Spencer Womble is a dedicated PhD candidate at Tennessee Technological University, specializing in quantitative ecology with a focus on water quality. His current research investigates the ecological impacts of beaver dams on nutrient retention and benthic habitat complexity within restored agricultural wetlands. This work is...
Spencer Womble is a dedicated PhD candidate at Tennessee Technological University, specializing in quantitative ecology with a focus on water quality. His current research investigates the ecological impacts of beaver dams on nutrient retention and benthic habitat complexity within restored agricultural wetlands. This work is particularly relevant in the context of sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration, as beaver activity can significantly influence hydrology and nutrient cycling in these environments.
In his role, Spencer provides vital statistical support to the National Park Service's Inventory and Monitoring Division. Here, he leverages his expertise in R programming to develop sophisticated R scripts and packages that facilitate data analysis and visualization. His proficiency in trend analysis allows him to interpret complex datasets related to various water quality parameters, contributing to informed decision-making in environmental management. Spencer’s skills extend to nutrient analysis, aquatic invertebrate identification, and stream substrate classification, all of which are critical for assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems.
Throughout his PhD journey, Spencer has honed his abilities in report writing and sample cataloging, ensuring that his findings are communicated effectively to both scientific and public audiences. His commitment to aquatic research is evident in his meticulous approach to design and construction of experiments aimed at understanding the intricate relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in wetland environments. As he continues to explore the role of natural structures like beaver dams in enhancing ecosystem services, Spencer is poised to make significant contributions to the field of environmental studies and the broader discourse on biodiversity conservation and water quality management.
