Dr. Nate Bickford

Dr Bickford’s research is constantly evolving and expanding into new, relevant, innovative, and fundable areas.  The subjects of his ecological research stretch from aquatics to birds. The conservation work ranges from habitat improvement to local food production. Being on the cutting edge with the risks and benefits associated with cutting edge research is precisely where he intends to remain, always looking at things in a new way combining methods from traditionally isolated science disciplines to answer important environmental questions. He has several publications in print and others in progress on cost benefit analysis, food sustainability, and Goshawk as top tier ecosystem indicators.

Dr. Nate Bickford was born in Colorado in 1974 and has spent his life being curious about the natural world we inhabit. From his earliest recollection science has always been his interest and passion. He has especially been interested in aquatics and birds. As an avid fisherman and falconer these research areas are quite suitable to keep his interest and always bring about new research questions. Dr. Bickford received his BS in Biology at Lenoir-Rhyne University, in North Carolina. He received his master’s from Appalachian State University in Biology. His master’s work focused on parasites. He received his PhD from Arkansas State University in Environmental Science and his dissertation consisted of work on fish populations. Dr. Bickford received an NSF Post Doc Fellowship to continue his research work in Alaska where he directed and mentored graduate student research. After leaving Alaska he was employed at the University of Great Falls, in Montana, as an Associate Professor and Director of the Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program. Dr. Bickford started University of Nebraska Kearney in the Fall 2015 as associate professor in Biology. He started at Colorado State University Pueblo in 2019 as Wildlife Program Coordinator.

Below, I have divided my research publications into different research areas and I have included published works, in review papers, as well as the papers currently in preparation.

Media

Aquaponics

Agriculture in Haiti

Falconry

Eclipse

Eclipse Radio Interview

March of Science

Fulbright

ARCTIC RESEARCH

Bickford, N., Smith, L., Bickford, S., Bice, M.R., Ranglack, D.,H., (2017) Evaluating the Role of CSR and SLO in Ecotourism: Collaboration for Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Arctic Resources. Resources, 6(2), 21.

Bickford, S., Krans, J.K., and Bickford, N 2015 Impacts from Large Corporate Development on Indigenous Communities in Arctic: Specific Focus on Social Justice and Sustainability for the Swedish Sami. International Business Information Management Conference (26th IBIMA)

Bickford, S., Krans, J.K., and Bickford, N 2016. Social and Environmental Impacts of Development on Rural Traditional Arctic Communities: Focus on Northern Sweden and the Sami. Journal of EU Research and Business Vol 2016 1:11.

This is work that I find very impactful with the current development in the Arctic. Although my role in this work is focused on environmental impacts which is just part of a much great picture it is very fulfilling working. I will continue this work as well as develop specific ecological questions on Arctic Wildlife.

COMMUNITY GARDENS

Bickford, N, Bickford, S.H., Bice, M., Hollman, A., Ramos, A.K., and Torquati, J. Comparing and Contrasting Rural and Urban Community Gardens. IN PREPARATION

Bice, M., Ball, J., Bickford, N., Bickford, S., Hollman, A., Coughlin, A., Dinkel, D., Meyer, R., & Ranglack, D. (2018) Community Gardens: Interactions between communities, schools, and impact on students. The Health Educator 50(1). IN PRESS

Ramos, A., Trinidad, N., Bickford, S., Bickford, N., Torquati, T., Mushi, M. 2018. A manuscript titled Engaging residents in planning a community garden: A strategy for enhancing relevant messaging and participation (PCHP-WIP-0009-2018). Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action. IN REVIEW

Bickford, S.H., Bickford, N., Bice, M., Hollman, A., Ramos, A.K., and Torquati, J. (2018) If there is a will there is a way: assessment of success variables for community gardens in rural areas in Arctic and non-Arctic regions. Polar Geography. Under review. Submitted 08 Feb 2018. IN REVIEW

Community garden research is very important as we need to transition from commercial farming back to community and local farming. My work on this research involved environmental impacts and community garden development and best practices.

