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Desiree Robertson-Thompson, Ph.D.

Desiree Robertson-Thompson is the Research Coordinator for the USGS Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC).

Desiree (Desi) is the Research Coordinator for the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC), one of the nine regional centers that form the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers network.

Prior to this role, Desi served as the research coordinator for the National Park Service’s Great Lakes Research and Education Center, where she coordinated projects across several park units in collaboration with partners from multiple agencies, conservation organizations, and universities. Her focus was on promoting science-based stewardship, advancing public awareness of science within parks, and cultivating the next generation of park scientists.

Desi is an entomologist with expertise in caddisfly taxonomy and phylogenetics. Most recently, her work has focused on understanding the role of habitat restoration and management in pollinator conservation. She is especially interested in the integration of climate science into insect conservation.  

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Minnesota

  • B.S. in Biology, Northern Arizona University

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Entomological Society of America

  • Society for Freshwater Science

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Morse, J.C., R. W. Holzenthal, D.R. Robertson, A.K. Rasmussen, & D.C. Currie. Chapter 19 Trichoptera, in An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America by R. Merritt, K. Cummins, and M. Berg (editors). 2019. Kendall-Hunt, Dubuque, 1498 pp.
DeWalt, R.E., E.J. South, D.R. Robertson, J.E. Marburger, W.W. Smith, & V. Brinson. 2016. Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies of streams and marshes of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, USA. ZooKeys, 556: 43-63, https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.556.6725
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2013. Revision and phylogeny of the subfamily Protoptilinae (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) inferred from adult morphology and mitochondrial DNA. Zootaxa, 3723: 1-99. (MONOGRAPH) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3723.1.1
Robertson, D.R. & Holzenthal. 2011. Revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Itauara Müller, 1888 (Trichoptera, Glossosomatidae). ZooKeys, 114: 41-100. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.114.1405
Holzenthal, R.W., D.R. Robertson, S.U. Pauls, & P.K. Mendez. 2010. Taxonomy and systematics: contributions to benthology and JNABS. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 21:147-169. (INVITED PAPER) https://hdl.handle.net/11299/189040
Robertson, D.R. & and D.A. Andow. 2009. Technical working paper: Human-mediated dispersal of emerald ash borer: Significance of the firewood pathway. College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2008. New species and a new record of Protoptila from Bolivia (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae), Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 101: 465-473. https://doi.org/10.1603/0013-8746(2008)101[465:TNSAAN]2.0.CO;2
Holzenthal, R.W. & D.R. Robertson. 2006. Four new species of Contulma from South America (Trichoptera: Anomalopsychidae), Zootaxa, 1355: 49-59. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1355.1.3
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2006. The Neotropical caddisfly genus Canoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa, 1272: 45-59. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1272.1.2
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2005. The Neotropical caddisfly genus Tolhuaca (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa, 1063: 53-68. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1063.1.3

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Morse, J.C., R. W. Holzenthal, D.R. Robertson, A.K. Rasmussen, & D.C. Currie. Chapter 19 Trichoptera, in An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America by R. Merritt, K. Cummins, and M. Berg (editors). 2019. Kendall-Hunt, Dubuque, 1498 pp.
DeWalt, R.E., E.J. South, D.R. Robertson, J.E. Marburger, W.W. Smith, & V. Brinson. 2016. Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies of streams and marshes of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, USA. ZooKeys, 556: 43-63, https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.556.6725
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2013. Revision and phylogeny of the subfamily Protoptilinae (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) inferred from adult morphology and mitochondrial DNA. Zootaxa, 3723: 1-99. (MONOGRAPH) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3723.1.1
Robertson, D.R. & Holzenthal. 2011. Revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Itauara Müller, 1888 (Trichoptera, Glossosomatidae). ZooKeys, 114: 41-100. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.114.1405
Holzenthal, R.W., D.R. Robertson, S.U. Pauls, & P.K. Mendez. 2010. Taxonomy and systematics: contributions to benthology and JNABS. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 21:147-169. (INVITED PAPER) https://hdl.handle.net/11299/189040
Robertson, D.R. & and D.A. Andow. 2009. Technical working paper: Human-mediated dispersal of emerald ash borer: Significance of the firewood pathway. College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2008. New species and a new record of Protoptila from Bolivia (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae), Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 101: 465-473. https://doi.org/10.1603/0013-8746(2008)101[465:TNSAAN]2.0.CO;2
Holzenthal, R.W. & D.R. Robertson. 2006. Four new species of Contulma from South America (Trichoptera: Anomalopsychidae), Zootaxa, 1355: 49-59. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1355.1.3
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2006. The Neotropical caddisfly genus Canoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa, 1272: 45-59. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1272.1.2
Robertson, D.R. & R.W. Holzenthal. 2005. The Neotropical caddisfly genus Tolhuaca (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa, 1063: 53-68. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1063.1.3

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

*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