Dr. David L. Strayer

Freshwater Ecologist | PhD, 1984, Cornell University

Expertise
Hudson River, invasive species, streams

Email Download CV
  • Profile
  • Past Projects
  • Publications

Dave Strayer is no longer doing original research, but continues to be active in freshwater ecology, especially in conservation ecology and analyses of the ecology of invasive species and freshwater mollusks (clams, mussels, and snails) and the roles of filter-feeders in freshwater ecosystems.

He just published a book for general audiences on the wonders of inland-water ecosystems and the remarkable life that they support: "Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands." (“Not since Luna Leopold's classic A View of the River has a scientist decoded the intricacies and wonder of freshwater systems in such an approachable way”, “…written in an engaging style, fact-filled with fascinating examples, and thought-provoking”, “If you’ve been looking for a book that describes the sex lives of dehydrated invertebrates, look no further.”)

In addition to this book, he continues to write occasional short essays on ecological topics for the general public, several dozen of which are collected in The Lost Snail of the Yangtze and Other Essays.

He has been busy writing synthesis and review papers in academic journals (e.g., Aldridge et al. 2023, Seebens et al. 2023), including a new paper on monitoring freshwater mussel populations and the importance of lagged processes in their ecology (Strayer 2024). Dave was especially pleased to have the chance to work again this year with Professor David Dudgeon of the University of Hong Kong on an extensive review of the pressing problems in freshwater biodiversity conservation: "Bending the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss: what are the prospects?" He is currently working on a review of suspension-feeders (animals that feed by removing tiny particles from the water, and which can have large, pervasive effects on aquatic ecosystems) and their roles in freshwater ecosystems.

Finally, Dave has been working with academics and agency biologists on the management of Michigan’s freshwater mussels (an imperiled group of animals). He helped to develop and run a test for mussel identification (now required of contractors who work on freshwater mussels in the state). Joe Rathbun (a retired agency biologist) and Dave have been teaching a short class on mussel biology and identification.

