Ross Vander Vorste

Ross Vander Vorste is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. His research focuses on the effects of disturbances (both natural and human-induced) on freshwater ecosystems and biological communities, particularly aquatic invertebrates and their roles in freshwater habitats. He holds a PhD in Ecology from the University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (2015), and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences and Environmental Management from South Dakota State University.

His research interests include disturbance ecology, freshwater ecology, conservation biology, and community ecology. His lab studies intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams, emphasizing biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience under climate change. Notable achievements include the Prairie Springs Award for river research and co-authorship of influential papers on global patterns in dry rivers and sediment respiration dynamics.

Dr. Vander Vorste teaches courses such as Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology and Ecology. He actively collaborates on projects like the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee and maintains the UWL Freshwater Ecology Lab, which uses mesocosm systems to simulate ecological processes. His work bridges field studies, laboratory experiments, and global datasets to address critical environmental challenges.