Steven T. Rier

Bloomsburg University

Office: 102 HSC

Phone: 570-389-4953

E-mail: srier@bloomu.edu

Biology Home

Courses:

Limnology 

Global Change Biology 

Freshwater Biology

Student research

Kevin and Chase

Cory

Bernie

Mike

Aubrey

 

 Research

My research interests encompass many aspects of stream ecology but mainly focus on the role that microorganisms such as algae, bacteria, and fungi play in regulating stream ecosystem function and how human impacts can alter these dynamics.  My lab is currently investigating how impacts such as acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines alters stream ecosystem functions such as the decomposition of organic matter and uptake and mineralization of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Representative publications

Rier, S. T., K. A. Kuehn, and  S. N. Francoeur 2007.  Algal regulation of extracellular enzyme activity in stream microbial communities associated with both inert substrata and detritus.  Journal of the North American Benthological Society 26: 439-449.

Rier, S. T. and R. J. Stevenson. 2006.  Response of periphytic algae to gradients in nitrogen and phosphorus in streamside mesocosms. Hydrobiologia 561:1310147.

Rier, S. T.,  R. J. Stevenson, and G. LaLiberte 2006.  Photo-acclimation response of benthic stream algae across experimentally manipulated light gradients: A comparison of growth rates and net primary productivity.  Journal of Phycology  42:560-567

Rier, S.T., N. C. Tuchman, and R. G. Wetzel. 2005. Chemical changes to leaf litter from trees grown under elevated CO2 and the implications for microbial utilization in a stream ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62: 185-194.

Rier, S.T., N. C. Tuchman, R. G. Wetzel, and J. A. Teeri. 2002. Elevated CO2 induced changes in the chemistry of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux) leaf litter:  Subsequent decomposition and microbial response in a stream ecosystem. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 21: 16-27.

Rier, S. T. and R. J. Stevenson. 2002. The effects of labile dissolved organic carbon, inorganic nutrients and light on algal-bacterial relationships in stream periphyton. Hydrobiologia. 489: 179-184.

Rier, S. T. and R. J. Stevenson. 2001. Relation of environmental factors to density of epilithic lotic bacteria in 2 ecoregions. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 20: 588-600.

 

Stevenson, R. J., S. T. Rier, C. Riseng, R. Schultz, and M. J. Wiley.  2006.  Comparing effects of nutrients on algal biomass in streams in 2 ecoregions with different disturbance regimes and with applications for developing nutrient criteria.  Hydrobiologia 561:149-165.

Tuchman, N. C., M. A. Schollett, S. T. Rier and Pamela Geddes.  2006. Differential heterotrophic utilization of 95 organic compounds by diatoms and bacteria under light and dark conditions. Hydrobiologia 561:167-177.

Janus, L.R., N.L. Angeloni, J. McCormack, S.T. Rier, N.C. Tuchman, and J.J. Kelly. 2005. Elevated atmospheric CO2 alters soil microbial communities associated with trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) roots. Microbial Ecology 50: 102-109.

Tuchman, N. C., R. G. Wetzel, S. T. Rier, K. A. Wahtera, and J. A. Teeri  2002.  Elevated Atmospheric CO2 lowers leaf litter nutritional quality for stream ecosystems. Global Change Biology 8: 145-152.