Bio

Dr. Cope’s research interests are within realm are in aquatic toxicology, ecology, and physiology, as well as in the transport, fate, and effects of aquatic pollutants and other human-mediated stressors such as temperature and climate change. 

Publications

• Environmental Contaminant Accumulation in Freshwater Turtles Inhabiting Three Rivers of the Permian Basin, New Mexico, USA , Environmental Toxicology (2026)
• Impervious Surface Is Not a Strong Predictor of Contaminant Accumulation in Freshwater Turtles in a Rapidly Urbanizing Region , Diversity (2026)
• Monoecious hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata ) response to intermittent herbicide exposures , Invasive Plant Science and Management (2026)
• A Unionid Mussel Biodiversity Hotspot Experiencing Unexplained Declines: Evaluating the Influence of Chemical Stressors Using Caged Juveniles , Diversity (2025)
• Contaminant Accumulation by Unionid Mussels: An Assemblage Level Assessment of Sequestration Functions Across Watersheds and Spatial Scales , Diversity (2025)
• Evaluation of Pondside Tank Rearing Systems for Juvenile Striped Bass Production , SSRN Electronic Journal (2025)
• Finding the pulse of healthy native freshwater mussels (order Unionida): Insights from propagation biologists , Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (2025)
• Distribution, Occupancy, and Habitat of the Endangered Carolina Madtom: Implications for Recovery of an Endemic Stream Fish , Fishes (2024)
• Thermal Threats to Freshwater Mussels: An Empirical Stream Assessment , Diversity (2024)
• Assessing the Toxicity of Sea Salt to Early Life Stages of Freshwater Mussels: Implications for Sea Level Rise in Coastal Rivers , Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (2023)

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