1980 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States
Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh (1980)
Areas of Interest
Taxonomic, systematics, and ecological research on aquatic flies (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Teaching
My teaching interests include teaching an introductory Honors course in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (ESPM 1012H), a course called Insects, Aquatic Habitats & Pollution at both undergraduate (Ent 3925) and graduate levels (Ent 5081), and a graduate level course called Aquatic Insects (Ent 5361). Periodically I also teach a Freshman Seminar (ENT 1905) focused on Environmental Resource Conservation and Management of a selected country. Recently the Freshmen Seminar focuses on Iceland.
Research
My research program focuses on the significance of insects in aquatic ecosystems. In my lab we specialize on a group of aquatic flies (Diptera: Chironomidae) and attempt to balance taxonomic, systematics and ecological research on Chironomidae in an effort to better understand the ecological framework within which evolutionary processes have operated to produce the biological diversity of the family. My research projects have been conducted in a wide range of habitats, from highly degraded systems to some of the most pristine and beautiful ecological settings across the globe. Areas in the US where we have worked include Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Maine, Wisconsin and Minnesota. I worked in or collaborated with colleagues from 52 countries. The research program consists of five basic areas of emphasis: taxonomy and systematics, biodiversity studies, responses to various types of pollution, stream ecology, and studies of the diversity and co-evolution of Trichomycetes and their Chironomidae hosts. To read more about these areas and locate titles of individual projects and related publications go to: http://midge.cfans.umn.edu/research
International Activities:
Extended projects have taken me to Norway, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa and Mongolia. Graduate students have often participated in these projects and have benefitted from the travels. I have also been very fortunate to have collaborated with a number of colleagues across the US and in all of the other countries and am grateful of their spirit of cooperation that has always made the research enjoyable and scientifically productive. I recently participated in an IES Faculty Development Seminar "Paradise Lost? Challenging Perspectives on a Changing Europe" which took place at the IES Abroad EU Center, Villa Gleichenstein in Freiburg, Germany. Topics included EU Foreign Relations, Environmental Policies, Identity Politics and Economic Policies, and discussions were interlaced with local field study trips within Freiburg, the surrounding area (including the Black Forest) and EU institutional facilities at Strasbourg (France), Brussels (Belgium) and Frankfurt (Germany).
Select Publications
(2006-Present)
Kranzfelder, P., & Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 2018 Chironomidae (Diptera) species diversity of estuaries across a land use gradient on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Revista de biologia tropical 66(3):1118-1134 DOI: 10.15517/rbt.v66i3.31927
Silva, F. L. D. & Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 2018. Systematics of the new world genus Pentaneura Phillip (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae): Historical review, new species and phylogeny. Zoologischer Anzeiger. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2017.11.010
Chen, S., Zhang, R. & Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 2017. Two new species and one new record of the genus Metriocnemus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) from Mongolia. Zootaxa. 4312(3): 557-564.
Liu, W., Ferrington, L. C., Jr. & Wang, X. 2017. First record of the genus Telmatopelopia Fittkau, 1962 from oriental China (Diptera: Chironomidae). Entomological News. 126(5): 352-357.
French, W. E., Vondracek, B., Ferrington, L. C., Jr., Finlay, J. C. & Dieterman, D. J. 2017. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) growth and condition along a winter thermal gradient in temperate streams. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 74(1): 56-64.
Michailova, P. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2016. Larva and Karyotype of Xenochironomus sp. (Diptera, Chironomidae) from North America. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 89(1): 53-64.