Displaying 161 - 180 of 215
An apparent hybrid zone between freshwater gastropod species Elimia livescens and E. virginica (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae)
Bianchi, T. S., G.M. Davis, and David L. Strayer. 1994. “An Apparent Hybrid Zone Between Freshwater Gastropod Species Elimia Livescens and E. Virginica (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae)”. Am. Malacol. Bull. 11: 73-78.
Body size and abundance of benthic animals in Mirror Lake, New Hampshire
Strayer, David L. 1994. “Body Size and Abundance of Benthic Animals in Mirror Lake, New Hampshire”. Freshwater Biol. 32: 83-90.
Diacyclops dimorphus, a new species of copepod from Florida, with comments on morphology of interstitial cyclopine cyclopoids
Reid, J. W., and David L. Strayer. 1994. “Diacyclops Dimorphus, a New Species of Copepod from Florida, With Comments on Morphology of Interstitial Cyclopine Cyclopoids”. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 13: 250-65.
Distribution, abundance, and roles of freshwater clams (Bivalvia, Unionidae) in the freshwater tidal Hudson River
Strayer, David L., D.C. Hunter, L. C. Smith, and C.K. Borg. 1994. “Distribution, Abundance, and Roles of Freshwater Clams (Bivalvia, Unionidae) in the Freshwater Tidal Hudson River”. Freshwater Biol. 31: 239-48. http://www.sgnis.org/publicat/papers/fb31_239.pdf.
Tardigrades from shallow groundwaters in southeastern New York, with the first record of Thulinia from North America
Strayer, David L., D.R. Nelson, and E.B. O’Donnell. 1994. “Tardigrades from Shallow Groundwaters in Southeastern New York, With the First Record of Thulinia from North America”. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 113: 325-32.
Atlas of the freshwater pearly mussels of New York
Strayer, David L., and K.J. Jirka. 1994. “Atlas of the Freshwater Pearly Mussels of New York”. Triannu. Unionid Rep.
Limits to biological distributions in groundwater
Strayer, David L. 1994. “Limits to Biological Distributions in Groundwater”. In J. Gibert, D. Danielopol, and J. Stanford (eds.). Groundwater Ecology, 287-310. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego.
Macrohabitats of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionacea) in streams of the northern Atlantic Slope
Strayer, David L. 1993. “Macrohabitats of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionacea) in Streams of the Northern Atlantic Slope”. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 12: 236-46.
Metabolism of streamwater dissolved organic carbon in the shallow hyporheic zone
Findlay, Stuart E. G., David L. Strayer, C. Goumbala, and K. Gould. 1993. “Metabolism of Streamwater Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Shallow Hyporheic Zone”. Limnol. Oceanogr. 38: 1493-99.
Microhabitat use by an assemblage of stream-dwelling unionaceans (Bivalvia), including two rare species of Alasmidonta
Strayer, David L., and J. Ralley. 1993. “Microhabitat Use by an Assemblage of Stream-Dwelling Unionaceans (Bivalvia), Including Two Rare Species of Alasmidonta”. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 12: 247-58.
Spread of zebra mussels in the Hudson River estuary in 1992
Strayer, David L., J. Powell, W. Walton, and E. Mellina. 1993. “Spread of Zebra Mussels in the Hudson River Estuary in 1992”. Dreissena polymorpha Inf. Rev.
Groundwater ecology
Strayer, David L. 1993. “Groundwater Ecology”. In S. P. Parker (ed.). McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology, 195-97. McGraw-Hill, Inc. .
Distribution of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in estuaries and brackish waters
Strayer, David L., and L. C. Smith. 1992. “Distribution of the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha) in Estuaries and Brackish Waters”. In T. F. Nalepa and D. W. Schloesser (eds.). Zebra Mussels: Biology, Impacts, and Control, 715-27. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida.
Zebra mussels in the Hudson
Powell, J., and David L. Strayer. 1992. “Zebra Mussels in the Hudson”. Tidal Exch.
The hyporheic nematode community of some streams in southeastern New York State, U.S.A
Strayer, David L., and E.B. O’Donnell. 1992. “The Hyporheic Nematode Community of Some Streams in Southeastern New York State, U.S.A”. Stygologia 7: 143-48.
Appearance and spread of the zebra mussel in the Hudson River estuary in 1991
Strayer, David L., and J. Powell. 1992. “Appearance and Spread of the Zebra Mussel in the Hudson River Estuary in 1991”. Dreissena polymorpha Inf. Rev.
Notes on Lindeman's progressive efficiency
Strayer, David L. 1991. “Notes on Lindeman’s Progressive Efficiency”. Ecology 72: 348-50.
Comparative ecology and undiscovered public knowledge
Strayer, David L. 1991. “Comparative Ecology and Undiscovered Public Knowledge”. In J. Cole, G. Lovett, and S. Findlay (eds.). Comparative Analyses of Ecosystems: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Theories, 3-6. Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
Perspectives on the size structure of the lacustrine zoobenthos, its causes, and its consequences
Strayer, David L. 1991. “Perspectives on the Size Structure of the Lacustrine Zoobenthos, Its Causes, and Its Consequences”. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 10: 210-21.
The benthic animals of the freshwater tidal Hudson River before invasion by the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha
Strayer, David L. 1991. “The Benthic Animals of the Freshwater Tidal Hudson River before Invasion by the Zebra Mussel, Dreissena Polymorpha”. Dreissena polymorpha Inform. Rev.

Articles by David Strayer

Books

beyond the sea

Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024 

fundamentals of ecosystem science

Fundamentals of Ecosystem Science
2nd ed. Elsevier, 2021

Hudson River Primer

The Hudson Primer: The Ecology of an Iconic River
University of California Press, 2012

mussel ecology

Freshwater Mussel Ecology: A Multifactor Approach to Distribution and Abundance
University of California Press, 2008