Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program:
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Richard is a doctoral student in the Program in Ecology at the University of Wyoming. His research interests cover a broad spectrum within the field of aquatic ecology, ranging from population and community ecology, conservation biology to ecosystem processes. His current research focuses on understanding the individual and interactive effects of multiple stressors on ecological responses in headwater streams. In particular, he is trying to better understand the effects of stressors associated with oil and natural gas development, livestock grazing, and natural variability in hydrology on fish physiology and immunology, as well as the quality and quantity of fish food resources, and the implications for freshwater fish populations.. Richard began working with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 2014. Prior to his attendance at the University of Wyoming, he received a bachelor's and master's degree in Environmental Science (2008) and Biology (2011) from the University of Central Arkansas. Between degrees, Richard worked as a fisheries technician with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in St. George, Utah sampling and monitoring fishes in the Virgin River. Following graduate school, he spent some time working as an Environmental Scientist in Arkansas consulting with clients on several aquatic issues, mostly natural gas development best management practices and rapid bioassessments of aquatic organisms. After consulting, he traveled around the west...