Will Bouchard | Chironomidae Research Group

Contact Information

Work Address:
Water Quality Standards Unit
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194

Education

Ph.D. Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN (2007)
Advisor: L.C. Ferrington, Jr.
Thesis Title: “Comparison of Emergence Patterns and Taxonomic Composition of Lotic Chironomidae (Diptera) Communities in Contrasting Thermal Regimes”

M.A. Entomology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, (2002)
Advisor: D.G. Huggins
Thesis Title: “Assessment of ecological condition in headwater streams of the Central Plains: evaluation of multimetric and predictive modeling approaches”

B.A. Biology, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA (1998)
Thesis Title: “Assessment of ecological condition in headwater streams of the Central
Plains: evaluation of multimetric and predictive modeling approaches”

Research Interests

Will Bouchard received his M.A. (2002) in Entomology from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. (2007) in Entomology from the University of Minnesota. He taught at Hamline University as an adjunct professor during 2007. Will then held a post-doctoral position at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia working on the development of biomonitoring methods in Mongolia. In 2008, he started a position at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in (MPCA) as a research scientist. His work at the MPCA includes coordinating the implementation of a tiered aquatic life use (TALU) framework and the development of water quality standards to protect aquatic biota and water quality. Dr. Bouchard’s research interests include the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic invertebrates and their use in biological assessments and monitoring. He has also been interested in the ecology and biology of winter-active aquatic insects and the cold-hardiness mechanisms these species use during Minnesota winters. In addition, he is also involved in research on the taxonomy and ecology of Chironomidae (North America, Mongolia) and the development of identification materials for aquatic invertebrates.

Links to projects I am involved with:

Publications and Presentations

Academic Publications

Hayford, B.L and R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2012. New records of Nymphomyiidae from central Asia with notes on novel habitat for Nymphomyiidae. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 114: 186-193.

Anderson, A. M., R. W. Bouchard, Jr., and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2011. Hibernal emergence of Chironomidae in relation to stream size in Kansas, USA. Pp. 247-255, In Wang, X & Liu, W. (eds.). Contemporary Chironomid Studies – Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Chironomidae, Nankai University Press, Tianjin, China. 412 pp + 18 plates.

R.W. Bouchard, Jr. and L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2011. The effects of subsampling and sampling frequency on the use of surface floating pupal exuviae to measure Chironomidae (Diptera) communities in wadeable temperate streams. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 181: 205-223.

Ferrington, L.C., Jr., D.E. Hansen, B.N. Karns & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2010. Longevities of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski, a hibernal emerging species of Chironomidae. Proceedings of the XV International Symposium on Chironomidae. pp.22-29.

Bouchard R.W., Jr., L.C. Ferrington Jr. & S.A. Kells. 2009. Cold hardiness in the adults of two winter stonefly species: Allocapnia granulata (Claassen) and A. pygmaea (Burmeister) (Plecoptera: Capniidae). Aquatic Insects. 31(2): 145-155.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2009. Winter growth, development, and emergence of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Minnesota (USA) streams. Environmental Entomology 38: 250-259.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2008. Determination of Chironomidae thermal preferences and thermal partitioning among closely related taxa in a Minnesota stream using surface floating pupal exuviae. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) Supplement 13: 191-198.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., M.A. Carrillo, S.A. Kells & L.C. Ferrington Jr. 2006. Freeze tolerance in larvae of the winter-active Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae): a contrast to adult strategy for survival at low temperatures. Hydrobiologia 568:403-416.

Bouchard R.W., Jr., M.A. Carrillo, & L.C. Ferrington Jr. 2006. Lower Lethal Temperature for Adult Male Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae), a Winter-Emerging Diamesinae. Aquatic Insects 28(1):57-66.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2004. Guide to aquatic macroinvertebrates of the Upper Midwest. Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN. 208 pp.

Other Publications (Technical Reports)

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2012. Guide to Aquatic Invertebrate Families of Mongolia Identification Manual for Students, Citizen Monitors, and Aquatic Resource Professionals. Available Online. 218 pp.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2012. Identification Guide and Key to Chironomid Pupal Exuviae in Mongolian Lakes. 72 pp.

Heiskary, S., R.W. Bouchard, Jr. and H. Markus. 2010 – Draft. Minnesota Nutrient Criteria Development for Rivers. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN. 165 p.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2010. “Insects and low temperature” Rev. of Low temperature biology of insects, by D.L. Denlinger and R.E. Lee, Jr. Ecology 00(0): 000-000.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., D.G. Huggins, and J. Kriz. 2005. A Review of the Issues Related to Taxonomic Resolution in Biological Monitoring of Aquatic Ecosystems with an Emphasis on Macroinvertebrates. Kansas Biological Survey Technical Report 133. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence, KS. 38 pp.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., D. Charles, R. Thomas, T. Nightengale, & C. Flinders. 2002. An assessment of the potential for benthic invertebrates to limit algal biomass at selected sites in the Jackson River, VA. Patrick Center for Environmental Research, The Academy of Natural Sciences. Report #02-XX. 29 pp.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & J.A. Anderson. 2001. Description and protocol for two quantitative periphyton samplers used for multihabitat stream sampling. Report for the Central Plains Center for Bioassessment. 12 pp.

