Missouri Staff Member
Dr. Jacob Thomas Westhoff
Assistant Unit Leader
Phone: (573) 884 - 8464
Email: jwesthoff@usgs.gov
Faculty Email: westhoffj@missouri.edu
Faculty Website
Education
- Ph D University of Missouri 2011
- MS Tennessee Technological University 2007
- BS University of Missouri 2004
- BS University of Missouri 2004
Biography
Dr. Westhoff earned a master’s degree in Biology from Tennessee Technological University and a PhD in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Missouri. He worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation for five years where he conducted research on of populations of rare fishes prior to joining the Missouri Coop Unit in 2021. His research focuses primarily on the conservation of non-game fish, crayfish, and mussels in the midwestern and southeastern United States. He combines laboratory and field data collection to investigate topics related to thermal ecology, aquatic invasive species, life history, movement, habitat associations, and species distributions. Much of his research focuses on rare and endangered species and provides information to state and federal partners for species listing, recovery, and monitoring efforts. He is also keenly interested in methods development and standardization related to both laboratory and field data collection. Dr. Westhoff has taught courses on Global Change Ecology, Ichthyology, Fish Ecology, Fisheries Management, Ecology of Freshwater Crayfish and Mussels, and Invasion Ecology.
Areas of Expertise
Aquatic Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Fisheries Management, Invasive Species, Species Distribution Modeling, Species Management, Species Status Assessments, Stream Ecology, T&E Species Management, eDNA
Taxon Groups Studied
Freshwater Fishes, Invertebrates/Insects, Mussels, Nongame Fish/Wildlife, Species of Greatest Conservation Need
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Whittier, J., J. Westhoff, C. Paukert, and R. Rotman. 2020. Use of multiple temperature logger models can alter conclusions. Water2(3), 668; doi.org/10.3390/w12030668 | March 2020 |
| Westhoff, J.T., R.J. DiStefano and D.D. Magoulick. 2012. Do environmental changes or juvenile competition act as mechanisms of species displacement in crayfishes? Hydrobiologia | February 2012 |
| Westhoff, J.T., Berkman ,L.K., Klymus, K.E., Thompson, N.L. and Richter, C.A. 2022. A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of Longnose Darter Percina nasuta in Missouri. Fishes 2022, 7, 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7020070 | Abstract | March 2022 |
| Westhoff, J., and C. Paukert. Climate change simulations predict altered biotic response in a thermally heterogeneous stream system. PLoS One. | October 2014 |
| Westhoff, J., C. Paukert, et. al. 2014. Behavioral thermoregulation and bioenergetics of riverine smallmouth bass associated with ambient cold-period thermal refuge. Ecology of Freshwater Fish DOI: 10.1111/eff.12192. | October 2014 |
| Westhoff, J. and A.E. Rosenberger. 2016. A global review of freshwater crayfish thermal ecology. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 26:329-349. | May 2016 |
| Westhoff, J. T., H. A. Abdelrahman, and J. A. Stoeckel. 2023. Upper thermal tolerance of two native and one invasive crayfish in Missouri, USA. Freshwater Crayfish 28:27-36. https://doi.org/10.5869/fc.2023.v28-1.27 | Abstract | December 2023 |
| Westhoff, J. T. and C. F. Rabeni. 2013. Resource selection and space use of a native and an invasive crayfish: evidence for competitive exclusion. Freshwater Science 32(4):1383-1397 DOI: 10.1899/13-036.1 | October 2013 |
| Huber, A. F., W. A. Fitzsimmons, and J. T. Westhoff. 2023. The Smaller, the Better? First evaluation of growth and mortality in crayfish internally tagged with p-Chips. Journal of Crustacean Biology 43: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruad071 | Abstract | November 2023 |
| DiStefano, R.J., J.T. Westhoff, C.W. Ames, and A.E. Rosenberger. 2016. Life history of the vulnerable endemic crayfish Cambarus (erebicambarus) maculatus (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Missouri. USA. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36:615-627. | September 2016 |
