Bin Zhu

Research Scientist

Finger Lakes Institute

Funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

As the Research Scientist for the Finger Lakes Institute, Bin Zhu initiates independent research for essential understanding of the Finger Lakes environment. Bin collaborates research projects with scientists at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and nearby institutions, supervises students on environmental and ecological research, and provides scientific information for regional scientists, administrators, and concerned citizens.

A native of China, Bin pursued his Bachelor of Science in Ecology (1997) and Master of Science in Ecology (2000) from Nanjing University, Nanjing, China. He also holds Master of Public Administration (2005) and Ph.D. in Biology (2006), both from Syracuse University. Prior to coming to the Finger Lakes Institute, Bin was a post-doctoral associate with Dr. Lars Rudstam at Cornell University and Dr. Kari Segraves at Syracuse University.

Bin's past research revolved around investigating the changes of submerged plants in Oneida Lake and Lake Ontario following the increased water clarity associated with nutrient reduction and the invasion of zebra and quagga mussels. Currently Bin uses different research techniques, such as hydroacoustics, aerial photograph interpretation, and GIS, to investigate biodiversity and distribution of aquatic plants.  While Bin continues to research invasive species and water quality in the Finger Lakes, he actively works towards the ultimate goal of better understanding the ecological and environmental changes in these ecosystems.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

• American Fisheries Society, since 2006
• International Association for Great Lakes Research, since 2004
• New York State Invasive Plant Council, since 2007
• Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society, since 2006
• Sino-Ecologists Club Overseas, since 2004

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 four submerged macrophytes. Aquatic Botany, in review.
• Zhu, B., C. M. Mayer, S. A. Heckathorn, and L. G. Rudstam. Can dreissenid attachment and biodeposition affect submerged macrophyte growth? Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, in review.
• 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. 2006. Direct and indirect ecological effects of dreissenid mussels (the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the quagga mussel D. bugensis) on submerged macrophytes in North American lakes. Ph.D. thesis, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.
• 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(9): 1312-1318.