Nebraska Staff Member
Dr. Jonathan Spurgeon
Unit Leader
Phone: (402) 472 - 0957
Email: jspurgeon@usgs.gov
Faculty Email: jspurgeon2@unl.edu
Biography
Dr. Spurgeon received graduate degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he studied large-river ecology and conservation and management of fish populations. Before joining the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 2020, Dr. Spurgeon was an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. A major focus of his research is quantifying the patchwork of habitat conditions needed by stream fishes across their life-history. Research outcomes are intended to inform decisions regarding habitat restoration and conservation strategies including translocation and non-native species suppression. Dr. Spurgeon uses a diversity of study designs and analytical techniques including occupancy modelling and mark-recapture methods. Dr. Spurgeon is currently working across a gradient of systems from small streams in the Nebraska Sandhills and Ouachita Mountains to the largest rivers in North America. Dr. Spurgeon teaches graduate courses in vertebrate population ecology and ecological statistics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Areas of Expertise
Aquatic Ecology, Ecological Flows, Fisheries Management, Habitat Management, Invasive Species, Movement Ecology, Population Dynamics, Population and Community Ecology, Species Distribution Modeling, Species Management, Statistics and Modelling, Stream Ecology, T&E Species Management
Taxon Groups Studied
Freshwater Fishes, Gamefish, Nongame Fish/Wildlife, Species of Greatest Conservation Need
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Zentner, D. L., J. J. Spurgeon, S. E. Lochmann, C. L. Graham. 2021. Tag type and location-dependent retention impart varied levels of bias on mark-recapture parameter estimates. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 41:474-483. | November 2020 |
| Whiting, D. P., C. P. Paukert, B. D. Healy, and J. J. Spurgeon. 2014. Prey availability and food web dynamics of nonnative trout in a Colorado River tributary, Grand Canyon. Freshwater Science 33:872-884. | June 2014 |
| Stevens, J.N., C.E. Barshinger, J.J. Spurgeon, M.A. Eggleton, and S.E. Lochmann. 2024. Comparison of two otolith processing methods for Silver Carp age estimation. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. | Abstract | April 2024 |
| Spurgeon, J.J. 2022. Defining habitat: implications for management of altered freshwater systems. Lakeline 42: 6-9. | April 2022 |
| Spurgeon, J., J. Kaiser, C. Graham, and S. Lochmann. 2022. Trout responses to stocking rates and river discharge within a southeast U.S. hydropeaking tailwater. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 42:926-938. | April 2022 |
| Spurgeon, J., C. Paukert, B. Healy, M. Trammell, D. Speas, and E. Omana-Smith. 2015. Translocation of Humpback Chub into tributary streams of the Colorado River: implications for conservation of large-river fishes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 144:502-514. | May 2015 |
| Spurgeon, J. J., R. H. Stasiak, G. R. Cunningham, K. L. Pope, and M. A. Pegg. 2014. Status of native stream fishes within selected protected areas of Niobrara River in western Nebraska. Great Plains Research 24:71-78. | Download | April 2014 |
| Spurgeon, J. J., N. T. Stewart, M. A. Pegg, K. L. Pope, and M. T. Porath. 2016. Using standardized fishery data to inform rehabilitation efforts. Lake and Reservoir Management 32:41-50. | Download | January 2016 |
| Spurgeon, J. J., M. J. Hamel, K. L. Pope, and M. A. Pegg. 2015. The global status of freshwater fish age validation studies and a prioritization framework for further research. Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture 23:329-345. | Download | July 2015 |
| Spurgeon, J. J., M. A. Pegg, K. L. Pope, and L. Xie. 2020. Ecosystem-specific growth responses to climate pattern by a temperate freshwater fish.Ecological Indicators 112:106130. | Download | January 2020 |
| Spurgeon, J, M. Rhodes, J. W. Neal, and K. Evans. 2021. Aquatic habitat changes within the channelized and impounded Arkansas River, Arkansas, USA. River Research and Applications 37:462-474. | December 2020 |
| Pegg, M. A., K. L. Pope, L. A. Powell, K. C. Turek, J. J. Spurgeon, N. T. Stewart, N. P. Hogberg, and M. T. Porath. 2015. Reservoir rehabilitations: seeking the fountain of youth. Fisheries 40:177-181. | Download | April 2015 |
| Ochs, C., C. Johnston, P. Hartfield, A. Harrison, J. Baustian, B. Piazza, C. Justis, D. Larsen, A. Michelson, J. Spurgeon. Chapter 6 - Lower Mississippi River Tributaries. In: J. Delong, T. Jardine (eds) Rivers of North America (2nd edition). | April 2023 |
| Miller, B.T., B.C. Neely, C.J. Chance-Ossowski, M.J. Waters, V. Salazar, L.K. Kowalewski, N.W. Kramer, S.A. Lundgren, and J.J. Spurgeon. In Review. Population characteristics and detection of Flathead Catfish in small Kansas impoundments. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. | October 2024 |
