Factors affecting Lake Sturgeon reproduction: the next step in recovery and management

As Missouri’s Lake Sturgeon population has begun to grow and mature, efforts have been made to identify critical habitats for various life stages. However, this information can be challenging to collect. Identifying spawning sites, site characteristics...

Development of a flexible mid-sized river habitat sampling protocol to complement fish protocols

Habitat assessments are crucial to monitor habitat changes over time, understand biological responses to changes, and overcome habitat deficits through restoration...

Evaluating the effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies for inland fish and fisheries

Adaptation strategies for inland fish and fisheries is one tool managers can employ to help fisheries in a changing climate. Many of these adaptation strategies are used for other objectives related to river restoration but are seldom identified to counteract climate change effects on fish....


Assessment on the Interlinkages Among Biodiversity, Water, Food, and Health

Craig Paukert was selected as a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Nexus Assessment, which will develop a report to develop sustainable futures for people and nature. Craig will Co-Lead and international group assessing options for delivering sustainable approaches to water. The first meeting of the group was in Frankfurt, Germany in May 2022, but will continue to 2024 with the rollout of the Nexus Assessment to the 140 governments.

Collaborations with International Scientists on Inland Fisheries and River Conservation

Post-doctoral Researcher Ralph Tingley and Craig Paukert hosted a workshop of InFish, which is a group formed to raise the global profile of inland fish to inform policy, advance their conservation, and promote sustainable fisheries http://infish.org/.The three day workshop was was attended by over 25 students and scientists from around the worked (as far away as Australia!), with an additional 20 more scientists worldwide who attended virtually. The group had representation from over 10 universities from at least four countries, two US federal agencies, the United Nations (FAO), consulting groups, and non-governmental organizations. Some of the highlights were providing feedback to the NGO Conservation International on how they determine the effectiveness of conservation actions, and how they are developing strategies to empower small-scale fisheries in the Mekong River Basin.

Craig Paukert was invited by the Chinese Academy of Sciences researcher Yushun Chen to their Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) in Wuhan, China in October 2018 to work with his graduate students on river conservation issues. The collaboration included presentations by the IHB graduate students, and site visits to rivers and conservation centers in central China. These were initial efforts to develop long-term collaborations with the University of Missouri and the IHB at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Future plans include more trips to China, and possible student exchanges between Missouri and the IHB.