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
ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS:

Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences – University of Nevada Reno
Water Resources Management Program – University of Nevada Las Vegas

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

Gautam, M.; Acharya, K.; Stone, M., 2010 (accepted).

Best Management Practices for Stormwater Management in the Desert Southwest. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education.

Acharya, K.; Schulman, C.; Young, M., 2009 (in press).

Physiological Response of Daphnia magna to Linear Anionic Polyacrylamide: Ecological Implications for Receiving Waters. Water, air and soil pollution.

Smith, A.; Acharya, K.; Jack, J., 2008.

Overcrowding, food and phosphorus limitation effects on ephipphia production and population dynamics in the invasive species Daphnia lumholtzi. Hydrobiologia. v.618. n.1. pp.47-56. 10.1007/s10750-008-9546-2.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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. n.3. pp.656-665.

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.

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.

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

Li, Y.; Acharya, K.; Chen, D.; Stone, M.; Yu, Z.; Young, M.; Zhu, J.; Shafer, D.; Warwick, J., 2009.

Circulation and Temperature Stratification of Lake Mead under Changing Water Levels. AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, California.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C., 2009.

Urban non-point source pollution in arid and semi-arid regions: A case study of the Las Vegas Wash, Nevada. An International Perspective on Environmental and Water Resources. Environmental Water Resources Institute-ASCE. Bangkok, Thailand.

Yu, A.; Simmons, C.; Acharya, K., 2009.

The Impact of Urban Development on the Water Quality in the Las Vegas Watershed. AGU Fall meeting. San Francisco.

Acharya, K.; Li, Y.; Stone, M.; Yu, Z.; Young, M.; Shafer, D.; Zhu, J.; Warwick, J., 2009.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Algal and Nutrient, and Their Correlations Based on Long-term Monitoring Data in Lake Taihu, China. AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, California.

Goreham, J.; McKay, K.; Stone, M.; Acharya, K.; Fischenich, C., 2009.

Riparian Vegetation Bending and Washout in the Southwestern U.S. International Association of Hydraulics Research. ASCE. Vancouver, Canada.

Acharya, K.; Sada, D., 2009.

Are human activities contributing negatively to benthic macro-invertebrate health in the Walker River?. International Symposium on Terminus Lakes. Reno, Nevada.

Adhikari, A.; Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C.; Zhou, X.; Shanahan, S.; Dooremolen, D.V.; Lane, C.; Schulman, C., 2009.

Understanding the role of the wetland plants, Typha and Sconeplecus species on nutrient removal efficiency from different wetlands at Las Vegas Wash, Nevada. 2009 Nevada Water Resournces Association Annual Conference. NWRA. Reno, NV.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C.; Adhikari, A.; Zhou, X.; Shanahan, S; Dooremolen, D.V.; Lake, C., 2009.

Assessment and Monitoring of Wetlands for Water Quality in the Las Vegas Watershed. 2009 Nevada Water Resournces Association Annual Conference. NWRA. Reno, NV.

Gautam, M.; Acharya, K., 2009.

Human Interventions versus Climate Change: Impacts on Water Management. AGU Fall meeting. San Francisco.

Link, C.; Acharya, K.; Papelis, L., 2009.

Will Quagga Mussels Potentially Impact the Native Species’ Food Web in Lake Mead by Affecting Plankton and Nutrient Availability?. Lake Mead Symposium, 2009. Public Lands Institute, UNLV. Las Vegas, NV.

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.

Xiang, L.; Mon, J. ; Yu, Z. ; Young, M.H. ; Stone, M. ; Acharya, K. , 2008.

Simulating One Dimensional Water Flow and Solute Transport in Arid Soils. Am. Soc. Agron. National Meetings. Houston, TX.

Stone, M.C. ; Acharya, K.; , 2008.

Ecological Modeling of Walker Lake to Evaluate the Influence of Local and Global Environmental Change. Ninth International Conference on Dryland Development. Internatiional Drylands Development Commission. Alexandria, Egypt.

Acharya, A.; Stone, M.C., 2008.

Storm Water BMP Evaluations in Arid Regions. Floodplain Management Association 2008 Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.

Li, Y; Acharya, K; Stone, M; Yu, Z; Pang, Y; , 2008.

On evaluating water transparency and its influencing factors in Lake Taihu, China. AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA.

Xiang, L; Mon, J; Yu, Z; Young, M H; AU: Stone, M; Acharya, K , 2008.

Simulating One Dimensional Water Flow and Solute Transport in Arid Soils. AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C.; Mon, J.; Byers, J., 2008.

Influence of soil moisture on vertical C, N stoichiometric profiles in desert soils. Symposium: Understanding Near-Surface Environmental Processes. NWRA. Las Vegas, NV.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C.; Schulman, C.; Bower, M.; Fisk, T., 2008.

Limnological study of Devils Hole. Devils Hole Workshop. National Park Service. Death Valley, CA.

Mon, J.; Yu, Z.; Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C., 2008.

FATE AND TRANSPORT OF NITRATE IN ARID SOILS. SymposiumSymposium: Understanding Near-Surface Environmental Processes. NWRA. Las Vegas, NV.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C., 2008.

Las Vegas Wash Restoration and Stabilization. Floodplain Management Association 2008 Annual Conference,. San Diego, CA.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C., 2008.

Urban Growth and Land Use Change Effects on Water Quality and Ecosystem in the Las Vegas Watershed: Implications for Water Resource Management in Semi-Arid Areas. Ninth International Conference on Dryland Development,. Internatiional Drylands Development Commission. Alexandria, Egypt.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C., 2008.

Stormwater Best Management Practice Evaluations in Arid Regions. Floodplain Management Association 2008 Annual Conference,. San Diego, CA.

McKay, S.K.; Fischenich, C.; Stone, M.C.; Acharya, K.; Goreham, J.O., 2008.

Stability and Failure of Vegetation in Arid Regions. Annual Water Resources Conference. American Water Resources Association. New Orleans, LA.

Acharya, K.; Stone, M.C., 2008.

Las Vegas Wash: Restoration & Stabilization. Floodplain Management Association 2008 Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.

Acharya, K.; Bukaveckas, P., 2008.

Uniform vs. heterogeneous diets: Which one does zooplankton favor?. ASLO Summer Meeting. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador · Canada.

Stone, M.C.; Acharya, K.; Fischenich, C.; McKay, K., 2008.

Vegetation-Hydrodynamic Interactions in Flood Control Channels. Floodplain Management Association 2008 Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.

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.

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.

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; 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.

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.

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.; 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.

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.

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.

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.

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., 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.

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.

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.