Joseph Larson
Professor Emeritus, Wildlife Conservation
Primary Interests
Freshwater Wetland Functions and Values: My research focus is on the biological, hydrological, and geographic characteristics of wetlands as indicators of functions. I apply the results in providing advice to local, state, national and international governmental and non-governmental agencies that implement wetland management and regulatory programs.
Current Projects
Administration of the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Preservation of the Historic Assets of the UMass Amherst campus
Inventory of Town of Pelham Historic Assets
Courses Taught
Wildlife Management Techniques
Wetland Wildlife Management
Wetland Ecology
International Conservation
Positions
Chairman, Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board; Member state Endangered Species Science Advisory Committee; Town of Pelham, Mass. Historical Commission, Community Preservation Committee, Fence Viewer.
Employment Prior to UMass
Wildlife Conservation, Inc.; Assistant to Director, Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; Maryland Dept. Research and Education; Environmental Institute Univ. of Maryland; US Fish and Wildlife Service Mass. Coop. Wildlife Research Unit.
International Activities
International Union for Conservation of Nature task force re. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance; World Wildlife Fund, teaching wetland functions and values to staff of Chinese Environmental Protection Agency.
Professional Activities
Sigma Xi, Xi Sigma Pi, Phi Sigma, The Wildlife Society, AAAS, Am. Soc. Mammalogists, AAUP, Ecological Soc. of America, Who’s Who in America
Education
B.S., M.S. Wildlife and Forestry UMass
Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Publications
List available on request.
Topics: Wildlife Ecology, Measuring Functions and Values of Freshwater Wetlands, Wetland Ecology (English and Chinese), Ageing of Beaver.
Selected Book Publications
Larson, Joseph S. 2009. Introduction – Methodologies for Wetland Assessment (Introduction to Section IV, Wetland Assessment: How can we measure that wetlands are working?). In Maltby, Edward and Tom Barker (Eds.). 2009. The Wetlands Handbook. Wiley-Blackwell, London and New York. 800 pages.
Leon, Gonzalo, and Joseph S. Larson. 2005. First Massachusetts record of least duckweed (Lemna minuta Kunth), “Newkit”, Nonamesset Island, Gosnold, Massachusetts. Voucher and specimen in University of Massachusetts Herbarium.
Larson, J. S. and G. F. Cramer. 2004. Handbook on fence viewers and laws on fences in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Privately printed. 22 pages.