2010). "Toxic hydrogen sulfide and dark caves: life-history adaptations in a livebearing fish ( Poecilia mexicana , Poeciliidae)". Ecology. 91 (5): 1494–1505. doi:10.1890/09-1008.1. ISSN 0012-9658. JSTOR 25661199. PMID 20503881.
  8. "Dr. Kathleen Lavoie Featured on "Amazing Caves"". State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. "Fall 2017 Faculty, Staff Welcome Features Awards, Remarks | SUNY Plattsburgh". State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
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