| DiStefano, R.J., J.T. Westhoff, C.J. Rice, and A.E. Rosenberger. 2019. Life history of the endemic saddleback crayfish Faxonius medius (Faxon, 1884), (Decapoda: Cambridae) in Missouri, USA. Freshwater Crayfish 24:1-13. | March 2019 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Wright, K.D. and J. Westhoff. 2021. A novel method to assess substrate compaction in lotic systems. Poster presentation: 2021 Annual Meeting, Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. Virtual. April 2021. | April 2021 |
| Wright, K. and J. Westhoff. 2021. A novel method to assess substrate compaction in lotic systems. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, February 2021. | February 2021 |
| Wright, K. D. and J. T. Westhoff. Development of an innovative method for quantifying substrate compaction in streams. 152nd Annual Meeting, American Fisheries Society, Spokane, Washington, 21-25 August, 2022 | August 2022 |
| Westhoff, J., and C. Paukert. Thermal and physical habitat characteristics of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Osage Beach, MO. 17 October 2012. | February 2013 |
| Westhoff, J., and C. Paukert. Habitat and temperature selection of smallmouth bass in the Jacks Fork River. Missouri/Arkansas White River Partnership Meetings, Branson, MO. 17 October 2012. | October 2012 |
| Westhoff, J., R. DiStefano, C. Ames, and A. Rosenberger. 2015. Life history of the Freckled Crayfish Cambarus maculatus in two Missouri streams. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri. February 2015- Poster Presentation. | February 2015 |
| Westhoff, J., D. Novinger, and J. Decoske. 2019. Lessons from monitoring Missouri’s rare fishes using occupancy estimation. Southeastern Fishes Council, Knoxville, TN. November 2019. | November 2019 |
| Westhoff, J., C. Rice, and A. Rosenberger. 2016. Research can inform management of aquatic ecototherms facing a thermally dynamic future: a crayfish example. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri, February 2016. | February 2016 |
| Westhoff, J. T., R. DiStefano, C. Ames, and A.E. Rosenberger. 2015. Life history of the Freckled Crayfish Cambarus maculatus in two Missouri Streams. Oral Presentation for the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society, Savanah, Georgia. January 2015. | January 2015 |
| Westhoff, J. T., L. K. Berkman, K. E. Klymus, N. L. Thompson, and C. A Richter. 2023. A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of longnose darter <i>Percina nasuta</i> in Missouri. Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 77th Annual Conference, Corpus Christi, TX. October 15 - 18, 2023. | October 2023 |
| Westhoff, J. T., H. A. Abdelrahman, and J. A. Stoeckel. 2022.<b> </b>Linking thermal metrics to inform conservation planning for freshwater biota. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI, 14 - 20 May, 2022 | May 2022 |
| Westhoff, J. T., C. Rice, H. Abdelrahman, and J. Stoeckel. 2018. Multi-method inference of temperature tolerance and preference for a native and an invasive crayfish. International Association of Astacology. Pittsburg, PA. July 2018. | July 2018 |
| Westhoff, J. T. 2017. Enhanced conservation through the understanding of crayfish thermal ecology. Society Freshwater Science Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC. June 2017. | June 2017 |
| Tracy Smith, E., P. Blanchard, M. Combes, D. Lobb, C. Paukert, and J. Persinger. Evaluating Fish Community Changes to Stream Flow Alterations American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. | August 2015 |
| Raney, A. and J. Westhoff. 2025. Clawing for Survival: Mapping Invasive and Endemic Crayfishes in the Upper Saint Francis River Basin. 85th Annual Meeting, Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saint Louis, MO, 19 -22 January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Raney, A. and J. Westhoff. 2024. Systematic distributional survey of endemic and invasive crayfishes in the upper Saint Francis River drainage, Missouri. Southern Division American Fisheries Society, Chattanooga, TN Feb 1 – 3, 2024 | February 2024 |
| Raney, A. and J. Westhoff. 2024. Systematic distributional survey of endemic and invasive crayfishes in the upper Saint Francis River drainage, Missouri. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Osage Beach, MO. February 6 - 9, 2024. | February 2024 |