Huggins, D.G. & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2000. Aquatic habitat and biology module for the Big Soldier Creek watershed management plan. Report #00-001 of the Central Plains Center for Bioassessment, Lawrence, KS. 111 pp.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & B.L. Hayford. 2000. Project report on a comparison and analysis of macroinvertebrate community health between the Tyson and Alcan branches (Pettis Co., Missouri). Report #98 of the Kansas Biological Survey. Project report to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 13 pp +.

Invited Presentations

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2011. The use of insects to protect and restore surface water quality. Invited speaker at the American Entomological Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. February 23, 2011.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2005. Rapid recovery of Chironomidae (Diptera) in Little Mill Creek (Kansas, U.S.A.) after the decommissioning of a waste water treatment plant. Invited speaker at the North American Benthological Society Meeting Special Session “Chironomidae: linking biodiversity and bioassessment” May 24, 2005.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & D.G. Huggins. 2002. Assessment of ecological condition in streams of the Central Plains: multimetric and predictive modeling techniques. Invited speaker at the Central Plains Aquatic Bioassessment and Biocriteria Symposium. September 19, 2002.

Published Abstracts of Papers/Posters Presented at Meetings

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., J. Sandberg, & S. Niemela. 2009. Development of natural condition expectations for fish communities in Minnesota Rivers. Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 26(1): 87.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2008. Diversity of chironomidae (Diptera) in mongolian saline lakes. Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 25(1):190.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2007. Development of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae) at low water temperatures. Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 24(1):241.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2006. Comparison of emergence duration and taxonomic composition of lotic Chironomidae (Diptera) communities in contrasting thermal regimes. Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 23(1):264.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2005. Rapid recovery of Chironomidae (Diptera) in Little Mill Creek (Kansas, U.S.A. after the decommissioning of a waste water treatment plant. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 22(1):226.

Serieyssol, C.A., R.W. Bouchard, Jr., A.W. Sealock, M.R. Rufer, J. Chirhart, J. Genet, & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2005. Bottle traps and dipnetting: evaluation of two sampling techniques for assessing macroinvertebrate biodiversity in depressional wetlands. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 22(1):327.

Berg, M.B., S. Olson, B. Hayford, S.E. Gresens, J. Kennedy, R.W. Bouchard, Jr., & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2005. Biodiversity of Chironomidae at the North Temperate Lakes LTER Site. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 22(1):332.

R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2004. Emergence duration of Chironomidae in small, temperate, groundwater-dominated streams. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 21(1):395-396.

Kavanaugh, J.L., R.W. Bouchard, Jr., L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2003. Efficacy of surface-floating pupal exuviae collections for estimating emergence frequencies of abundant species. Poster at XV International Chironomidae Symposium.

Ferrington, L.C., Jr., Dan Hansen, Byron Karns & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2003. Longevities of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski, a hibernal emerging species of Chironomidae. Poster at XV International Chironomidae Symposium.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2003. Duration of emergence among Chironomidae in an insular tropical rainforest stream. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 20(1):315-316.

Bouchard, R.W. & R.W. Bouchard Jr. 2001. Crayfish distributional patterns and areas of endemism of rare species in the southeastern United States. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 18(1):220.

Thomas, R.L., R.W. Bouchard, S.L.H. Fuller, J.W .Littrell, P.F. Overbeck, & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2001. A fifty-year history of the mussel fauna of the Savannah River in the vicinity of the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina, U.S.A. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society 18(1):269-270.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & D.G. Huggins. 2000. Development of fish biocriteria for streams of the Western Corn Belt Plains Ecoregion. (Abstract). Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society. 17(1):229.

Non-Abstracted Presentations and Extension Talks

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., C.O. Yoder, S. Niemela, D. Helwig, M. Tomasek, & H. Markus. 2012. Development of a tiered aquatic life use (TALU) framework for Minnesota streams Presented at the Society for Freshwater Science Annual Meeting. May 22, 2012.

Genet, J. & R.W. Bouchard Jr. 2012. Minnesota’s Invertebrate IBI for Evaluating the Condition of Depressional Wetlands. Presented at the 2012 Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee Conference. March 20, 2012.

Heiskary, S. & R.W. Bouchard Jr. 2012. Draft River, Pool & Pepin Eutrophication and Sediment WQS. Presented at the 2012 Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee Conference. March 20, 2012.

