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Bernard Sweeney, Ph.D.

500 500 Stroud Water Research Center
Bernard Sweeney, Ph.D.

Distinguished Research Scientist

Contact

sweeney@stroudcenter.org
tel. 610-268-2153, ext. 1300
970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311

Interests and Expertise

Bernard Sweeney’s interests include the role of water quality monitoring in conservation, population and community ecology of temperate and tropical aquatic invertebrates; pollution assessment in temperate and tropical streams using macroinvertebrates; the role of streamside forests in the structure and function of stream and river ecosystems; factors affecting the growth and survivorship of trees in riparian forests; the effects of global warming on stream ecosystems; genetic variation and gene flow among populations of stream insects; the effects of diel and seasonal temperature change on aquatic insect populations; evolution of facultative parthenogenesis in aquatic insects; bioenergetics and secondary production of aquatic insects; and the bioassay of toxic materials in aquatic systems.

ResearchGate | Download CV

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Population Biology/Zoology.
  • B.S., Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, Biology.

Professional Experience

  • Distinguished Research Scientist, Stroud Water Research Center, December 2017–present.
  • President, Distinguished Research Scientist, Stroud Water Research Center, 2017.
  • President, Executive Director, Curator, Director, Stroud Water Research Center, 1999–2016.
  • Vice President, Asociación Centro de Investigación Stroud, San José, Costa Rica, 1991–present.
  • Curator, Executive Director, Stroud Water Research Center of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; Vice-President, Curator, Environmental Group, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1996–1999.
  • Associate Curator, Executive Director, Stroud Water Research Center of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1988–1996.
  • Assistant Curator, Stroud Water Research Center of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1978–1988.

Publications

Taxonomic certification versus the scientific method: a rebuttal of Rogers (2012)

Stribling, J., B.W. Sweeney, J. Morse, G. Corkum, G. Lester, S. Miller, R. Mitchell, B. Poulton, S. Strachan, and M. Wetzel. 2012. Zootaxa 3359: 65–68.

Eating local: influences of habitat on the diet of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

Clare, E.L., R. Brittany, R. Barber, B.W. Sweeney, P.D.N. Hebert, and M.B. Fenton. 2011. Molecular Ecology 20(8):1772–1780.

Can DNA barcodes of stream macroinvertebrates improve descriptions of community structure and water quality?

Sweeney, B.W., J.M. Battle, J.K. Jackson, and T. Dapkey. 2011. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 30(1):195–216.

Why stream mayflies can reproduce without males but remain bisexual: a case of lost genetic variation

Funk, D.H., B.W. Sweeney, and J.K. Jackson. 2010. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29:1258–1266.

A preliminary water quality study of the Rio Sierpe and its tributaries (Costa Rica)

Arscott, D.B., W. Eldridge, and B.W. Sweeney. 2010. Prepared for the Blue Moon Foundation. Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, Pennsylvania. 

See all publications by Stroud Center authors

Related Content

Arscott Takes Reins as Executive Director

After decades of exceptional leadership, Bern Sweeney, Ph.D., is ready to focus on his primary passion at the Stroud Center, research, and continue to help with outreach and fundraising activities.

Volunteers Plant 1,140 Trees for National Volunteer Week

The Stroud Center celebrated National Volunteer Week with help from Exelon Generation, BB&T, Cheshire Hunt Conservancy, Colonial Pipeline, Dansko, Hugh Lofting Timber Framing, and local community members.

Q & A: Rewarding Private Behavior to Enhance the Commons

Stroud Center president Bern Sweeney, Ph.D., and Jamie Blaine published an op-ed piece in the September 2016 issue of Freshwater Science proposing a new system to reward private behavior to

Stroud Water Research Center Celebrates National Park Service’s Commitment to Fresh Water

Stroud Water Research Center honored the National Park Service and its director Jonathan Jarvis at the Water’s Edge gala at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Could Rising Temps Be Killing Mayflies, Threatening Streams? Scientists Investigate.

When mayfly populations decline, it's a warning that something has gone wrong. But what? Stroud Center scientists and their colleagues are investigating.

Science and Beer at the Beach Was a Success!

Despite the gorgeous weather at the beach, a great turnout showed up at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery on Saturday, August 20 to learn about the Stroud Center's work throughout the state of Delaware.
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