| Raney, A. and J. Westhoff. 2024. Systematic distributional survey of endemic and invasive crayfishes in the upper Saint Francis River drainage, Missouri. International Association of Astacology Meeting, Zagreb, Croatia. September 17, 2024. | September 2024 |
| Raney, A. and J. Westhoff. 2023. Systematic distributional survey of endemic and invasive crayfishes in the upper Saint Francis River drainage, Missouri. Southern Division American Fisheries Society Meeting, Norfolk, VA. February 2023. | February 2023 |
| Raney, A. and J. Westhoff. 2023. Systematic distributional survey of endemic and invasive crayfishes in the upper Saint Francis River drainage, Missouri. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. February 2023. | February 2023 |
| Paukert, C., J. Westhoff, and A. Pease. Effects of Climate Change on Smallmouth Bass in Midwestern US Streams. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. | August 2015 |
| Laszlo, A. M., S. McMurray, and J. T. Westhoff. 2023. Development of a flexible mid-sized river mussel sampling protocol and investigation of statewide multi-scale mussel habitat relationships. 13th Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Symposium. Portland, OR. April 2023. | April 2023 |
| Huber, A., W. Fitzsimmons, and J. Westhoff. 2024. The smaller the better? First evaluation of growth and mortality in crayfish internally tagged with p-chips. Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society Meeting, Chattanooga, TN. February 1 - 3, 2024. | February 2024 |
| Huber, A. F., W. Fitzsimmons, and J. Westhoff. 2023. Evaluation of growth and mortality in crayfish internally tagged with p-chips. 84th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists. Winston-Salem, NC. March 2023. | March 2023 |
| Hrdina, A., R. DiStefano, J. Westhoff. 2025. Subject matter focus of state fish and wildlife conservation magazines. 85th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saint Louis, MO, 19 -22 January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Hrdina, A., J. Westhoff, and R. DiStefano. 2023. Subject matter focus of state fish and wildlife conservation magazine. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. 7 - 9 February 2023 | February 2023 |
| Harried, B., W. Fitzsimmons, K. Fogelman, J. Rogosch, J. Stoeckel, and J. Westhoff. 2024. Linking stream fish thermal ecology and adaptive capacity to inform watershed-based management. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Osage Beach, MO | February 2024 |
| Harried, B., W. Fitzsimmons, K. Fogelman, J. Rogosch, J. Stoeckel, and J. Westhoff. 2024. Linking stream fish thermal ecology and adaptive capacity to inform watershed-based management. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Sioux Falls, South Dakota | January 2024 |
| Harried, B., W. Fitzsimmons, K. Fogelman, J. Rogosch, J. Stoeckel, and J. Westhoff. 2023. Assessing the thermal ecology of several <i>Notropis</i> species using multiple metrics. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI. | April 2023 |
| Harried, B., W. Fitzsimmons, Fogelman, K., Paukert, C., Rogosch, J., Stoeckel, J., and Westhoff, J. 2023. Addressing the need for lab experiments to fill the temperature gap in trait-based approaches in fishes. Southern Division American Fisheries Society, Norfolk, VA. February 7-9,2023. | February 2023 |
| Harried, B., W. Fitzsimmons, Fogelman, K., Paukert, C., Rogosch, J., Stoeckel, J., and Westhoff, J. 2023. Addressing the need for lab experiments to fill the temperature gap in trait-based approaches in fishes. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. February 7-9,2023. | February 2023 |
| Harried, B., C. Paukert, J. Rogosch, and J. Westhoff. 2022. Lack of standardized methods inhibits inference from fish thermal preferences and climate adaptation. Joint Aquatic Sciences meeting, Grand Rapids MI. | May 2022 |
| Harried, B. L., W. Fitzsimmons, K. J. Fogelman, C. P. Paukert, J. S. Rogosch, J. A. Stoeckel and J. T. Westhoff. Linking stream fish thermal ecology and adaptive capacity to prioritize watershed areas with greatest value for conservation. 85th Annual Meeting, Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saint Louis, MO, 19-22 January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Harried, B. L. and J. T. Westhoff. 2025. Trends in population status and range-wide geographic patterns of genetic variation for the federally petitioned Bluestripe Darter. 85th Annual Meeting, Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saint Louis, MO, 19 -22 January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Fitzsimmons, W., Fogelman, K., B. Harried, Paukert, C., Rogosch, J., Stoeckel, J., and Westhoff, J. 2023. Addressing the thermal ecology of Topeka Shiners (<i>Notropis topeka</i>) using multiple thermal metrics. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. February 7-9,2023. | February 2023 |
