CASC scientists work with wildlife and resource managers to research the impacts of global change on plants and animals at local, national, and global scales. Their research has led to several of their co-authored publications being recognized as among the most highly cited and/or highly read papers across multiple environmental science journals! Check out these impactful publications below:

"People need freshwater biodiversity"  

Journal: WIREs Water

Recognition: Among the top 10 most-cited papers published by the journal in 2023.

CASC Co-Author(s): Abigail Lynch (National CASC)

Summary: There is mounting concern about the accelerating pace of biodiversity loss and declining ecological function within freshwater ecosystems. To better understand the effect of these changes, authors cataloged nine fundamental ecosystem services that indigenous freshwater biodiversity provides to people, organized into three categories: material (food; health and genetic resources; material goods), non-material (culture; education and science; recreation), and regulating (catchment integrity; climate regulation; water purification and nutrient cycling). Sustaining freshwater biodiversity may contribute to human well-being and a sustainable future via a wide range of services and associated nature-based solutions.

News Announcement: Why People Need Freshwater Biodiversity
 

"Ecological and social strategies for managing fisheries using the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework" 

Journal: Fisheries Management and Ecology  

Recognition: One of the journal's top 10 most-cited papers published.

CASC Co-Author(s): Abigail Lynch (National CASC)

Summary: The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework can be a useful tool to support fisheries management in facing the high uncertainty and variability associated with aquatic ecosystem transformations. Here, RAD strategies are presented to address ecological goals for aquatic ecosystems and social goals for fisheries. 

"Resisting ecosystem transformation through an intensive whole-lake fish removal experiment" 

Journal: Fisheries Management and Ecology  

Recognition: Received enough downloads to rank within the top 10% of papers published by the journal.

CASC Co-Author(s): Holly Embke (MW CASC), Doug Beard (National CASC), and Abigail Lynch (National CASC)

Summary: Researchers tested the utility of an intensive management action to resist walleye loss to support walleye facing environmental change and provide a platform for management discussions to move beyond resist strategies in the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework to navigate ecosystem change.

"Connecting research and practice to enhance the evolutionary potential of species under climate change" 

Journal: Conservation Science and Practice  

Recognition: Among the top 10 most-cited papers published by the journal in 2023.

CASC Co-Author(s): Laura M. Thompson (National CASC), Lindsey Thurman (Northwest CASC), and Olivia LeDee (Midwest CASC) 

Summary: Researchers amalgamated input from natural-resource practitioners and interdisciplinary scientists to identify information needs, current knowledge that can fill those needs, and future avenues for research. Three focal areas that can guide engagement include: (1) recognizing when to act, (2) understanding the feasibility of assessing evolutionary potential, and (3) identifying best management practices. 

"Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage" 

Journal: Nature Communications  

Recognition: One of the journal's top 25 publications in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences for 2024.

CASC Co-Author(s): Sarah Weiskopf (National CASC), Brian Miller (North Central), and Toni Lyn Morelli (Northeast CASC)  

Summary: Diverse plant assemblages store more carbon and are part of more productive ecosystems, but plant biodiversity is not usually incorporated into predictions of carbon futures. CASC researchers and partners found that future plant biodiversity loss could decrease carbon storage in land ecosystems.    

News Announcement: Why People Need Freshwater Biodiversity