A Coastal fen wetland near Sault Ste. Marie, MI visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS
Wesley A Bickford, PhD
My research interests lie in wetland ecology, invasive species, and plant-microbial interactions. Specifically, I explore new and innovative restoration and invasive species management strategies that use molecular biology, community ecology, and plant-soil interactions as a foundation. My research is focused on adding new tools to complement conventional restoration strategies.
Improving restoration strategies through intervention of microbial symbiosis. Microbes are everywhere. In humans, they are vastly important to health and bodily function. Likewise, bacteria and fungi play hugely important roles in nutrient availability in soils, nutrient acquisition by plants, and plant tolerances to extreme conditions. Management outcomes depend heavily upon the proper links between plants and their microbiomes.
-Microbial interactions could make invasive plants more competitive and aggressive. Therefore, management approaches that target microbial interactions could decrease the expansion and aggressiveness of invasive species. We are working on developing such management tools by testing the impacts of disruption in microbial symbiosis on invasive plant health, nutrient acquisition, and expansion.
-Success of native plant restoration is often predicated upon the proper microbial partners. In addition, invasive species soil microbial legacies could undermine restoration success after removal. Therefore, we are exploring the roles of soil microbes in successful restoration of plants of ecological and cultural importance and developing strategies for improving native species restoration.
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Invasive Phragmites Science: Using Cutting-Edge Genetic Approaches to Develop New Management Tools for the Control of Invasive Phragmites
Invasive plants negatively impact our water, wildlife, and way of life. Current management tools are not cutting it, so a multi-agency research team is using molecular biotechnology to develop new species-specific treatments that help land managers improve the natural resources that we depend on and have more management options during droughts, floods, and other periods of plant stress. This...
Innovative Approaches for Wetland Restoration and Invasive Species Management
Coastal and wetland ecosystems provide critical habitat to birds, fish, wildlife, and a suite of other organisms, clean our water and mitigate flooding events, and offer tremendous recreational opportunities to visitors. However, the majority of coastal and wetland ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin have been significantly degraded or destroyed by ditching, draining, development, invasive species...
A Decision-Support Tool for Invasive Plant Management Under Fluctuating Great Lakes Water Levels
Water levels in the Great Lakes are fluctuating in ways that we have not seen in the past, with both historically low- and high-water levels occurring in the last decade. Expectations are that larger and more frequent water-level fluctuations will occur in response to climate change. The increased variability in lake levels has implications for the management of invasive plants found in...
Effects of Great Lakes water levels on coastal populations of Phragmites australis GeoNarrative
The "Phragmites Management and Variable Great Lakes Water Levels" GeoNarrative presents research by the US Geological Survey and US Fish and Wildlife Service on how Great Lakes water levels affect expansion and management of coastal Phragmites populations.
Invasive Phragmites Science: Management Tools for the Control of Invasive Phragmites to Foster the Restoration of the Great Lakes
The USGS is developing innovative Phragmites control measures to keep this rapidly spreading invasive plant from further expanding its range into new wetland habitats and to aid in the development of successful restoration strategies. Scientists are conducting studies and field tests to determine (1) if microbes (i.e., fungi and bacteria) that live within and around Phragmites are enabling the...
Multimedia related to this scientist
Costal Fen Wetland Near Sault Ste. Marie, MI
A Coastal fen wetland near Sault Ste. Marie, MI visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS
Pitcher Plant in a Fen Wetland Near Sault Ste. Marie
A Pitcher Plant in a fen wetland near near Sault Ste. Marie visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A Pitcher Plant in a fen wetland near near Sault Ste. Marie visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A Carnivorous Butterwort Plant Near Sault Ste. Marie
A carnivorous butterwort plant near Sault Ste. Marie visited during the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A carnivorous butterwort plant near Sault Ste. Marie visited during the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A Shoreline Near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
A shoreline near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan visited by participants of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A shoreline near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan visited by participants of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
Phragmites, Cut-to-Drown
GLSC’s Kaira Liggett next to a floating mass of cut Phragmites at Metzger Marsh in Oak Harbor, OH. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
GLSC’s Kaira Liggett next to a floating mass of cut Phragmites at Metzger Marsh in Oak Harbor, OH. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
Researcher In Wetlands With Phragmites
Non-native Phragmites covers the shores of a wetland as a man in waders walks through the water.
Non-native Phragmites covers the shores of a wetland as a man in waders walks through the water.
Beach Littered With Dead Rhizomes
Dead rhizomes and stems of Phragmites australis are scattered along this beach on Lake Huron.
Dead rhizomes and stems of Phragmites australis are scattered along this beach on Lake Huron.
