Valerie Brady

Center for Water
and the Environment
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Valerie Brady

Valerie Brady, Ph.D., Research Associate

Position and Focus

My specialty is aquatic invertebrate ecology and I am particularly interested in using the invertebrate community for assessment and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. I have over eight years of experience in Great Lakes coastal wetlands, including research on zebra mussels and three years of experience working in Minnesota and Wisconsin streams. My current research interests include: the use of aquatic invertebrates as indicators for monitoring and assessment of stream and wetland ecosystems; investigating major determinants of invertebrate community structure in streams and wetlands; investigating the use of aquatic invertebrates as diagnostic indicators of particular causes of ecosystem impairment in streams and wetlands; recovery of natural invertebrate community structure and function in restored and created wetlands; using stable isotopes as aids in the above investigations; and public policy issues related to stream and wetland protection and water quality.

Background

Postdoc Aquatic Ecology/Landscape Ecology, U.S. EPA-MED 2000 PhD Zoology/Aquatic Ecology, Michigan State University, E Lansing 1996 MS Zoology/Aquatic Ecology, Michigan State University, E Lansing 1992 BS Biology/Environmental Science, Taylor University, Upland, IN 1988

Current Publications

  • 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.
  • Dumke J, Hrabik T, Brady V, Gran K, Regal R, Seider M. 2010. Channel morphology response to selective wood removals in a sand-laden Wisconsin trout stream. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30(3):776-790.
  • Niemi GJ, Brady VJ, Brown TN, Ciborowski JJH, Danz NP, Ghioca DM, Hanowski JM, Hollenhorst TP, Howe RW, Johnson LB, Johnston CA, Reavie ED. 2009. Development of ecological indicators for the U.S. Great Lakes coastal region – a summary of applications in Lake Huron. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 12(1):1-13.
  • Ciborowski JJH, Niemi GJ, Brady VJ, Doka SE, Johnson LB, Keough JR, Mackey SD, Uzarski DG. 2009. Ecosystem responses to regulation-based water level changes in the Upper Great Lakes. White paper:1-56.
  • Trebitz AS, Brazner JC, Brady VJ, Axler RP, Tanner DK. 2007. Turbidity tolerances of Great Lakes coastal wetlands fishes. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 27(2):619-633.
  • Danz NP, Niemi GJ, Regal RR, Hollenhorst TP, Johnson LB, Hanowski JM, Axler RP, Ciborowski JJH, Hrabik T, Brady VJ, Kelly JR, Morrice JA, Brazner JC, Howe RW, Johnston CA, Host GE. 2007. Integrated measures of anthropogenic stress in the U.S. Great Lakes basin. Environmental Management 39:631-647.
  • Brazner JC, Danz NP, Niemi GJ, Regal RR, Trebitz AS, Howe RW, Hanowski JM, Johnson LB, Ciborowski JJH, Johnston CA, Reavie ED, Brady VJ, Sgro GV. 2007. Evaluation of geographic, geomorphic and human influences on Great Lakes wetland indicators: a multi-assemblage approach. Ecological Indicators 7:610-635.
  • Brady VJ, Ciborowski JJH, Johnson LB, Danz NP, Holland JD, Breneman DH, Gathman JP. 2007. Optimizing fishing time: one vs. two-night fyke net sets in Great Lakes coastal systems. Journal of Great Lakes Research 33(3):236-244.

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    Project list for Valerie Brady :


    (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.

    Developing a Diagnostic Tool for Assessing Excessive Sediment Harm to Stream Communities
    To create an indicator of harm to stream biotic communities due to excessive fine sediments.