| Fitzsimmons, W. and J. Westhoff. 2024. Multimethod assessment of Woodland Crayfish (Faxonius hylas) movement in the upper St. Francis River drainage, Missouri, USA. International Association of Astacology Meeting, Zagreb, Croatia. September 17, 2024. | September 2024 |
| Ellingsworth, E., J. Westhoff, and R. DiStefano. 2024. The Caney Mountain Cave Crayfish (<i>Orconectes stygocaneyi</i>): establishing a habitat parameter baseline with additional biological notes. Southern Division American Fisheries Society Meeting, Chattanooga, TN. Feb 1 - 3, 2024. | February 2024 |
| Ellingsworth, E., J. Westhoff, and R. DiStefano. 2023. The Caney Mountain Cave Crayfish (<i>Orconectes stygocaneyi</i>): establishing a habitat parameter baseline with additional biological notes. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. February 7-9, 2023. | February 2023 |
| Coons, A., A.E. Rosenberger, and J.T. Westhoff. 2020. Distribution and habitat use of Longnose Darter (<i>Percina nasuta</i>) in Missouri. Tennessee Rare Fishes Meeting. Cookeville, TN. | March 2020 |
| Coons, A., A.E. Rosenberger, and J. Westhoff. 2020. Habitat use of longnose darters (Percina nasuta) in Missouri. Annual Meeting of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. Little Rock, Arkansas, February, 2020. | February 2020 |
| Coons, A., A.E. Rosenberger, and J. Westhoff. 2020. Habitat associations of longnose darters (<i>Percina nasuta</i>) in the St. Francis River, Missouri. Virtual Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Won Best Student Paper Award. | September 2020 |
| Callahan, S., Corson, A., and Westhoff, J. 2024. Use of Beaver Dam Analogues to Enhance Stream and Wetland Habitat in North Missouri Prairies. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, Osage Beach, MO. February 6 - 8, 2024 | February 2024 |
| Callahan, S., B. Perkins, and J. Westhoff. 2025. Fish freeways: how rock ramps are assisting prairie stream fish movement. 85th Annual Meeting, Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saint Louis, MO, 19 -22 January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Berkman, L., J. Westhoff, K. Klymus, N. Thompson, and C. Richter. 2020. The development of an eDNA survey for the rare Longnose Darter (<i>Percina nasuta</i>) in Missouri against the backdrop of range-wide taxonomic uncertainty. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Springfield, IL. January 2020. | January 2020 |
| Berkman, L. K., C. J. Rice, B. L. Brooke and J. T. Westhoff. 2025. From the cradle: genetic diversity of the central Missouri endemic Niangua Darter (Etheostoma nianguae). 85th Annual Meeting, Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saint Louis, MO, 19 -22 January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Abdelrahman, H., J. Stoeckel, J. T. Westhoff. 2019. Enzymatic thermal optimum of multiple crayfish species. Aquaculture 2019. New Orleans, LA. March 2019. | March 2019 |
| Technical Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Harried, B. J. Westhoff, and C. Paukert. 2024. Linking stream fish thermal ecology and adaptive capacity to inform watershed-based management and Species Status Assessments. Final Report, U.S. Geological Survey, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. | October 2024 |
| Role and Organization | Individual | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Association of Astacology - Governing Board Member | Westhoff | July 2018 | Present |
| Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society - member | Westhoff | January 2023 | Present |
| Crustacean Society - Member | Westhoff | July 2023 | Present |
| American Fisheries Society - President-elect of Missouri Chapter of AFS. Transition to president in 2022, and past-president in 2023. | Westhoff | February 2021 | February 2024 |
| American Fisheries Society - I oversee the student awards for MOAFS. | Westhoff | January 2018 | Present |