Research interests

Research activities involve study of the processes through which stream and wetland ecosystems acquire, store, process, and export dissolved and particulate organic matter. The processes investigated are organic matter loading (litter fall, hydrologic import), microbial decomposition, leaf litter consumption by herbivorous and detritivorous insects, and hydrologic export.

Selected publications

Jin, Hwa-Seong and G. M. Ward. 2005. Hydraulic characteristics of a small Coastal Plain stream of the Southeastern United States: Effects of hydrology and season. Hydrological Processes, in press.

Ward, G. M., Harris, P. M. and A. K. Ward. 2005. Gulf Coast Rivers of the Southeastern United States. pp. 124-178, in Benke, A. C. and C. E. Cushing (eds.). North American Rivers. Academic Press. NY.

Warner, K.A, J.C. Bonzongo, E.E. Roden, G.M. Ward, A.C. Green, I. Chaubey, W.B. Lyons, and D.A. Arrington. 2005. Effect of watershed parameters on mercury distribution in different environmental compartments in the Mobile Alabama River Basin, USA. Science of the Total Environment 347:187-207.

Ward, G. M. and I. Chaubey. 2001. Diurnal variability of stage in a wetland pond in the Southeastern United States. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 27: 1703-1706.

Benke, A. C., I. Chaubey, G. M. Ward, and E. L. Dunn. 2000. Flood pulse dynamics of an unregulated river-floodplain in the southeastern USA Coastal Plain. Ecology 81: 2730-2741.

Benke, A. C., G. M. Ward, and T. R. Richardson. 1999. Beaver impounded wetlands of the Southeastern Coastal Plain: habitat specific composition and dynamics of invertebrates. pp. 217-246, In Batzer, D. P., R. B. Rader, and S. A. Wissenger (eds.) Invertebrates in freshwater wetlands of North America: Ecology and Management. John Wiley and Sons. NY. 1100 p.

Ward, G. M. and N. G. Aumen. 1986. Woody debris as a source of fine particulate organic matter in coniferous forest stream ecosystems. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43: 1635-1642.

Ward, G. M., A. K. Ward, C. N. Dahm, and N. G. Aumen. 1994. Formation of organic and inorganic particles in aquatic ecosystems. pp. 45-73. IN: R. W. Wotton (ed.), Biology of Particles in Aquatic Ecosystems, 2nd ed. Lewis Publishers.

Petersen, Jr., R. C., K. W. Cummins, and G. M. Ward. 1989. Microbial and animal processing of detritus in a woodland stream. Ecol. Monogr. 59: 21-39.

Ward, G. M. and D. R. Woods. 1986. Lignin and fiber content of FPOM generated by the shredders Tipula abdominalis (Diptera: Tipulidae) and Tallaperla cornelia (Needham and Smith) (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae). Arch. f. Hydrobiol. 107: 545-562.