Danelle serves as the long-term aquatic vegetation monitoring and research lead for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program since 2019. Her research team is multidisciplinary and includes peer scientists, resource managers, University faculty, and students from around the world.
We collect and analyze aquatic vegetation survey data each year throughout the Upper Mississippi River System to describe the status and trends through time because plants are indicators of ecosystem health and the quality of waterfowl habitat. Our research uses a combination of field and laboratory experiments and long-term monitoring data to understand the impacts of natural and human disturbances on aquatic plant diversity and resiliency. The results help restoration practitioners select the best management tools and techniques for restoring aquatic plants to this unique, large floodplain river.
Professional Experience
Provided aquatic ecology research and consulting for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, many state agencies, the Columbus Zoo, and the Legislative-Citizen’s Commission on Minnesota’s Resources.
Provided scientific mentorship to over 25 students from multiple Universities since 2014.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Biology, Kansas State University, 2014
Applied Statistics Certificate, Kansas University, 2014
B.S. Ecology & Conservation Biology, cum laude, University of Idaho, 2010
A.S. Wilderness Management, cum laude, Vermilion Community College, 2007
Affiliations and Memberships*
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, graduate faculty. 2020 – Present
Bemidji State University, graduate faculty. 2016 – Present
Ducks Unlimited member. 2016 – Present
Ecological Society of America member. 2012 – Present
Mississippi River Research Consortium. 2012 – Present
Society of Freshwater Science member. 2011 – Present
Science and Products
Data to quantify ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River using topological data analysis
The dataset and analysis scripts accompanies the scientific article, "Quantifying ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River using topological data analysis." We coupled this highly dimensional dataset with multiple topological data analysis (TDA) techniques to classify ecosystem states, identify state variables, and detect state transitions over 30 years.
Dataset from the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (1993-2019) to reconstruct missing data by comparing interpolation techniques
The dataset accompanies the scientific article, "Reconstructing missing data by comparing interpolation techniques: applications for long-term water quality data." Missingness is typical in large datasets, but intercomparisons of interpolation methods can alleviate data gaps and common problems associated with missing data. We compared seven popular interpolation methods for predicting missing val
22 years of aquatic plant spatiotemporal dynamics in the Upper Mississippi River - derived spatial data (Pools 4, 8, and 13)
Geodatabases were developed to compile mapped relative abundance raster data sets for 25 species/species groups, and also Curve Fit regression tool adjusted R-squared, standard error, y-intercept, and slope spatial outputs for wild celery (Vallisneria americana), wild rice (Zizania aquatica) and arrowhead (one raster for the sum of Sagittaria rigida and Sagittaria latifolia) for pools 4, 8, and 13
Macrophyte and amphipod surveys in prairie wetlands of Minnesota in year 2019
This dataset provides wetland information for 49 semi-permanent wetlands in Minnesota, with target variables of amphipods, water quality variables, and aquatic macrophytes.
Quantifying ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River System using topological data analysis
Aquatic systems worldwide can exist in multiple ecosystem states (i.e., a recurring collection of biological and chemical attributes), and effectively characterizing multidimensionality will aid protection of desirable states and guide rehabilitation. The Upper Mississippi River System is composed of a large floodplain river system spanning 2200 km and multiple federal, state, tribal and local gov
Authors
Danelle M. Larson, Wako Bungula, Casey McKean, Alaina Stockdill, Amber Lee, Frederick Miller, Killian Davis
Reconstructing missing data by comparing interpolation techniques: Applications for long-term water quality data
Missing data are typical yet must be addressed for proper inferences or expanding datasets to guide our limnological understanding and management of aquatic systems. Interpolation methods (i.e., estimating missing values using known values within the dataset) can alleviate data gaps and common problems. We compared seven popular interpolation methods for predicting substantial missingness in a lon
Authors
Danelle M. Larson, Wako Bungula, Amber Lee, Alaina Stockdill, Casey McKean, Frederick Miller, Killian Davis, Richard A. Erickson, Enrika Hlavacek
22 years of aquatic plant spatiotemporal dynamics in the upper Mississippi River
Macrophyte (aquatic plant) recovery has occurred in rivers worldwide, but assemblage patterns and habitat requirements are generally not well understood. We examined patterns of species composition and macrophyte abundance in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR), spanning 22 years of monitoring and a period of vegetation recovery. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination revealed a gradi
Authors
Alicia Carhart, Jason J. Rohweder, Danelle M. Larson