Phragmites in Panoramic
A paddle through wetlands at Fish Point State Game Area in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A paddle through wetlands at Fish Point State Game Area in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
Cutting Dense Phragmites Rhizomes at Quanicassee State Wildlife Area
Wes Bickford (USGS GLSC) uses a trencher to cut through dense Phragmites rhizomes at Quanicassee State Wildlife Area. Credit: Danielle Snow, USGS.
Wes Bickford (USGS GLSC) uses a trencher to cut through dense Phragmites rhizomes at Quanicassee State Wildlife Area. Credit: Danielle Snow, USGS.
A Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
linkA Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
A Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
linkA Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Invasive Phragmites Science: Using Cutting-Edge Genetic Approaches to Develop New Management Tools for the Control of Invasive Phragmites
Invasive plants negatively impact our water, wildlife, and way of life. Current management tools are not cutting it, so a multi-agency research team is using molecular biotechnology to develop new species-specific treatments that help land managers improve the natural resources that we depend on and have more management options during droughts, floods, and other periods of plant stress. This...
Innovative Approaches for Wetland Restoration and Invasive Species Management
Coastal and wetland ecosystems provide critical habitat to birds, fish, wildlife, and a suite of other organisms, clean our water and mitigate flooding events, and offer tremendous recreational opportunities to visitors. However, the majority of coastal and wetland ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin have been significantly degraded or destroyed by ditching, draining, development, invasive species...
A Decision-Support Tool for Invasive Plant Management Under Fluctuating Great Lakes Water Levels
Water levels in the Great Lakes are fluctuating in ways that we have not seen in the past, with both historically low- and high-water levels occurring in the last decade. Expectations are that larger and more frequent water-level fluctuations will occur in response to climate change. The increased variability in lake levels has implications for the management of invasive plants found in...
Effects of Great Lakes water levels on coastal populations of Phragmites australis GeoNarrative
The "Phragmites Management and Variable Great Lakes Water Levels" GeoNarrative presents research by the US Geological Survey and US Fish and Wildlife Service on how Great Lakes water levels affect expansion and management of coastal Phragmites populations.
Invasive Phragmites Science: Management Tools for the Control of Invasive Phragmites to Foster the Restoration of the Great Lakes
The USGS is developing innovative Phragmites control measures to keep this rapidly spreading invasive plant from further expanding its range into new wetland habitats and to aid in the development of successful restoration strategies. Scientists are conducting studies and field tests to determine (1) if microbes (i.e., fungi and bacteria) that live within and around Phragmites are enabling the...
Multimedia related to this scientist
Costal Fen Wetland Near Sault Ste. Marie, MI
A Coastal fen wetland near Sault Ste. Marie, MI visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS
A Coastal fen wetland near Sault Ste. Marie, MI visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS
Pitcher Plant in a Fen Wetland Near Sault Ste. Marie
A Pitcher Plant in a fen wetland near near Sault Ste. Marie visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A Pitcher Plant in a fen wetland near near Sault Ste. Marie visited by participant of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A Carnivorous Butterwort Plant Near Sault Ste. Marie
A carnivorous butterwort plant near Sault Ste. Marie visited during the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A carnivorous butterwort plant near Sault Ste. Marie visited during the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A Shoreline Near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
A shoreline near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan visited by participants of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A shoreline near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan visited by participants of the 2022 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Symposium. Photo Credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
Phragmites, Cut-to-Drown
GLSC’s Kaira Liggett next to a floating mass of cut Phragmites at Metzger Marsh in Oak Harbor, OH. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
GLSC’s Kaira Liggett next to a floating mass of cut Phragmites at Metzger Marsh in Oak Harbor, OH. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
Researcher In Wetlands With Phragmites
Non-native Phragmites covers the shores of a wetland as a man in waders walks through the water.
Non-native Phragmites covers the shores of a wetland as a man in waders walks through the water.
Beach Littered With Dead Rhizomes
Dead rhizomes and stems of Phragmites australis are scattered along this beach on Lake Huron.
Dead rhizomes and stems of Phragmites australis are scattered along this beach on Lake Huron.
Phragmites in Panoramic
A paddle through wetlands at Fish Point State Game Area in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
A paddle through wetlands at Fish Point State Game Area in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Photo credit: Wes Bickford, USGS.
Cutting Dense Phragmites Rhizomes at Quanicassee State Wildlife Area
Wes Bickford (USGS GLSC) uses a trencher to cut through dense Phragmites rhizomes at Quanicassee State Wildlife Area. Credit: Danielle Snow, USGS.
Wes Bickford (USGS GLSC) uses a trencher to cut through dense Phragmites rhizomes at Quanicassee State Wildlife Area. Credit: Danielle Snow, USGS.
A Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
linkA Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
A Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.
linkA Student Services Contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey monitors Phragmites growing in the Rouge River in Ypsilanti, MI.