Directory

Debbie Guelda
Professor of Biology

Biography

When I was an undergraduate, I began working in the Large River Lab at the University of Louisville. Our research centered on (you guessed it) working on large rivers such as the lower Ohio, Tennessee, Wabash, Kentucky, and Green Rivers. It was at that time that I became very interested in not only the aquatic systems themselves, but the organisms that resided within those systems. Invertebrates became my organisms of choice and it would be stretch for me to name a favorite. Well, maybe TARDIGRADES (if you aren't familiar with those, do a quick Google!), or maybe Bryozoas, or any of the zooplankton….well, you get the picture. I graduated with my Bachelor's degree from U of L and stayed there to complete both Masters and Doctorate degrees, all while focusing on invertebrates in riverine systems. At the University of Louisville, I published undergraduate work (on zebra mussels with Kim Greenwood), worked with Paddlefish, and ultimately did most of my research on zooplankton. To help fund my graduate education, I taught labs as a graduate teaching assistant and was fortunate enough to be paid off of grants as well (thank you Jim Thorp and Paul Bukaveckas). I also taught adjunct at Indiana University Southeast for a couple of semesters while in grad school.

Since coming to BSU in 2001, my research has subtly changed and now I am working on benthic (bottom dwelling) invertebrates in streams as well as zooplankton in the familiar lake-river continuum that we see in Northern Minnesota. I have worked with several graduate students who share my interests in aquatic systems and the resident invertebrates (Master's graduates Matt Phillips, Jared House, Sam Peterson).

More recently my research has taken a backseat as I have moved into administration a bit and have been the director of the Center for Professional Development, a resource for faculty at BSU, and the Community Engagement Council, working to connect BSU and the community of Bemidji. I have also completed the HERS leadership training program, been involved with University Strategic Planning, Master Academic Planning, and Higher Learning Commission University accreditation. I am proud to have initiated BSU Today!, a conference held at the beginning of the academic year for faculty, staff, and administration and the Take What You Need pop-up food shelf box program that provides for food insecure students.

But most of all, I absolutely LOVE to teach. Whether it be online or on-campus, I enjoy taking overwhelming amounts of fantastically interesting material and breaking it down into digestible chunks for students…all the time while being supportive, energetic, and encouraging. This is my goal in every class I teach.

I feel very, very lucky to have joined an amazing faculty in the Biology Department. It is, and has always been, clear to me that the Biology department at BSU is incredibly supportive of students and excellent teaching. I am 1/3 of the Aquatic Biology program and am very fortunate to work closely with the talents of Dr. Andy Hafs (lake and fish guy) and Dr. Richard Koch (aquatic plants/algae and wetland guy). If I have to say so myself, we make up quite a team.

Degrees

  • University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 2001
    PhD, Environmental Science
    Dissertation: Zooplankton community structure and function in the Ohio River watershed.
  • University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 2001
    MS, Aquatic Ecology
  • University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 1996
    BA, Biology
  • Member; Mortar Board Honor Society and various teaching awards

Teaching

  • Streams and Rivers
  • Freshwater Invertebrates
  • Animal Behavior
  • Entomology
  • Diversity of Life
  • Cellular Principles

Research Interests

Dr. Debbie Guelda is an aquatic ecologist and specifically a river researcher at heart. Her graduate research concentrated on invertebrates in the lower Ohio watershed, particularly zooplankton. She is interested in how populations of plankton change in a river continuum both temporally and spatially. She brought this research to northern Minnesota where she is interested in how zooplankton communities change while traveling through Mississippi river-lake sequences.

Recent Work

Professional Academic Experience

  • Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN: 2001 to current - Professor of Biology
  • Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN: 1999 to 2001 - Adjunct Professor
  • University of Louisville, Louisville, KY: 1996 to 2001 - Laboratory teaching Assistant

Leadership Roles and University Service

  • Director of the Center for Professional Development - Appointed Spring 2016-2022
  • Director of the Community Engagement Council-Appointed Spring 2017-2021
  • Co-director of the Teaching and Learning Center- 2018-current
  • Chair of the Professional Improvement Committee - 2003-2015
  • Chair of the STEM Advance committee - 2017
  • Faculty Senate representative - 2008-2010
  • Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education: Bemidji State University Working Group - Faculty liaison - Appointed Spring 2016-2018
  • Member Council for Student Success
  • Organization Awareness Series - Invited as a future campus leader
  • Search committee member – 15 committees since 2001
  • Strategic Planning Steering Committee – Member alongside President Hensrud, Provost Peffer, VPs Westhoff and Snorek, and Director Frenzel.
  • Strategic Planning – Priority 4 representative.
  • Higher Learning Commission – Area 4 College of Arts and Sciences representative responsible for Criterion 3.5.
  • Master Academic Plan – College of Arts and Sciences representative and responsible for areas Priority 2 (Sense of Place) and consultant on Priority 1 (Lib ed).

