Hi there!  This is the latest chapter in the story of a "fish centric" career that I've been building up to for many years now. By the time I reached the 6th grade, I was planning to make a living as a tournament bass fisherman. That plan changed, however, when I discovered the wonderful world of aquatic ecology. Managing and protecting fish, and the waters they live in, has turned out to be even more fun than catching them. More rewarding, too. And much better job security. Along the way, I've worked for or with several Federal agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife), State agencies, a couple of private consulting companies, and a bunch of universities. I've also dabbled a bit in Environmental Law. Throughout this journey, fish have remained my critters of choice. And I've been fortunate enough to work with fishes in many different North American systems. But I've also logged a lot of time working with other organisms, particularly aquatic macroinvertebrates. No big surprise there - to really understand an organism, you need to know a thing or two about its physical and biological surroundings. On that note, I'm proud to say that I've gradually evolved into a jack-of-all-trades in fish ecology. I have a background in basic fisheries science and population dynamics, but I only focus on individual species when that organism is being used as a system model or there's a special management need (e.g., endangered species). Instead, I tend to pursue more holistic community and ecosystem-level research. I've also developed a taste for the large-scale, macroecological end of things. And I do most of this with a distinct conservation bent. Why are Southeastern rivers so much more diverse than Northwestern rivers? Are species-poor systems more vulnerable to non-native invasions than species-rich systems? Can remotely sensed data be used to predict population densities and energy flows at regional scales? How can this information be brought to bear on conservation policy? How can economic considerations enhance these efforts? These types of questions are all fair game in my research program. I've posted a lot of my professional information on this website, in additional to a few personal details. You'll find some specifics on my ongoing research projects, publications (most of which are available as .pdf's), work history, etc. Just follow the links on the left side of the screen. Bon appétit. And in the unlikely event that you are not satisfied, and would like to learn more about me (don't everyone raise your hand at once), you can download my CV, or check out my profiles at: Linked In  Researcher ID  |