University biology professor Cliff Dahm has been elected president of the North American Benthological Society, a professional association for freshwater researchers.
The society is the world's largest organization of stream and river ecologists and has more than 2,000 members.
According to the society's mission statement, its purpose is to provide a better understanding of the freshwater biological community and its relationship to aquatic ecosystems. The organization provides members with the opportunity to further examine all aspects of the benthic biological community and the aquatic ecosystem.
According to the society's Web site, benthic comes from the word benthos, which refers collectively to all aquatic organisms which live on, in or near the bottom of bodies of water. Benthic animals are those visible to the naked eye such as worms and snails.
Dahm, who has been with UNM since 1984, will be president-elect for one year and president from 2004-05. He will spend a year working with current president-elect F. Richard Hauer. The society's current president is Catherine Pringle.
Dahm has degrees in chemistry, oceanography and ecology. He is also the director of UNM's Integrative Graduate Education Research and Training program.
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"The program recruits highly qualified graduate students to UNM to work on stream ecology," Dahm said.
Dahm is also a member of UNM's hydrogeoecology research group. The group consists of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.
Dahm said that his research focuses mainly on the Rio Grande and New Mexico mountain streams.
"Issues related to water are going to be more important to this group and this organization is one of the best organizations in the world for research on and management of water resources," Dahm said.
He also said that one of this year's aims for the group will be to change the name of the organization to include broader subjects.
Robert Sinsabaugh, a UNM biology department associate professor, said the society is the most important organization for freshwater research.
Dahm is a good man for the job, Sinsabaugh said.
"To be elected shows that you're well respected by your peers," Sinsabaugh said. "It is an honor and a reflection of the respect that his peers have for him."
