Education
Michigan State University, Ph.D. 1996
University of Minnesota, M.S. 1990
Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A. 1985
Research Interests
Ecology of the Lake Superior Wave Zone. The coastal waters of Lake Superior are home to a community of organisms uniquely adapted to face the challenges of life in the often powerful freshwater surf. My research in the Lake Superior wave zone is focused on investigating species interactions, trophic structuring, and energy flow in wave zone and tributary communities.
Ecohydrology. My colleagues from the United States Geological Survey in Wisconsin and I are investigating the role of groundwater-surface water exchange dynamics in structuring northwoods stream communities and governing productivity through controls on nutrient delivery to and from streambed sediments.
Teaching
BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology
BI 424 General Entomology
BI 305 Ecology of the Northern Forest
BI 410 Ecology of the Great Lakes
BI 495 Stream Ecology
BI 324 Invertebrate Zoology
Selected Publications
Skelton, J. and M. Strand. 2013. Trophic ecology of a freshwater sponge (Spongilla lacustris) revealed by stable isotope analysis. Hydrobiologia 709: 227-235. PDF
Hunt, R.J., M. Strand, and J.F. Walker. 2006. Measuring groundwater-surface water interaction and its effect on wetland stream benthic productivity, Trout Lake watershed, northern Wisconsin, USA. Journal of Hydrology 320: 370-384. PDF
Strand, M. 2005. Trophic ecology of the Lake Superior wave zone: a stable isotope approach. Hydrobiologia 544: 271-278. PDF
Strand, R.M. and R.W. Merritt. 1999. Impacts of livestock grazing activities on stream insect communities and the riverine environment. The American Entomologist 45: 13-29.
Strand, M., D.A. Herms, M.P. Ayres, M.E. Kubiske, M.G. Kaufman, E.D. Walker, K.S. Pregitzer, and R.W. Merritt. 1999. Effects of atmospheric CO2, light availability, and tree species on the quality of leaf detritus as a resource for treehole mosquitoes. Oikos 84: 277-283.