I am an aquatic ecologist with a great interest in the application of the study of terrestrial-aquatic linkages, community ecology, invader ecology, stream and river ecology, and the application of quantitative theory to ecological research and restoration. Although my projects usually use aquatic invertebrates as my principal research organisms, I am interested in many organisms, such as fishes, periphyton, and even feral hogs. I also am interested in innovative and interesting data analyses, therefore, I periodically become involved in projects beyond aquatic ecology.
In recent years, my projects have included assessing rare insects, freshwater mussels, fish, and crayfish in Louisiana streams and rivers, impacts of feral hogs on aquatic habitats, fishes of the Pearl River system, the long-term ramifications of stocking of Florida-strain largemouth bass, models of survival of wild-released American alligator, wild crayfish harvesting, and water management decisions in the Atchafalaya River basin. New projects included invasive fish and invertebrates, human dimensions studies, and assessment of juvenile Gulf Sturgeon habitats. Through my recent students, I am studying relationships among stream periphyton and fungi with fishes and macroinvertebrates in the coastal plain and impacts of giant salvinia and its control. These projects are being or have been supported by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and The Nature Conservancy.
Published and in-press research papers and book chapters are below. Many are available from my Google Scholar page. Please contact me if you are interested in other PDFs.
Student author
De Gallardo, K. M. D. Kaller, D. A. Rutherford, and W. E. Kelso. 2023. Influence of river disconnection on floodplain periphyton assemblages. Wetlands 43: 23.
Sullivan II, M. P., M. D. Kaller, L. P. Laborde Jr., K. M. Ringelman, J. P. Duguay, and L. A. Reynolds. 2023. Differences in hunter harvest metrics by survey modes. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Vasseur, P. L., S. L. King, and M. D. Kaller. 2023. Diurnal time-activity budgets and habitat use of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) in the reintroduced Louisiana Nonmigratory Population. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 135: 31-45.
Kroes, D. E., R. H. Day, M. D. Kaller, C. R. Demas, W. E. Kelso, T. Pasco, R. Harlan, and S. Roberts. 2022. Hydrologic connectivity and residence time affect the sediment trapping efficiency and dissolved oxygen concentrations of the Atchafalaya River Basin. Water Resources Research 58: 11 e2021WR030731
Wahl, C. R. Diaz, and M. Kaller. 2022. Optimizing Berlese funnel extraction for population estimates of Cyrtobagous salviniae from Salvinia molesta. Biocontrol Science and Technology 32: 1232-1247.
Bird, C.T., M.D. Kaller, T.E. Pasco, and W.E. Kelso. 2022. Microhabitat and landscape drivers of richness and abundance of freshwater mussels (Unionida: Unionidae) in a coastal plain river. Applied Sciences 12: 10300; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010300
Kaller, M.D., C.C. Green, and A.H. Haukenes. 2022. Growth and Development. Methods for Fish Biology, 2nd edition. S. Midway, C. Hasler, and P. Chakrabarty, editors. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, MD.
Hartman, K.J. and M.D. Kaller. 2022. Influences of forest practices on fish and their food webs. In Dolloff, C.A. and R. Danehy. Reflections on Forest Management: Can Fish and Fiber Coexist?. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD
Hess, C., L. Little, C. Brown, M. Kaller, and F. Galvez. 2022. Transgenerational effects of parental crude oil exposure on the morphology of adult Fundulus grandis. Aquatic Toxicology, 106209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106209
Sweany, R.R., C.D. DeRobertis, M.D. Kaller, and K.E. Damann. 2022. Intra-specific growth and aflatoxin inhibition responses to atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus: Evidence of secreted, inhibitory substance(s) in biocontrol. Phytopathology https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-21-0022-R
Ritenour, K., S.L. King, S. Collins, and M.D. Kaller. 2022. Factors affecting nest success of colonial nesting waterbirds in southwest Louisiana. Estuaries and Coasts. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00993-4
Wahl, C.F., R. Diaz, and M. Kaller. 2021. Invasive floating fern limits aerial colonization and alters community structure of aquatic insects. Wetlands 41: 60 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-021-01457-y
Midway, S.R., K.A. Erickson, M.D. Kaller, and W. Kelso. 2021. Long-term monitoring informs data-poor marine species in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine and Freshwater Research. doi.org/10.1071/MF20341
Bampasidou, M., M.D. Kaller, and S.M. Tanger. 2021. Stakeholder’s Risk Perceptions of Wild Pigs: Is there a gender difference? Agriculture 11: 329 https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11040329
Wahl, C.F., R. Diaz, and M. Kaller. 2021. Nutrients enhance the negative impact of an invasive floating plant on water quality and a submerged macrophyte. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 59: 57-65.
