Joe Krieger

I am a Ph. D. Candidate in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Michigan, whose research focuses on both fisheries management practices and species-environmental connectivity in aquatic ecosystems. My dissertation examines early-life stage traits and behavior of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Great Lakes Basin, and looks to identify impediments to restoration and successful management of this threatened species. I received a bachelors in biology from Central Michigan University and a master's in marine biology from Auburn University. My master's research examined anthropogenic impacts on coral reef ecosystems in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This work focused on quantifying the effects of recreational diving on coral reef system health and function, and evaluated the effectiveness of existing management strategies in mitigating diver impact. During my time at Central Michigan, I examined bacterial community composition present in the bulb of the northern pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea). This work looked to assess the ability of the plant to self-determine bacterial composition and also helped identify novel bacterial strains.

I have also been involved with several outreach and public communication projects including service as an independent consultant for both Shedd's Aquarium (Chicago, IL) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA), where I helped provide an updated assessment on the sustainability of the commercial fishing industry operating in both lakes Michigan and Huron, to inform seafood rankings as part of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Program. link

The unifying theme of my research centers on ecological conservation and management. My work (both past and present) has contributed to several bodies of knowledge including; restoration ecology, conservation biology, microbial ecology and fisheries ecology and management. My current research seeks to improve our understanding of organism – environmental connectivity, and how habitat requirements and interactions change over the course of an organism’s life. Further, through the use of spatially explicit habitat modeling and on-site field surveys, my work looks to explore this connectivity on a larger scale to develop assessment methods to identify impediments to recovery and restoration attempts of species of conservation concern.

As climate change impacts continue to develop worldwide, and animal - habitat use patterns begin to shift in response, our ability to better understand current use and association patterns will go a long way in helping conservation managers predict and account for future scenarios.