Research
Research Interests
Ecological impacts of natural and anthropogenically-induced environmental stress; life history strategies; ecological modeling; invertebrate zoology, marine ecology, ecological traits conferring resistance or sensitivity to perturbation, population biology of endangered species; ecological modeling of integrated pest management strategies
Ecological impacts of natural and anthropogenically-induced environmental stress; life history strategies; ecological modeling; invertebrate zoology, marine ecology, ecological traits conferring resistance or sensitivity to perturbation, population biology of endangered species; ecological modeling of integrated pest management strategies
Research Projects
biocontrol of an agricultural pest
Wheat stem sawfly larva inside wheat stem
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The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus, is a major pest of wheat crops in the Northern Plains of North America; it is responsible for significant loss of crop yield. We are building ecological models to explore ways to control this pest, including biocontrol (augmenting parasitism of the wheat stem sawfly) and the use of resistant wheat cultivars. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Tatyana A. Rand, of the USDA Agricultural Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT and Dr. Edward T. Dougherty of Salve Regina University
Publications Rand, TA, Richmond, CE, and Dougherty, ET. 2020. Modeling the combined impacts of host plant resistance and biological control on the population dynamics of major pest of wheat. Pest Management Science 76(8): 2818-2828 https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5830 Rand, TA, Richmond, CE and Dougherty, ET. 2017. Using matrix population models to inform biological control management of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus. Biological Control 109: 27-36 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2017.03.007 |
FRESHWATER ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITY DYNAMICS
Summer 2022 EDGe lab group: Daniel Heintzelman, Mazie Mulford, Rosalind Moore, Jordyn Brown, Mary Carpinelli, Kimberly Ojeda-Celaya, Richard Farkas, Olena Patricia Rosi Mejia
Photo credit: Rowan University
The Ecological Diversity Group (EDGe lab)
We are studying how zooplankton community dynamics in polymictic lakes and reservoirs are influenced by biotic and abiotic conditions in these waters and the surrounding terrestrial landscape.
These shallow bodies of water have their water columns well-mixed multiple times a year. Any stratification that forms is broken up by these mixing events. We are studying the environmental conditions, phytoplankton and zooplankton abundances and community structures in four reservoirs, to explore how these variables change with time and location. We are also exploring how water quality parameters in these water bodies are correlated with the density of zooplankton that subsidize downstream consumer communities.
This project is a collaboration with Drs. Nathan Ruhl and Michael Grove, of Rowan University.
Publications
Ruhl, N, *Ruggiero, D, *Iuliucci, S, Grove, M and Richmond, CE. 2023. Predicting the density of zooplankton subsidy to a stream with multiple impoundments using water quality parameters. Aquatic Sciences 85:29, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00027-022-00931-x
Ruhl, N, *Ruggiero, D, *Iuliucci, S, Grove, M, and Richmond CE. 2023. Predicting the density of zooplankton subsidy to a stream with multiple impoundments using water quality parameters. Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1vhhmgqxd
Ruhl, N, *Haban, D, *Czajkowski, C, Grove, M, and Richmond CE. 2019. Community composition of zooplankton exported from a shallow polymictic reservoir linked to wind conditions. PeerJ 7:e7611 DOI 10.7717/peerj.7611
We are studying how zooplankton community dynamics in polymictic lakes and reservoirs are influenced by biotic and abiotic conditions in these waters and the surrounding terrestrial landscape.
These shallow bodies of water have their water columns well-mixed multiple times a year. Any stratification that forms is broken up by these mixing events. We are studying the environmental conditions, phytoplankton and zooplankton abundances and community structures in four reservoirs, to explore how these variables change with time and location. We are also exploring how water quality parameters in these water bodies are correlated with the density of zooplankton that subsidize downstream consumer communities.
This project is a collaboration with Drs. Nathan Ruhl and Michael Grove, of Rowan University.
