1. PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
2. CURRENT STUDENTS
3. FACULTY & STAFF
4. ALUMNI
5. COMMUNITY & FRIENDS

Teaching interests

I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in general ecology and topical courses in aquatic ecology, including Principles of Ecology, Biosphere, Stream Ecology, Trophic Interactions in Aquatic Ecosystems, Use of Stable Isotopes in Ecology, and Global Ecology.

Journal Articles

• A Geomorphic-Tropic Model for Landscape Control of Arctic Lake Food Webs
• Natural abundances of stable isotopes trace anthropogenic N and C in an urban stream
• Distribution and growth of benthic macroinvertebrates among different patch types of the littoral zones of two arctic lakes
• Effect of landscape factors on fish distribution in arctic Alaskan lakes
• Stable isotope signatures of benthic invertebrates in arctic lakes indicate limited coupling to pelagic production
• Effects of stream restoration and wastewater treatment plant effluent on fish communities in urban streams
• Effects of large lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) on the dietary habits of small lake trout: a comparison of stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C) and stomach content analyses

Research Interests

My research includes studies of the ecology of arctic lakes and studies of anthropogenic effects on urban stream ecosystems. In both research initiatives, my lab group uses a combination of field and laboratory experiments and comparative studies to better understand the role of invertebrate and fishes in controlling ecosystem processes. Stable isotope analysis is an important tool that we use for most of our research projects.

In arctic Alaska, my group is studying landscape control of arctic lake productivity, food webs, and exchange of nutrients and organic matter between the water column, or pelagic zone, and the lake bottom, or benthic zone. Our current project entitled “A geomorphic-trophic hypothesis for benthic-pelagic coupling,” examines the overarching hypothesis that landscape factors directly or indirectly control in-lake processes, distribution of primary production between pelagic and benthic habitats, benthic-pelagic coupling, food web structure, and the trophic basis for secondary production. Testing this hypothesis involves a combination of remote sensing, comparative surveys, whole-lake experiments, and mesocosm and microcosm scale experiments. Please look at the link to recent publications to see some of our important results!

In the Greensboro area, my lab group is studying the effects of stream restoration on nitrogen processing and on fish and invertebrate communities in urban streams. Urban streams are heavily impacted by sedimentation, excess nitrogen from fertilizer runoff and sewage, and a variety of other pollutants. Several urban stream restoration projects have been undertaken by the City of Greensboro, funded as highway mitigation projects. My lab is investigating the effectiveness of these projects at restoring invertebrate and fish communities and nitrogen processing. To do this, we have been using a combination of comparative and whole stream experimental studies. As with the arctic lake project, stable isotope analysis is a major tool. Please click on some of our recent publications on effects of restoration on stream ecosystems!

An essential aspect of the completion of any of these studies is that graduate and undergraduate students play major roles. Please click on links to recent graduate and undergraduate student projects. Please send me an email (or stop by my office if you are on campus) if you are interested in undergraduate or graduate research in my lab!

Recent and current graduate student projects

Lynam, E. C. 2004.

The effect of restoration on urban stream water quality and macroinvertebrate community structure. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Beaty, S. R. 2004.

Distribution and growth responses of benthic macroinvertebrates in different patch types of two arctic lakes. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Northington, R. M. 2005.

The effect of site type on the use of terrestrial and aquatic food resources by fish in headwater urban streams. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Detweiler, A. M. 2005.

The effects of urbanization on the food web of a mid-order stream in Rio de Janeiro. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Lofton, D. 2006.

Evaluation of Denitrification in and Urban Stream Receiving Effluent from a Wastewater Treatment Plant. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Rushforth, H. M. 2006.

Nitrogen Uptake, Food Web Nutrient Transfer and Community Structure in a Restored Urban Stream compared to a Pristine and an Unrestored Urban Stream. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Keyse, M. D. 2006.

The effects of lake torut (Salvelinus namaycush) on arctic char (Salvelinus arcticus) populations in arctic Alaska. M. S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Medvedeff, C.

Assimilation of organic matter derived from particulate and dissolved sources by two benthic invertebrates, Sphaerium and Grensia, in an arctic lake. In progress.

Bare, L.

Wade, E.

Hines, S.

Recent Undergraduate projects

Keyse, M. D.

Effects of large lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) on the dietary habits of small lake trout: a comparison of stable isotope and gut content analyses. 2000-2003.

Binkley, Elizabeth.

Importance of dissolved organic carbon from terrestrial sources in supporting benthic production in arctic lakes. 2004.

Medvedeff, Cassie.

Utilization of carbon sources of allochthonous and autochthonous origins by Chironomus in arctic lakes. 2005.

Hart-Smith, J.

Methanogenesis and methane oxidation in arctic lake sediments. 2006.