Zhang, R., W. Liu, L. C. Ferrington Jr. and X. Wang. 2016. Two new species of genus Hydrosmittia Ferrington & Sæther (Diptera: Chironomidae) from China. Zootaxa 4121 (2): 167–174. http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4121.2.6
Liu, W., L. C. Ferrington Jr. and X. Wang. 2016. First record of Odontomesa Pagast from China, with description of the immature stages of O. ferringtoni Sæther (Diptera, Chironomidae, Prodiamesinae). Zootaxa 4132 (1): 135–142. http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.12
Liu, W., L. C. Ferrington Jr. and X. Wang. 2016. Sympotthastia wuyiensis sp. n. from China, with description of the immature stages of S. takatensis (Tokunaga) (Diptera, Chironomidae). Zootaxa 4126 (3): 427–434. http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4126.3.7
Anderson, A. M., Kranzfelder, P., Egan, E. T., and Ferrington, L. C. Jr. 2016.The Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) of San Salvador Island: A Preliminary Survey and a Look to the Future. Pp 13-21, in The 15th Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas. R. Erdman and R. Morrison, (eds.) Gerace Research Center, San Salvador, Bahamas
Anderson, A. M., Mittag, E., Middleton, B., Vondracek, B. and Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 2016. Winter Diets of Brown Trout Populations in Southeastern Minnesota and the Significance of Winter-Emerging Invertebrates, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 145:206-220. DOI: 10.1080/00028487.2015.1111258
Ferrington Jr, L. C., Masteller, E. 2015. Emergence dynamics of Diamesa cheimatophila Hansen (Diptera: Chironomidae: Diamesinae). European Journal of Environmental Sciences. 5(1):24–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2015.72
Egan, A. T., Ferrington Jr, L. C. 2015. Chironomidae (Diptera) in Freshwater Coastal Rock Pools at Isle Royale, Michigan. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 141:1-25. Publication date: 24 March 2015 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3F680AF-49EA-448F-B9E0-4FF606AB448D
Egan, A. T., Ferrington Jr, L. C. 2015. Zonal stratification and geographic clustering of a species-rich chironomid community in freshwater coastal rock pools. Hydrobiologia 751(1):147-158. First online: 25 January 2015 10.1007/s10750-015-2183-7
Egan, A. T., Ferrington Jr, L. C., Lafrançois, T., Edlund, M. B. 2015. Seasonal variation in chironomid emergence from coastal pools. European Journal of Environmental Sciences. 5(1):15–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2015.71
Egan, A. T., Ferrington Jr, L. C., Lafrançois, T., Edlund, M. B. McCullough 2015. Spatial arrangement and metrics of freshwater coastal rock pools applied to amphibian conservation. Limnologica - Ecology and Management of Inland Waters. Volume 51:101–109. (March 2015)
Kranzfelder, P and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2015. Characterization of Chironomidae (Diptera) surface-floating pupal exuviae sample sort time from coastal tropical aquatic systems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 187:70 DOI 10.1007/s10661-015-4313-0
Mazack J. E., P. Kranzfelder, A. M. Anderson, R. W. Bouchard, J. Perry, B. Vondracek, and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2015. Survivorship and longevity of adult Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski, 1915 (Diptera: Chironomidae) at controlled, sub-freezing temperatures. Aquatic Insects: 1-8.
Kranzfelder, P., Anderson, A. M., Egan, A. T., Mazack, J. E., Bouchard, Jr., R. W., Rufer, M. M. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2015. Use of Chironomidae (Diptera) Surface-Floating Pupal Exuviae as a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Water Bodies. J. Vis. Exp. (101), e52558, doi:10.3791/52558 (2015).
Mazack J. E., P. Kranzfelder, A. M. Anderson, R. W. Bouchard, J. Perry, B. Vondracek, and L. C. Ferrington. 2015. Survivorship and longevity of adult Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski, 1915 (Diptera: Chironomidae) at controlled, sub-freezing temperatures. Aquatic Insects: 1-8.
Kranzfelder, P and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2015. Characterization of Chironomidae (Diptera) surface-floating pupal exuviae sample sort time from coastal tropical aquatic systems. Environtal Monitoring and Assessment. 187:70 DOI 10.1007/s10661-015-4313-0
Alexander T. Egan, Leonard C. Ferrington Jr., Toben Lafrançois, Mark B. Edlund and Jenna McCullough. 2015. Spatial arrangement and metrics of freshwater coastal rock pools applied to amphibian conservation. Limnologica - Ecology and Management of Inland Waters. Volume 51: 101–109.
