The Illinois Natural History Survey’s Kaskaskia, Sam Parr and Ridge Lake Biological Stations conduct research in the broad areas of fisheries ecology and management under the direction of Dr. Joe Parkos.
The mission of our lab is to:
- Conduct research that advances science needed for effective conservation and management of fish and aquatic ecosystems,
- Provide mentorship and training for the next generation of professional biologists, and
- Engage the public through outreach and collaborative activities.
The research activities of our group fall along the interface between basic and applied ecology and combine field studies with manipulative experiments. Recreational fisheries, habitat management, and aquatic invasive species form the applied contexts of most of our research. Our projects also typically involve partnerships with colleagues from county, state, and federal agencies, as well as valuable participation from non-governmental organizations and local fishing groups.