Nancy McLean

• B.Sc.(Agr.) 1983 Macdonald College, Department of Plant Science
  
• M.Sc. 1986 Macdonald College, Department of Plant Science
  
• Ph.D. 1996 Dalhousie University, Biology Department

• Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists
  
• Canadian Institute of Agronomy
  
• Faculty of Graduate Studies at Dalhousie University
  
• Plant Breeder Status with Canadian Seed Growers Association

• Forage legume breeding
  
• Pasture renovation and management
• Low cost soil and crop improvement
  
• Planting for pollinators
• Riparian zones
  
• Plant tissue culture

• AGRN 2002 Forages and Cover Crops
• GENE 2000 Genetics I
• PLSC 4000 Plant Breeding

• AGRI5510 Special Topics in Plant Breeding

 

• Plett, C., McLean, N., Lafreniere, C., Bittman, S., Ominski, K.H. and Plaizier, J.C. 2024. Characterization of first cut alfalfa and grass silage management practices on Canadian dairy farms. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. Accepted.
• Li, X., McLean, N., MacIsaac, J., Martynenko, A., Rathgeber, B. 2023. Effect of photoperiod during incubation on embryonic temperature, hatch traits, and performance of 2 commercial broiler strains. Poultry Sci. 102 (6): 102632.
• Lyu, J., McLean, N., McKenzie-Gopsill, A, White, S.N. 2021. Weed survey of Nova Scotia lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) fields. Int. J. Fruit Sci. 21 (1): 359-378.
• Li, X., Rathgeber, B., McLean, N., MacIsaac, J. 2021. Providing colored photoperiodic light stimulation during incubation: 1. Effects on embryo development and hatching performance in broiler hatching eggs. Poultry Sci. 101336.
• Li, X., Rathgeber, B., McLean, N., MacIsaac, J. 2021. Providing colored photoperiodic light stimulation during incubation: 2. Effects on early post-hatch growth, immune response, and production performance in broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 101328.
• McCallum, R.S., McLean, N.L., Cutler, G.C. 2020. The impact of planting buckwheat strips along lowbush blueberry fields on beneficial insects. Can. J. Plant Sci. 101 (2): 166-176.
• White, S.N., Menapati, R., McLean, N. 2020. Evaluation of currently registered herbicides for fall bearing year red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) management in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) Can J. Plant Sci. 101 (2) 199-211.

More publications

Curriculum vitae August 2018-2024

1. Name:

Nancy L. McLean (formerly MacLean), Associate Professor, Assistant Dean (Students)

2. Degrees:

Ph.D. Dalhousie University, Biology Department, 1996

M.Sc. Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Dept. of Plant Science, 1986

B.Sc. (Agr.) Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Dept. of Plant Science, 1983

3. Employment History:

July 2022-present: Associate Professor, tenured, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS

July 2018 – 30 June 2022: Assistant Professor, tenured, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS

March 2013-June 2018: Assistant Professor, tenure-track, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS

September 2012-February 2013: Assistant Professor, non-tenure-track, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro, NS

August 2005- August 2012: Assistant Professor, non-tenure-track, responsible for providing 30% of my salary in research funding from 2005 to 2008. Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS

 January 1997- July 2005: Lecturer and Research Associate, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS

September 1992-December 1996: thesis-only Ph.D. student and full-time Research Associate, except two unpaid maternity leaves, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS

September 1989-August 1992: Full-time Ph.D. student, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

April 1986-August 1989: Research Assistant, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS

4. Academic honours:

Killam Scholar and NSERC PGS for Ph.D. NSERC PGS for M.Sc.

5. Scholarly and professional academic activities:

none

6. Graduate and undergraduate supervisions/supervisory committee memberships:

Lifetime count

Undergraduate supervision: 57

M.Sc. supervision: 6

M.Sc. co-supervision: 5

M.Sc. supervisory committee memberships: 28

Ph.D. supervision: 1

Ph.D. co-supervision: 1

PhD supervisory committee memberships: 2

Undergraduate students (Supervised or co-supervised):

Anagha Kumar 2022 – Plant pollinator interaction in selected plant species in Nova Scotia; completed.

Jared Verge 2020 - Direct seeded pickling cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), compared to transplants in Central Newfoundland; completed.

Jhanarthanan Murali 2020 - Effect of growth regulators on the micropropagation of grape (Vitis sp.) breeding line; completed.

Alyson Neufeld 2019-20 -  Environmental DNA barcoding protocol of lowbush blueberry flowers to identify possible pollinators.

Rebecca Apperly-Ryan 2019 - Assessment of floral resources and bee abundance in a pollinator seed mix.

Graduate students (supervised or co-supervised):

Dustin MacLean. 2024-present (Ph.D.). Improved management to reduce oat lodging and increase yield. Started in May 2024. Co-supervisor with Adam Foster, AAFC, Charlottetown.

Emily Johnstone 2020-2023 (M.Sc.). Characterizing causal species of Fusarium head blight in Maritime wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Co-supervised with Adam Foster, AAFC, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Katie McCallum 2018-2020 (M.Sc.). Detection and analysis of fungal contaminants in alfalfa silage on Canadian dairy farms. Co-supervised with Linda Jewell, AAFC St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.