Publications
Ruhl, N, *Ruggiero, D, *Iuliucci, S, Grove, M and Richmond, CE. 2023. Predicting the density of zooplankton subsidy to a stream with multiple impoundments using water quality parameters. Aquatic Sciences 85:29, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00027-022-00931-x
Ruhl, N, *Ruggiero, D, *Iuliucci, S, Grove, M, and Richmond CE. 2023. Predicting the density of zooplankton subsidy to a stream with multiple impoundments using water quality parameters. Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1vhhmgqxd
Ruhl, N, *Haban, D, *Czajkowski, C, Grove, M, and Richmond CE. 2019. Community composition of zooplankton exported from a shallow polymictic reservoir linked to wind conditions. PeerJ 7:e7611 DOI 10.7717/peerj.7611
POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MARINE PLANKTON
Photo credit: Scripps Institute of Oceanography (http://sio-legacy.ucsd.edu/zooplanktonguide/species/acartia-acanthacartia-tonsa)
Phytoplankton and zooplankton play critical roles in marine food webs. They mediate bottom-up effects such as nutrient inputs, and top-down effects from a variety of predators. Changes in their abundances, distributions, and species diversity induced by both biotic and abiotic conditions can impact ecosystem dynamics, alter productivity, and affect the resistance and resilience of ecosystems in response to environmental change. We have studied several questions along these lines using both empirical and theoretical approaches.
Publications
Richmond, CE, Rose, KA, and Breitburg, DL. 2013. Individual variability and environmental conditions: effects on zooplankton cohort dynamics. Marine Ecology Progress Series 486: 59-78 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10418
Richmond, CE, Wethey, DS, and Woodin, SA. 2007. Climate change and increased environmental variability: Demographic responses in an estuarine harpacticoid copepod. Ecological Modelling 208: 189-202
https://doi.org/10106/j.ecolmodel.2007.06.023
Richmond, CE, Breitburg, DL, and KA Rose. 2005. The role of environmental generalist species in ecosystem function. Ecological Modelling 188: 279-295 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.03.002
Marcus, NH, Richmond, CE, Sedlacek, C, Miller, GA, and C Oppert. 2004. Impact of hypoxia on the survival, egg production and population dynamics of Acartia tonsa Dana. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 301: 111-128
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2003.09.016
Richmond, CE and SA Woodin 1999. Effect of salinity reductions on oxygen consumption by larval estuarine invertebrates. Marine Biology 134: 259-267
doi: 10.1007/S002270050544
Richmond, CE, and SA Woodin. 1996. Short-term fluctuations in salinity: effects on planktonic invertebrate larvae. Marine Ecology Progress Series 133:167-177
doi: 10.3354/meps133167
Publications
Richmond, CE, Rose, KA, and Breitburg, DL. 2013. Individual variability and environmental conditions: effects on zooplankton cohort dynamics. Marine Ecology Progress Series 486: 59-78 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10418
Richmond, CE, Wethey, DS, and Woodin, SA. 2007. Climate change and increased environmental variability: Demographic responses in an estuarine harpacticoid copepod. Ecological Modelling 208: 189-202
https://doi.org/10106/j.ecolmodel.2007.06.023
Richmond, CE, Breitburg, DL, and KA Rose. 2005. The role of environmental generalist species in ecosystem function. Ecological Modelling 188: 279-295 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.03.002
Marcus, NH, Richmond, CE, Sedlacek, C, Miller, GA, and C Oppert. 2004. Impact of hypoxia on the survival, egg production and population dynamics of Acartia tonsa Dana. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 301: 111-128
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2003.09.016
Richmond, CE and SA Woodin 1999. Effect of salinity reductions on oxygen consumption by larval estuarine invertebrates. Marine Biology 134: 259-267
doi: 10.1007/S002270050544
Richmond, CE, and SA Woodin. 1996. Short-term fluctuations in salinity: effects on planktonic invertebrate larvae. Marine Ecology Progress Series 133:167-177
doi: 10.3354/meps133167
REPRODUCTION IN A COMB JELLY
Photo credit: Robert Aguilar, SERC (https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/8601&showAll=1)
Mnemiopsis leidyi is a ctenophore (comb jelly) with significant summer abundances in coastal waters. They compete with jellyfish and other predators for zooplankton prey, and can have sizable impacts on marine food webs as a result of these interactions. We have studied the timing of gamete release in these simultaneous hermaphrodites, to explore the hypothesis that asynchronous release of sperm and eggs reduces rates of self-fertilization.
Publication (* denotes undergraduate student)
Richmond, CE, Grove, MW, *Wilczynski, T and *Bowman, A. Timing of gamete release in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. (in preparation)
Publication (* denotes undergraduate student)
Richmond, CE, Grove, MW, *Wilczynski, T and *Bowman, A. Timing of gamete release in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. (in preparation)