Dr. Cynthia M. Liutkus Assistant Professor Department of Geology Appalachian State University PO Box 32067 Boone, NC 28608 (828) 262-6933 liutkuscm@appstate.edu

Education

M.Sc., with a concentration in Quaternary Studies, Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, 2000.  

B.A. with honors, Geology & Philosophy (double major), Bucknell University, 1998.      

Professional Experience

Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2005 - Present.

Visiting Assistant Professor, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 2004 - 2005.

Current Courses (if on campus, link here to WebCT)

• Introduction to Environmental Geology (GLY1103) and lab

• Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (GLY3800)

• Introduction to Physical Geology (GLY1101) and lab

Publications

Peer-reviewed

• Beard, J.S., Liutkus, C.M., Fraser, N.C., and Ragland, P.C., in review, Use of fine scale stratigraphy and chemostratigraphy to evaluate conditions of deposition and preservation of a Triassic lagerstatte, south central Virginia: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

• Liutkus, C.M., in review, Arid-region lake margin sediments as sensitive recorders of rapid climate change and lake level response: Sedimentary Geology.

• Liutkus, C.M., and Wright, J.D., and deWet, C., in review, Isotopic signature of microbially-mediated and inorganically-precipitated calcite rhizoliths, Green Lake, New York, USA: Sedimentology.

• Liutkus, C.M., and Wright, J.D., 2008, The influence of hydrology and climate on the isotope geochemistry of playa carbonates: A study from Pilot Valley, Nevada, USA: Sedimentology. DOI #: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00932.x

• Liutkus, C.M., Wright, J.D., Ashley, G.M., and Sikes, N., 2005, Paleoenvironmental interpretation of lake-margin deposits using d13C and d18O results from Pleistocene carbonate rhizoliths; Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: Geology, v. 33, p. 377-380. 

• Liutkus, C.M., and Ashley, G.M., 2003, Facies model of a semiarid freshwater wetland, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 73, p. 691-705.

• Ashley, G.M., and Liutkus, C.M., 2002, Tracks, trails, and trampling by large vertebrates in a rift valley paleo-wetland, lowermost Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: Ichnos, v. 9, p. 23-32.

Abstracts

• Liutkus, C.M., 2007, New terminology for calcite stem casts formed in standing water: A case study from the semiarid western USA.   Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, v. 39, no. 6, p. 345.

• Quick, J.B., and Liutkus, C.M., 2007, Do playa sediments track paleoenvironment?: Sedimentological analyses of Quaternary lake cores from Pilot Valley, NV. Southeast Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, v. 39, no. 2, p. 84.

• Liutkus, C.M., Raines, S.D., and Quick, J.B., 2007, Sedimentological analysis of Quaternary fossil-bearing lakeshore sediments from Pilot Valley, NV: Implications for climate change. Southeast Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, v. 39, no. 2, p. 83.

• Liutkus, Cynthia M., and Wright, James D., 2006, Phreatically-formed rhizoliths as a tool for paleolandscape reconstruction: Southeast Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, v. 38, no. 3, p. 26.

• Liutkus, Cynthia M., 2006, Modern 'rhizolith' formation on a closed-basin playa, Pilot Valley, NV: Southeast Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, v. 38, no. 3, p. 72.

• Liutkus, Cynthia M., and Wright, James D., 2004, Rhizolith stable isotope patterns from Pilot Valley Playa, Utah: Geological Society of America, National Meeting, Denver.

• Liutkus, Cynthia M., and Wright, James D., 2003, The rhizolith recorder: Reconstructing climate with stable isotope signatures of modern and ancient lacustrine carbonates: International Limnogeology Congress, Third Meeting, Abstract Volume, p 166-167.            

• Liutkus, Cindy M., and Wright, James D., 2002, Seasonal variation in d18O and d13C values of carbonate reedcasts from Fayetteville Green Lake, NY: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, vol. 34, no. 7, #151-5.

• Liutkus , C.M., Ashley, G.M., and Wright, J.D., 2000, Short-term climate changes and Milankovitch cyclicity at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: Evidence from sedimentology and stable isotopes. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, vol. 32, n. 7, A-21.

• Deocampo, D.M., Hay, R.L., Ashley, G.M., Kyser, T.K., and Liutkus, C.M., 2000, Lacustrine clay diagenesis in Northern Tanzania, and paleoenvironmental applications at Olduvai Gorge. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, vol. 32, n. 7, A-366.

• Ashley, G.M., Deocampo, D.M., and Liutkus, C.M., 2000, Track records of large mammals in lake-margin wetlands, LMBed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. International Association of Sedimentologists, Regional Meeting Abstracts, Dublin, Ireland.

• Liutkus, C.M., and Ashley, G.M., 2000, Facies model of a Pleistocene groundwater-fed wetlands in a volcaniclastic setting; Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, vol. 32, n. 1, A-31.

Non-peer reviewed

• Liutkus, C.M., 2005, Paleoclimate reconstruction using stable isotopes of freshwater phreatic carbonates: Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, 212 pp.

• Liutkus, C.M., 2000, Sedimentology, stratigraphy, and stable isotopes of the lowermost Bed II freshwater wetlands, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: Master's Thesis, Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, 159 pp.

Other

• Superposition: A Lab Manual for Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 2008, third edition. Authored by C.M. Liutkus , with contributions from G.M. Ashley and C.S. Feibel. Published in house by the Hubbard Center, Appalachian State University.

Research Interests

Rift basin sedimentology

Modern and ancient lacustrine sediments

Sedimentology of arid-region wetlands and springs

Isotope geochemistry of lacustrine carbonates

Climate reconstruction using closed-basin lake sediments and carbonates

Society Memberships

IAS (International Association of Sedimentologists)

SEPM

GSA, and Limnogeology division