Bio
Valerie's specialty is aquatic invertebrate ecology with a particular interest in using the invertebrate community for assessment and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. She has thirty years of experience in understanding Great Lakes coastal wetland condition, including research on zebra mussels, and twenty years of experience working in Minnesota and Wisconsin streams.
Current research interests include: the use of aquatic invertebrates as indicators for monitoring and assessment of stream and wetland ecosystems; investigating major determinants of invertebrate community structure in streams and wetlands; investigating the use of aquatic invertebrates as diagnostic indicators of particular causes of ecosystem impairment in streams and wetlands; investigating impacts of aquatic invasive species on food webs and ecosystems; recovery of natural invertebrate community structure and function in restored and created wetlands; using stable isotopes as aids in the above investigations; and public policy issues related to stream and wetland health, protection and water quality.
Education
- Postdoc Aquatic and Landscape Ecology U.S. EPA-MED 2000
- Ph.D. Zoology/Aquatic Ecology Michigan State University 1996
- M.S. Zoology/Aquatic Ecology Michigan State University 1992
- B.S. Biology/Environmental Science Taylor University 1988
Profiles
Recent projects
- Spiny water flea on fishing gear
- Minnesota trout streams: ability to withstand climate change
- Great Lakes coastal Wetland Monitoring Program
- Restorable wetlands in Minnesota, a tool for managers
- Great Lakes Environmental Indicators Project
- Data Archiving
- Using aquatic invertebrates as indicators of stream condition
Recent Publications
Occurrence patterns and trends of frogs in coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes call for further habitat restoration
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Stable isotope analysis of western Lake Superior predatory fishes, part one: Trophic niche overlap
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Quantifying the effectiveness of three aquatic invasive species prevention methods
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
An Index of biotic condition (IBC) using birds as indicators of coastal wetland quality in North America's Laurentian Great Lakes
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Walleye and yellow perch resource use in large lakes invaded by spiny water fleas and zebra mussels
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
