Wei Zheng Ph.D. Student (Dr. Butler) Office: Stevens 214 Phone: (701)793-4311 wei.zheng@ndsu.edu B.S.  FAFU China M.S. FAFU China

Research Interests:

Community ecology of macroinvertebrates, large river ecology, Chironomidae in river, biological monitoring and limnology

Current Project:

Our study is a survey of macroinvertebrate communities in major habitats of the main-stem Red River. We will assess the overall diversity of the invertebrate fauna, determine what types of animals predominate in diverse habitats within this river. We seek to identify ecologically significant taxa in terms of abundance or functional importance in the river, and to determine candidate indicators for future biomonitoring. We will also assess a range of sampling techniques for monitoring this fauna. This information will be used by the Aquatic Ecosystem Committee of the International Red River Board and its collaborators to develop a broader research proposal for comprehensive biological monitoring of the Red River main stem by multiple jurisdictions.

From the data to be collected in this two-year study, we expect to characterize the overall diversity of invertebrate organisms that occur in this portion of the main stem Red River. Currently, no such synoptic, taxonomic list of the river’s invertebrate fauna exists. In addition, we will be able to characterize the contribution of different habitat types to overall invertebrate abundance and diversity. Our standardized and quantitative methods, along with stratification of discrete riverine habitats, will allow us to express the quantitative importance of all components of the fauna – including taxa of potential ecological significance that may have been neglected in previous surveys. By employing a range of sampling techniques, we will be able to judge the efficacy of different sampling methods for characterizing taxa that may be significant indicators of the river’s function and condition.

Photos from Red River

Drift net deployed on Red

Burrows on side banks

River Profile sampling

See what we get

Chironomidae

Hester-Dendy and Wood log