Weaving stronger communication practices in Great Lakes science Effective science communication is critical to advancing interdisciplinary and applied research, yet it remains one of the most complex aspects of col…

New #scicomm paper! A great group of authors and friends! Check it out!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Habitat context mediates macroinvertebrate responses to Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) shell deposits | Freshwater Science Abstract The Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) has invaded surface waters throughout North America, and it alters benthic habitats by depositing dense layers of shells. Although these shell deposits can increase habitat complexity in some systems, they may also lead to habitat homogenization, particularly in streams with coarse substrates. We sought to understand how these shell deposits may affect macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rouge and Huron watersheds (Michigan, USA; August 2017). We examined whether shell deposit density is related to macroinvertebrate community diversity and relative abundance and if those relationships might differ between rural and urban streams, noting changes in taxa sensitive to habitat structure, such as Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera (mayflies and caddisflies). In one rural stream, the % abundance of specific mayfly and caddisfly families decreased with increasing shell density, suggesting a localized negative response to shell-induced substrate changes. However, this pattern was not consistently observed across other rural streams, indicating that site-specific factors may mediate these effects. Regardless, shell deposits in urban streams, where baseline habitat complexity is often low, may offer structural refuge and benefit specific invertebrate taxa. Our findings highlight the context-dependent nature of Zebra Mussel relationships with stream invertebrate community metrics and suggest that the ecological consequences of shell deposits may vary with stream habitat characteristics.

I’m super proud to share this new article, hot off the @freshwaterscience.bsky.social press, investigating how mussel shell deposition mediates macroinvertebrates in urban and rural stream systems.

There are a few surprises here! Check it out!

www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

A noteworthy little friend entered our mix on this outing!

Got out to Shenandoah Universoty’s Cool Spring Campus. It’s a 200 acre forest that has been recovering since the 00s next to Rolling Ridge Conservancy, a forest recovering since the 50s.

Really pretty streams and cool bugs.

Off my lawn!

It always surprises me what I learn when I see bugs. On a rock.

Bugs. On a rock.

We’ve been getting out and into some streams before the winter chill. I promise I have a tarp. We were just too focused/lazy to move it over.

Also, Fred.

Lol! I was at dinner! I had pineapple fried rice and it was delicious!

Please join us on Oct 31, 3:00 pm EST for our monthly virtual ASPB PUI Section networking session. Our topic is: Boosting Your Research Success at a PUI.

Join the meeting at merrimack.zoom.us/my/nooria?pw....

Contact Dr. Azam Noori at nooria@merrimack.edu, if link issues

New paper alert! Hot off the press! Check out "Designing community facing tools for green stormwater infrastructure and groundwater monitoring: a model of interdisciplinary action research." GSI = green jobs. Let's go!
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

My student and I hosted the math department at Shenandoah University to talk about how machine learning can help identify populations of macroinvertebrates.

A great experience with a super curious group of students (and instructors)!

Thanks Ken!

It’s just gorgeous up there.

I am super stoked to announce that I have taken a position as an Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.

Study of invasive mussels finds PFAS is nearly everywhere in the Great Lakes | Bridge Michigan A recent report that PFAS contamination is widespread in Great Lakes mussels give a clearer picture of where the chemicals are concentrated.

NOAA's National Mussel Watch Program - which has used invasive zebra + quagga mussels to track contaminants in the #GreatLakes since 1992 - finds that PFAS are ubiquitous in the lakes, with mussels in Lake Michigan having the highest average PFAS concentrations www.bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

A graph showing NIH funding for new and competitive renewal grants for FY2024 and FY2025 showing a much lower rate of investment for FY2025.

I updated my funding curves last night.

Here are the results for new and competitive renewal grants.

The rate of investment has dropped substantially. This is apparently due to a requirement for DOGE review.

I am calling this effect the "Downward DOGE"

1/2

As we approach #IAGLR25, it means awards season is upon us! First up, the Chandler-Misener Award which is presented annually to the author(s) of the peer-reviewed paper in the current volume of the Journal of Great Lakes Research judged to be "most notable."

#SFS2025! This was so cool! Amazing talents!

Shifted to 3 PM!

#SFS2025! Let’s talk about urban groundwater! Come see me at 2:45 at the Intermittent, Ephemeral Systems and Surfacewater/Groundwater Interactions 2.0 superhub.

Let’s mellow out with a little interdisciplinary science as we discuss Green Stormwater-Informed Urban Groundwater monitoring Networks!

Looks like about 2 more hours.

📣Join the Early Career Committee for their workshop on navigating mentorship in freshwater science!

📆Thursday, May 9, 12:00 PM EST

🌐Registration: ua-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

We’re rounding the corner on capstone research for Spring ‘25. There is something especially team build-y about seining for fish.

Also, I love stonerollers this time of year.

May the end of the school year bring me cool new things to do!

I’m finally working on publishing the last chapter of my dissertation.

My favorite chapter…

Why am I sad to let this one out there? It feels too final.

Anyone else go through this publishing the final chapter of their dissertation? Oof…

Sneaking them out to the river. Today, my Plant and Animal diversity class got into some water to check out some arthropods. Good times were had by most?

Trying a new thang! A class, group project where students are arranged by their performance in the course. Not sure if this is good idea or not. We will see.

Group names are: the pixies, dinosaur jr., sonic youth, the screaming trees, the meat puppets, and a tribe called quest.

#itwasthe90s