My Business
Research
Sportfish Ecology and Management
Our primary research projects address questions related to sportfish ecology and management in lotic systems at multiple scales, primarily the Wabash River Basin. The aim of this research is to enhance sport fisheries in riverine systems throughout the Midwestern United States.
Stream Ecology
Stream fish and macroinvertabrate responses to natural and anthropogenic stressors is a core research focus of the Center. We employ standardized methodologies to assess ecosystem response to events such as habitat restoration, dam removal, and chemical pollution.
Invasive Species
Invasive carps, primarily Silver and Bighead Carp are a ubiquitous component of our riverine ecosystems throughout the United States. Our overall objectives in this research are to assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of invasive carp reproduction and recruitment, coupled with seasonal movement ecology in the Wabash River and surrounding basins.
Faculty/Staff
Dr. Robert Colombo
Professor
My research focuses on how fish populations respond to anthropogenic impacts. Specifically, I am interested in the responses of native fishes to harvest, invasive species and habitat alterations. Most of my research focuses on commercially or ecologically important species in lotic (flowing) water system.
Dr. Eden-Effert Fanta
Professor
My research focuses on biodiversity and trophic interactions in stream environments. Particularly I am interested in the interactions of fish, macroinvertabrate communities, and the biogeochemical cycles that affect stream ecosytems.
Dan Roth
Staff
I am an alumnus of EIU's Biological Science Department and the Center for Fisheries and recently re-joined as the lead staff researcher. I have a variety of research interests and roles in the center including larval fish ecology, and fish community assessments using long-term standardized methodologies.
Students
Coy Blair
Coy was born and raised in Iowa and grew up with an interest in conservation and the outdoors. His research focuses on understanding silver carp habitat use and selection in the Wabash River. Coy is broadly interested in invasive species, fish management and river ecosystems.
Josh Bruegge
Josh is originally from Iowa and received a B.S. from Iowa State University. His current research focuses on shifts in fish communities in response to restoration efforts in the rivers of Illinois.
Carly Capon
Carley received her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019. Since then, she was working as an aquatic field technician on the Illinois River with the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Sydney McAndrews
Sydney's research investigates the role of physical habitat restoration in an urban stream in Champaign-Urbana. She is interested in the community assemblages of fish and macroinvertebrates, as well as understanding food web linkages in urban environments. She is from Denver, Colorado and enjoys swimming, rock climbing, and fishing with the lab!
Tyler Pasley
Tyler is from Shelbyville, Illinois, and he graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield with a BA in environmental studies in 2021. Before coming to EIU, he worked as a research technician for the Illinois Natural History Survey. His thesis research focuses on invasive carp reproduction and zooplankton community composition in tributaries of the Illinois and Wabash rivers.
Mitchell Rosandich
Mitch is originally from the suburbs of Chicago but chose to study fisheries at Colorado State University for his bachelors. He then spent a few years working in the field before coming to EIU to complete his masters. His research focuses on establishing a sampling protocol for Channel Catfish in smaller impoundments.
Ryan Skowronski
Ryan Skowronski is from Shelbyville Illinois just 45 minutes from EIU. He completed his undergrad at EIU, with a degree in environmental biology. His favorite fish is the northern hog sucker, but also enjoys many darter species in Central Illinois streams and rivers.
Devlon Sutton
Devlon is a lifelong resident of Illinois from the banks of the Kankakee River in Momence. After high school, he thirsted for adventure and served actively in the Army as a combat infantryman. After five years of service, Devlon returned to a familiar area to attend Eastern Illinois University. In 2019 he graduated obtaining a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology. He spent the next stage of life at the Illinois River Biological Station in Havana Illinois working primarily on the Illinois River. He is currently back at Eastern Illinois University as a graduate student looking into research pertaining to river ecosystems.
Valerie Thompson
Valerie is originally from Milford, OH, and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Biology from EIU while playing on the softball team there. She is currently a graduate research assistant in the EIU Center for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and is studying Channel Catfish population demographics in the Wabash River. Her hobbies include hunting, fishing, reading books, and drawing (especially pictures of fish), and her favorite fish is the Shovelnose Sturgeon.
Alexis VandenBerg
Alexis is originally from Channahon, IL and graduated from EIU with her B.S. in environmental biology. She continued at EIU to get her Master’s degree where studies fish and macroinvertebrate community response to stream restoration.
Opportunities
Contact
- Life Sciences Building, Charleston, IL, USA
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