Darold Batzer
A University of Georgia entomology professor, Batzer studies the ecology of invertebrates in freshwater wetlands
Where are you from?
I grew up in Minnesota, and then for schooling and my early career I lived in northern California, Thailand and western New York.
Tell us about your academic or career path. How did you get to your current position?
My father was an entomologist, I did entomology in 4-H, I got bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in entomology, and now work in an entomology department.
Why did you choose your field?
As I note above, it was probably genetic! Although my father studied forest insects, and in a show of independence, I decided to study wetland insects.
What is important for the public to know about your work?
I work in wetlands, specializing in the invertebrate fauna. Wetlands are one of the most important habitats that exist, important to maintaining water quality, moderating floods, processing carbon and nutrients, and hosting many unique plants and animals.
Georgia has a wealth of wetland resources, from flood plains to beaver wetlands to salt marshes to cypress swamps to the Okefenokee.
Invertebrates such as insects and crustaceans are the key ecological link between the plants that they feed on, and the many higher organisms such as fish, birds and amphibians that feed on them. Most of the biodiversity in wetlands is found in the invertebrate fauna.
What is your proudest recent accomplishment?
This year I was honored to be named a Fellow of the Society of Wetland Scientists, which is the premier international society in my field, with a mission to promote understanding, conservation, protection, restoration, science-based management and sustainability of wetlands.
What are you currently working on, and what is the end goal of that work?
My students and I focus on understanding what environmental factors control invertebrate populations and communities, including how they respond to human impacts such as water regulation and pollution, and climate change.
Wetland invertebrates are very poorly studied, and many of my students emerge as world experts on a range of wetland invertebrates.
What is your favorite part about what you do?
By far the best part of my job is to work with exciting other scientists, from my many graduate student advisees to a host of international colleagues and students from China, Spain, Brazil and Argentina.
What brought you to UGA?
My wife, who is also a professor (in education), and I were fortunate enough to both get positions at UGA. It is a great school for us both.
If you could do anything else, what would it be?
I would maybe be a professional cricket player.
What is something your colleagues or students might not know about you — hobbies, interests, secret talents?
I won my fantasy football league last year, and I know nothing about cricket!
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