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Darrin Hunt

@benthicbuddy.bsky.social

Educator, scientist, runner. Supporter of labor and human rights. Assistant professor of Environment and Sustainability at Shenandoah University.

165 Posts1840 Follower658 Folgt
Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I’m super proud to share this new article, hot off the @freshwaterscience.bsky.social press, investigating how mussel shell deposition mediates macroinvertebrates in urban and rural stream systems. There are a few surprises here! Check it out! www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

Habitat context mediates macroinvertebrate responses to Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) shell deposits | Freshwater Science

Abstract The Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) has invaded surface waters throughout North America, and it alters benthic habitats by depositing dense layers of shells. Although these shell deposits can increase habitat complexity in some systems, they may also lead to habitat homogenization, particularly in streams with coarse substrates. We sought to understand how these shell deposits may affect macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rouge and Huron watersheds (Michigan, USA; August 2017). We examined whether shell deposit density is related to macroinvertebrate community diversity and relative abundance and if those relationships might differ between rural and urban streams, noting changes in taxa sensitive to habitat structure, such as Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera (mayflies and caddisflies). In one rural stream, the % abundance of specific mayfly and caddisfly families decreased with increasing shell density, suggesting a localized negative response to shell-induced substrate changes. However, this pattern was not consistently observed across other rural streams, indicating that site-specific factors may mediate these effects. Regardless, shell deposits in urban streams, where baseline habitat complexity is often low, may offer structural refuge and benefit specific invertebrate taxa. Our findings highlight the context-dependent nature of Zebra Mussel relationships with stream invertebrate community metrics and suggest that the ecological consequences of shell deposits may vary with stream habitat characteristics.

journals.uchicago.edu

Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Got out to Shenandoah Universoty’s Cool Spring Campus. It’s a 200 acre forest that has been recovering since the 00s next to Rolling Ridge Conservancy, a forest recovering since the 50s. Really pretty streams and cool bugs.

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Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · 10mo ago

My student and I hosted the math department at Shenandoah University to talk about how machine learning can help identify populations of macroinvertebrates. A great experience with a super curious group of students (and instructors)!

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Katie O'Reilly@drkatfish.bsky.social · last yr.

NOAA's National Mussel Watch Program - which has used invasive zebra + quagga mussels to track contaminants in the #GreatLakes since 1992 - finds that PFAS are ubiquitous in the lakes, with mussels in Lake Michigan having the highest average PFAS concentrations www.bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

Study of invasive mussels finds PFAS is nearly everywhere in the Great Lakes | Bridge Michigan

A recent report that PFAS contamination is widespread in Great Lakes mussels give a clearer picture of where the chemicals are concentrated.

bridgemi.com

Jeremy Berg@jeremymberg.bsky.social · last yr.

I updated my funding curves last night. Here are the results for new and competitive renewal grants. The rate of investment has dropped substantially. This is apparently due to a requirement for DOGE review. I am calling this effect the "Downward DOGE" 1/2

A graph showing NIH funding for new and competitive renewal grants for FY2024 and FY2025 showing a much lower rate of investment for FY2025.
Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · last yr.

#SFS2025! Let’s talk about urban groundwater! Come see me at 2:45 at the Intermittent, Ephemeral Systems and Surfacewater/Groundwater Interactions 2.0 superhub. Let’s mellow out with a little interdisciplinary science as we discuss Green Stormwater-Informed Urban Groundwater monitoring Networks!

Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · last yr.

I’m finally working on publishing the last chapter of my dissertation. My favorite chapter… Why am I sad to let this one out there? It feels too final. Anyone else go through this publishing the final chapter of their dissertation? Oof…

Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · last yr.

Trying a new thang! A class, group project where students are arranged by their performance in the course. Not sure if this is good idea or not. We will see. Group names are: the pixies, dinosaur jr., sonic youth, the screaming trees, the meat puppets, and a tribe called quest. #itwasthe90s

Darrin Hunt@benthicbuddy.bsky.social · last yr.

Both of these guys are off to grad school in fall 2025. One is currently looking at reassembly of macroinvert communities after weather events in urban, ag and mountain streams. He just tightened up his sampling strategy in response to the crazy weather in the south. Good idea! I’m a proud momma.

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Margaret Docker@margaretdocker.bsky.social · 2y ago

If you’re a sucker for #suckers (and other #catostomids, #gars, #bowfin, etc.), check out our special issue on Underappreciated #NativeFishes: link.springer.com/journal/1064..., my final issue of EBFI as Editor-in-Chief with Guest Editors Alec Lackmann, Doug Watkinson & @solomonrdavid.bsky.social

link.springer.com

Matthew L. Miller@matthewlmiller.bsky.social · 2y ago

There's a sucker (myth) born every minute. These are not trash fish. Suckers are native fishes found across N. America. They are essential parts of the ecosystem. They're cool fishes to pursue. Photo by Joel Sartore, of a largescale sucker I caught for him to photograph (and release).

Largescale sucker photograh by Joel Sartore/Photo Ark. I caught this sucker for Joel while he was visiting Boise to photograph some zoo animals. He had a free day and noted he wanted to photograph more native fishes. We went out to a local stream and I caught this native sucker. It was photographed in a tank and safely released.
Dr. Dawn Wright@deepseadawn.bsky.social · 2y ago

Underrepresented undergraduate & graduate students in STEM majors! Apply soon for the US DOE Mickey Leland Energy 10-week summer research internship on minimizing env impacts of fossil fuels & industry while working to achieve net-zero emissions. Geology students needed! orise.orau.gov/mlef/ ⚒️ 🧪

A Black male student working in a DOE lab on a Micky Leland Energy summer research internship.