BRUNSWICK — Professor John Lichter of Bowdoin College will discuss the “Ecological Recovery in Coastal Maine” during the Appalachian Mountain Club meeting Wednesday at Curtis Memorial Library.

The free 7 p.m. slideshow will focus on the Kennebec River and Merrymeeting Bay.

Maine’s rivers, estuaries, and coastal marine ecosystems historically supported prodigious abundances of wildlife, according to a news release. Alewives and blueback herring emigrated out by the millions, and were exploited for food by nearshore groundfish populations such as Atlantic cod and haddock, as well as by people. Over the past three centuries, however, declining populations of the fish have declined and in turn have decimating the near-shore groundfishery.

Lichter has begun a longterm study on this issue. Together with other researchers from Bowdoin and Bates Colleges, and the University of Southern Maine, Lichter’s goal is to understand how continued ecological recovery could stimulate economic activity in coastal Maine. The Kennebec River and estuary, including Merrymeeting Bay, serve as their primary research system, although they make across-river comparisons with the Penobscot and St. Croix Rivers to understand how socioeconomic forces influence ecological recovery.

On Wednesday, Lichter will talk about this research and prospects for the future ecological recovery.

A potluck dinner will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the talk at 7 p.m. Attendees should bring a potluck item to share and their own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.). Drinks will be available.

For more information, email education@amcmaine.org. The talk is free and open to the public.