Bradley M. Richardson

Bradley M. Richardson

Research Fish Biologist

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Biography

I am a Research Fish Biologist with the USDA-ARS Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit. My research primarily centers on the ecology of snails and other macroinvertebrates in catfish aquaculture ponds and how this subsequently impacts catfish production. My research interests cover a wide breadth of aquatic ecology including macroinvertebrate and fish community structures, species interactions, predator-prey interactions, as well as general ecology and life histories. I also have a strong interest in educational research, particularly in how note-taking effects information retention in the classroom.

Interests

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Species Interactions
  • Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
  • Freshwater Fishes

Education

  • PhD in Forest Resources - Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (Secondary Education), 2020

    Mississippi State University

  • MS in Biology, 2015

    Murray State University

  • BSc in Fisheries/Aquatic Biology (Chemistry), 2013

    Murray State University

Projects

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All Catfish Disease Ecology Gar Macroinvertebrates

Diversity in catfish production ponds

Investigating the diversity and community structures in food fish and fingerling catfish production ponds

Managing Trematode Risk Through Host Control

Seeking control of trematode parasite risk in catfish aquaculture by managing the snail intermediate host.

Diet Comparison of Four Sympatric Gar Species

Masters thesis research investigating the diet overlap of four sympatric gar species (Family Lepisosteidae) in western Kentucky.

Biocontrol of Proliferative Gill Disease using Gambusia

Evaluating the use of Gambusia spp. as a dead-end host for Henneguya ictaluri, the causative parasite of Proliferative Gill Disease (PGD).

Morphometric Analysis of Trematode Parasites

Using morphometric analysis to evaluate taxonomic designation of trematode parasites of the genus Apharyngostrigea.

Atypical Aeromonas hydrophila in Catfish

My doctoral research investigating the eco-epidemiology of atypical Aeromonas hydrophila in farm-raised catfish.

Catalpa/Red Bud Creek

A collaboration with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Mississippi State University to assess the health of small streams of northeastern Mississippi.

Magby Creek Outreach

An outreach project to teach urban high school students the skills and importance of monitoring stream health using water quality and macroinvertebrate communities.

Recent Publications

Evaluating nanopore sequencing for microbial community characterization in catfish pond water
Caitlin E. Older(?), Bradley M. Richardson(?), Monica Wood(?), Geoffrey C. Waldbieser(?), Cynthia Ware(?), Matt J. Griffin(?), Brian D. Ott(?)
PDF Project DOI
Rotenone Has Little Effect on Water Quality, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, or Macroinvertebrates in Aquaculture Nursery Ponds
Charles C. Mischke(?), Bradley M. Richardson(?), David J. Wise(?), Ambika Tiwari(?)
PDF Project DOI
Activation of Henneguya ictaluri Actinospores by Nonictalurid Fish Species, with Implications for Management of Proliferative Gill Disease in Catfish Aquaculture
Bradley M. Richardson(?), Charles C. Mischke(?), T. Graham Rosser(?), Ethan T. Woodyard(?), Cyndi Ware(?), David J. Wise(?), Matt J. Griffin(?)
PDF Project DOI
Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and occupancy models to estimate atypical Aeromonas hydrophila (aAh) prevalence in catfish
Bradley M. Richardson(?), Matt J. Griffin(?), Michael E. Colvin(?), David J. Wise(?), Cynthia Ware(?), Charles C. Mischke(?), Terrence E. Greenway(?), Todd S. Byars(?), Larry A. Hanson(?), Mark L Lawrence(?)
PDF Project DOI
Increased Probability and Efficiency of Gar Capture Using Multi- vs. Monofilament Gill Nets
Bradley M. Richardson(?), Michael B. Flinn(?)
PDF Project DOI

Recent Posts

Celebrating my billionth - with a B!!

Yes, you read that right. Today, I celebrate my 1,000,000,000th!! My 1 billionth what, you ask? My 1 billionth second of being on this planet! Humans are fantastically bad at comprehending large numbers.
Sep 29, 2020 Blog Post

A Strange Reality

Today has placed me in a strange reality, yet it is also a fairly common one across much of the academic world. Just over 3 months ago, I defended my doctoral research.
Jul 20, 2020 Blog Post

Don't Worry, I'm a Doctor!

Yesterday, April 20, 2020, I successfully defended my doctoral research! In the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, the defense was completely virtual (other than one of my co-advisors being in the room).
Apr 21, 2020 Project Update

Summer Shenanigans

So, my final summer as a PhD student just wrapped up and I have to say I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. This summer led to a wide range of new experiences, projects, and results.
Aug 20, 2019 Project Update

Spring Semester Wrap-up!

As the spring semester wraps up and the 2018-19 school year comes to a close. I am currently prepping for the LAST field season of my doctoral work! I am slated to graduate in May 2020, which means I will be defending my dissertation in February or March, most likely.
May 9, 2019 Project Update
See all posts

Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Research Fish Biologist

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Mar 2021 – Present Stoneville, MS

Responsibilities include:

  • Conducting original research on aquatic ecology of farm-raised Channel Catfish
  • Aid in statistical analysis for students and colleagues
  • Work with stakeholders to improve the warmwater aquaculture industry
 
 
 
 
 

Intermittent Researcher

Mississippi State University

Aug 2020 – Jan 2021 Starkville, MS

Responsibilities include:

  • Aiding on field and laboratory studies in catfish aquaculture management and disease
  • Aid in statistical analysis for students and colleagues
  • DNA isolation and genome sequencing techniques for fish disease identification and analysis
 
 
 
 
 

Graduate Teaching Assistant (PhD)

Mississippi State University

Aug 2016 – Aug 2020 Starkville, MS

Responsibilities include:

  • Conducting original research on atypical Aeromonas hydrophila (aAh) infections in farm-raised Channel Catfish
  • Serving as teaching assistant for departmental courses
  • Mentoring undergraduate students working in our lab
 
 
 
 
 

Long-term Substitute Teacher

Century Jr./Sr. High School

Dec 2015 – May 2016 Ullin, IL

Responsibilities include:

  • Teaching Jr./Sr. High School mathematics and latin
  • Creating/implimenting lesson plans
  • Maintaining communication with parents/guardians
 
 
 
 
 

Critical Species (Fisheries) Technician II

Kentucky Department of Fish and wildlife Resources

Jan 2015 – Sep 2015 Murray, KY

Responsibilities include:

  • Collecting age, sex, and size data from commercially harvested American Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and Asian carps (Hypophthalmichtys sp.)
  • Help develop processing plants and food markets for Asian carps in Kentucky
  • General boat, truck, and building maintenance
 
 
 
 
 

Graduate Teaching Assistant (MSc)

Murray State University

Aug 2013 – Dec 2015 Murray, KY

Responsibilities include:

  • Conducting original research on interactions between four native carnviorous fishes (Family: Lepisosteidae)
  • Serving as teaching assistant for department courses
  • Mentoring undergraduate students working in our lab
 
 
 
 
 

Undergraduate Researcher

Murray State University

Aug 2010 – Jul 2013 Murray, KY

Responsibilities include:

  • Aiding graduate students with field and lab work on various projects
  • Serving as Lab Safety Manager
  • Conducting original research on identification metrics of native gar (Lepisosteidae) species
  • Training new/incoming undergraduate lab members

Contact