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

Nebraska Education Activities


A green grassy horizon frames the image of blue waters where an angler is attempting to catch perch, bluegill, northern pike, or large mouthed bass at one of the seven lakes open to fishing at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in Valentine, Nebraska.

Teaching within NECRWRU includes formal classes, small groups, and one-on-one interactions, and emphasizes active-learning approaches that empower students to take responsibility for their life-long educational journey.

Title Instructor(s) Start Date End Date
Writing for Publication Fontaine March 2012 March 2012
Vertebrate Population Analysis Spurgeon January 2022 May 2022
Science Writing Fontaine January 2012 May 2012
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2022 May 2022
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2020 May 2020
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2018 May 2018
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2016 May 2016
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2014 May 2014
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2012 May 2012
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2010 May 2010
Quantitative Fishery Assessment Pope January 2008 May 2008
Occupancy Modeling Fontaine January 2011 May 2011
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg, Fernando January 2021 May 2021
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2019 May 2019
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2017 May 2017
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2015 May 2015
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2013 May 2013
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2011 May 2011
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2009 May 2009
Managed Aquatic Systems Pope, Pegg January 2007 May 2007
Landscape Ecology Allen January 2007 April 2007
Foundations of Resilience Allen January 2009 May 2009
Ecology of Riparian Systems Fontaine January 2010 May 2010
Ecology of Biological Invasions Allen January 2017 May 2017
Ecology of Biological Invasions Allen January 2010 May 2010
Ecology of Biological Invasions Allen January 2008 May 2008
Ecology of Biological Invasions Allen January 2006 May 2006
Ecological Statistics Spurgeon January 2023 May 2023
Biodiversity Fontaine August 2010 December 2010
Adaptive Natural Resource Management Fontaine January 2013 May 2013
Adaptive Natural Resource Management Fontaine August 2010 December 2010
Title and Location Speaker Date
Understanding resilience in working agricultural landscapes.
Presented to: USGS/University of Nebraska workshop on partnerships in climate change science. Lincoln, NE.
Allen November 2008
Thinking and Rethinking Wildlife Management
Presented to: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Wildlife Division Meeting
Fontaine October 2009
The influence of tree phenology on avian migration patterns and the potential role of climate change
Presented to: University of Nebraska
Fontaine March 2009
The Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Presented to: Center for Grassland Studies, University of Nebraska
Allen October 2004
Spatial and temporal variation in climate change: A migrant bird’s dilemma
Presented to: Sportsmen’s Forum on Climate Change
Fontaine December 2009
Spatial and temporal variation in climate change: A migrant bird’s dilemma
Presented to: North Dakota State University
Fontaine October 2009
Spatial and temporal patterns in recreational fishing
Presented to: University of Maine
Pope April 2013
Spatial Risk Assessments for Fire Ant Impacts
Presented to: International Fire Ant Management Workshop, Brisbane, Australia.
Allen August 2004
Resilience in ecosystems and other complex systems
Presented to: University of Nebraska
Allen February 2005
Resilience and adaptive management of stressed watersheds.
Presented to: University of New Mexico
Allen November 2010
Resilience and Novelty in Ecosystems and other Complex Systems.
Presented to: Texas Tech University
Allen November 2006
Plasticity in growth of fish: an intricate component of life history
Presented to: University of Nebraska--Omaha
Pope January 2006
Physiological, life-history, and behavioral responses of a breeding bird community to experimentally reduced nest predation risk
Presented to: USGS Northern Prairie Science Center
Fontaine October 2009
Measuring fish condition: quandaries, paradoxes, and “If that is a light at the end of the tunnel, why is it red and blinking?”
Presented to: University of Wyoming
Pope November 2012
Math-Bio: Estimating number of fish is easier than estimating number of anglers
Presented to: University of Nebraska--Lincoln
Pope October 2014
Maintaining resilience of regional fisheries through management of anglers
Presented to: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Pope December 2011
Large-scale patterns revealed by extraordinary fish
Presented to: University of Nebraska at Kearney
Pope September 2012
If you build it will they come? Managing pheasants in tomorrow’s landscapes
Presented to: Nebraska Pheasants & Quail Forever State Habitat Meeting
Fontaine April 2012
Emergent properties of recreational fisheries
Presented to: University of Nebraska--Omaha
Pope March 2016
Discontinuities, resilience, and novelty.
Presented to: University of Alaska Seminar, Fairbanks.
Allen October 2010
Cross-scale structure and the generation of resilience and novelty in complex discontinuous systems.
Presented to: University of Cape Town, South Africa
Allen July 2007
