UNLV Hires Expert on Invasive Mussels

UNLV HIRES EXPERT ON INVASIVE MUSSELS
UNLV works with Lake Mead National Recreation Area to monitor Quagga mussels

July 8, 2008

LAS VEGAS-The UNLV Public Lands Institute (PLI) and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health have hired David Wong as research assistant professor, specializing in Quagga mussels and water dynamics. Wong is assisting in the effort to monitor and manage the invasive mussels found at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. He is also coordinating technical assistance, development, implementation, and review of monitoring programs related to limnology, ecology, toxicology, and management issues associated with Lake Mead.

Before joining UNLV, Wong worked as a senior research scientist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He also conducted research projects for Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium at Louisiana State University and State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has experience in developing models on the ecological impact of invasive Zebra mussels on the ecosystem structure in the Great Lakes and the Hudson River ecosystems.

Wong’s research interests are the biology and ecology of Quagga mussels and the monitoring and management of aquatic living resources and water quality. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the School of Fisheries at Ocean University of China in Qingdao and his Ph.D. from City University of Hong Kong.

UNLV has an agreement with the National Park Service to provide limnology assistance to Lake Mead with funding from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. UNLV and PLI researchers are collaborating with Lake Mead personnel on limnology-related technical assistance and research projects.

PLI was created in 2005 to work in collaboration with federal, state, and non-profit partners to create new knowledge, advance technology, improve education, and engage the community to enhance public lands stewardship. More information about PLI is available at Public Lands Institute.

Quagga mussels shroud a sandal found at Lake Mead National Recreation Area