with Dr. Steve Merkley
When
Freshwater Invertebrates of San Pedro River
This study aims to characterize the community composition and abundance of freshwater invertebrates on the San Pedro River. We plan to characterize and correlate physical characteristics of the river (substrate, pH, water temperature, total dissolved solids, canopy cover, etc.) with invertebrate data. We are interested in how flow permanence changes the species richness and abundance of freshwater invertebrates. Since 2019, we have been sampling aquatic Invertebrates on the San Pedro River and some tributaries in the Huachuca Mountains. Students have been assisting with identification and quantification of specimens using a dissecting microscope. They have also presented their data from this project at local and regional conferences.
Steve Merkley Bio
Dr. Steve Merkley is an instructor of Biology at Cochise College (2019-present). He teaches introductory biology for majors and non-majors, in addition to environmental biology and ecology. He works as a co-advisor for the undergraduate research club and is involved in mentoring students on ecological research projects in and around the San Pedro River. He collaborates with local and regional governmental and non-governmental organizations on research with mammals, aquatic insects, and beaver monitoring (Bureau of Land Management, Fort Huachuca, The Nature Conservancy, Watershed Management Group, etc.).