Lara Hedrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Center for Natural Sciences, Room 348
(434) 582-3221
Education
- Ph.D., Wildlife and Fisheries Resources, West Virginia University
- M.S., Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science, Univ of Maryland Eastern Shore
- B.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Resources, West Virginia University
Biography
Dr. Lara Hedrick grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland which sparked a passion for estuarine ecology. Her research interests turned to human impacts on freshwater streams when she and her husband Jim (also a fisheries biologist) moved to his home state of WV in 2001. Prior to beginning her position as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Liberty University, Dr. Hedrick worked for 23 years as a research associate at West Virginia University studying the impacts of highway construction on benthic macroinvertebrate populations.
Dr. Hedrick and her husband enjoy raising their children (3 biological and 5 adopted), being foster parents, serving in their church, and a variety of outdoor activities from fishing and boating to hiking and hunting. Dr. Hedrick is passionate about the biological intricacy of God’s creation and looks forward to exploring this with her students.
Courses Taught
- BIOL 224L – General Biology I Lab
- BIOL 225L – General Biology II Lab
- BIOL310 – Ecology
- BIOL310L – Ecology Lab
Research Interests
Dr. Lara Hedrick is very interested in the interaction between abiotic and biotic factors in the environment, especially human impacts and interactions, and the way in which aquatic ecosystems respond to and recover from them. Her focus over the past 20 years has been small streams, and the influences of human impacts related to agriculture, mining, highway construction, and timbering on stream morphology and aquatic species.
Professional Memberships
American Fisheries Society
Publications
Cincotta, D.A., D.P. Wegmen, T.E. Oldham, S.A. Welsh, and L.B. Hedrick. 2015. Fishes of the Blackwater River drainage, Tucker County, West Virginia. Northeastern Naturalist 14 (Special Issue 7):297-313. https://doi.org/10.1656/058.014.sp725
Hedrick, L., J. Anderson, S. Welsh, and L-S. Lin. 2013. Sedimentation in mountain streams: a review of methods of measurement. Natural Resources 4:92-104.
Hedrick, L.B., S.A. Welsh, J.T. Anderson, L. Lin, Y. Chen, and X. Wei. 2010. Response of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to highway construction in an Appalachian watershed. Hydrobiologia 641:115-131.
Hedrick, L., S. Welsh, and J. Anderson. 2009. Influences of high flow events on a stream channel altered by construction of a highway bridge – a case study. Northeastern Naturalist 16:375-394.
Chen, Y., X. Wei, L. Lin, R. Viadera, L.B. Hedrick, S.A. Welsh, J.T. Anderson. 2009. Effects of highway construction on stream water quality and macroinvertebrate condition in a Mid-Atlantic highlands watershed, USA. Journal of Environmental Quality 38:1672-1682.
Cincotta, D.A., D.P. Wegmen, T.E. Oldham, S.A. Welsh, and L.B. Hedrick. 2009. Fishes of the Blackwater River drainage, Tucker County, West Virginia. In Canaan Valley and its Environs: A Landscape Heritage Celebration. Canaan Valley Institute, Davis, West Virginia. http://www.canaanvi.org/canaanvi_web/events_ed.aspx?collection=past%20events&id=826
Hedrick, L. B., S. A. Welsh, and J. T. Anderson. 2007. Evaluation of a new sediment sampling device. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 61:35-39.
Hedrick, L.B., S.A. Welsh, and J.T. Anderson. 2007. Effects of highway construction on sediment and benthic macroinvertebrates in two tributaries of the Lost River, West Virginia. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 22:561-569.
Hedrick, L. B., S. A. Welsh, and J. D. Hedrick. 2005. A New Sampler Design for Measuring Sedimentation in Streams. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25:238-244.
Hedrick, J. D., L. B. Hedrick, and F. J. Margraf. 2005. A sampler for capturing larval and juvenile Atlantic menhaden. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25:245-250.
Cincotta, D.A., S.A. Welsh, D.P. Wegmen, L.B. Hedrick, and T.E. Oldham. In press. Fishes of the Blackwater River drainage with a discussion of their status and origin in Canaan Valley and its Environs: a Landscape Heritage Celebration, Canaan Valley Institute, Canaan Valley, WV.
Ras, L. B. Hedrick, F. J. Margraf, D. L. Bounds, and E. Soutiere. 1999. Population estimates of nutria and hunting trends at Tudor Farms, Dorchester County, Maryland. North American Aquatic Furbearers Conference Proceedings.