Richard Axler

Center for Water
and the Environment
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Richard Axler, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate

Richard Axler

Position and Focus

Research interests are lake and water quality management and restoration, aquatic ecosystem responses to pollutants, nutrient cycling and food web dynamics, web-based environmental education and constructed treatment wetlands.


Background

Ph.D., Ecology/Limnology, University of California, Davis, 1979
B.A., Physics, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1970


Current Publications

  • Ruzycki EM, Axler RP, Henneck J, Will NR, Host GE. 2011. Estimating mercury concentrations and loads from four western Lake Superior watersheds using continuous in-stream turbidity monitoring. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management
  • Niemi GJ, Reavie ED, Peterson GS, Kelly JR, Johnston CA, Johnson LB, Howe RW, Host GE, Hollenhorst TP, Danz NP, Ciborowski JJH, Brown TN, Brady VJ, Axler RP. 2011. An integrated approach to assessing multiple stressors for coastal Lake Superior. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 14(4):1-21.
  • Hutchens JJ, Schuldt JA, Richards C, Johnson LB, Host GE, Breneman DH. 2009. Multi-scale mechanistic indicators of Midwestern USA stream macroinvertebrates. Ecological Indicators 9(6):1138-1150.
  • Reavie ED, Kireta AR, Kingston JC, Sgro GV, Danz NP, Axler RP, Hollenhorst TP. 2008. Comparison of simple and multimetric diatom-based indices for Great Lakes coastline disturbance. Journal of Phycology 44:787-802.
  • Morrice JA, Danz NP, Regal RR, Kelly JR, Niemi GJ, Reavie ED, Hollenhorst TP, Axler RP, Trebitz AS, Cotter AM, Peterson GS. 2008. Human influences on water quality in Great Lakes wetlands. Environmental Management 41:347-357.

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    Project list for Richard Axler :


    (A link will go to the project's current report, an arrow will take you to a project's home page)

    Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring
    To assess the biotic condition of all the major coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes, U.S. and Canadian shorelines.

    SWAG 2011 Superior Basin Lakes
    This project will generate physical and chemical water quality information for three lakes that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has included in their list of `Targeted Lakes` for assessment in the 2011 and 2012 field seasons. NRRI`s Center for Water and the Environment has a long-term interest in identifying status and trends that may reflect short and long-term trends in response to impacts at local, regional, and global scales such as urbanization, agriculture and forestry practices, invasive species introductions, atmospheric deposition, and climate change.

    Amity Restoration Assessment: Water Quality, Fish, Bugs, People
    Two major Amity Creek watershed restoration projects were completed in 2009, and approximately twelve related activities are funded for 2011-2013. In this project water quality, flow, stream bugs and fish (upstream/downstream and pre-/post-construction) will be assessed to evaluate the performance and cost-effectiveness of the restorations and disseminate this essential information via www.lakesuperiorstreams.org. Although this project specifically covers the Amity Creek watershed, it is relevant to all Lake Superior watersheds in the Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program management boundary.

    Stressor Gradients and Spatial Narratives of the St. Louis River Estuary
    Provide an assessment of reference and at-risk aquatic habitats in the St. Louis River watershed and estuary to guide future monitoring, restoration, remediation, land use planning, along with community awareness and stewardship.