Aquatic vegetation types identified during early and late phases of vegetation recovery in the Upper Mississippi River
Assemblage patterns and processes of aquatic vegetation in most large floodplain rivers are not well understood, particularly after plant recovery. Identifying vegetation types, which are recurring plant groupings based on species composition, diversity, and abundances, can describe plant assembly patterns and environmental drivers that aid conservation planning and management. We used a 22-year d
Authors
Danelle M. Larson, Alicia Carhart, Eric Lund
Recommendations regarding water level management to achieve ecological goals in the Upper Mississippi River System
The Water Level Management Regional Coordinating Committee tasked an ad hoc group to employ structured decision making (SDM) practices to reach partnership agreement around a set of basic recommendations as to when, where, and why WLM should be used as an ecosystem restoration tool in the UMRS. Between April 2021 and August 2021, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA; www.umrba.org)
Authors
Patricia J. Heglund, Lauren Salvato, Danelle M. Larson, Aaron McFarlane
Protocols for collecting and processing macroinvertebrates from the benthos and water column in depressional wetlands
Freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates are key links in food webs and nutrient cycles, and thus often serve as biological indicators of ecosystem health. Macroinvertebrate investigations in research and monitoring require consistent and reliable field and laboratory procedures. Comprehensive standard operating procedures for sampling macroinvertebrates from depressional wetlands, which can range fr
Authors
Breanna R. Keith, Jake D. Carleen, Danelle M. Larson, Michael J. Anteau, Megan J. Fitzpatrick
High abundance of a single taxon (amphipods) predicts aquatic macrophyte biodiversity in prairie wetlands
Conservation programs often aim to protect the abundance of individual species and biodiversity simultaneously. We quantified relations between amphipod densities and aquatic macrophyte (large plants and algae) diversity to test a hypothesis that biodiversity can support high abundance of a single taxonomic group. Amphipods (Gammarus lacustris and Hyalella azteca) are key forage for waterfowl and
Authors
Danelle M. Larson, Demmey DeJong, Michael J. Anteau, Megan J. Fitzpatrick, Breanna R. Keith, Emily G. Schilling, Barry Thoele
Aquatic vegetation dynamics in the Upper Mississippi River over 2 decades spanning vegetation recovery
Macrophytes have recovered in rivers across the world, but long-term data and studies are lacking regarding community assembly and diversity changes coincident with macrophyte recovery. We investigated patterns of aquatic vegetation species composition and diversity in thousands of sites in the Upper Mississippi River, USA, spanning 21 y of monitoring and a period of vegetation recovery. We analyz
Authors
Kristen L. Bouska, Danelle M. Larson, Deanne C. Drake, Eric M. Lund, Alicia M. Carhart, Kyle R. Bales
Shallow lake management enhanced habitat and attracted waterbirds during fall migration
Lake water levels are often managed in shallow lakes in order to improve water quality and promote aquatic vegetation that presumably benefits water birds. We aimed to understand whether waterbird abundance and species richness during fall migrations were positively influenced by managed lake water levels at 32 shallow lakes over 10 years. We conducted annual waterbird surveys that totaled 6 milli
Authors
Danelle M. Larson, Steven D. Cordts, Nicole Hansel-Welch
Interpolating missing water quality data
This repository contains analysis codes to interpolate missing data from the Upper Mississippi River LTRM dataset.
Science and Products
- Data
Data to quantify ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River using topological data analysis
The dataset and analysis scripts accompanies the scientific article, "Quantifying ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River using topological data analysis." We coupled this highly dimensional dataset with multiple topological data analysis (TDA) techniques to classify ecosystem states, identify state variables, and detect state transitions over 30 years.Dataset from the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (1993-2019) to reconstruct missing data by comparing interpolation techniques
The dataset accompanies the scientific article, "Reconstructing missing data by comparing interpolation techniques: applications for long-term water quality data." Missingness is typical in large datasets, but intercomparisons of interpolation methods can alleviate data gaps and common problems associated with missing data. We compared seven popular interpolation methods for predicting missing val22 years of aquatic plant spatiotemporal dynamics in the Upper Mississippi River - derived spatial data (Pools 4, 8, and 13)
Geodatabases were developed to compile mapped relative abundance raster data sets for 25 species/species groups, and also Curve Fit regression tool adjusted R-squared, standard error, y-intercept, and slope spatial outputs for wild celery (Vallisneria americana), wild rice (Zizania aquatica) and arrowhead (one raster for the sum of Sagittaria rigida and Sagittaria latifolia) for pools 4, 8, and 13Macrophyte and amphipod surveys in prairie wetlands of Minnesota in year 2019
This dataset provides wetland information for 49 semi-permanent wetlands in Minnesota, with target variables of amphipods, water quality variables, and aquatic macrophytes. - Publications
