Ecology and conservation of river-floodplain fishes. Dr. James Roberts’ investigates the ecology of fishes in Coastal Plain river-floodplain ecosystems (RFEs). Dr. Roberts’ research group asks questions at a range of biological levels, from behavior of individuals to structure and function of populations and communities, using a variety of techniques including field surveys, aquarium experiments, simulation modeling, and molecular population genetics. These studies inform basic science, but often are motivated by applied questions in natural resource management. Research themes addressed by Dr. Roberts’ group include (1) characterizing spatiotemporal patterns of inundation of RFE habitats, and long-term influences of land conversion and climate change on these patterns, (2) quantifying dispersal of fishes between river and floodplain habitats, and consequences for population and community dynamics, (3) modeling relations between fish community structure and longitudinal and lateral environmental gradients in RFEs, and (4) measuring responses of species and communities to acute and chronic water pollution events.

Research Plan for REU Participant: Students will be able to develop projects to (1) measure inundation of RFE habitats, categorize RFE hydrologies, and relate hydrologies to watershed characteristics, (2) track seasonal movements of fishes among RFE habitats and relate movement patterns to environmental features, and (3) characterize taxonomic and functional fish community variation among RFE habitats and use data to test ecological metacommunity models. As part of the research team, students will gain advanced understanding of ecological methods, fish life-history, community ecology, and ecosystem dynamics in RFE environments.

Visit Dr. Roberts' website for more information