Richard Back

Richard Back is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at SUNY Oswego, specializing in aquatic ecosystem dynamics with emphasis on plankton ecology, limnology, and mercury cycling in freshwater systems. His research examines material fluxes through lacustrine environments, with significant work in the Great Lakes region focusing on contaminant biomagnification, invasive species impacts, and sediment quality assessment.

Publications demonstrate consistent focus on ecotoxicology, particularly mercury speciation in planktonic food webs and neem insecticide impacts on zooplankton communities. Field investigations span Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, and riverine ecosystems, employing mesocosm experiments and spatial distribution modeling.