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.
Professional Experience
Adjunct graduate faculty at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Texas Tech, and South Dakota State
EPA Star Graduate Fellow 2010-2013
USGS contractor 2013-2014
Education and Certifications
Texas Tech University (Env. Tox., Math minor), PhD 2013
Texas Tech University (Env. Tox.), MS 2009
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Wildlife and Biology, Chem. minor), BS 2007
Science and Products
Use of an artificial stream to monitor avoidance behavior of larval sea lamprey in response to TFM and niclosamide
Using Markov chains to quantitatively assess movement patterns of invasive fishes impacted by a carbon dioxide barrier in outdoor ponds
Toxicity of carbon dioxide to freshwater fishes: Implications for aquatic invasive species management
Moving beyond p<0.05 in ecotoxicology: A guide for practitioners
Temperature‐related responses of an invasive mussel and 2 unionid mussels to elevated carbon dioxide
Asian carp population modeling to support an adaptive management framework
Asian carp population modeling to support an Adaptive Management framework, USGS Contribution
A Methodology to Assess the National and Regional Impacts of U.S. Wind Energy Development on Birds and Bats
Refinement of eDNA as an early monitoring tool at the landscape-level: Study design considerations
Sampling designs for landscape-level eDNA monitoring programs using three-level occurrence models
Environmental DNA as a tool to help inform zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, management in inland lakes
Patterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons
Science and Products
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Use of an artificial stream to monitor avoidance behavior of larval sea lamprey in response to TFM and niclosamide
The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) has been used in liquid form to control larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Great Lakes tributaries since the late 1950s. In the 1980s a dissolvable TFM bar was developed as a supplemental tool for application to small tributaries as a deterrent to larvae seeking water not activated with TFM. The size, mass, and number of bars needed in sAuthorsNicholas A. Schloesser, Michael A. Boogaard, Todd Johnson, Courtney A Kirkeeng, Justin Schueller, Richard A. EricksonUsing Markov chains to quantitatively assess movement patterns of invasive fishes impacted by a carbon dioxide barrier in outdoor ponds
Natural resource managers use barriers to deter the movement of aquatic invasive species. Research and development of new invasive species barriers is often evaluated in pond and field scales using high‐resolution telemetry data. Telemetry data sets can be a rich source of data about fish movement and behavior but can be difficult to analyze due to the size of these data sets as well as their irreAuthorsLauren K Borland, Collin J Mulcahy, Barb Bennie, Douglas D Baumann, Roger J. Haro, Molly Van Appledorn, Kathi Jo Jankowski, Aaron R. Cupp, Richard A. EricksonToxicity of carbon dioxide to freshwater fishes: Implications for aquatic invasive species management
Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a new aquatic pesticide to control invasive Asian carps and other aquatic nuisance species in the United States. However, limited CO2 toxicity data could make it challenging for resource managers to characterize the potential risk to nontarget species during CO2 applications. The present study quantified the toxiciAuthorsAaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, Linnea M Thomas, Diane L. Waller, David L. Smith, Richard A. Erickson, Mark P. GaikowskiMoving beyond p<0.05 in ecotoxicology: A guide for practitioners
Statistical inferences play a critical role in ecotoxicology. Historically, Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST) has been the dominant method for inference in ecotoxicology. As a brief and informal definition of the NHST approach, researchers compare (or test) an experimental treatment or observation against a hypothesis of no relationship or effect (the null hypothesis) using the collectedAuthorsRichard A. Erickson, Barnett A. RattnerTemperature‐related responses of an invasive mussel and 2 unionid mussels to elevated carbon dioxide
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have exacerbated the decline of native freshwater mussels (Order Unionida) in North America since their arrival in the 1980s. Options for controlling invasive mussels, particularly in unionid mussel habitats, are limited. Previously, carbon dioxide (CO2) showed selective toxicity for zebra mussels, relative to unionids, when applied in cool water (12 °C). We fiAuthorsDiane L. Waller, Michelle R. Bartsch, Eric G. Lord, Richard A. EricksonAsian carp population modeling to support an adaptive management framework
This Monitoring and Response Plan provides the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) with updates on FWS and USGS modeling efforts for the Spatially Explicit Asian carp Population (SEAcarP) model. For FY2020, efforts are underway to parameterize and analyze the SEAcarP model. Themes: invasive species; Asian carp; Great Lakes.AuthorsJahn L. Kallis, Richard A. Erickson, Mark W. FrittsAsian carp population modeling to support an Adaptive Management framework, USGS Contribution
The Spatially Explicit Asian carp Population (SEAcarP) model was developed to inform management and research decisions with the goal of minimizing the abundance of Bighead Carp and Silver Carp (collectively referred to as “Asian carp” in this document) in the upper Illinois River waterway, thereby reducing risk of population expansion toward the Great Lakes and reducing potential impacts on nativeAuthorsRichard A. EricksonA Methodology to Assess the National and Regional Impacts of U.S. Wind Energy Development on Birds and Bats
This scientific investigations report describes an effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that used research, monitoring data, and modeling to develop a methodology to assess both the current and future population-level consequences of wind energy development on species of birds and bats that are present in the United States during any part of their life cycle. The methodology is currently apAuthorsJames E. Diffendorfer, J.A. Beston, Matthew D. Merrill, Jessica C. Stanton, M.D. Corum, S.R. Loss, W.E. Thogmartin, D.H. Johnson, R.A. Erickson, K.W. HeistRefinement of eDNA as an early monitoring tool at the landscape-level: Study design considerations
Natural resource managers use data on the spatial range of species to guide management decisions. These data come from survey or monitoring efforts that use a wide variety of tools. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a surveillance tool that uses genetic markers for detecting species and holds potential as a tool for large-scale monitoring programs. Two challenges of eDNA-based studies are uncertaintieAuthorsErica L. Mize, Richard A. Erickson, Christopher M. Merkes, N. Berndt, K.D. Bockrath, J. Credico, N. Grueneis, J. Merry, Kyle Mosel, M.T. Tuttle-Lau, K. Von Ruden, Jon Amberg, K. Baerwaldt, S.T. Finney, E.M. MonroeSampling designs for landscape-level eDNA monitoring programs using three-level occurrence models
Resource managers conduct landscape-level monitoring using environmental DNA (eDNA). These managers must contend with imperfect detection in samples and sub-samples (i.e., molecular analyses). This imperfect detection impacts their ability to both detect species and estimate occurrence. Although occurrence (synonymously occupancy) models can estimate these probabilities, most models and guidance fAuthorsRichard A. Erickson, Christopher M. Merkes, Erica L. MizeEnvironmental DNA as a tool to help inform zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, management in inland lakes
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an aquatic invasive species that plague much of North America and are difficult to impossible to eradicate once they become established. Therefore, prevention and monitoring are key elements in the control of these organisms. Traditional microscopy is commonly used in monitoring but requires the presence of larval veligers. This limits the times when resourAuthorsJon Amberg, Christopher M. Merkes, Wendylee Stott, Christopher B. Rees, Richard A. EricksonPatterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons
Common loons (Gavia immer) are at risk of elevated dietary mercury (Hg) exposure in portions of their breeding range. To assess the level of risk among loons in Minnesota (USA), we investigated loon blood Hg concentrations in breeding lakes across Minnesota. Loon blood Hg concentrations were regressed on predicted Hg concentrations in standardized 12‐cm whole‐organism yellow perch (Perca flavescenAuthorsKevin P. Kenow, Steven C. Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Richard A. Erickson, Brian R. Gray, Travis J. Harrison, Bruce Monson, Carrol L. Henderson - Web Tools
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