People
Faculty Associated with the Missouri River Institute
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Tim Cowman |
Tim Cowman, MRI Director and Natural Resources Administrator with the SD Geological Survey, has been doing research on the geomorphology and dynamics of the Missouri River to address issues related to erosion, accretion, former channels, island formation and state boundary issues. Aspects of his research include the study of the early natural history of the Missouri River system dating back to the Pleistocene Epoch. He also studies the Missouri River steamboat era, and was part of a team that conducted a survey of the North Alabama steamboat discovery.
Dr. Mark Dixon, Department of Biology, is doing research that centers on the drivers of change in riparian landscapes, with a particular focus on how hydrologic and geomorphic processes influence the dynamics and structure of floodplain forests. In South Dakota, he is investigating how 50 years of flow regulation have influenced land cover, patch dynamics, and forest successional trajectories on the Missouri River floodplain, and what these trajectories of change might mean to the future ecological state of the system and its value as wildlife habitat. Other interests include the potential influence of climate change on riparian ecosystems in the southwestern U.S. and the effects of patterns and processes at different spatial scales on local plant and animal communities. His research utilizes GIS, historic aerial photography, field sampling, and simulation modeling to investigate past, present, and future dynamics of ecological systems.
Dr. Dan Soluk, Department of Biology, is doing research that involves population, community, and behavioral ecology of aquatic organisms, specifically, the role of behavioral interactions in structuring populations and communities. He is also conducting research on the conservation of endangered aquatic organisms and ecosystems, and the health of biotic communities associated with the mainstream channel of large floodplain rivers.
Dr. Jacob Kerby, Department of Biology, is doing research that has focused on understanding the impacts of multiple stressors, both biotic (predators and pathogens) and abiotic (pollutants and habitat alterations), on aquatic communities. This research has benefits to advance not only the theory of the relevant fields but also the conservation of the species involved. The goal of this research is to not only observe the negative impacts stressors have on organisms within a community, but also to learn about the changes in community dynamics that result.
Dr. David Swanson, Department of Biology, has been studying Neotropical migrant bird occurrence in Missouri and Big Sioux River riparian corridors during spring and fall migration periods. Large numbers of a diverse assemblage of Neotropical migrant species use these habitats during migration. Dr. Swanson's team has also quantified the abundance and species richness of breeding birds in early and later successional habitats along the Missouri River. Dr. Swanson is an ornithologist who studies ecology of migrant birds and the physiological mechanisms involved in cold-adaptation of overwintering species. Data from these studies indicate high species richness and abundance in early successional habitats, which are probably the most endangered habitat types along the river.
Dr. Mark Sweeney, Department of Earth Sciences, has expertise in loess research and is conducting a research project on the origin of loess in southeast South Dakota and what it says about the paleoclimatology of the region since the last glaciation. Dr. Sweeney is also involved in research related to Missouri River geomorphology. He is conducting research on Missouri River -James River interactions. This research involves a USD undergraduate student mapping out paleochannels of the Missouri and James rivers. These rivers are dynamic and have changed significantly over the past few hundred years. The smaller James River has taken advantage of old Missouri River channels. Sediment from these rivers are being analyzed so that they can be differentiated in core.
Dr. Ric Jensen, Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism, has worked for more than 20 years to communicate the importance of environmental and water resources issues to stakeholder groups and the public. He recently completed a study to use qualitative methods to develop a history of how man has altered the ecosystem of the Pecos River in West Texas. Jensen's Ph.D. program focused on using qualitative methods to assess support for science in the United States. He has recently developed a proposal to teach an interdisciplinary course that aims to increase the ability of future scientists to better communicate to the public.
Elizabeth Burleson, School of Law, has extensive experience in teaching and research associated with water law and environmental polices. At USD she is teaching the Water Law and Environmental Law courses. She also teaches a section on water law and policy in the Introduction to River Studies course through the MRI.
Dr. Larry Bradley, Anthropology Program, Department of Social Behavior, is doing research in prehistoric and historic archaeology along the river. Dr. Bradley is an archaeologist with experience in both prehistoric and historic site analysis. For several years he has conducted excavations on a major PaleoIndian habitation site (ca. 10,000 BP) and a large Archaic bison kill site (ca. 5000 BP) along the edge of the river valley, and surveyed and recorded an ice harbor, for the winter storage of steamboats, near Sioux City, Iowa. Dr. Bradley is presently conducting research on the steamboat North Alabama, wrecked in 1870 near Obert, NE and now exposed on a sand bar in the river.
Dr. Howard Coker, Department of Chemistry, has been investigating the feasibility of a permanent solution to the problem of silt loading and sedimentation in specific sections of the Missouri River and the premature siltation of its major reservoirs. Dr. Coker has developed an economically viable proposal to dredge the sediments from the affected areas and transport them by pipeline back into the river channel downstream of the dams. Results of his research are pending publication in the Journal of the American Water Works Association.