Aaron Parker: AWRI’s 2017 CLAS Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Program provides a venue for departments to invite outstanding alumni back to campus to share their post-graduation experiences with students, faculty, and staff. AWRI honored Aaron Parker as its 2017 distinguished alum.

Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in natural resources management from GVSU in 2003 and his M.S. in biology at AWRI in 2007 studying the ecology and evolution of yellow perch. He is an aquatic biologist for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) where he studies harmful algal blooms. He also assisted with water recovery efforts in Flint, Michigan by collecting water samples and performing water service line inspections. Prior to joining MDEQ, Aaron worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he studied the efficacy of the electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to prevent the spread of invasive Asian carp from the Mississippi River basin to Lake Michigan, which was the topic of Aaron’s seminar during his visit to AWRI.

Emily Kindervater, graduate student working with Al Steinman, successfully defended her master’s thesis on Nov 1^st.  The title of her presentation was: “Phosphorus retention in west Michigan two-stage agricultural ditches”

Tori Harris, graduate student working with Rick Rediske, successfully defended her master’s thesis on Nov 21^st.  The title of her presentation was: “Determining the impacts of sawmill debris on benthic macroinvertebrate communities within Muskegon Lake, Michigan using traditional and genetic methods of identification”  

Justin Wegner, graduate student working with Mark Luttenton, successfully defended his master’s thesis on Nov 28^th.  The title of his presentation was: “Brook trout behavioral thermoregulation and habitat selection in a small Michigan coldwater stream: Implications for successful management”

Al Steinman participated in a speed networking event for The Graduate School on November 8^th.

Janet Vail helped to facilitate a workshop on Invasive Species held in Ada on November 8^th.  The workshop was funded by a MDEQ grant with Michigan Tech and Wayne State taking the lead.

Janet Vail judged some of the projects at a Science Fair at Western Michigan Christian High School on November 10^th.

AWRI staff are bolded, undergraduate students are denoted with a single asterisk*, graduate students are denoted with two asterisks**, and post-doc researchers are donated with three asterisks ***.

Publications

Bopi Biddanda and other members of his staff read and then wrote a review of a book for the GVSU Regional Math/Science Center’s monthly newsletter, InterChange:
Knapp, K.**, R. Ratliff*, A. Weinke**, Q. Liu***, T. Claffey* and B. Biddanda. 2017. Shaping our future: an astrobiologist’s long view of life on Earth and beyond. A book review of “Earth in human hands: shaping our planet’s future” by David Grinspoon. InterChange – Connections for the STEM Classroom, November 2017. https://www.gvsu.edu/rmsc/interchange/connections-for-the-stem-classroom-299.htm

Al Steinman is a co-author on an article in press in Wetlands.  Kateri Salk, lead author, was a PhD student at MSU who collaborated with both the Steinman and Biddanda Labs.  Bopi and Al were on her PhD committee.
Salk, K.R., A.D. Steinman, and N.E. Ostrom. In Press. Wetland restoration and hydrological reconnection results in enhanced watershed nitrogen retention and removal. Wetlands.

Al Steinman is a co-author with collaborators from China on an article in press in Scientific Reports:
Cao, Q., A.D. Steinman, L. Yao, and L. Xie. In Press. Toxicological and biochemical responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida to cyanobacterial toxins. Scientific Reports.

Al Steinman is a co-author with Xiaomei Su, a visiting PhD student in the Steinman lab this year, and her Chinese collaborators on an article in press in Ecological Indicators:
Su, X.***, A.D. Steinman, Q. Xue, Y. Zhao, and L. Xie. In Press. Evaluating the contamination of microcystins in Lake Taihu, China: The application of equivalent total MC-LR concentration. Ecological Indicators.

Al Steinman is the lead author of an article on Spring Lake alum in press in Lake and Reservoir Management:
Steinman, A.D., M.C. Hassett, M. Oudsema, and R. Rediske. In Press. Alum efficacy 11 years following treatment: phosphorus and macroinvertebrates. Lake and Reservoir Management.

Al Steinman and Dave Kraff are co-authors of a paper accepted to Journal of Great Lakes Research:
Kraff, D. and A.D. Steinman. In Press. Integrated watershed management in Michigan: challenges and proposed solutions. Journal of Great Lakes Research.

Presentations

(Presenter listed first)

Molly Lane, graduate student working with Rick Rediske, and Brian Scull attended the combined State of Lake Michigan Conference and Great Lakes Beach Association Conference held in Green Bay, Wisconsin from November 6^th – 10^th.  They each presented posters:
Lane, M.**, R. Rediske, B. Scull, and B. Schultz*. Poster. Comparison of qPCR and Colilert data for Escherichia coli in Muskegon County Lake Michigan beaches, 2017 data.
Scull, B., R. Rediske, M. Lane**, and B. Schultz*. Poster. Comparison of qPCR and Colilert data for Escherichia coli in Muskegon County inland lake beaches, 2017 data.

Bopi Biddanda gave an invited seminar during Earth Science Week for the GVSU Geology Department on November 10^th.  The title was “Microbial Ecosystems of Lake Huron’s Sinkholes”.
https://www.gvsu.edu/gvnext/2017/gvsu-earth-science-week-lecture-series-to-feature-10227.htm

Katie Knapp, graduate student working with Bopi Biddanda, gave a presentation at the Michigan Space Grant Consortium fall conference on November 11^th.  Bopi and Katie both attended the conference.
Knapp, K.** and B. Biddanda. Oral. Dynamic carbon cycling in a Great Lakes estuary.

