CARL RICHARDS

Professor
B.S., 1975, University of Southern Mississippi, Biology
M.S., 1978, California State University, Biology
Ph.D., 1986, Idaho State University, Biology/Ecology

crichard@d.umn.edu
Washburne Hall, 726-8710

My research interests focus predominantly on aquatic ecosystems. I'm particularly interested in factors that influence the distribution of aquatic organisms over large scales, such as among streams and lakes in a region, or within large systems, such as the Great Lakes. My investigations have led me to model the relationships between landscape characteristics, such as geologic and land use patterns using remote imagery, and the biota of lakes and streams using a variety of ground or water-based data.

I'm also interested in outreach education to the public concerning aquatic sciences. My position as Director of the Minnesota Sea Grant program provides multiple opportunities for me to work with education and outreach specialists who serve a variety of public groups, including K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students, public resource managers, and private business leaders. I've also collaborated on developing Web-based computer technologies for the dissemination and instruction of water science.

Research:

AQUATIC ECOLOGY, STREAM ECOLOGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Other Responsibilities:

Director, Minnesota Sea Grant College Program

Recent Publications:

• Richards, C., M. White, R. Axler, A. Hershey, J. Schomberg. 2001. Simulating effects of landscape composition and structure on stream water quality in forested watersheds. Verh. Internet. Verein. Limnol. 27:3561-3565.
• Breneman, D., C. Richards, S. Lozano. 2000. Environmental influences on benthic community structure in a Great Lakes embayment. J. Great Lakes Res. 26(3):287-304.
• Richards, C. and R. Hollingsworth. 2000. Managing riparian areas for fish. Pp. 157-168. In S.Verry, J.W. Hornbeck, and C.A. Dollaff (eds). Riparian Management in Forests of the Continental Eastern U.S. Lewis Publishers. New York, NY.
• Richards, C. and L.B. Johnson. 1998. Landscape perspectives on ecological risk assessment. pp 255-274 In M. Newman (ed) Risk Assessment: Logic and Measurement. Ann Arbor Press, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Richards, C., R.J. Haro, L.B. Johnson, and G.E. Host. 1997. Catchment and reach-scale properties as indicators of macroinvertebrate species traits. Freshwater Biology 37:219-230.

Teaches:

• BIOL 5833 Stream Ecology
• BIOL 5867 Tools for Managing Lakes and Streams

Graduate Student Projects:

• Mark Prankus, Thesis title: Stream Invertebrate Community Structure and Organic Matter Dynamics on Introduced Wood in Southeastern Minnesota Streams, 2004.
• Watershed and reach-scale factors as predictors of coaster brook trout distribution in the Lake Superior basin, Seth Moore

Family/Hobbies:

Fishing, Sailing, Curling