Research
My research emphasis is freshwater fish ecology and conservation. Prior to moving to Weber State University, I was a fishery technician/biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as a member of the New Mexico Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (1993-2002). I later completed doctoral research in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at South Dakota State University (2003-2006). I also have a Bachelor of Science degree (biology) from Ohio Northern University (1992) and Master of Science degree (biology) from Sul Ross State University (1994).
Research with students at Weber State University often includes field projects in northern Utah. Past projects have evaluated the distributions of trout populations, the success of reintroductions of Bonneville cutthroat trout, and relations among top predators including trout, stoneflies, water striders, and riparian spiders. Examples are provided on the Wasatch Front streams.
Students have also studied the relation of trout stocking in suburban ponds to pond use by Double-crested Cormorants (poster below). The final results were presented as a poster to the 2019 WSU Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and Celebration, the 2019 Utah Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and the 2019 Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters.
Earlier, this work also produced articles in Ergo Volume 11 and in the Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, & Letters Volume 95.
Less often, students have completed laboratory projects, such as a study of the effects of noise on fish wellness published in the Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, & Letters Volume 93.
If you are a WSU student interested in participating in research, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Professional research has most recently focused on biogeography of North American fishes and turtles. Examples of research projects are illustrated in recent publications.