Richard Erickson, PhD
Folks call me Richie. My research focuses on applying quantitative ecology to invasive species. Currently, I am developing population models to inform Invasive carp management and developing methods for applying occupancy models to environmental DNA (eDNA).
Broadly, I am a research ecologist who studies the interactions between people and their environment. Specifically, I have studied:
- Terrestrial invasive plant species (undergraduate jobs and internships);
- Mosquito/dengue disease dynamics (my MS research);
- Population-level and interspecific effects of pesticides (my PhD research);
- The spatial impacts of wind energy and white-nose syndrome on bat population dynamics (my post-doc project); and
- The distribution and dynamics of aquatic invasive species and the application of this knowledge to their control (my current position).
Or, as a friend once said, "you model things dying".
Along the way, I have picked up skills in ecological, mathematical ecology, computation biology, and high-throughput computing. Although my skill set and research interests may appear to be broad, they have an underlying theme of studying population-level effects and distribution and then applying these finding to resource management.
Science and Products
occStan: Occupancy models with RStan
Occupancy models are used by researchers to estimate the true occupancy of a species and accounts for imperfect detection of organisms in a study. Researchers will visit sampling sites to collect species detection data (e.g., species count). Occupancy models can predict the detection probability (probability of finding a species at a specific time and site) and occupancy (probability a species...
Detecting seasonal movements and spawning of bigheaded carp using environmental DNA (eDNA)
Silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molirix ) and bighead carp ( H. nobilis ), commonly call bigheaded carp, are native to portions of Asia and were introduced to North America in aquaculture farms and sewage treatment ponds to control algae and plant growth. Bigheaded carp escaped from their intended locations and have an adverse effect on the ecosystem functions and the economic value of the...
Sampling design for landscape level environmental DNA monitoring programs
During traditional monitoring programs researchers often use occupancy models to quantity the probability a species occupies an area while accounting for imperfect detection. This approach uses as two-level model. Traditionally, presence or absence data are collected for species, however, recently scientists have started to use environmental DNA (eDNA) in monitoring programs. Examples of eDNA...
R package creation supports cutting edge science
R is a free software that is used to run statistical analyses and models as well as create figures such as graphs and maps that can be used to display the data collected. While using this software researchers can also use downloadable packages that increase the number of analyses and models they can perform. Statisticians and researchers collaborate to create new packages that can be used by other...
Climate matching with the climatchR R package
Climate matching is a method for understanding species distributions and ranges and may be used as part of horizon scanning. Horizon scanning is the process of examining potential risk of invasion of new invasive species. Preventing new invasive species invasion requires less time and resources than attempting to control and remove established invasive species. Horizon scanning allows resource...
Multiscale occupancy modeling of environmental DNA using the R package EDNAOCCUPANCY
Presence-absence surveys are commonly used to estimate the spatial distribution of a species. However, during a field survey some organisms, especially rare or elusive species, can be missed; increasing the chance of error in the data collected. To combat the potential error, researchers will regularly visit sites and collect more data that will later be analyzed using occupancy models. Occupancy...
Modeling to inform bighead and silver carp management
Bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis ) and silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) are invasive carp species within the Mississippi River basin. In the early-1970s these species escaped from ponds where people introduced them to control algae (ICRCC). Invasive carp cause ecological and economic damage by outcompeting native species and disrupting native food webs. Stopping the spread of...
Modeling Overview at UMESC
Models seek to describe the natural world around us and how we interact with the world. For example, physical models might help Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) visitors understand landscapes, such as the Mississippi River or topology and water flow.
Using Jupyter Notebooks to tell data stories and create reproducible workflows
Increasingly, USGS scientists seek to share and collaborate while working on data and code. Furthermore, these scientists often require advanced computing resources. Jupyter Notebooks are one such tool for creating these workflows. The files are interactive, code “notebooks” which allow users to combine code and text in one document, enabling scientists to share the stories held within their data.
Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog
Developed in 2008, the Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog is a portal to wildlife toxicology-oriented websites and databases. The catalog attempts to compile and provide access to website containing information that should be of value to scientists, regulators, natural resource managers, students and other members of the public. The catalog is updated annually. Please contact Barnett Rattner if you...