Heiskary, S. & R.W. Bouchard Jr. 2011. River, Pool and Lake Pepin Eutrophication Standards. Presented at the Minnesota Water Resources Conference. October 19, 2011.

Ferrington Jr., L.C. & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2011. Cold tolerance, longevity and oviposition by Diamesa mendotae (Muttkowski). Presented at the 18th International Chironomid Symposium, Trondheim, Norway, July 6, 2011.

B.L. Hayford, L. Rawlings, & R.W. Bouchard, Jr.. 2011. Rare Chironomidae in Mongolia. Presented at the 18th International Chironomid Symposium, Trondheim, Norway, July 6, 2011.

R.W. Bouchard Jr., S. Heiskary, & H. Markus. 2011. Development of nutrient criteria for the protection of aquatic life in Minnesota rivers using a multiple lines of evidence approach. Presented at the North American Benthological Society Meeting. May 25, 2011.

Louwsma, J. E., A.M. Anderson, P. Kranzfelder, R.W. Bouchard, Jr., & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. Long-term survivorship of adult Diamesa mendotae (Diptera: Chironomidae) at sub-freezing temperatures. Presented at the North American Benthological Society Meeting. May 25, 2011.

R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2011. The use of aquatic insects to protect and restore surface water quality in Minnesota. Presented at the University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology Seminar. March 22, 2011.

R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2010. The Biological Condition Gradient and Its Use in Setting Statewide Biological Criteria. Presented at the Minnesota Water Resources Conference. October 20, 2010.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., J. Gerritsen, J. Sandberg, J. Chirhart, & C.O. Yoder. 2010. Development of the biological condition gradient for Minnesota and its use in setting statewide biological criteria. Presented at the Joint North American Benthological Society and American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Meeting. June 8, 2010.

Kranzfelder, P., L.C. Ferrington, Jr., & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2010. Survivorship and longevity of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae) buried in snow banks. Presented at the Joint North American Benthological Society and American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Meeting. June 7, 2010.

Hayford, B.L. & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2010. Patterns in emergence of Chironomidae from cold springs in Outer Mongolia. Presented at the Joint North American Benthological Society and American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Meeting. June 10, 2010.

Ferrington Jr., L.C. & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2010. Chironomidae emergence in large lakes of Western Mongolia. Presented at the Joint North American Benthological Society and American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Meeting. June 11, 2010.

Heiskary, S., R.W. Bouchard Jr., & H. Markus. 2010. Draft River Nutrient Water Quality Standards. Presented at the 27th Annual Conference of Innovative Approaches to Wastewater Operational Problems. February 24, 2010.

Heiskary, S., R.W. Bouchard Jr., & H. Markus. 2009. Draft River Nutrient Water Quality Standards: A Regional Approach Using Biological Response Relationships and Quantile Regression. Presented at the Minnesota Water Resources Conference. October 26, 2009.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2009. Development and Adoption of a Tiered Aquatic Life Uses (TALU) Framework in Minnesota. Presented at the University of Minnesota, Water Resources Science Seminar. February 27, 2009.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2007. Phenology and taxonomic composition of lotic Chironomidae (Diptera) communities in contrasting thermal regimes. Presented at the University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology Seminar.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2006. Thermal preferences of Chironomidae in a Minnesota stream. Presented at the 16th International Chironomid Symposium, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, July 26, 2006.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr., M.A. Carrillo, S.A. Kells & L.C. Ferrington Jr. 2005. Freeze tolerance in larvae of the winter-active Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae). Poster presented at the Entomological Society of America, December 16, 2005.

Hayford, B.L. & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2004. Diversity of Chironomidae on the Great Plains. Poster presented at the Central States Entomological Society April 17, 2004.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2004. Development of macroinvertebrate tolerance values for use in biological assessment. University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology Seminar.

Bouchard, R.W., Jr. 2003. Thesis Proposal – Comparison of Phenology and Taxonomic Composition of Lotic Chironomidae (Diptera) Communities in Contrasting Thermal Regimes. University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology Seminar.

Kavanaugh, J.L., R.W. Bouchard, Jr., & L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 2003. Efficacy of surface-floating pupal exuviae collections for estimating emergence frequencies of abundant species. Poster presented at XV International Chironomidae Symposium, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ferrington, L.C., Jr., D. Hansen, B. Karns & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2003. Longevities of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski, a hibernal emerging species of Chironomidae. Poster presented at XV International Chironomidae Symposium , St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bouchard, R.W., S.L.H. Fuller, R.L. Thomas, J.W. Littrell, P.F. Overbeck, & R.W. Bouchard, Jr. 2001. A fifty-year history of the mussel fauna of the Savannah River in the vicinity of the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina, U.S.A. Poster presented at 2nd Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, March 11-14, 2001.