Quantifying ecosystem states and state transitions of the Upper Mississippi River System using topological data analysis
Aquatic systems worldwide can exist in multiple ecosystem states (i.e., a recurring collection of biological and chemical attributes), and effectively characterizing multidimensionality will aid protection of desirable states and guide rehabilitation. The Upper Mississippi River System is composed of a large floodplain river system spanning 2200 km and multiple federal, state, tribal and local govAuthorsDanelle M. Larson, Wako Bungula, Casey McKean, Alaina Stockdill, Amber Lee, Frederick Miller, Killian DavisReconstructing missing data by comparing interpolation techniques: Applications for long-term water quality data
Missing data are typical yet must be addressed for proper inferences or expanding datasets to guide our limnological understanding and management of aquatic systems. Interpolation methods (i.e., estimating missing values using known values within the dataset) can alleviate data gaps and common problems. We compared seven popular interpolation methods for predicting substantial missingness in a lonAuthorsDanelle M. Larson, Wako Bungula, Amber Lee, Alaina Stockdill, Casey McKean, Frederick Miller, Killian Davis, Richard A. Erickson, Enrika Hlavacek22 years of aquatic plant spatiotemporal dynamics in the upper Mississippi River
Macrophyte (aquatic plant) recovery has occurred in rivers worldwide, but assemblage patterns and habitat requirements are generally not well understood. We examined patterns of species composition and macrophyte abundance in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR), spanning 22 years of monitoring and a period of vegetation recovery. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination revealed a gradiAuthorsAlicia Carhart, Jason J. Rohweder, Danelle M. LarsonAquatic vegetation types identified during early and late phases of vegetation recovery in the Upper Mississippi River
Assemblage patterns and processes of aquatic vegetation in most large floodplain rivers are not well understood, particularly after plant recovery. Identifying vegetation types, which are recurring plant groupings based on species composition, diversity, and abundances, can describe plant assembly patterns and environmental drivers that aid conservation planning and management. We used a 22-year dAuthorsDanelle M. Larson, Alicia Carhart, Eric LundRecommendations regarding water level management to achieve ecological goals in the Upper Mississippi River System
The Water Level Management Regional Coordinating Committee tasked an ad hoc group to employ structured decision making (SDM) practices to reach partnership agreement around a set of basic recommendations as to when, where, and why WLM should be used as an ecosystem restoration tool in the UMRS. Between April 2021 and August 2021, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA; www.umrba.org)AuthorsPatricia J. Heglund, Lauren Salvato, Danelle M. Larson, Aaron McFarlaneProtocols for collecting and processing macroinvertebrates from the benthos and water column in depressional wetlands
Freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates are key links in food webs and nutrient cycles, and thus often serve as biological indicators of ecosystem health. Macroinvertebrate investigations in research and monitoring require consistent and reliable field and laboratory procedures. Comprehensive standard operating procedures for sampling macroinvertebrates from depressional wetlands, which can range frAuthorsBreanna R. Keith, Jake D. Carleen, Danelle M. Larson, Michael J. Anteau, Megan J. FitzpatrickHigh abundance of a single taxon (amphipods) predicts aquatic macrophyte biodiversity in prairie wetlands
Conservation programs often aim to protect the abundance of individual species and biodiversity simultaneously. We quantified relations between amphipod densities and aquatic macrophyte (large plants and algae) diversity to test a hypothesis that biodiversity can support high abundance of a single taxonomic group. Amphipods (Gammarus lacustris and Hyalella azteca) are key forage for waterfowl andAuthorsDanelle M. Larson, Demmey DeJong, Michael J. Anteau, Megan J. Fitzpatrick, Breanna R. Keith, Emily G. Schilling, Barry ThoeleAquatic vegetation dynamics in the Upper Mississippi River over 2 decades spanning vegetation recovery
Macrophytes have recovered in rivers across the world, but long-term data and studies are lacking regarding community assembly and diversity changes coincident with macrophyte recovery. We investigated patterns of aquatic vegetation species composition and diversity in thousands of sites in the Upper Mississippi River, USA, spanning 21 y of monitoring and a period of vegetation recovery. We analyzAuthorsKristen L. Bouska, Danelle M. Larson, Deanne C. Drake, Eric M. Lund, Alicia M. Carhart, Kyle R. BalesShallow lake management enhanced habitat and attracted waterbirds during fall migration
Lake water levels are often managed in shallow lakes in order to improve water quality and promote aquatic vegetation that presumably benefits water birds. We aimed to understand whether waterbird abundance and species richness during fall migrations were positively influenced by managed lake water levels at 32 shallow lakes over 10 years. We conducted annual waterbird surveys that totaled 6 milliAuthorsDanelle M. Larson, Steven D. Cordts, Nicole Hansel-Welch - Software
Interpolating missing water quality data
This repository contains analysis codes to interpolate missing data from the Upper Mississippi River LTRM dataset.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government