Freshwater science to inform policy
We study aquatic ecosystems--almost exclusively inland freshwaters. We are particularly interested in the availability of three essential building blocks of life: phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon. We design field studies and perform experiments to help understand how altering levels of these elements in isolation and coupled with potential contaminants may cause detrimental and even irreversible damage to ecosystems in which we rely on for water, food, and recreation. Along the way, we make discoveries that contribute to our "textbook" understanding of our planet. In academic terms, we span the boundary of basic and applied science.
News
Feb 23 2018 Moncie Wright published the first chapter of her dissertation in Science of the Total Environment, a journal with an impact factor of 5.0 (which is very good). The title of her paper is "Titanium dioxide nanoparticle exposure reduces algal biomass and alters algal assemblage composition in wastewater effluent-dominated stream mesocosms." Two other chapters are close to submission. Congrats, Moncie! Oct 19 2017 Stephen Cook, a Ph.D. student in the Aquatic Ecology Lab, received news that his first paper, "Freshwater eutrophication sharply reduces temporal beta diversity," will be published in Ecology, the flagship journal of the Ecological Society of America. Congratulations, Stephen! Sep 15 2017 TITAN has been updated on CRAN (the R comprehensive archive network) and can be installed using one of dozens of CRAN mirrors from anywhere in the world. TITAN has been applied in ~140 studies since it was first published in 2010, with more users every year. This update is intended to make diagnostics more straightforward in addition to faster processing times. Jul 15 2017 King and his lab group will be funded for at least a second year to study the effects of headwater streams on downstream ecosystems in Alaska. The award, from the Alaska State Wildlife Fund and US FWS, totals $98,700 for fiscal year 2018. Jun 15 2017 Dan Hiatt and Caleb Robbins, both PhD candidates in the Aquatic Ecology lab, published their study showing that alder, an upland shrub with N-fixing bacterial symbionts, generates so much excess N at the catchment scale that it controls N2-fixation in boreal streams of Alaska.
Feb
23
2018
Moncie Wright published the first chapter of her dissertation in Science of the Total Environment, a journal with an impact factor of 5.0 (which is very good). The title of her paper is "Titanium dioxide nanoparticle exposure reduces algal biomass and alters algal assemblage composition in wastewater effluent-dominated stream mesocosms." Two other chapters are close to submission. Congrats, Moncie!
Oct
19
2017
Stephen Cook, a Ph.D. student in the Aquatic Ecology Lab, received news that his first paper, "Freshwater eutrophication sharply reduces temporal beta diversity," will be published in Ecology, the flagship journal of the Ecological Society of America. Congratulations, Stephen!
Sep
15
2017
TITAN has been updated on CRAN (the R comprehensive archive network) and can be installed using one of dozens of CRAN mirrors from anywhere in the world. TITAN has been applied in ~140 studies since it was first published in 2010, with more users every year. This update is intended to make diagnostics more straightforward in addition to faster processing times.
Jul
15
2017
King and his lab group will be funded for at least a second year to study the effects of headwater streams on downstream ecosystems in Alaska. The award, from the Alaska State Wildlife Fund and US FWS, totals $98,700 for fiscal year 2018.
Jun
15
2017
Dan Hiatt and Caleb Robbins, both PhD candidates in the Aquatic Ecology lab, published their study showing that alder, an upland shrub with N-fixing bacterial symbionts, generates so much excess N at the catchment scale that it controls N2-fixation in boreal streams of Alaska.
Research Spotlight
We were selected by a joint committee from Oklahoma and Arkansas to conduct a multi-year study to determine a threshold level of phosphorus for the Designated Scenic Rivers of Oklahoma. The $600,000 study just wrapped up. Download the final report and view photo gallery and video clips from the study
Contact Information
Ryan S. King, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Program Director
Department of Biology
One Bear Place #97388
Waco, TX 76798-7388
Office location: BSB C.414
Lab location: BSB C.453R
Ryan_S_King@baylor.edu
Office telephone: 254.710.2150
Lab telephone: 254.710.2372