David Ford Email & Phone Number

Houston, Tx, Us

Texas, United States

David Ford is one of EDGE’s project managers, a senior malacologist, and rescue diver. He has over 10 years of experience conducting unionid freshwater mussel surveys throughout much of the Midwest and southern United States. Mr. Ford’s specialties include Texas mussels and mussels of the Midwest, primarily within the upper Mississippi River Basin where he has surveyed in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. In addition, he was the shore crew lead/malacologist on a large mussel… Show more David Ford is one of EDGE’s project managers, a senior malacologist, and rescue diver. He has over 10 years of experience conducting unionid freshwater mussel surveys throughout much of the Midwest and southern United States. Mr. Ford’s specialties include Texas mussels and mussels of the Midwest, primarily within the upper Mississippi River Basin where he has surveyed in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. In addition, he was the shore crew lead/malacologist on a large mussel relocation project on the Mississippi River where more than 160,000 mussels were relocated. Mr. Ford has conducted more than 100 mussel surveys and studies within multiple states, including Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, Ohio, and Alabama. Within Illinois, Mr. Ford has surveyed within the Kankakee, Fox, Rock, and Mississippi rivers. During his career as an aquatic scientist he has seen and handled more than 250,000 mussels from 78 live species. Mr. Ford is listed on both the Ohio and West Virginia Qualified Freshwater Mussel Surveyor Lists and has been assisting the USFWS with its listing determination for the rare Louisiana Pigtoe (Pleurobema riddellii) as a species expert. Mr. Ford regularly publishes mussel research in scientific journals and has helped author a book chapter on the state listed mussels of Texas. Show less

Mr. Ford joined ESI in the summer of 2016, bringing more than 6 years of environmental sampling experience. This experience has primarily focused on presence/absence surveys throughout Texas and the surrounding states and includes surveys for birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, karst invertebrates, freshwater mussels, and trees. Mr. Ford’s survey work has also included habitat assessments to determine if particular areas could be habitat for imperiled species. In addition, Mr… Show more Mr. Ford joined ESI in the summer of 2016, bringing more than 6 years of environmental sampling experience. This experience has primarily focused on presence/absence surveys throughout Texas and the surrounding states and includes surveys for birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, karst invertebrates, freshwater mussels, and trees. Mr. Ford’s survey work has also included habitat assessments to determine if particular areas could be habitat for imperiled species. In addition, Mr. Ford has over three years of experience in the identification and habitat assessment for state-listed threatened freshwater mussel species in Texas, and has passed a mussel identification class for the state of Texas (created by the leading experts in the state). He also has extensive experience in establishing survey methodology for these species, managing field crews during the survey and collection process, and authoring reports. He has also co-authored several peer-reviewed papers on freshwater mussels and other organisms which have been published in scientific journals. Show less

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Led teams to conduct unionid surveys across Texas. Had to create the survey efforts based on Texas Parks and Wildlife protocols. After survey efforts, data was compiled, entered, and a report was formed. Reports were reviewed for errors and scientific compliance. Other duties included creating maps with ArcGIS, interacting with both public and government agencies, conducting fish surveys and relocation utilizing electroshock equipment, and presenting scientific data at meetings.

Texas

Identified live and dead mussels, provided training on mussel identification, and assisted with mussel relocation activities.

Texas

Identified live and dead mussels, provided training on mussel identification, and assisted with mussel relocation activities.

Tyler, Texas Area

Led teams to collect unionid data across east Texas under a USFWS grant. Over 100 locations were hit and 5,000 animals collected. Duties included identification of organisms, leading teams, selection of sites, GPS operation, data collection, data entry, and analysis.

Master’S Degree, Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Bachelor’S Degree, Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Attended the Louisiana Scholars' College