Dr Zhu is currently a research scientist at the Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) at Geneva, NY. I hold Ph.D. in Biology (2006) and Master of Public Administration (2005), both from Syracuse University. Prior to coming to the FLI, I was a post-doctoral associate with Dr. Lars Rudstam at Cornell University.

My past research investigated the changes of submerged plants (macrophytes) in Northeastern lakes following the increased water clarity associated with nutrient reduction and the invasion of dreissenid mussels (zebra and quagga mussels). Currently my primary focus is to assess the impacts of invasive species (such as European frogbit and zebra/quagga mussels) on lake ecosystem function utilizing different techniques, including aerial photograph interpretation, diver surveys, GIS, and hydroacoustics.

Publications

• Zhu, B., C.M. Mayer, L.G. Rudstam, E.L. Mills, and M.E. Ritchie. A comparison of irradiance and phosphorus effects on the growth of three submerged macrophytes Aquatic Botany, in review.

• Zhu, B., C. M. Mayer, S. A. Heckathorn, and L. G. Rudstam. 2007. Can dreissenid attachment and biodeposition affect submerged macrophyte growth? Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 45:71-76.

• Zhu, B., D.G. Fitzgerald, S.B. Hoskins, L.G. Rudstam, C.M. Mayer, and E.L. Mills. 2007. Quantification of historical changes of submerged aquatic vegetation cover in two bays of Lake Ontario with three complementary methods. Journal of Great Lakes Research 33: 122-135.

• Zhu, B., D.G. Fitzgerald, C.M. Mayer, L.G. Rudstam, and E.L. Mills. 2006. Alteration of ecosystem function by zebra mussels in Oneida Lake, NY: impacts on submerged macrophytes. Ecosystems 9: 1017-1028.

• Fitzgerald, D.G., B. Zhu, S. Hoskins, D. Haddad, K. Green, L. Rudstam, and E. Mills. 2006. Quantifying fish habitat in freshwater ecosystems with aerial photograph interpretation. Fisheries 31(2): 9-21.

• Heckathorn, S.A., J.K. Mueller, S. Laguidice, B. Zhu, T. Barrett, B. Blair, and Y. Dong. 2004. Chloroplast small heat-shock proteins protect photosynthesis during heavy metal stress. American Journal of Botany 91: 1312-1318.