Katie Knapp attended and presented a poster at the Global Lake Ecological Observing Network meeting held at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies in New York from November 27^th – December 2^nd.
Knapp, K.**, A. Weinke** and B. Biddanda. Poster. Dynamic carbon cycling in a Great Lakes estuary tracked using a time-series observatory. https://gleon.org/meetings/gleon19/main

Jim McNair attended the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Water Resources Association in Portland, Oregon from November 5^th – 9^th.  He gave a presentation on November 9^th.
McNair, J. and K. Thompson. Oral. Using high-resolution terrestrial LiDAR to measure stream bank erosion/deposition. 

Rick Rediske was a guest lecturer on the topic of “Cyanobacteria” for Advanced Aquatic Ecology on October 31^st.

Carl Ruetz was a guest lecturer on the topic of “Fish ecology of the Great Lakes” for Advanced Aquatic Ecology on November 14^th.

Al Steinman was a guest lecturer on the topic of “wetland restoration” for Rick Rediske’s NRM 452 class in Allendale on November 3^rd.

Al Steinman was a guest lecturer on the topic of “publishing your research” for Jen Moore’s BIO 610 class in Allendale on November 20^th.

Al Steinman gave a presentation updating the lab’s work on Spring Lake at the Ottawa County Water Quality Forum on November 30^th.

Janet Vail presented a session on the Project WET early childhood activity guide at GVSU Regional Math & Science Center’s Fall Science Update on November 15^th.

Emily Kindervater, graduate student working with Al Steinman, was selected for the “Graduate Dean’s Citation for Academic Excellence in the Degree Program in the Fall 2017 semester”. This is an honor given by Grand Valley State University to graduate students who have been nominated by the faculty for outstanding academic performance.  

Rick Rediske, AWRI faculty, received the “Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award for Fall 2017” by the Graduate Student Association.  This is an honor given by Grand Valley State University to faculty members who have been nominated by the graduate students for outstanding mentorship.  

Charlyn Partridge was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,661 from the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence, titled “Invasive History of Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) throughout North America.”.

AWRI In the News

“Great Lakes Update: Thriving Coasts”
Field notes from Michigan, Fall 2017 Newsletter
Charlyn Partridge and her lab are mentioned as assisting in the eradication of Baby’s Breath on the Sleeping Bear Dunes lakeshore.

“For the love of water: passion drives impactful hands-on learning experiences”
Grand Valley Magazine, Fall 2017
Janet Vail is featured in this article.  There is reference to the vessel program, the classroom learning, and other organizations Janet is involved with.

“’The Record reflects otherwise, Wolverine waste and water fears”
The Grand Rapids Press, November 7, 2017
Rick Rediske is mentioned as initiating the investigation into previous dump sites used by Wolverine World Wide.

“AWRI speaker to discuss restoring fish migrations”
GVNext (a publication of Grand Valley State University), November 8, 2017
AWRI hosted guest speaker Peter McIntyre on November 10 at the Lake Michigan Center.

“Michigan maker of Hush Puppies called on its toxic past”
Bridge, news and analysis from The Center of Michigan, November 9, 2017
Rick Rediske is one of the sources interviewed regarding contamination at dump sites Wolverine World Wide used years ago.

“Wolverine: PFAS detected up and down Rogue River”
WOOD-TV 8, November 9, 2017
Rick Rediske in interviewed regarding PFAS.

“DEQ to study Rogue River fish due to Wolverine chemical concerns”
MLive, Grand Rapids News, November 10, 2017
Rick Rediske is quoted regarding PFAS in the Rogue River.

“Fishing still a lure on Rogue River despite PFAS tests”
WOOD-TV 8, November 10, 2017
Rick Rediske was quoted regarding chemicals found in local fish.

“Latest chemical find spur fish study in river”
Grand Rapids Press, November 12, 2017
Rick Rediske is quoted regarding chemicals found in local fish.

“Maker of Hush Puppies called on its toxic past”
Grand Haven Tribune, November 22, 2017
Rick Rediske is mentioned as expressing concern about contaminants in the tannery waste.

“Miles from Flint, residents turn off taps in new water crisis”
The New York Times (online), November 24, 2017
Rick Rediske is mentioned as expressing concern about contaminants in the tannery waste.
Also picked up by:
Us.pressfrom.com on 11/25/17
NSN News, US on 11/25/17
Dayton Daily Times on 11/28/17

“Poison seeps into water by tree shaded homes”
The New York Times (paper), 11/25/17
Rick Rediske is mentioned as expressing concern about contaminants in the tannery waste.

“Rediske and Moore to serve as commencement marshals”
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Grand Valley State University, homepage, November 28, 2017
Rick Rediske was selected for his work with the Rockford community group that exposed the problem of contaminated materials dumped by Wolverine World Wide.

LMC Events

Nov 10
Seminar Speaker: Dr. Peter McIntyre, Associate Professor of Biology with the Center for Limnology,  University of Wisconsin – Madison, presented: "Upstream battles: connecting species, ecosystems, and landscapes by restoring fish migrations"   

Nov 16
The Michigan Irish Music Festival organizers held a “Thank You” reception for their sponsors at the Lake Michigan Center.