Egan, A. T., Ferrington Jr, L. C., Lafrançois, T., Edlund, M. B. 2015. Seasonal variation in chironomid emergence from coastal pools. European Journal of Environmental Sciences. 5(1): 15–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2015.71
Ferrington Jr, L. C., Masteller, E. 2015. Emergence dynamics of Diamesa cheimatophila Hansen (Diptera: Chironomidae: Diamesinae). European Journal of Environmental Sciences. 5(1) 24–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2015.72
Dolph, C. L., S. L. Eggert, J. Magner, L. C. Ferrington Jr. and B. Vondracek. 2015. Reach-scale stream restoration in agricultural streams of southern Minnesota alters structural and functional responses of macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Science, 34(2): 535-546.
Anderson, A.M., P. Kranzfelder, A. Egan and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2014. A Survey of Neotropical Chironomidae (Diptera) on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Florida Entomologist 97(1):304-308.
Ferrington, L. C., Jr. and W. P. Coffman. 2014. Differential Efficiencies of Dip-net Sampling versus Sampling Surface-floating Pupal Exuviae in a Biodiversity Survey of Chironomidae. CHIRONOMUS Newsletter on Chironomidae Research No. 27:31-40.
Kavanaugh, R. G, A. T. Egan, and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2014. Factors Affecting Decomposition Rates of Chironomid (Diptera) Pupal Exuviae. CHIRONOMUS Newsletter on Chironomidae Research No. 27:16-24.
French W. E.,, B. Vondracek, L. C. Ferrington Jr, J. C. Finlay & D. J. Dieterman. 2014 Winter feeding, growth and condition of brown trout Salmo trutta in a groundwater-dominated stream, Journal of Freshwater Ecology 29:187-200 . http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02705060.2013.847868
Rathi G. Kavanaugh, R. G, A. T. Egan, and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2014. Factors Aff ecting Decomposition Rates of Chironomid (Diptera) Pupal Exuviae. CHIRONOMUS Newsletter on Chironomidae Research No. 27: 16-24.
Ferrington, L. C., Jr and W. P. Coffman. 2014. Differential Efficiencies of Dip-net Sampling versus Sampling Surface-floating Pupal Exuviae in a Biodiversity Survey of Chironomidae. CHIRONOMUS Newsletter on Chironomidae Research No. 27: 31-40.
Anderson, A.M., P. Kranzfelder, A. Egan and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2014. A Survey of Neotropical Chironomidae (Diptera) on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Florida Entomologist 97(1): 304-308.
Baranov, V. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2013. Hibernal Emergence of Chironomidae in Crimea (Ukraine). Chironomus Newsletter 26: 33-40.
Anderson, A. M., P. Kranzfelder, R.W. Bouchard and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2013. Survivorship and Longevity of Diamesa mendotaeMuttkowski (Diptera: Chironomidae) Under Snow. Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 45: 22-26.
French W. E., B. Vondracek, L. C. Ferrington Jr., J. C. Finlay and D. J. Dieterman. 2013 Winter feeding, growth and condition of brown trout Salmo trutta in a groundwater-dominated stream, Journal of Freshwater Ecology.http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02705060.2013.847868
Krider, L. A., J. A. Magner, J. Perry, B. Vondracek and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2013. Air-water temperature relationships in the trout streams of southeastern Minnesota's carbonate-sandstone landscape. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. (JAWRA-12-0071-P.R2) pp. 1-12.
Anderson, A. M. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2012. Resistance and resilience of winter-emerging Chironomidae (Diptera) to a flood event: implications for Minnesota trout streams. Hydrobiologia (electronic copy available through DOI 10.1007/s10750-012-1406-4).
Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 2012. Looking for Connections: Pulling Together Collegiate Initiatives to Create a Concept for High Impact Experiential Learning Experiences in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management. Chapter, IN: Duin, A. H., E. A. Nater, F. X. Anklesaria (eds). Cultivating Change in the Academy: 50+ Stories from the Digital Frontlines at the University of Minnesota in 2012. An Open-Source eBook June 2012 University of Minnesota On-line @ https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/125273
Ferrington, L. C., Jr. and O. A Saether. 2011. A revision of the genera Pseudosmittia Edwards, 1932, Allocladius Kieffer, 1913, andHydrosmittia gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae). Zootaxa 2849: 1-314.
Anderson, A. M., R. W. Bouchard Jr. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2011. Hibernal emergence of Chironomidae (Diptera) in relation to stream size in Kansas, USA. IN: Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Chironomidae, Nankai University, Tianjing, China.
Bouchard, R. W., Jr. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2011. The effects of subsampling and sampling frequency on the use of surface-floating pupal exuviae to measure Chironomidae (Diptera) communities in wadeable temperate streams. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 181: 205-223.
Ferrington, L. C. Jr., B. Karns and R. W. Bouchard, Jr. 2011 Longevities of Diamesa mendotae Muttkowski, a Hibernal Emerging Species of Chironomidae (Diptera). Pp. 22-29 IN: Proceedings of the XV International Symposium on Chironomidae. The Chironomidae Research Group, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
Bouchard, R. W., Jr. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2009. Winter growth, development and emergence of Diamesa mendotae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Minnesota Streams. Environmental Entomology 38(1): 250-259.
Gresens, S. E. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2008. Taxonomic distinctness provides an alternative view of the diversity of Chironomidae (Diptera) Assemblages. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) No. 13:101-108.
Ferrington , L. C., Jr. 2008. Global biodiversity of Scorpionflies and Hangingflies (Mecoptera) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia (Special FADA Issue). 595(1): 447-455.
Ferrington , L. C., Jr. 2008. Global biodiversity of non-biting midges (Chironomidae: Diptera) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia (Special FADA Issue). 595(1): 447-455.
Bouchard, R. W., Jr. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2008. Determination of Chironomidae thermal preferences and thermal partitioning among closely related taxa in Minnesota streams using surface floating pupal exuviae. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) No. 13: 197-204.
Ferrington, L. C., Jr., E. C. Masteller and J. A. Santiago-Blay. 2008. Comparison and significance of Chironomidae emergence from Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay, Erie, Pennsylvania, U. S. A. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) No. 13: 21-28.
Rufer, M. M. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2008. Sampling frequency required for chironomid community resolution in urban lakes with contrasting trophic states. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) No. 13: 77-84.
Sealock, A. W. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2008. Sampling efficiency of Chironomidae (Diptera) across disturbance gradients. Boletim do Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) No. 13: 85-92.
Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 2007. Hibernal emergence patterns of Chironomidae in lotic habitats of Kansas versus substrate composition. Pp. 99-105, IN: T. Andersen (ed.), Contributions to the Systematics and Ecology of Aquatic Diptera—A Tribute to Ole A. Sæther. The Caddis Press, Columbus, Ohio.
Ferrington, L. C., Jr. & O. A. Sæther. 2006. Rhagosmittia and Trondia, two new genera of Orthocladiinae from Oceania and Australia (Diptera: Chironomidae). Aquatic Insects 28(4): 243-250.
Hayford, B. L. & L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2006. Distribution of Chironomidae in Hovsgol Nuur, Mongolia. Chapter 26 IN: C. E. Goulden, T. Sitnikova, J. Gelhaus & B. Boldgiv (eds.). The Geology, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Hovsgol Nuur (Mongolia). Backhuys Publishers.
Ferrington, L. C., Jr. 1999. Mary and Jim Sublette: Fifty years of collaborative studies with Chironomidae. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 71(3): 195-198.
Students Advised
Current:
- Corrie Nyquist
Past:
PhD
- Alyssa Anderson, 2012
- Alex Egan, 2014
- Petra Kranzfelder, 2017
M.S.
- Petra Kranzfelder, 2012
- Jessica Miller, 2014