Emily Cenkoski and Elizabeth Harrison
UM News Service
missoula – Whether it’s donning a wetsuit and snorkeling to get data or taking your lab along a river to sample fish, the University of Montana’s Fisheries Technology class goes beyond the classroom curriculum to engage students. immerses you in real-world applications of fisheries conservation and management.
Led by Andrew Whiteley, associate professor of fisheries and conservation genomics at the Franke College of Forestry and Conservation in Washington, this class offers second-year students the opportunity to literally dive into the science of fisheries. Fieldwork, including snorkeling in the Blackfoot River Basin and Gold Creek, allows students to immerse themselves in learning while making meaningful contributions to the conservation of Montana's aquatic ecosystems.
Whiteley's vision is to equip students to address the pressing issues facing fish in Montana and the West. This class goes beyond traditional learning to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to tackle real-world challenges found in the fishing industry.
“At the heart of our class is the idea of applied management and conservation,” Whiteley said. “We discuss the state's big fisheries issues, such as river and stream habitat fragmentation and the impact of invasive fish. We then discuss the state's major fisheries issues, such as river and stream habitat fragmentation and the impact of invasive fish. We then use the tools that fisheries biologists and researchers use to provide data-driven solutions. Learn about the techniques and concepts that
Fisheries conservation and management is a top priority for a state where a staggering 1 million anglers travel to fish its rivers and streams. Fisheries technology classes are just one way the university is leading the way in innovative research and education in fisheries management in the western United States.
UM has been at the forefront of fisheries genetics research since the early 1970s. At this time, Fred Allendorf, professor emeritus of biology on the UM Board of Regents, along with former UM biology professor Rob Leary, founded his one of the first fish genetics laboratories in the country.
Recognizing the potential of this burgeoning sector, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Park partnered with Mr. Allendorf and Mr. Leary to conduct a statewide genetic survey of Montana's native trout populations. This collaboration has created one of the world's most comprehensive databases of native trout.
Whiteley arrived at UM decades later and earned a Ph.D. In 2005 he received his PhD in Organismal Biology and Ecology. After working in the field for several years, in 2016 he realized his dream of returning to UM.
Whiteley's own research addresses habitat fragmentation and dynamics between native and exotic fish populations in dammed river systems. In 2017, he secured $800,000 from the National Science Foundation to fund five years of research on small populations of trout and genetic rescue (strategic movement of fish to restore small, isolated populations). We investigated whether it could function as a conservation tool. The award, his CAREER grant from NSF, is the most prestigious award given to junior faculty and is limited to only a few assistant professors each year.
Whiteley said he feels honored to continue the legacy of Allendorf and Leary as principal investigator at the Montana Conservation Genomics Institute. Ryan Kobach, a state fisheries geneticist with the UM Institute, continues to play a key role in most decisions made by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the area of fisheries management. .
“That's a bit unusual,” Whiteley said. “While there are states that have it in place, there are many states that don't use it to nearly the same extent. We're heading towards the top. I think it's all about building trust.”
Whiteley students actively participate in research aimed at informing state management of trout species, both in the field and in the classroom. They are at the forefront of addressing important questions in conservation genomics, evolutionary biology, and ecology with the goal of maintaining healthy fish populations in Montana.
Whiteley's team works closely with MFWP's state fish geneticists and research scientists to develop genetic and We provide genomics data, analysis, and decision support.
“Collaboration with MFWP and other agencies will help inform fisheries management decisions,” Mr Whiteley said. “We analyze thousands of samples each year, and this partnership underscores our commitment to protecting Montana’s native fish and habitat.”
The students' contributions extend beyond Montana, providing valuable data and research to organizations such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Mexico Game and Fish Department, and the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Undergraduate Max Posey, currently a senior majoring in terrestrial tracking in wildlife biology, took the Fisheries Technology class in the fall of 2021. He describes a field trip where he first witnessed electrofishing, a non-lethal method of collecting fish data.
The process involves a small team of three to four students hiking to a stream wearing backpacks that can generate a small, controllable electrical output. Students step into a stream, aim an electric probe to temporarily stun the fish, and set a net to collect data from each fish. Through this hands-on application, students will be able to accurately collect fish demographic information, such as species and size ranges, and ultimately obtain estimates of river populations.
“The two most important things I took away from this class are that this type of work is fun and applicable,” Posey said. “It couldn't be more hands-on, and you can collect a lot of very important data in the process.”
For Posey, the journey from classroom to stream was enough to inspire him to formally pursue fisheries management. He worked for the Nevada Department of Wildlife the following summer and credits his fisheries technology classes with getting him selected for the position. He now plans to become a fisheries biologist, and he hopes to continue working with Whiteley in graduate school at UM.
The class, led by Mr. Whiteley, is designed to expose students to fun fieldwork that will help them understand the major challenges currently impacting Montana's aquatic ecosystems. His hope is to prepare students like Posey for future careers in biology while instilling a deep sense of stewardship of Montana's natural resources.
The passion sparked in class is already having a ripple effect, as one student said after a snorkeling excursion:
“This is exactly what I set out to do when I came to Montana.”