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
Aug 28 2019 Dr. Ryan King, Department of Biology, Baylor University, will join several other investigators on a John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis Working Group, "Analyses of contaminant effects in freshwater systems: synthesizing abiotic and biotic stream datasets for long-term ecological research."
The objective will be to synthesize the >20 years of standardized hydrological, chemical, and ecological samples collected from streams and rivers across the U.S. to investigate how human activities have influenced stream ecosystems. Aug 28 2019 Stephen Cook successfully defended his dissertation, "Spatiotemporal Examination of Benthic Algal and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Structure Across a Gradient of Phosphorus Enrichment" in May 2019 and officially graduated on August 19th, 2019 with a PhD in Biology. Congratulations, Stephen! Aug 28 2019 Stephen Cook's first publication, which was published in Ecology, has been recognized as one of the most downloaded in 2018. Ecology is the flagship journal of the Ecological Society of America and recognized as one of the top journals in the field. Dec 15 2018 Moncie Wright successfully defended her dissertation "Interactions Between Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Exposure and Grazing Organisms on Periphyton Biomass and Community Composition" and graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology from Baylor University on Saturday, December 15, 2018, in the Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas. Aug 12 2018 Caleb Robbins successfully defended his dissertation, "From Landscapes to Streams: The Pattern and Function of Labile Dissolved Organic Carbon" in July 2018. Caleb graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology from Baylor University on August 11, 2018, in the Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas.
Aug
28
2019
Dr. Ryan King, Department of Biology, Baylor University, will join several other investigators on a John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis Working Group, "Analyses of contaminant effects in freshwater systems: synthesizing abiotic and biotic stream datasets for long-term ecological research."
The objective will be to synthesize the >20 years of standardized hydrological, chemical, and ecological samples collected from streams and rivers across the U.S. to investigate how human activities have influenced stream ecosystems.
The objective will be to synthesize the >20 years of standardized hydrological, chemical, and ecological samples collected from streams and rivers across the U.S. to investigate how human activities have influenced stream ecosystems.
Aug
28
2019
Stephen Cook successfully defended his dissertation, "Spatiotemporal Examination of Benthic Algal and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Structure Across a Gradient of Phosphorus Enrichment" in May 2019 and officially graduated on August 19th, 2019 with a PhD in Biology. Congratulations, Stephen!
Aug
28
2019
Stephen Cook's first publication, which was published in Ecology, has been recognized as one of the most downloaded in 2018. Ecology is the flagship journal of the Ecological Society of America and recognized as one of the top journals in the field.
Dec
15
2018
Moncie Wright successfully defended her dissertation "Interactions Between Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Exposure and Grazing Organisms on Periphyton Biomass and Community Composition" and graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology from Baylor University on Saturday, December 15, 2018, in the Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas.
Aug
12
2018
Caleb Robbins successfully defended his dissertation, "From Landscapes to Streams: The Pattern and Function of Labile Dissolved Organic Carbon" in July 2018. Caleb graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology from Baylor University on August 11, 2018, in the Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas.
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