My research program focuses on the significance of Chironomidae in aquatic ecosystems. In my lab we 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. 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. Below you can read more about each of these areas and locate titles of individual projects and related publications.

My research projects have been conducted in a wide range of habitats, from
highly degraded to some of the most pristine and beautiful areas 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. Other projects have taken me to Norway, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa and, most recently, 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.

Responses to Pollutants

Recent Publications

Ferrington, L. C., Jr. M. White and R. W. Lichtwardt. 2003. A new genus of
Trichomycetes (Pseudoharpella arcolamylica) from Dixa fluvica Peters (Diptera:
Dixidae). Aquatic Insects 25(2):85-94.

Ferrington, L. C., Jr., R. W. Lichtwardt, B. L. Hayford & M. C. Williams. (In
Press). Symbiotic Harpellales (Trichomycetes) in Tasmanian aquatic insects.
Mycologia (accepted for publication, 2004).

Saether, O. A. and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. 2003. Nomenclature notes on some
orthoclads (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 322:107.

Reynolds, S. K. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2001. Temporal and taxonomic patterns
of mouthpart deformities in larval midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) in relation to
sediment chemistry. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 16(1):15-27.

Reynolds, S. K. and L. C. Ferrington Jr. 2002. Differential morphological
responses of Chironomid larvae to severe heavy metal exposure (Diptera:
Chironomidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 75(3): 172-184.

Hayford, B. L., and L. C. Ferrington, Jr. (In Press). The vertical and
horizontal distribution of chironomids in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia. In: The
Geology, Biodiversity and Ecology of Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia. C. Goulden, T.
Sitnikova, J. Gelhaus, & B. Boldgiv, (eds.).

Carrillo, M. A., C. A. Cannon and L. C. Ferrington Jr (In Press). Effect of sex
and age on the supercooling point of the winter-active Diamesa mendotae
Muttkowski (Diptera:Chironomidae). Accepted for publication in Aquatic Insects

Complete list of publications

View complete list of publications in pdf