Wahl, C. F., M. Kaller, and R. Diaz. 2021. Invasion of free-floating macrophyte alters freshwater macroinvertebrate community structure with implications for bottom-up processes. Hydrobiologia 848: 2523-2537
Rutt, C., M.D. Kaller, and P.S. Stouffer. 2021. Disturbed Amazonian forests support diminished breeding bird communities. The Condor: Ornithological Applications.
Midway, S. ,M. Robertson, S. Flinn, and M. Kaller. 2020. Comparing multiple comparisons: Practical guidance for choosing the best multiple comparison test. PeerJ 8:e10387 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10387
Vargas-Lopez, I., W.E. Kelso, C.P. Bonvillain, R.F. Keim, and M.D. Kaller. 2020. Influence of water quality, local knowledge, and river-floodplain connectivity on commercial wild crayfish harvesting in the Atchafalaya River Basin. Fisheries Management and Ecology 27: 417-418.
Budnick, W.R., C.P. Bonvillain, S. Lott, and M.D. Kaller. 2020. Breaking the Mississippi River barrier: range extensions of Faxonius palmeri subspecies and overlap with rare crayfish species in Louisiana. Southeastern Naturalist 19:152-160.
Rutt, C., K. Mokross, M. Kaller, and P. Stouffer. 2020. Experimental forest fragmentation alters interaction networks of Amazonian mixed-species flocks. Biological Conservation 242: 108415.
Hamilton, S.G., S.L. King, G. Della Russo, and M.D. Kaller. 2019. Effect of hydrologic, geomorphic, and vegetative conditions on avian communities in the Middle Rio Grande of New Mexico. Wetlands 39: 1029-1042
Kaller, M.D., T.E. Pasco, W.E. Kelso, and D.G. Kelly. 2019. Factors affecting black bass species composition in Louisiana Gulf Slope and Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley streams. Pages 129-145 in Siepker, M.J. and J.W. Quinn, editors. Managing Centrarchid Fisheries in Rivers and Streams. American Fisheries Society Symposium 87, Bethesda, MD
Reuter, C.N., M.D. Kaller, C.E. Walsh, and W.E. Kelso. 2019. Fish assemblage response to altered dendritic connectivity in the Red River basin, central Louisiana. American Midland Naturalist 181:63-80.
Elsey, R.M., E. Ledet, M.D. Kaller, B. Landry, and M. Miller. 2018. Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) tolerance of potentially toxic non-native prey. Herpetological Review 49: 532-534.
Budnick, W.R., S.B. Adams, W.E. Kelso, and M.D. Kaller. 2018. A multi-gear protocol for sampling crayfish assemblages in Gulf of Mexico coastal streams. Hydrobiologia 822: 55-67.
Kaller, M.D., J.C. Herron, A.R. Harlan, T.E. Pasco, and W.E. Kelso. 2017. Diel differences in electrofishing catch in shallow, turbid floodplain waterbodies. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 3: 39-45.
Elsey, R.M., D. LeJeune, B. Landry, K. Reed, M. Miller, and M.D. Kaller. 2017. Prevalence and details of polydactylism in the American Alligator, Alligator mississipiensis, in Louisiana, USA. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 12: 342-349.
Mercer, N., M.D. Kaller, and M.J. Stout. 2017. Diversity of arthropods in farmed wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain and effects of detrital subsidies. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 32: 163-178.
Oliver, D., W.E. Kelso, and M.D. Kaller. 2017. Movements and habitat use of southeastern blue sucker Cycleptus meridionalis in the lower Pearl River, Louisiana. American Midland Naturalist 177: 263-276.
Jónsson, J.E., S.J. Lúðvíksson, and M.D. Kaller. 2017. The early birds and the rest: Do first nesters represent the entire colony? Polar Biology 40: 413-421.