Katherine Rutherford 2016-present (Ph.D.). Plant-pollinator interactions in wild blueberry agroecosystems.

Graduate student committees:

Baillie Lynds, M.Sc. 2023 – present. Effect of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers on agronomic and environmental performance in grain corn. In-progress. Supervised by Yunfei Jiang.

Caroline Reisiger, Ph.D. 2023-present. Dept of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph. Impact of nitrogen fertilizer application on forage productivity, soil organic matter quality, and ecological function on perennial cool-season pastures. Supervised by Kimberly Schneider.

Vanessa Deveau, M.Sc. 2021-2024 Studies on cow wheat (Melampyrum lineare Desr.) biology and interference with wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Supervised by Scott White.

Carla Plett, M.Sc. 2020 – 2023. Enhancing quality of silages from perennial crops. Supervised by Kees Plaizier and Kim Ominski, University of Manitoba.

Harini Aiyer (née Balasundarum), M.Sc. 2019 – 2021. Cover crop effects on soil fungal and bacterial communities and carryover impacts on Fusarium root and crown rot. Supervised by Dr. Claude Caldwell and Dr. Adam Foster.

Amy Byers (Harrington), M.Sc. 2018-2021. An idiographic investigation of dogs’ ability to detect ketosis in dairy cows. Supervised by Miriam Gordon and Simon Gadbois.

Janessa Henry, M.Sc. 2017 – 2020. Lighting effects on breast muscle development in broilers. Supervised by Dr. Bruce Rathgeber.

Nishchita Hemmige Natesh. 2017 – 2019. Nitrogen rate and planting date effects on growth, yield and chemical composition of Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) under Atlantic conditions.  Supervised by Dr. Lord Abbey.

Kateryna Hushchyna, M.Sc. 2017 – 2019. Modelling algal blooms. Supervised by Dr. Tri Nguyen-Quang.

Hugh Lyu, M.Sc. 2017 – 2020. Weed survey of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) fields and development of management strategies for spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium l.). Supervised by Dr. Scott White.

Nilakshi Abeysinghe, M.Sc. 2016 – 2018. Adaptation to the pullet rearing environment following the provision of lighting during embryo development. Supervised by Dr. Bruce Rathgeber.

Rakesh Menapati, M.Sc. 2016 – 2020. Control of red sorrel in blueberry. Supervised by Scott White.

Xujie Li, Ph.D. 2015- 2023. Light management effects on hatching of broiler chicks. Supervised by Bruce Rathgeber.

7. Graduate and undergraduate courses taught:

Undergraduate courses:

GENE 2000 Genetics I (1997-present, except 1999).

PLSC 4000 Plant Breeding (2004-present, alternate years).

AGRN 2002 Forage-based Cropping Systems (2003-2020). Replaced by AGRN 2002 Forages and Cover Crops (2021-present)

RESM 4014 Honour’s Project I (2017-2019)

RESM 4015 Honour’s Project II (2017-2019)

RESM 4006 Environmental Project Seminar 1 (winter 2019)

RESM 4007 Environmental Project Seminar 2 (fall 2019)

Graduate courses:

AGRI 5510 Special Topics in Plant Breeding (2008-present, alternate years)

Graduate Modules:

Modes of Plant Reproduction (2018)

8. Program review committee memberships:

9. External research funding:

2018-2023. Dairy Research Cluster 3

$800,000 for 5 years

Purpose: research (High quality silage). Principal Investigator. Awarded.

2018-19. New Brunswick Soil & Crop Improvement Association.

$1,500 for 1 year, although this was the third consecutive year that funding was received.

Purpose: research (C1819-0202 On farm evaluation of new forage mixtures). Collaborator. Awarded.

2017-2019. Syngenta Canada Inc.

$30,000 over 2 years

Purpose: research (to support the AEI project listed above). Principal Investigator. Awarded.

2017-2018. Nova Scotia Power Inc.

$20,000

Purpose: research (To identify native pollinators and floral resources in two NSP rights-of-way). Principal Investigator. Awarded.

2016-2019. Atlantic Ecosystems Initiatives

$180,000 over 3 years

Purpose: research (Assessment of plant-pollinator interactions and development of beneficial management plans to increase abundance and diversity of native pollinators). Principal investigator. Awarded.

10. Internal research funding:

 

2019-20. Green Shoots II.

$7,050 for technical support

$11,667 for stipend support

Purpose: research (Cox Fire recovery). Awarded.

2018-19. Green Shoots I.

$22,716 for technical support and equipment purchase.

$11,667 for stipend support.

Purpose: research (Cox Fire recovery). Awarded.

11. Publications: Lifetime summary:

Papers in refereed journals: 34

Abstracts: 15

Workshops presented: 20

Lifetime citations: 362

Papers in refereed journals since 2018:

McCallum, K. Dykstra, D. and McLean, N.L. Comparison of perennial forage mixtures for yield and quality on New Brunswick livestock farms. In preparation for submission to Can. J. Plant Sci.

