KUMUD ACHARYA

Assistant Research Professor

EDUCATION:

Ph.D., Biology and Environmental Science, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
M.S., Environmental Engineering, Bradley University, IL
B.E., Civil Engineering, Nagpur University, Nagpur, India

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

My research involves aquatic and biological stoichiometry, the study of balance of energy and multiple chemical elements. I am particularly interested in how human management of watersheds affects aquatic invertebrate community structure in aquatic environments. Aquatic invertebrates face special evolutionary challenges in these systems due to factors such as hydroperiod, flow or anthropogenic effects. My specific studies involve observational and experimental studies at various scales, including laboratory cultures (zooplankton, algal chemostats), short-term field experiments and sustained whole-ecosystem manipulations. My other research interests are nutrient cycling, wastewater treatment systems, groundwater management, and ecological modeling. Recently completed studies include role of zooplankton populations in large river (Ohio River) food webs, impact of changes in hydrological conditions (e.g., excessive rainfall or drought conditions) in riverine biota via changes in nutrient and food conditions.

RESEARCH AREAS:

Limnology; aquatic biology; aquatic food web; ecological stoichiometry; nutrient cycling; watershed processes; climate change and biodiversity; ecological modeling; aquatic restoration.

For more details about ongoing research and projects, visit Eco-Engineer.dri.edu

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Acharya, K. ; Bukaveckas, P.; Jack, J J.; Kyle, M.; Elser, J.; 2006.

Consumer growth linked to diet and RNA-P stoichiometry: Response of Bosmina to variation in riverine food resources. Limnology and Oceanography. v.41. pp.1859-1869.

Acharya, K.; Jack, J J.; Smith, A.; 2006.

Stoichiometry of Daphnia lumholtzi and their invasion success: Are they linked?. Archiv fuer Hydrobiologie. v.165. pp.433-453.

Kyle, M.; Acharya, K.; Weider, L.J.; Looper, K.; Elser, J.J.; 2006.

Coupling of growth rate and body stoichiometry in Daphnia: a role for maintenance processes?. Freshwater Biology. v.51. pp.2087-2095.

Acharya, K.; Jack, J J.; Bukaveckas, P.; 2005.

Dietary Effects on Life History Traits of Riverine Bosmina longirostris. Freshwater Biology. v.50. pp.965-975.

Weider, L.; Makino, W.; Acharya, K.; Glenn, K L.; Kyle, M.; Urabe, J.; Elser, J J.; 2005.

Genotype x environment interactions, stoichiometric food quality effects and clonal coexistence in Daphnia pulex. Oecologia. v.143. pp.537-547.

Acharya, K.; Elser, J J.; Kyle, M.; 2004.

Effects of stoiciometric dietary mixing on Daphnia growth and reproduction. Oecologia. v.138. pp.330-340.

Acharya, K.; Elser, J J.; Kyle, M.; 2004.

Biological stoichiometry of Daphnia growth: An ecophysiological test of the Growth Rate Hypothesis. Limnology and Oceanography. v.49. pp.656-665.

Woods, H A.; Makino, W.; Cotner, J B.; Hobbie, S.; Harrison, J.; Acharya, K.; Elser, J J.; 2003.

Temperature and the chemical composition of poikilothermic organisms. Functional Ecology. v.17. pp.237-245.

Elser, J J.; Acharya, K.; Kyle, M.; Cotner, J.; Makino, M.; Markow, T.; Watts, T.; Hobbie, S.; Fagan, W.; Schade, J.; Sterner, R W.; 2003.

General conditions for coupling of growth-RNA-phosphorus stoichiometry in diverse biota. Ecology Letters. v.6. pp.936-943.

Asaeda, T.; Acharya, K.; 2000.

Application of individual growth and population models of Daphnia pulex to Daphnia magna, Daphnia galeata and Bosmina longirostris. Hydrobiologia. v.421. pp.141-155.

Asaeda, T.; Acharya K.; 2000.

Simulations, using a population model of three cladoceran species, Daphnia magna, D. galeata and Bosmina longirostris in a single species and a competition environment. Marine and Freshwater Research. v.51. pp.275-288.

CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS

Chen, D; Acharya, K; Stone, M; 2008.

Simulating impact of sand and gravel mining on riverbed - an example of the Salt River, Phoenix. World Water & Environmental Resources Congress.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C.; Fisk, T.; Bower, M.R.; 2007.

Food Web Analysis Of Endangered Devils Hole Pupfish: Is Food Availability Hurting Devils Hole Pupfish?. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Sante Fe, NM.

Allison Smith, Kumud Acharya, & Jeffrey Jack; 2007.

