Connecticut State The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Gregory J. Bugbee

Gregory Bugbee

Department of Environmental Sciences
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
P.O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504
Voice: (203) 974-8512 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov

Expertise:Expert in invasive aquatic plants, soil fertility, turfgrass, potting media, composting, and utilization of composted biosolids in horticulture. Principal investigator – Invasive Aquatic Plant Program. In charge of the soil testing in New Haven. Holds state supervisory licenses in the care of trees, turf and ornamentals and aquatic weed control. Works with public to solve soil and water related problems. Visit sites on request and available for speaking engagements.

Education:B.S. Agronomy University of Connecticut 1978

Station career:
Agricultural Research Technician I, 1979-1985
Agricultural Research Technician II, 1985-1993
Assistant Scientist I, 1993-2000
Assistant Scientist II, 2000-2014
Associate Scientist, 2014-Present

Past research:
Survey of potting media sold throughout Connecticut, utilization of drinking water treatment plant residuals (alum sludge) as a soil amendment, effects of chlorine in water on plant growth, phosphorus and zinc fertilization of silage corn, uptake of EDB and Vorlex by radish, uptake of atrazine and alachlor by sweet corn, effects of composted lawn clippings containing 2,4-D, dicamba and MCPP on tomato, utilization of municipal and industrial composts in media for potted plants. Investigations into amendments that reduce the leaching of nitrates, phosphates and heavy metals from potting media containing biosolids compost, Studies on the effectiveness of dried biosolids from Waterbury, Connecticut as a fertilizer for turf, Use of biosolids and leaf compost for golf greens, Comparison of pulverized, granular and pelletized limestone for changing the soil pH under established turf.

Current research:
Surveillance of invasive plants in lakes and ponds. Determine biotic and abiotic parameters governing why invasive aquatic plants occur in certain sites. Discover novel methods for controlling invasive aquatic plants with minimal impacts on the aquatic ecosystem and humans. These include documenting the effectiveness of herbicide treatments during the early spring and fall when use of lakes is minimal, winter drawdowns, biological agents such as milfoil weevils and grass carp, harvesting, and benthic/limnobarriers.

Selected publications available from author, Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov

