Current Research.
Small cats matter: the potential use of madtom catfishes as conservation tools for the southeastern U.S. (dissertation)
Headwater ecosystems, stream orders of three or less, are an essential resource for downstream ecological interactions, refugia for aquatic fauna, and water sources for rural and small town communities, yet these ecosystems have the least amount of regulatory protection. The goal of my dissertation is to determine if madtom catfishes (Ictaluridae: Noturus) could be used as management umbrella species for headwater ecosystems throughout the southeastern U.S. There are a few criteria that a species or a group of species need to meet to be considered for such a proxy; therefore, each study undertaken focuses on knowledge gaps that could disqualify madtom catfishes. First criteria is knowing what species you have to work with, generally speaking. To better understand the diversity of taxa in this genus, I am reconstructing a genus-level phylogeny using RADseq methods to resolve contentious relationships that persisted in previously published phylogenetic hypotheses and assess for cryptic diversity. Second criteria is knowing if these species will react noticeably to environmental change. I am using ecological niche modelling to indirectly assess how this genus may respond to climatic and hydrologic change. The final criterion for a management umbrella species is that the species needs to be able to adapt to change without going extinct in order to be used as an indicator. A lab based thermal tolerance experiment will be completed to assess this genus' capability of adapting to projected increased temperatures. Lastly, a case study will be implemented, utilizing each of the aforementioned datasets, to assess whether a madtom catfish can be utilized as a management umbrella species for the headwaters of the Ouachita River basin.
Headwater ecosystems, stream orders of three or less, are an essential resource for downstream ecological interactions, refugia for aquatic fauna, and water sources for rural and small town communities, yet these ecosystems have the least amount of regulatory protection. The goal of my dissertation is to determine if madtom catfishes (Ictaluridae: Noturus) could be used as management umbrella species for headwater ecosystems throughout the southeastern U.S. There are a few criteria that a species or a group of species need to meet to be considered for such a proxy; therefore, each study undertaken focuses on knowledge gaps that could disqualify madtom catfishes. First criteria is knowing what species you have to work with, generally speaking. To better understand the diversity of taxa in this genus, I am reconstructing a genus-level phylogeny using RADseq methods to resolve contentious relationships that persisted in previously published phylogenetic hypotheses and assess for cryptic diversity. Second criteria is knowing if these species will react noticeably to environmental change. I am using ecological niche modelling to indirectly assess how this genus may respond to climatic and hydrologic change. The final criterion for a management umbrella species is that the species needs to be able to adapt to change without going extinct in order to be used as an indicator. A lab based thermal tolerance experiment will be completed to assess this genus' capability of adapting to projected increased temperatures. Lastly, a case study will be implemented, utilizing each of the aforementioned datasets, to assess whether a madtom catfish can be utilized as a management umbrella species for the headwaters of the Ouachita River basin.
Funding (clickable links):