Changing climates and changing landscapes: A migrant bird’s dilemma
Presented to: University of South Dakota
Fontaine September 2012
Changing climates and changing landscapes: A migrant bird’s dilemma
Presented to: Iowa State University
Fontaine April 2012
Avian conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region: Understanding the links between climate, ecosystem processes, wetland management, and bird communities.
Presented to: University of Nebraska
Fontaine November 2010
Assessing resilience in social-ecological systems
Presented to: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Allen December 2011
An Overview of CRU Program and NECFWRU
Presented to: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Pope August 2022
A snake in the garden: Ecological impacts or red imported fire ants
Presented to: Brisbane Fire Ant Watch Groups
Allen August 2004
Title Presenter Date
The Arctic in a Changing Environment: Examples in Wildlife Sonsthagen December 2021
STAT 997 Practicum in Statistical Consulting -- Fishery Science Pope October 2015
SNR Professional Development Seminar -- Applying for Graduate School Pope October 2014
Physilogical responses of fish to capture and release Pope February 2006
NRES 898 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Science -- Basics of an Elevator Speech Pope September 2018
NRES 463L/863L Fisheries Science -- Boating safety Pope October 2022
NRES 463/863 Fisheries Science -- Boating techniques Pope October 2021
NRES 330 Environmental Health -- Influence of fishing on human health Pope March 2019
NRES 208 Introduction to Applied Climate -- Climate and weather impacts on fisheries and wildlife Pope November 2019
NRES 163 Exploring Aquatic Ecology Careers -- Federal Employment Pope March 2016
NRES 163 Exploring Aquatic Ecology Careers -- Federal Employment Pope March 2014
NRES 163 Exploring Aquatic Ecology Careers -- Federal Employment Pope February 2017
Limnology -- Fishes Pope March 2011
LIFE 891 Complex Biosystems Seminar -- Recreational Fisheries Pope January 2016
Introduction to Pond Management Pope November 2009
Introduction to Adaptive Management Fontaine November 2010
Ichthyology -- Systematics Pope January 2012
Ichthyology -- Influence of fish biology on survival of fish that are caught and released by anglers Pope March 2008
Ichthyology -- Genetics Pope January 2012
Fishery Science -- Marking and tagging fish Pope October 2010
Fishery Science -- Emerging paradigms of "What is a fishery?" Pope September 2011
Climate Change and Wildlife Ecology Fontaine November 2009
Avian Capturing and Handling Fontaine November 2009
Applying for Graduate School Fontaine September 2010
Applying for Employment with the US Government Pope November 2010
Applied Climate Science -- Weather influences on wildlife Pope October 2009
Applied Climate Science -- Weather influences on wildlife Pope November 2008
Applied Climate Science -- Climate and weather impacts on fisheries and wildlife Pope November 2011
Applied Climate Science -- Climate and weather impacts on fisheries and wildlife Pope November 2010
Applied Climate Science -- Climate and weather impacts on fisheries and wildlife Pope December 2013
Adaptive Management in State Wildlife Action Plans Fontaine August 2010
Student (Degree) Advisor Start Year End Year
Wood, Chris (MS) Allen 2009 2013
Werner, Jake (MS) Pope 2018 2020
Uphoff, Christopher (MS) Pope 2010 2012
Uerling, Caleb (MS) Pope 2016 2017
Turner, Dylan (MS) Pope 2015 2017
Tousignant, Kelcy (MS) Pope 2021 Present
Sundstrom, Shana (PhD) Pope 2013 2018
Sundstrom, Shana (MS) Allen 2006 2010
Stevens, Geoffrey (MS) Spurgeon 2021 Present
Stephen, Bruce (PhD) Allen 2010 2018
Steffensen, Kirk (MS) Pope 2012 2012
Spurgeon, Jonathan (PhD) Pope 2013 2016
Spooner, Joesph (MS) Sonsthagen 2021 Present
Skinner, Irina (MS) Fontaine 2010 2011
Siddons, Stephen (MS) Pope 2013 2015
Shrestha , Prabhakar (PhD) Allen 2011 2014
Ruskamp, Ryan (MS) Pope 2014 2022
Rugg, Mathew (MS) Pope 2011 2013
Reichenbach , Matt (PhD) Pope 2017 2020
Radigan, William (PhD) Pope 2022 Present
Pracheil, Brenda (PhD) Pope 2006 2010
Post van der Burg, Max (PhD) Allen 2004 2009
Porter, Dori (MS) Allen 2009 2010
Piecora, Katie (MS) Sonsthagen 2021 Present
Ohnesorg, Wayne (PhD) Allen 2009 2016
Murray, Jennifer (MS) Sonsthagen 2022 Present
Messinger, Lindsey (MS) Pope 2012 2015
McFadden, Jamie (MS) Allen 2009 2010
Magruder, Mitch (MS) Spurgeon 2021 Present
Logan, Blake (MS) Sonsthagen 2022 Present
Larréy, Matthew (MS) Pope 2021 2022
Lakshmanan, Shankar (MS) Pope 2011 2012
LaPlante, Caroline (MS) Spurgeon 2021 Present
Kocik, Josh (MS) Spurgeon 2021 Present
Kill, Robert (MS) Fontaine 2011 2013
Kessler, Andrew (MS) Allen 2007 2009
Jahan, Israt (PhD) Pope 2021 Present
Hogue, Jennifer (MS) Pope 2006 2008
Hogberg, Nicholas (MS) Pope 2012 2014
Hoffman, Christina (PhD) Allen 2010 2013
Haugen, Matthew (MS) Pope 2012 2013
Hart, Connor (MS) Pope 2022 Present
Hansen, Henry (MS) Pope 2017 2019
Hammen, Jeremy (PhD) Pope 2010 2016
Hamel, Martin (PhD) Pope 2012 2013
Guastello, Paula (PhD) Pope 2021 2022
Goble, Cameron (MS) Pope 2009 2011
Giovanni, Mathew (MS) Allen 2005 2009
Fedele, Alexis (MS) Pope 2014 2017
Edholm, Christina (PhD) Pope 2013 2016
Eckberg, James (MS) Allen 2005 2008
Dean, Quintin (MS) Pope 2018 2020
DeBoer, Jason (MS) Fontaine 2010 2014
Child, Mathew (MS) Allen 2008 2008
Brown, Mary (PhD) Fontaine 2010 2011
Blank, Aaron (MS) Pope 2010 2012
Biodrowski, Michelle (MS) Fontaine 2012 2013
Barada, Tony (MS) Pope 2007 2009
Archer, Michael (MS) Pope 2007 2009
Anderson, Tara (MS) Pope 2009 2010