Markos, P.D., M.D. Kaller, and W.E. Kelso. 2016. Channel stability and the temporal structure of coastal stream aquatic insect assemblages. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 188:187-189
Trumbo, B.A., M.D. Kaller, A.R. Harlan, T. Pasco, W.E. Kelso, and D.A. Rutherford. 2016. Effectiveness of point versus continuous electrofishing for fish assemblage assessment in shallow, turbid aquatic habitats. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 36: 398-406.
Pasco, T.E., M.D. Kaller, A.R. Harlan, W.E. Kelso, and D.A. Rutherford. 2016. Predicting floodplain hypoxia based on flood characteristics in a large, regulated southern floodplain river system, the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, USA. River Research and Applications 32: 845-855.
Klimesh, D., Y.J. Xu, A. Gossman, and M.D. Kaller. 2015. Responses of stream benthic macroinvertebrate communities in a low-gradient, subtropical watershed to timber harvesting. Riparian Ecology and Conservation 2: 72-82.
Kaller, M.D., R.F. Keim, B.L. Edwards, A.R. Harlan, T. Pasco, W.E. Kelso, and D.A. Rutherford. 2015. Aquatic vegetation mediates the relationship between hydrologic connectivity and water quality in a managed floodplain. Hydrobiologia 760: 29-41.
Miller, B.A., W.E. Kelso, and M.D. Kaller. 2015. Diet partitioning in a diverse Centrarchid assemblage in the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 144: 780-791
Daniel, W., M.D. Kaller, and J. Jack. 2015. Nitrogen stable isotopes as an alternative for assessing mountaintop removal mining’s impact on headwater streams. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 186: 193-202.
Daniel, W., K.M Brown, and M.D. Kaller. 2014. A hybrid Tiered Aquatic Life Unit (Hybrid-TALU) bioassessment model for Gulf of Mexico coastal streams. Fisheries Management and Ecology 21: 491-502
Laborde, L., F. Rohwer, M.D. Kaller, and L.A. Reynolds. 2014. Surveying Louisiana waterfowl hunters: Open web and random mail surveys produce similar responses to attitudinal questions. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 38: 821-926
Kaller, M.D., W.E. Kelso, and J.C. Trexler. 2013. Wetland Fish Monitoring and Assessment. Pages 197-264 in J.T. Anderson, and Craig A. Davis, editors. Wetlands Techniques. Volume 2: Organisms. Springer.
Kuhl, A., J. Nyman, M. Kaller, and C. Green. 2013. Dispersant and salinity effects on weathering and acute toxicity of south Louisiana crude oil. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 32: 2611-2620.
Nyman, J.A., D.M. Baltz, M.D. Kaller, P.L. Leberg, C.Parsons Richards, R.P. Romaire, and T.M. Soniat. 2013. Likely changes in habitat quality for fish and wildlife in coastal Louisiana during the next fifty years. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 63: 60-74.
Pieron, M., F. Rohwer, M. Chamberlain, M. Kaller, and J. Lancaster. 2013. Breeding duck pair response to predator reduction in North Dakota. Journal of Wildlife Management 77: 663-671.
Kaller, M.D., C.E. Murphy, W.E. Kelso, and M.R. Stead. 2013. Basins for fish and ecoregions for macroinvertebrates: Different spatial scales are needed to assess Louisiana wadable streams. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142: 767-782.
Kang, S.-R. and M.D. Kaller. 2013 Foraging habitat use of breeding barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) in farmland, estuary, and island. Open Journal of Ecology 3:30-33.
Kelso, W.E., M.D. Kaller, and D. A. Rutherford. 2012. Collection, Preservation, and Identification of Ichthyoplankton and Zooplankton. Pages 363-451 in A. V. Zale, D. L. Parrish, and T. M. Sutton, editors. Fisheries Techniques, third edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland
Green, C.G., W.E. Kelso, M.D. Kaller, K. Gautreaux, and D.G. Kelly. 2012. Potential for naturalization of nonidigenous Blue Tilapia Orechromis aureus in coastal Louisiana marshes based on integrating thermal tolerance and field data. Wetlands 32: 717-723.
Fischer, R.A., J.J. Valente, M.P. Guilfoyle, M.D. Kaller, S.S. Jackson, and J.T. Ratti. 2012. Bird community response to vegetation cover and composition in riparian habitats dominated by Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). Northwest Science 86: 39-52.