| Hamel, M., J. Spurgeon, K. Steffensen, M. Pegg. 2020. Uncovering unique life history of an endangered centenarian fish. Scientific Reports 10.12866 | April 2020 |
| Bouska, K., B. Healy, M. Moore, C. Dunn, J. Spurgeon, and C. Paukert. 2023. Diverse portfolios: investing in tributaries for restoration of large river fishes in the Anthropocene. Frontiers in Environmental Science 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1151315 | Abstract | Download | Publisher Website | March 2023 |
| Barshinger, C.E., M.A. Eggleton, and J.J. Spurgeon. 2024. Use of otolith microchemistry to determine natal origin for silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in the lower Mississippi River basin. Biological Invasions. | June 2024 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Morris, K., D.L. Lynch, M. Cole, J.J. Spurgeon, and S. Lochmann. 2024. Paleback Darter occupancy and habitat use in main-channel and off-channel areas of Lick Creek in the Ouachita Mountain ecoregion in west-central Arkansas. Annual Meeting of Southeastern Fishes Council. Little Rock, Arkansas. November 21-22. | November 2024 |
| Williams, J., L. Webb, and J. Spurgeon. River-Floodplain Connectivity: Effects on Ecological Communities in Restored Wetlands along the Lower Missouri River. Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference, January 2025. | January 2025 |
| Williams, J., L. Webb and J. Spurgeon. Impacts of River-Floodplain Connectivity on Biotic Communities in Restored Wetlands within the Missouri River Floodplain. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, February 2024 | February 2024 |
| Wall, H., A. Althoff, R. Gary, J. Kaiser, J. Kindschuh, D. Owens, L. Olhausen, J. Spurgeon, J. Stevens, and S. Lochmann. 2023. Brown Trout Catch and Release Survival and Movement in a Southern Hydropeaking Tailwater. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Grand Rapids, MI. August 2023. | August 2023 |
| Urichich, J., and J. Spurgeon. Variation in Silver Carp (<i>Hypophthalmichthys molitrix</i>) reproductive readiness along their western invasion edge. 84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. January 28 - 31, 2024. | January 2024 |
| Urichich, J., and J. J. Spurgeon. 2023. Seasonal bigheaded carp (<i>Hypophthalmichthys spp.</i>) reproductive readiness and recruitment variation along a hydrological gradient in Nebraska’s prairie streams. 83rd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Overland Park, Kansas. | February 2023 |
| Stevens, J.N., C.E. Barshinger, J.J. Spurgeon, M.A. Eggleton, and S.E. Lochmann. 2022. Comparison of two otolith processing methods for silver carp within the lower Mississippi River basin. Annual Meeting of Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. | February 2022 |
| Stevens, J.N., C.E. Barshinger, J.J. Spurgeon, M.A. Eggleton, S.E. Lochmann. 2021. A comparison of population dynamics of invasive bigheaded carp from established populations. Southern Division American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. Virginia. | April 2021 |
| Stevens, J., C. Barshinger, J. Spurgeon, M. Eggleton, and S. Lochmann. 2023. Environmental Influences on Silver Carp Population Ecology across the Mississippi River Basin. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Grand Rapids, MI. August 2023. | August 2023 |
| Stevens, J. N., C. E. Barshinger, J. J. Spurgeon, M. A. Eggleton, and S. E. Lochmann. 2023. Environmental influences on Silver Carp population ecology across the Mississippi River basin. Southern Division American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Norfolk, Virginia. | February 2023 |
| Spurgeon, J. Characteristics of two trout populations in an Arkansas tailwater. Annual Nebraska American Fisheries Society Chapter Meeting. Lincoln, NE. February, 2021. | February 2021 |
| Spooner, J., and J. Spurgeon. 2023. Population demographics of Northern Pearl Dace in the Nebraska Sandhills Ecoregion. National Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Grand Rapids, MI. August 2023. | August 2023 |
| Spooner, J., and J. J. Spurgeon. 2023. p-Chip microtransponders: field applications to population demographics of Northern Pearl Dace. 83rd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Overland Park, Kansas. | February 2023 |
| Spooner, J., J. Spurgeon, S. Sonsthagen, R. Sonsthagen, T. Huenemann. 2024. Population demography and structure of glacial relict stream fish mediated via anthropogenic alteration. World Fisheries Congress. Seattle, WA. March 8, 2024. | March 2024 |
| Spinelli, R., K. Morris, S. Lochmann, J. Spurgeon, D. Lynch, and M. Cole. 2022. Development of a predictive stream-barrier model in the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion in west-central Arkansas. Annual Meeting of Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. | February 2022 |
| Pullano, C., J. Ruoss, J. Spurgeon, and M. Pegg. Between the braids: evaluation of acoustic telemetry detection range in the lower Platte River. 84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. January 28 - 31, 2024. | January 2024 |
