BIODIVERSITY of OUACHITA UPLAND RIVERS
Aquatic Ecology Enthusiasts

Field Crew 2000 - Adam, Jennifer, Melissa and Dan
Dr. Caryn Vaughn (cvaughn@ou.edu) is the Principal Investigator on the project. Caryn also is the Director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey and an Associate Professor of Zoology at the University of Oklahoma. She is a stream ecologist interested in all aspects of freshwater mussel biology, especially ecology and conservation.

Daniel Spooner (dspooner@ou.edu) is a Graduate Research Assistant on the project. His responsibilities include, surveying, identifying, and cataloging freshwater mussels. Daniel is a PhD student in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oklahoma.

 

.Melissa Moore (mmoore@ou.edu) was a Graduate Research Assistant on the project. Her responsibilities included surveying, identifying and cataloging samples of benthic insects and meiofauna. Melissa received her M.S. in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma in July, 2002, and is now a college teacher in Alabama


Dan and Jennifer on the Kiamichi River

Jennifer Johnson was a student technician on the project for several years. Jennifer participated in field surveys, sorted numerous samples of benthic invertebrates, and entered lots of data. Jennifer is now working as a technician at the NSF Sevilleta LTER site and completing an M.S. in Botany from the University of Oklahoma

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Ferrella at the scope!

Ferrella March (ferrella@ou.edu) is a Graduate Research Assistant on the project. Ferrella is currently identifying the chironomid larve we collected. She is pursuing her MS in Zoology, studying reservoir aging.

 

 

 

 Heather Basara was an REU student technician on the project. Heather participated in field surveys, processed benthic samples, and performed data entry. Heather has moved the mussel catalog between software platforms and designed this web page. Heather is currently working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Managment at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Adam Richardson worked as an REU undergraduate field assistant on the project in 1999 and 2000. Adam recently graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and is now working in a marine biology laboratory at the University of South Florida. He is applying to graduate schools and wants to study shark biology.

Chad Kolkmann was an REU undergraduate field assistant on the project in summer 1999.

Joy Boggs was an undergraduate student technician on the project. Joy's responsibilities included sorting samples of benthic and meiofaunal invertebrates and data entry. Joy is now working as a veterinary technician.
William Mahoney was an undergraduate student technician on the project. William's responsibilities included sorting samples of benthic and meiofaunal invertebrates and data entry. William is now working as a forensic biologist with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Sarah Maddux was an undergraduate REU student technician on the project. Sarah sorted samples of meiofauna.

Eric Webber and Cara Hilgenfeld are undergraduate student technicians currently sorting meiofauna samples.
Additional scientists were consulted for identification and verification of various taxa. See the Experts page for details.