Student-Based University Service

  • Biology Club Advisor (as needed)-2001-current
  • Biology Scholarship Committee-2001-2018
  • Co-director of the Regional Science Fair-2005-2011
  • Graduate Faculty-2001-current
  • Share the Future steering committee-2001-2014
  • Biology Teaching and Learning Center-2017-current

Open Field

Presentations and Publications

  • Peterson, A. Hafs, D. Guelda, and R. Koch. 2021. Benthic Carbon Accumulation and Macroinvertebrate Colonization on Artificial Zebra Mussel Substrate. In review. Freshwater Science.
  • Lafond, J. House, S. Adams, D. Guelda, and C. Roy. 2021. Freezing mortality of faucet snails, Bithynia tentaculata: a viable method for equipment decontamination to reduce aquatic invasive species spread. Management of Biological Invasions. Volume 12, Issue 2: 378–388.
  • Guelda. 2021. Honors Lecture: Dam Nation. Bemidji State University. Bemidji, MN.
  • McGee, D. Guelda, and B. Hiller. 2020. Poster presentation. Binary analysis of wolf spider (Aranae: Lycosidae) microhabitat preferences. MN chapter of The Wildlife Society, Willmer, MN.
  • Pawlowski, C. Greer, and D. Guelda. 2020. Poster presentation. Creating Service-Learning Faculty Development Programs: Behind the Scenes, Steps Include All Voices. National Campus Compact conference, Seattle, WA. Note: conference canceled due to COVID.
  • Guelda, C. Greer, D. Pawlowski. 2020. Poster presentation. Starting from Scratch; building community engagement from the ground up. National Campus Compact conference. Seattle, WA. Note: conference canceled due to COVID.
  • Guelda. 2019. Platform presentation. Common Aquatic Invertebrates: identification and life histories. Beltrami County Enhanced Watercraft Inspector training. Bemidji, MN.
  • Peterson and D. Guelda. 2019. Platform presentation. Benthic Carbon Accumulation on an Artificial Zebra Mussel Substrate. American Fisheries Society. Fargo, ND.
  • Guelda and J. Stackhouse. 2019. Platform presentation. Swimming upstream: success despite resistance I presented at the annual Gardner Institute Conference, Atlanta, GA
  • Pawlowski, C. Greer, D. Guelda. 2018. Poster presentation. Creating Connections: Interpreting and bridging disparate definitions of campus and community interactions. Regional Campus Compact conference – Indianapolis, IN.
  • Pawlowski, C. Greer, D. Guelda. 2018. Platform presentation. Uncovering Salient Issues Through the Eyes of Campus and Community Members. Regional Campus Compact conference – Indianapolis, IN.
  • Peterson and D. Guelda. 2018. Platform presentation. Prediction of macroinvertebrate and carbon accumulation after Dreissena polymorpha colonization using artificial substrate. American Fisheries Society, regional conference. St. Cloud, MN.
  • Powell, C. Hanson, and D. Guelda. 2017. Platform presentation. Using side scan sonar and biological indicators to acquire baseline data in Lake Bemidji. BSU internal presentation – Biology Department Seminar Series.
  • Koch, R.W., J. Shaw, D. Janke and D. Guelda. 2015. Platform presentation. Seasonal and spatial variability in phytoplankton of mesotrophic Lake Bemidji, Northcentral MN. Annual meeting for the Society of Freshwater Scientists. Milwaukee, WI.
  • House, D. Guelda, C. Roy. 2015. Platform presentation. Comparison of metabolic rates of uninfected Bithynia tenticulata to those recently infected with the trematode Sphaeridiotrema. Freshwater Mollusck. Annual meeting for the Society for Freshwater Science. Milwaukee, WI.
  • Koch, R.W., J. Shaw, D. Janke and Guelda. 2015. Poster presentation. Seasonal and spatial variability in phytoplankton of mesotrophic Lake Bemidji, North Central MN. Annual meeting for the Society of Freshwater Scientists. Milwaukee, WI.
  • Philips, D. Guelda, and Richard Koch. 2013. Poster presentation. Comparison of metabolic rates of uninfected Bithynia tentaculata to those recently infected with the trematode Sphaeriodiotrema spp. Freshwater Mollusca Conservation Society. Guntersville, AL.
  • Philips, D.Guelda, and Richard Koch. 2012. Poster presentation. Spatial and Temporal Differences in Macroinvertebrate and Zooplankton Diversity in the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Society of Freshwater Scientists. Louisville, KY.
  • Thompson and D. Guelda. 2011. Poster presentation. The effect of riparian forest cover, riparian forest density, and stream geomorphology on large wood recruitment in a boreal forest stream ecosystem, Superior National Forest, Minnesota. 2nd Minnesota Joint Natural Resources Conference. Brainerd, MN.
  • Thompson and D. Guelda. 2010. Platform presentation. Large wood recruitment and fish production on the Superior National Forest, Minnesota. Eastern Region Stream and Lake Riparian Restoration Using Large Wood Materials Workshop in Eagle River, WI.
  • Thompson and D. Guelda. 2010. Platform presentation. The effect of riparian forest cover, riparian forest density, and stream geomorphology on large wood recruitment in a boreal forest stream ecosystem, Superior National Forest, Minnesota. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Minneapolis, MN.