DIAPAUSE AND PHOSPHORUS: THE LINK THAT REINFORCES DAPHNIA LUMHOLTZI’S SUCCESS. ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting. ASLO. Santa Fe, NM.

Chen, D., M. Stone, and K. Acharya; 2007.

2D Simulation of Hydrodynamic and Sediment transport in an aggrading sand bed channel – an example of the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico. Fifth International Symposium on Environmental Hydraulics. IAHR. Tempe, ARIZONA.

Chen, D.; Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C.; 2007.

Two-dimensional Simulation of Mining Effect on Channel Geomorphology Change - an Example of the Salt River, Phoenix. Environmental Water Resources Institute-ASCE. Tampa, FL.

Chen, D; Stone, M; Acharya, K; 2007.

2D simulation of hydrodynamic and sediment transport in an aggrading sand bed channel – an example of the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico. Fifth International Symposium on Environmental Hydraulics. Tempe, Arizona.

Chen, D; Zhang, Y; Duan, JG; Stone, M; Acharya, K; 2007.

Two-dimensional Simulation of Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport in a Gravel Bed Channel: The Salt River. World Water & Environmental Resources Congress. ASCE. Temple, Florida.

Stone, M.C., Acharya, K., Sada, D., and D. Henneberry; 2007.

Influence of Near-Bed Flowfield Characteristics on Macroinvertebrate Community Composition. World Water & Environmental Resources Congress, ASCE. Tampa, Florida.

Chen, D., Y. Zhang, J.G Duan, M. Stone, and K. Acharya; 2007.

Two-dimensional Simulation of Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport in a Gravel Bed Channel: The Salt River. World Water & Environmental Resources Congress, ASCE. Tampa, Florida.

Smith, A.; Acharya, K.; Jack, J.D.; 2006.

Stoichiometry of Daphnia lumholtzi and their invasion success: Are they linked?. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Victoria, Canada.

Chen, D.; Duan, G.; Stone, M.C.; Acharya, K.; 2006.

Impacts of Fine Materials on Settling Velocity of Sand Sized Particles in sediment-laden flows. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco, CA.

Chen, D; Duan, J; Stone, M; Acharya, K; 2006.

Modified settling velocity formula for sand-size particles accounts for particle-to particle collisions. AGU 2006 Falll Meeting. San Francisco, California.

Acharya, K.; Bukaveckas, P.A.; Jack, J.J.; Kyle, M.; Elser, J.J.; 2006.

Bosmina Growth Linked to Diet and RNA: Phosphorus Stoichiometry and Response to Variation in Riverine Food Resources. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Victoria, Canada.

Acharya, K.; Jack, J D.; Bukaveckas, P.; 2005.

Dietary Effects on Life History Traits of Riverine Bosmina. Winter Meeting. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Salt Lake City, UT.

Acharya, K.; Kyle, M.; Elser, J J.; 2004.

Growth-RNA-Phosphorus coupling: test of growth rate hypothesis of Daphnia. Summer Meeting. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Savannah, GA.

Acharya, K.; Kyle, M.; Elser, J J.; 2002.

Effects of stoiciometric dietary mixing on Daphnia growth and reproduction. ASLO 2002 Summer Meeting. ASLO. Britisch Columbia, Canada.

Acharya, K.; Asaeda, T.; 2000.

Population dynamics and competition between large and small sized cladocerans. Annual Conference. Japan Society on Water Environment. Kyoto, Japan.

Hayashi, N.; Acharya, K.; Priyadarshani, T.; Nagao, A.; Asaeda, T.; Inamori, Y.; Sudou, R.; 1999.

Use of artificial bio-cord to study the water environment of experimental ponds. 19th Annual Conference. Japan Water Management. Osaka, Japan.

Acharya, K.; Asaeda, T.; Nagao, A.; 1999.

Competition between Crustacean zooplankton in plentiful and stressful food conditions. 64th Annual Conference. Japanese Society of Limnology. Kyoto, Japan.

Acharya, K.; Asaeda, T.; 1998.

A planktivorous fish-zooplankton model: implications for biomanipulation of shallow lakes. International WIMEK Congress "Options for closed water systems; sustainable water management". Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Acharya, K.; Asaeda, T.; 1998.

Use of growth models of fish and zooplankton for top-down control in successful biomanipulation. 26th Annual Conference on Environmental Systems Research. Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Osaka, Japan.

Acharya, K.; Asaeda, T.; 1998.

Study of structural changes in Phytoplankton concentrations in shallow lakes through a fish growth model. 32nd Annual Conference. Japan Society on Water Environment. Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.