AQUAPONICS

Adams, B., Boyer, T., Albrecht, M., Ranglack, D.H., and Bickford. N. Using Micro-System Aquaponics to Test for Increased Productivity through System Design and Manipulation. Applied Aquaculture IN REVIEW

Adams, B, Bickford, N, Albrecht, M, Ranglack, D, and Bickford N. (2018) Cost Benefit Analysis of Medium and Micro Sized Aquaponics System. Aquaculture. IN REVIEW

Ringenberg, J., Bice, M., Hollman, A., Meyer, D., Ball, J. Wiedenman, E., Bickford, S., & Bickford, N. Aquaponics: An innovative teaching model for Science Education. International Journal of Science Education (Submitted 12.19.17). IN REVIEW

Aquaponics is part of my sustainability research. I still work in fisheries but my focus has gone to aquaponics as a tool for teaching and research. The change has been from research for science to research for human health and wellbeing. My aquaponics work is all about making a better Earth. Our children need to know where their food comes from. Our communities need to grow and eat local food. Aquaponics is my tool to educate and change people’s behavior as well as thinking about food. We need to remember when every house had a garden and enjoyed eating food they grew themselves. The STEM work related to aquaponics is looking at the effectiveness of the aquaponics as a model system for science education and improvement that need to be made. I feel very strongly that aquaponics is a great model system for educating and exciting children about STEM. What is needed is a great design and great curriculum.

ECOLOGY

Ringenburg, J., Bickford, N., and Ranglack, D.H. The Impact of Fragmented Landscapes on the Spatial Distribution and Dispersal of Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) in South-Central Nebraska. IN PREPARATION

Schlater, S, Ranglack, D.H., and Bickford, N. Road Mortally of Raptors along Prairie Interstate. IN PREPARATION

Ritson, R., Bickford, N., and Ranglack, D.H. Wildlife Behavior Changes During a Solar Eclipse. IN REVIEW

Schlater, S, Ranglack, D.H., and Bickford, N. Hunting Locations of Red Tailed Hawks. IN PREPARATION

Schlater, S, Ranglack, D.H., and Bickford, N. Migration corridors of Red-tailed Hawks. IN PREPARATION

Schlater, S, Ranglack, D.H., and Bickford, N. Nesting ranges for Red Tailed Hawks. IN PREPARATION

Reinson, M., Bickford, N., and Ranglack, D.H. White Tailed Deer Movement and Home Range Sizes in an Agricultural Landscape. IN PREPARATION

Schlater, S, Ranglack, D.H., and Bickford, N. White Tailed Jackrabbit: What We Know, What Do We Need to Know. IN PREPARATION

Bickford, N., Ringenburg, J., Ranglack, D.H. Revaluating Small Game Management in a Fragmented Landscape. IN PREPARATION

Reinson, M., Bickford, N., and Ranglack, D.H. Habitat Fragmentation in the Prairie. IN PREPARATION

Wright, M., Ranglack, D, and Bickford, N. (2018) Prey differences between active and inactive nest sites. Raptor Research. IN REVIEW

Wright, M., Ranglack, D., and Bickford, N. (2018) Remote sensing and tools to predict nesting habitat in Montana. Raptor Research. IN REVIEW

Wright, M., Tornberg, R., and Bickford, N. (2018) When Goshawks Attack! A Comparison of Nest Defense Behaviors in Oulu, Finland and the Little Belts, Montana. Animals. IN REVIEW

Bomske, C and Bickford, N. (2017) The Effects of Vegetation Variety on Overwintering Anuran Diversity in Permanent Florida Ponds. Southeastern Naturalist. IN PRESS

Ecology has been a part of my work for both fisheries but also conservation. Very much like fisheries, ecology started as a way to answer questions and turned into a way to help society through conservation. This work is about preserving a healthy environment for healthy humans. As part of this work I am trying to identify how wildlife move through fragmented agricultural habitat. Agriculture is important for our society. However, there are good agricultural practices and poor practices. We need to develop and support sustainable agricultural practices that grow food that is of high quality, while preserving space for wildlife. 

FISHERIES

Phelps, Q., Bickford, N., Hupfeld, R., and Pitchford, G. An evaluation of otolith microchemistry as a tool for identifying natal sites of Flathead Catfish in the Missouri River and four tributaries. IN PREPARATION

Helms, B., Bickford, N., Tubbs, N., and Feminella, J. (2017) Feeding, growth, and trophic position of redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) in watersheds of differing land cover in the lower Piedmont, USA. Urban Ecosystems. IN PRESS

Hogan, J., McIntyre, P., Blum, M., Gilliam, J., and Bickford, N. 2014 Consequences of Alternative Dispersal Strategies in a Putatively Amphidromous Fish. Ecology 95(9):2397-2408.