Fischer, R.A., S.A. Gauthreaux, Jt., J.J. Valente, M.P. Guilfoyle, and M.D. Kaller. 2012. Comparing transect survey and WSR-88D radar methods for monitoring daily changes in stopover migrant communities. Journal of Field Ornithology 83: 61-72.
Laborde, L.P., F.C. Rohwer, M.D. Kaller, and L. Reynolds. 2012. Contrasts of waterfowl hunter surveys: open web and random mail surveys produce similar policy results. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 66: 140-145.
Sweany, R., K. Damann, and M.D. Kaller. 2011. Comparison of soil and corn kernel Aspergillus flavus populations: evidence for niche specialization. Phytopathology 101: 952-959.
Kaller, M.D., W.E. Kelso, B.T. Halloran, and D.A. Rutherford. 2011. Effects of spatial scale on assessment of dissolved oxygen dynamics in the Atchafalaya River basin, Louisiana. Hydrobiologia 658: 7-15.
Kaller, M.D. and W.E. Kelso. 2010. Chapter 1. The importance of small woody debris in stream restoration: invertebrate community diversity in lowland, subtropical streams in the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain. Pages 1-40 in Hayes, G.D. and T.S. Flores., editors. Stream Restoration: Halting Disturbances, Assisted Recovery and Managed Recovery. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, NY
Kaller, M.D. and J. D. Hudson III. 2010. Phenological partitioning among drifting insect genera within families in a subtropical, coastal plain stream (Louisiana, USA). Journal of Freshwater Ecology 25: 607-615.
Pierluissi, S., S.L. King, and M.D. Kaller. 2010. Waterbird nest density and nest survival in rice fields of southwestern Louisiana. Waterbirds 33:323-330.
Perrett, A.J., M.D. Kaller, W.E. Kelso, and D.A. Rutherford. 2010. Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on sportfish community abundance in the Eastern Atchafalaya River basin, Louisiana. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30: 511-517.
Newell, P.J., S.L. King, and M.D. Kaller. 2009. Foraging behavior of pileated woodpeckers in partial cut and uncut bottomland hardwood forest. Forest Ecology and Management 258: 1456-1464.
Boswell, K.M., M.D. Kaller, J.H. Cowan, Jr., and C.A. Wilson. 2008. Evaluation of target strength-fish length equation choices for estimating estuarine fish biomass. Hydrobiologia 610: 113-123.
Kaller, M.D., J.D. Hudson III, E.A. Achberger, and W.E. Kelso. 2007. Feral pig research in western Louisiana: Expanding populations and unforeseen consequences. Human-Wildlife Conflicts 1: 168-177.
Kaller, M.D. and W. E. Kelso. 2007. Association of macroinvertebrate assemblages with dissolved oxygen concentration and wood surface area in selected subtropical streams of the southeastern USA. Aquatic Ecology 41: 95-110.
Kaller, M.D. and W. E. Kelso. 2006. Short-term decompositional state does not influence use of woody debris by macroinvertebrates in subtropical, coastal plain streams. Hydrobiologia 571: 157-167.
Kaller, M.D. and W. E. Kelso. 2006. Swine activity alters invertebrate and microbial communities in a coastal watershed. The American Midland Naturalist 156: 165-179.
Kaller, M.D. and W. E. Kelso. 2006. Occurrence of freshwater bivalves in a chronically hypoxic coastal stream. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 21: 355-357.
Kaller, M.D. and W. E. Kelso. 2006. Effects of a small-scale clearing on habitat and macroinvertebrates of a southwestern Louisiana coastal bottomland stream. The Southwestern Naturalist 51: 143-151.
Hartman, K.J., Kaller, M.D., Howell, J.W., and J.A. Sweka. 2005. How much do valley fills influence headwater streams? Hydrobiologia 523: 91-102.
Kaller, M.D. and K.J. Hartman. 2004. Evidence of a threshold level of fine sediment accumulation for altering benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Hydrobiologia 518: 95-104.
Kaller, M. D. and W.E. Kelso. 2003. Effects of feral swine on water quality in a coastal bottomland stream. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 57: 291-298.
Kaller, M.D., K.J. Hartman, and T.R. Angradi. 2001. Experimental determination of benthic macroinvertebrate metric sensitivity to fine sediment. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 55:105-115.