  • Philips, D. Guelda, Koch, R. 2010. Platform presentation. Spatial and temporal differences in benthic macroinvertebrate and zooplankton diversity in the headwaters of the Mississippi river. Mississippi River Research Consortium. Lacrosse, WI.
  • Thompson. D. Guelda. 2010. Poster presentation. The effect of riparian forest cover, riparian forest density, and stream geomorphology on large wood recruitment in a boreal forest stream ecosystem, Superior National Forest, Minnesota. The joint TWS, AFS, SAF, and SCB conference. Nisswa, MN.
  • Koch, P. Bukaveckas and D. Guelda. 2007. Importance of phytoplankton carbon to heterotrophic bacteria in the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. Hydrobiologia 586(1): 79-91.
  • Bowe, K., Guelda, and R. Koch. 2007. Platform presentation. Effects of forest age structure on plant communities in seasonal forest ponds. Midwestern Fish and Wildlife Conference. Madison, WI.
  • Koch, R., Guelda, C. Goebel and B. Palik. 2006. Poster presentation. Interactive effects of stream geomorphology, forest age and woody debris jams on nutrient processing in streams of northern hardwood forests. North American Benthological Society. Anchorage, AK.
  • Guelda, D. R. Koch, J. Kragthorpe, C. Goebel and B. Palik. Poster presentation. Influence of stream geomorphology, forest age and woody debris on stream macroinvertebrates in northern hardwood forests. North American Benthological Society. Anchorage, AK.
  • Guelda, D., R. Koch, J. Jack, and P. Bukaveckas. Experimental evidence for density-dependent effects and the importance of algal production in determining population growth rates of riverine zooplankton. River Research and Applications 21: (6) 595-608.
  • Bottom of Form
  • Bukaveckas, P., Acharya, K, Jack, J. and Guelda. 2005. Platform presentation. Evidence for nutritional constraints on zooplankton growth in riverine environments. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
  • Bukaveckas, D. Guelda, J. Jack, R. Koch, T. Sellers and J. Shostell. 2005. Effects of point source inputs, sub-basin delivery and longitudinal variation in material retention on C, N, and P fluxes within the Ohio River Basin. Ecosystems 8: 825-840.
  • Koch, R., Guelda, and P. Bukaveckas. 2004. Phytoplankton growth in the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, USA: inter-site differences in light and nutrient limitation. Aquatic Ecology 38: 17-26.
  • Guelda. 2004. Invited talk. Riverine systems: structure, theory and transport. Bemidji State University, Continuing Research and Innovation.
  • Solem, D. Guelda, R. Koch. 2004. Platform presentation. Stream macroinvertebrates associated with woody debris in northern hardwood forests: influence of geomorphology and forest age. North American Benthological Society. Vancouver, BC.
  • Kragethorpe, D. Guelda, R. Koch and B. Palik. 2004. Platform presentation. Influence of geomorphology, forest age and woody debris on stream nutrient processing in northern hardwood forests. North American Benthological Society. Vancouver, BC.
  • Guelda and E. Westrich. 2003. Platform presentation. Spatial and temporal differences in transport of macro and microzooplankton in the Schoolcraft lake-river system. Mississippi River Research Consortium. LaCrosse, WI.
  • Guelda. 2002. Platform presentation. Temporal and spatial variation in zooplankton flux rates in the Ohio River. Mississippi River Research Consortium. LaCrosse, WI.
  • Guelda. 2001. Invited talk. Riverine zooplankton: sources, sinks, and food limitation. Invited talk. Bemidji State University. Bemidji, MN.
  • Guelda. 2001. Invited talk. Zooplankton food limitation, and flux rates in the Ohio River. University of Louisville. Louisville, KY.
  • Greenwood, K., J. Thorp, R. Summers, and Guelda. 2001. Effects of an exotic bivalve mollusk on benthic invertebrates/ food quality in the Ohio River. Hydrobiologia 462: 169-172.
  • Guelda and P. Bukaveckas. 2000. Platform presentation. Competition and food limitation among predatory and herbivorous riverine zooplankton. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Bukaveckas, D. Guelda, R. Koch, and T. Sellers. 2000. Platform presentation. Tributary inputs and transformations of C, N and P in a large river ecosystem. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Bukaveckas and D. Guelda. 1999. Platform presentation. Biotic regulation of C, N and P fluxes from the Ohio River. Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education. Cincinnati, OH.
  • Guelda and P. Bukaveckas. 1999. Platform presentation. Carbon limitation in Ohio River zooplankton. Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education. Cincinnati, OH.
  • Guelda, R. Koch, T. Sellers, and P. Bukaveckas. 1998. Platform presentation. Zooplankton and chlorophyll trends in the Ohio River. Kentucky Academy of Science. Louisville, KY.
  • Guelda, R. Koch, T. Sellers, and P. Bukaveckas. 1998. Platform presentation. Zooplankton regulation of phytoplankton in the Ohio River. Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education. Portsmouth, OH.
  • Guelda, R. Summers and J. Thorp. 1996. Poster presentation. The effects of the Zebra Mussel, Dreissenia polymorpha, on the riverine amphipod, Gammarus fasciatus. Mississippi River