Flocks of a feather dock together: Using Docker and HTCondor to link high-throughput computing across the USGS
USGS scientists often face computationally intensive tasks that require high-throughput computing capabilities. Several USGS facilities use HTCondor to run their computational pools but are not necessarily connected to the larger USGS pool. This project demonstrated how to connect HTCondor pools by flocking, or coordinating, within the USGS. In addition to flocking the Upper Midwest Environmental
Hunting Invasive Species with HTCondor: High Throughput Computing for Big Data and Next Generation Sequencing
Large amounts of data are being generated that require hours, days, or even weeks to analyze using traditional computing resources. Innovative solutions must be implemented to analyze the data in a reasonable timeframe. The program HTCondor (https://research.cs.wisc.edu/htcondor/) takes advantage of the processing capacity of individual desktop computers and dedicated computing resources as a sing
Science and Products
occStan: Occupancy models with RStan
Occupancy models are used by researchers to estimate the true occupancy of a species and accounts for imperfect detection of organisms in a study. Researchers will visit sampling sites to collect species detection data (e.g., species count). Occupancy models can predict the detection probability (probability of finding a species at a specific time and site) and occupancy (probability a species...
Detecting seasonal movements and spawning of bigheaded carp using environmental DNA (eDNA)
Silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molirix ) and bighead carp ( H. nobilis ), commonly call bigheaded carp, are native to portions of Asia and were introduced to North America in aquaculture farms and sewage treatment ponds to control algae and plant growth. Bigheaded carp escaped from their intended locations and have an adverse effect on the ecosystem functions and the economic value of the...
Sampling design for landscape level environmental DNA monitoring programs
During traditional monitoring programs researchers often use occupancy models to quantity the probability a species occupies an area while accounting for imperfect detection. This approach uses as two-level model. Traditionally, presence or absence data are collected for species, however, recently scientists have started to use environmental DNA (eDNA) in monitoring programs. Examples of eDNA...
R package creation supports cutting edge science
R is a free software that is used to run statistical analyses and models as well as create figures such as graphs and maps that can be used to display the data collected. While using this software researchers can also use downloadable packages that increase the number of analyses and models they can perform. Statisticians and researchers collaborate to create new packages that can be used by other...
Climate matching with the climatchR R package
Climate matching is a method for understanding species distributions and ranges and may be used as part of horizon scanning. Horizon scanning is the process of examining potential risk of invasion of new invasive species. Preventing new invasive species invasion requires less time and resources than attempting to control and remove established invasive species. Horizon scanning allows resource...
Multiscale occupancy modeling of environmental DNA using the R package EDNAOCCUPANCY
Presence-absence surveys are commonly used to estimate the spatial distribution of a species. However, during a field survey some organisms, especially rare or elusive species, can be missed; increasing the chance of error in the data collected. To combat the potential error, researchers will regularly visit sites and collect more data that will later be analyzed using occupancy models. Occupancy...
Modeling to inform bighead and silver carp management
Bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis ) and silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) are invasive carp species within the Mississippi River basin. In the early-1970s these species escaped from ponds where people introduced them to control algae (ICRCC). Invasive carp cause ecological and economic damage by outcompeting native species and disrupting native food webs. Stopping the spread of...
Modeling Overview at UMESC
Models seek to describe the natural world around us and how we interact with the world. For example, physical models might help Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) visitors understand landscapes, such as the Mississippi River or topology and water flow.
Using Jupyter Notebooks to tell data stories and create reproducible workflows
Increasingly, USGS scientists seek to share and collaborate while working on data and code. Furthermore, these scientists often require advanced computing resources. Jupyter Notebooks are one such tool for creating these workflows. The files are interactive, code “notebooks” which allow users to combine code and text in one document, enabling scientists to share the stories held within their data.
Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog
Developed in 2008, the Whole Wildlife Toxicology Catalog is a portal to wildlife toxicology-oriented websites and databases. The catalog attempts to compile and provide access to website containing information that should be of value to scientists, regulators, natural resource managers, students and other members of the public. The catalog is updated annually. Please contact Barnett Rattner if you...
Flocks of a feather dock together: Using Docker and HTCondor to link high-throughput computing across the USGS
USGS scientists often face computationally intensive tasks that require high-throughput computing capabilities. Several USGS facilities use HTCondor to run their computational pools but are not necessarily connected to the larger USGS pool. This project demonstrated how to connect HTCondor pools by flocking, or coordinating, within the USGS. In addition to flocking the Upper Midwest Environmental
Hunting Invasive Species with HTCondor: High Throughput Computing for Big Data and Next Generation Sequencing
Large amounts of data are being generated that require hours, days, or even weeks to analyze using traditional computing resources. Innovative solutions must be implemented to analyze the data in a reasonable timeframe. The program HTCondor (https://research.cs.wisc.edu/htcondor/) takes advantage of the processing capacity of individual desktop computers and dedicated computing resources as a sing