IGERT Graduate Training Grant for Risk Analysis for Introduced Species and Genotypes

Research Themes

  1. Evaluating effectiveness of regulation using retrospective analysis
  2. Improving theory and models for ecological risk assessment
  3. Addressing uncertainty in risk assessments
  4. Managing introduced species and genotypes and post-removal strategies


    Organizational model for the IGERT research efforts, illustrating that
    the research themes are informed by an evaluation of ERA performance
    and that our research will help to improve ERA.

 


Evaluating effectiveness of regulation using retrospective analysis

Students will test whether current regulations have correctly assessed past introduced species and investigate whether other regulations would be more effective.



Purple loosestrife (John D. Byrd)


Improving theory and models for ecological risk assessment

Students will gain broad exposure to the diversity of existing models and will work to strengthen and unify ERA theories.


Asian lady beetle (Rob Venette)


Addressing uncertainty in risk assessments

No risk analysis can be conducted with full scientific certainty, so addressing uncertainty is imperitive. Students will work with faculty to design experiments to fill information gaps.
Graduate student conducting research in the field. (George Heimpel)

Managing introduced species and genotypes and post-removal strategies

Research will emphasize new techniques for controlling and removing invasive species, selective control or removal methods (eg pheromones and exotic natural enemies) to minimize risk to non-target organisms, and smoothing the transition from removal to recovery.
Common carp