Collins, S., Bickford, N., McIntyre, P., Coulon, A., Ulseth, A., Taphorn, D., and Flecker, A. 2013 Population Structure of a Neotropical Migratory Fish: Contrasting Perspectives from Genetics and Otolith Microchemistry. Transaction of American Fisheries 142.5 (2013): 1192-1201.

Beaulaurier, J. N. Bickford, J.L. Gregg, C.A. Grady, A. Gannam, J.R. Winton, P.K. Hershberger. 2012.Susceptibility of Pacific herring Clupea pallasii to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is Influenced by Diet. Journal for Aquatic Animal Health 24.1 (2012): 43-48.

Brown, R., Bickford, N., and Severin, K. 2007. Probing Upstream Migrations of Anadromous Coregonid Fish (Family: Salmonidae; Subfamily: Coregoninae) in the Yukon River Drainage. Transactions of American Fisheries Society. Transaction of American Fisheries 136: 678-690

Bickford, N., and Hannigan, R. 2006. Stock identification of Walleye (Sander vitreum) using otolith chemistry in the Eleven Point River, AR North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 25: 1542-1549.

Sako, A., O’Reilly, C.M., Hannigan, R., Bickford, N., and Johnson, R.L. 2004. Stock identification of two clupeid species, Stolothrissa tanganicae and Limnothrissa miodon in Lake Tanganyika using otolith microchemistry. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. 5: 91-97.

Hannigan, R.E. and Bickford, N.A. 2003. Hydrochemical Variations In A Spring-Fed River, Spring River Arkansas. Environmental Geoscience 10 (4): 167-188. 

Bickford, N.A. and Hannigan, R.E. 2003.    Trace element chemistry of fish tissues: Uptake routes in genus Moxostoma. Environmental Geoscience 11(2): 226-236.

Christian, A.D., Bouldin, J., Bickford, N., McCord, S.B., Sako, A., and Ferris, J. 2003. Winter and spring water quality of Big Creek watershed, Craighead County, AR: Nutrients, habitat, and macroinvertebrates. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Sciences 57: 27 -36

Fisheries is an important part of my research. I will continue this work as it is an important part of conservation and sustainability for humans’ health. I will focus on fish movement, identification of source and sink habitat, as well as age and growth.

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Bickford, N., Wright, M., Riston, R., and Ranglack, D.H. Cost Benefit analysis of Cattle Grazing in the National Forest. IN PREPARATION

Adams, B., Albrecht, M., Bickford, S.H., and Bickford. N. Cost Benefit Analysis of Medium Sized Aquaponics systems. Applied Acculture IN REVIEW

Bouldin, J., Bickford, N., Stroud, B., and Guha, G. 2004. Tailwater recovery systems for irrigation –benefit/cost analysis and water resource conservation technique in Northeast Arkansas. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Sciences 58: 23-31

Cost benefit is a great tool for conservation research. This is a great way to show people why conservation is worth the money and time. I will continue to find projects where this tool can be used.

HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH

Hollman, A., Bice, M. A., Ball, J., Bickford, N., Shafer, A., Bickford, S. A comparison of scholarly productivity among current professors who obtained terminal degrees. Higher Education IN REVIEW

Bice, M.R., Hollman, A., Bickford, S., Bickford, N., Ball, J., Wiedenman, E.M., Brown, G., Dinkel, D., & Adkins, M. (2017). Kinesiology in 360 Degrees. International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, 1(1), 9-17.

Higher Education and STEM Research and Education is and has been a very important part of my academic life. I feel very strongly that I need to educate future scientist. I have written many grants in past and present on STEM education. I also want to know how to make more successful Faculty. These are tools that I can use to mentor future faculty. 

MISCELLANEOUS

Mailey, S., Shafer, A., and Bickford N. (2017) Pain Tolerance and Pain Threshold According to Indoor versus Outdoor Sport Participation and Sex. Jacobs Journal of Physiotherapy and Exercise, 3(1).