  • June-Wells, M., Gallagher F., Hart B, Malik V. and Bugbee G.J. 2016. The relative influences of fine and landscape scale factors on the structure of lentic plant assemblages. Lake and Reservoir Management. 32:116-131.
  • Bugbee G.J., Gibbons J.A., and June-Wells M. 2015 Efficacy of single and consecutive early-season diquat treatments on curlyleaf pondweed and associated aquatic macrophytes: A case study. J. Aquat. Plant Manage. 53:171-177.
  • Robb, C.S., Eitzer B.D., Gibbons J.A., June-Wells M., and Bugbee G.J. 2014. Persistence and movement of diquat and the effectiveness of limnobarriers after curlyleaf pondweed treatment in Crystal Lake, Connecticut. J. Aquat. Plant Manage. 52:39-46.
  • June-Wells, M., Gallagher F., Gibbons J.A. and Bugbee, G.J. 2013. Water chemistry preferences of five nonnative aquatic macrophyte species in Connecticut: a preliminary risk assessment tool. Lake and Reservoir Management, 29:303-316.
  • Bugbee, G. J.  2013. Researching Invasive Aquatic Plant Species. International Innovation. North America-June 2013:33-35.
  • Bugbee, G. J. M. Barton and J. A. Gibbons.  2013.  Connecticut’s Invasive Aquatic and Wetland Invasive Plant Identification Guide, 2nd Edition.  CAES Station Bulletin 1035:1-44.
  • Bugbee, G. J., J. A. Gibbons and M. June-Wells.  2013.  Invasive aquatic plants in Lakes Candlewood, Lillinonah and Zoar. Monitoring Report 2012. Technical Report to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FirstLight Power Resources, CTDEEP. 1-126.
  • Tavalire, H.F., G.J. Bugbee, E.A. LaRue, R.A. Thum 2012. Hybridization, cryptic diversity, and invasiveness in introduced variable-leaf watermilfoil.  Evolutionary Applications - published online May 10, 2012.
  • June-Wells, M., C. R. Vossbrinck, and G.J. Bugbee. 2012. The aquarium trade: A potential risk for non-native plant introductions in Connecticut, USA. Lake and Reservoir Management. 20:200-205.
  • Capers, R., R. Selsky and G. J. Bugbee. 2009.  The relative importance of local conditions and regional processes in structuring aquatic plant communities. Freshwater Biology 55(5): 952-956.
  • Capers, R.S., Selsky, R., Bugbee, G.J. and J. C. White. 2009. Species richness of both native and invasive aquatic plants influenced by environmental conditions and human activity. Botany 8: 306-314
  • Capers, R.S., Selsky, R., Bugbee, G.J. and J. C. White. 2007 . Aquatic Plant Community invisibility and scale dependent patterns in native, invasive species richness. Ecology Vol. 88, No.12, pp.:3135-3133.
  • Bugbee G.J. and C.R. Frink. 1986. Aeration of Potting media and Plant Growth. SoilScience.141(6): 438-441.
  • Bugbee G.J. and R.A. Sarenceno. 1994. Phytotoxicity of compost treated with lawn herbicides containing 2,4-D, dicamba and MCPP. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.52:606-611.
  • Sawhney B.L., G.J. Bugbee and D.E. Stillwell. 1995. Heavy Metal Leachability as affected by pH of Compost-Amended Growth Medium Used in Container-Grown Rhododendrons. Compost Science and Utilization. 3(2):64-73.
  • Bugbee, G.J. C.R. Frink and D. Migneault. 1991. Growth of Perennials and Leaching of Heavy Metals in Media Amended with a Minicipal Leaf, Sewafe Sludge and Street Sand Compost. J. Environ. Hort. 9(1):47-50
  • Frink C.R. and G.J. Bugbee. 1987. Response of Vegetable Seedlings to Chlorinated Water. HortScience. 22(4):581-583.
  • Duggan J.X. G.J. Bugbee and B. Brennan. 1997. Volunteer Water Monitoring in Lakes: A case study. Amer. Environ. Lab. 9(3):1-9.
  • Bugbee G.J. and G.C. Elliott. 1998. Leaching of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Potting Media Containing Biosolids Compost as Afected by Organic and Clay Amendments. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 60:715-723.
  • Bugbee G.J. 1996. Growth of Rhododendron, Rudbeckia and Thujia and the Leaching of Nitrates as Affected by the pH of Potting Media Amended with Biosolids Compost. Compost Science and Utilization. 4(1):53-59.
  • Sawhney B.L., G.J. Bugbee and D.E. Stillwell.1994. Leachability of Heavy Metals from Growth Media Containing Source-Separated Municipal Solid Waste Compost. J. Environ. Qual. 23:718-722.
  • Bugbee G.J. 1994. Growth of Rudbeckia and Leaching of Nitrates in Potting Media Amended With Composted Coffee Processing Residue, Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge. Compost Science and Utilization. 2(1):72-79.
  • Sawhney B.L., G.J. Bugbee and D.E. Stillwell. 1996. Leachability of Arsenic from Field Containers Filled With Plant Growth Medium Amended With Biosolids Compost. Compost Science and Utilization. 4(4):35-39.
  • Pylypiw H.M. 1993. Uptake of Pre-Emergent Herbicides by Corn: Distribution in Plants and Soil. Bull. Contam. Toxicol. 50:474-478.
  • Bugbee G.J. and G.C. Elliott. 1999. Effects of Sucrose and Dried Alum Sludge on the Growth of Rudbeckia and Leaching of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Potting Media Containing Biosolids Compost. Bull. Contam. Toxicol. 63:766-773.
  • Bugbee G.J. and C. R. Frink. 1995. Phosphorus and Zinc Fertilization of Corn Grown in a Connecticut Soil. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 26(1&2)269-276.