Lab Overview

Freshwater aquatic organisms are among the most imperiled taxa on earth.  These organisms and the systems in which they live face a bevy of threats including habitat alteration, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and loss of connectivity.  Not only can managers and conservationists benefit from a better understanding of how these threats affect the biota and their habitats, but there is also value in evaluating the effectiveness of  conservation measures intended to protect populations and communities.  However, often before we can understand threats or consider effective management, there is a need to understand the basic biology and ecology of the taxa and system in which they occur.  Our lab seeks to address all of these information needs using sound scientific approaches based in theory but focused on application.  Although our focus is on freshwater crayfish, fish, and mussels in the midwestern United States, our interest and reach span many taxa around the globe.