Research

The best way to get an idea of the types of research we do in our lab is to check out Google Scholar

Most of the work in our lab focuses on assessing how fish and invertebrate populations in rivers and river influenced coastal systems respond to changes in freshwater discharge. These changes in discharge are often related to changing climate, water withdrawals, dam construction and operations.

Major research efforts have included research projects such as

Humpback chub population dynamics in the Grand Canyon reach of the Colorado River

Since 2003 we have been fortunate to work with a large group of highly skilled and dedicated boatmen, biologists, scientists, resource managers, stakeholders, and visitors to the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers in and around Grand Canyon National Park. These efforts have created learning opportunities for multiple graduate students and experiences to last a lifetime for everyone involved.

Oyster population and restoration projects

In 2009 we began working on oyster populations in the Big Bend region of Florida (northeastern Gulf of Mexico). This work was motivated by observations from commercial fishing families related to shifts in the size and distribution of oyster reefs in Suwannee Sound. Estuarine ecosystems along the Big Bend are heavily influenced by freshwater discharge from coastal rivers and subaqueous springs and oyster reefs help to modify the timing and direction of freshwater from riverine to estuarine to nearshore coastal environments. We hope that through long-term assessment of these oyster reef ecosystems we can begin to tease apart the complex relationships between changing environmental conditions, modifications to freshwater discharge, and direct and indirect effects of fishing on these ecological and culturally important creatures. In collaboration with Peter Frederick and Leslie Sturmer at UF, and agency partners including Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and USGS, and with funding from NFWF, we have recently been awarded a project to restore a section of the Lone Cabbage Reef complex in Suwannee Sound, Florida.

Gulf sturgeon stock assessment, spawning habitats, and movement dynamics

We have been working with Gulf sturgeon populations off and on for about 20 years. One of our primary responsibilities is to work with the USFWS and NOAA-Fisheries, who jointly manage this ESA listed species, to help assess status and trends in Gulf sturgeon populations. With funding from NRDA, we will be working closely with USFWS and NOAA to update the Gulf Sturgeon stock assessment and to provide new information on over-winter survival of juvenile Gulf Sturgeon in estuarine habitats. More Gulf sturgeon info is available here

Population demographics and parameter estimation

We are always interested in projects that use innovative approaches to assess status and trends in animal populations. These projects usually involve close cooperation with academic, agency, and industry partners on applied topics of conservation need including assessments of endangered species populations.