| Pullano, C., J. Ruoss, J. Spurgeon, and M. Pegg. 2023. Monitoring Pallid Sturgeon in the lower Platte River and its tributaries. 83rd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Overland Park, Kansas. | February 2023 |
| Newkirk, B., and J. Spurgeon. Multi-scale environmental associations of at-risk fishes in the Sandhills Ecoregion, Nebraska. 84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. January 28 - 31, 2024. | January 2024 |
| Morris, K., Spurgeon, J. Paleback Darter seasonal habitat use and development of a predictive stream-barrier model in the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion in west-central Arkansas. Annual Arkansas American Fisheries Society Chapter Meeting. Little Rock, AR. February, 2021. | February 2021 |
| Morris, K. S. Lochmann, J. Spurgeon, D. Lynch, and M. Cole. 2022. Paleback Darter seasonal occupancy in main channel and off-channel areas of Lick Creek in the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion in west-central Arkansas. Annual Meeting of Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. | February 2022 |
| Morris, K. M., J. J. Spurgeon, D. T. Lynch, M. Cole, and S. E. Lochmann. 2023. Using boosted regression tree model to predict road-stream crossing barrier severity scores in the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion in west-central Arkansas. Southern Division American Fisheries Society, Norfolk, Virginia. | February 2023 |
| Logan, B., and J. Spurgeon. Silver Carp population demographics and connectivity. 84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. January 28 - 31, 2024. | January 2024 |
| Logan, B., and J. J. Spurgeon. 2023. Population Connectivity, Demographics, and Occupancy of Invasive Carp in the Platte River and its Tributaries. 83rd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Overland Park, Kansas. | February 2023 |
| Kindschuh, J., Spurgeon, J.J. Evaluation of drone imagery and supervised classification to quantify coverage of floating and emergent vegetation in Arkansas reservoirs. Annual Arkansas American Fisheries Society Chapter Meeting. Little Rock, AR. February, 2021. | February 2021 |
| Humphrey, E., and J. Spurgeon. The Thermal Tolerances and Heat Shock Protein Regulation of Bigmouth Shiners from the Elkhorn River. 84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. January 28-31, 2024. | January 2024 |
| Hartman, M., Lochmann, S., Spurgeon, J., Cole, M., Morris, K. Paleback Darter occupancy and detection probability. Annual Arkansas American Fisheries Society Chapter Meeting. Little Rock, AR. February, 2021. | February 2021 |
| Hart, C. H., and J. J. Spurgeon. 2023. In-stream heterogeneity analysis and prediction of distributions for tier-1 cyprinids using modelling of fluvial and related landscape features of Nebraska streams. 83rd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Overland Park, Kansas. | February 2023 |
| Bouska, K. L.,<b> </b>B. D. Healy, M. J. Moore, C. G. Dunn, J. J. Spurgeon, and C. P. Paukert. Diverse portfolios: investing in tributaries for restoration of large river fishes. USGS Ecosystem Mission Area Friday Findings Webinar, 15 September 2023. Virtual. IP-157389. | September 2023 |
| Barshinger, C., Spurgeon, J., Eggleton, M. Identification of Silver Carp origin within the Lower Mississippi River Basin. Annual Arkansas American Fisheries Society Chapter Meeting. Little Rock, AR. February, 2021. | February 2021 |
| Barshinger, C. E., J. J. Stevens, J. J. Spurgeon, S. E. Lochmann, and M. A. Eggleton. 2022. Population dynamics of silver carp <i>Hypophthalmichthys molitrix</i> within the lower Mississippi River basin. Annual Meeting Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. | February 2022 |
| Barshinger, C. E., J. J. Spurgeon, and M. A. Eggleton. 2022. Identification of Silver Carp origin within the lower Mississippi River basin. Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society, Charleston, South Carolina. | January 2022 |
| Anderson, B., and J. Spurgeon. A Comparison of Sampling Gears for Invasive Carp in Tributaries to the Missouri River and Platte River in Nebraska. 84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. January 28 - 31, 2024. | January 2024 |
| Althoff, A., S. Lochmann, J. Stevens, and J. Spurgeon. 2023. Diel Movements and Macrohabitat Use of Silver Carp in Arkansas. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Grand Rapids, MI. August 2023. | August 2023 |
| Althoff, A., J. Spurgeon, J. Stevens, J. Kindschuh, and S. Lochmann. 2023. Movement Behaviors of Invasive Silver Carp <i>Hypophthalmichthys molitrix</i> in Two Rivers of Central Arkansas. Southern Division American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Norfolk, Virginia. | February 2023 |
| Role and Organization | Individual | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Fisheries Society - Member<br>Nebraska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society | Spurgeon | January 2012 | Present |