Plett, C., McLean, N., Lafreniere, C., Bittman, S., Ominski, K.H. and Plaizier, J.C. 2024. Characterization of first cut alfalfa and grass silage management practices on Canadian dairy farms. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. Accepted.

Li, X., McLean, N., MacIsaac, J., Martynenko, A., Rathgeber, B. 2023. Effect of photoperiod during incubation on embryonic temperature, hatch traits, and performance of 2 commercial broiler strains. Poultry Sci. 102 (6): 102632.

Lyu, J., McLean, N., McKenzie-Gopsill, A, White, S.N. 2021. Weed survey of Nova Scotia lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) fields. Int. J. Fruit Sci. 21 (1): 359-378.

Li, X., Rathgeber, B., McLean, N., MacIsaac, J. 2021. Providing colored photoperiodic light stimulation during incubation: 1. Effects on embryo development and hatching performance in broiler hatching eggs. Poultry Sci. 101336.

Li, X., Rathgeber, B., McLean, N., MacIsaac, J. 2021. Providing colored photoperiodic light stimulation during incubation: 2. Effects on early post-hatch growth, immune response, and production performance in broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 101328.

McCallum, R.S., McLean, N.L., Cutler, G.C. 2020. The impact of planting buckwheat strips along lowbush blueberry fields on beneficial insects. Can. J. Plant Sci. 101 (2): 166-176.

White, S.N., Menapati, R., McLean, N. 2020. Evaluation of currently registered herbicides for fall bearing year red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) management in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) Can J. Plant Sci. 101 (2) 199-211.

Bryan, D., MacIsaac, J., McLean, N., Rathgeber, B. and Anderson, D. 2019. Nutritive value of expeller-pressed yellow canola meal for broiler chickens following enzyme supplementation. J. Appl. Poultry Res. 28 (4): 1156-1167.

Savary, R.K., MacIsaac, J.L., Rathgeber, B.M., McLean, N.L. and Anderson, D.M. Evaluating Brassica napus and Brassica juncea meals with supplemental enzymes for use in brown-egg laying hen diets: production performance and egg quality factors. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 99 (4): 820-832.

McCallum. R. S., McLean, N. L., and Cutler, G. C. 2018. An assessment of artificial nests for cavity nesting bees in lowbush blueberry. Canadian Entomologist (https://doi.org./10.4039/tce.2018.45)

Li, X., Anderson, D., Rathgeber, B. McLean, N. and MacIsaac, J. 2018. Fumigating broiler hatching eggs with lysozyme product (Inovapure™) to reduce eggshell microbial load. Poultry Sci. 97 (12): 4252-4261.  https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey288.

Selected Abstracts since 2018:

Plett, C., McLean, N., Lafrenière, C., Bittman, S., Ominski, K., Plaizier, J.C. 2023. In-vitro dry matter digestibility, an alternative method for silage quality assessment. Presented by C. Plett at the 2022 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada, published 20 Mar 2023. https://en.engormix.com/dairy-cattle/articles/vitro-dry-matter-digestibility-t52276.htm

Plett, C., Plaizier, J.C., McLean, N., Lafrenière, C., Bittman, S., Ominski, K. 2022. Comparison of near-infrared reflectance spectrometry and wet chemistry analyses on first-cut legume-grass silages. Abstract 1144. Journal of Dairy Science 105 Suppl.1:55.

Plett, C., Plaizier, J.C., McLean, N., Lafrenière, C., Bittman, S., Ominski, K. 2022. Determining and comparing the quality of legume, grass, and legume-grass mix silages on Canadian dairy farms. Abstract 1146. Journal of Dairy Science 105, Suppl. 1:56.

McLean, N.L., Rutherford, K., and Loughnan, D. 2018. Floral diversity and bees at lowbush blueberry fields in the Maritime provinces of Canada. Poster at European Society for Agronomy Congress: ESA15, Geneva, Switzerland, 27-31 Aug 2018.

Book chapters since 2018:

McLean, N. 2020. Chapter 15. Forage-based production systems. pp. 183-191 In: Introduction to Agroecology. Edited by C.D. Caldwell and S. Wang. Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Workshops presented since 2018:

Atlantic Dairy Research Cluster 3 Showcase. 31 Jan 2023. Canvas Moncton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Moncton, NB. Presented: Identifying best management practices for high quality silage production.

Webinar – Showcasing dairy research excellence in Canada. 27 October 2022. Presented: Best management practices for silage production: what does the research say. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYCL2sEDLmM

Nova Scotia Beekeepers’ Association Annual General Meeting. 22 Feb 2020. Best Western Glengarry, Truro, NS. Presented: Planting for pollinators.

Girls STEM Up: Discovery Convention. 23 Nov 2019. Fredericton Convention Centre, Fredericton, NB. Participated as one of three women panelists on the topic of Sustainability.

Nova Scotia Beekeepers’ Association Summer Field Day. 09 Jun 2019. Starr’s Point Road, Port Williams, NS. Presented: Bee-friendly planting.

Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick Annual Meeting. 05 Dec 2018. Fredericton, NB. Presented information related to the Dairy Research Cluster project on silage quality.