Fish and Wildlife Illustrations and North American Darter Poster by Morgan Stum, Penn State University

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area pics

Morgan Stum is a master’s student at Penn State University, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Morgan is leading research on stream fish communities in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Morgan stum is a red headed female with a blue shirt — Morgan Stum is a master’s student at Penn State University, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Morgan is leading research on stream fish communities in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Field Notebook, Sketches, Photography and Notes

Artist Name: Morgan Stum, Penn State University
Location: West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Date: 2023
Drawing: Brook Trout
Notes: This brook trout is a species of greatest conservation need and the official state fish of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

colorful red, green blue, yellow brook trout drawing — Illustration by Morgan Stum, master’s student, Penn State University. This brook trout is a species of greatest conservation need and the official state fish of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Morgan leads research on stream fish communities in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Field Notebook, Sketches, Photography and Notes

Artist Name: Morgan Stum, Penn State University
Location: U.S.
Date: 2023
Details: Several factors have been identified as contributing to declines in barn owl populations. Elimination of suitable foraging habitats may be the most important factor in the Midwest, where many grasslands have been replaced by cultivated crops (Colvin 1985).
Drawing: Barn Owl
Notes: The barn owl is a secretive species that is seldom observed during daylight hours away from its roosts and is one of the least vocal owls. They are difficult to detect at night except when they have large young in the nest.

Field Notebook, Sketches, Photography, and Notes

Name: Morgan Stum
Date: 2023
Location: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Bluestone National Scenic River
Details: Composite image/poster of several North American darter photographs captured via electrofishing for Morgan’s master’s project.
Poster/Photographs: North American Darters

Poster with color fish darters — Composite image/poster of several North American darter photographs captured via electrofishing for Morgan’s master’s project. North American darters are a widely threatened subfamily of freshwater fishes, with little known about their larval ecology. A key hurdle to better understanding the population ecology and early-life history of imperiled darters is the lack of standard methods for identifying darter larvae to species. Research documenting when and where larval darters occur, especially for imperiled species, can provide new insights into when and where to apply management actions to ensure those actions are cost-effective. North American darters are a widely threatened subfamily of freshwater fishes, with little known about their larval ecology. A key hurdle to better understanding the population ecology and early-life history of imperiled darters is the lack of standard methods for identifying darter larvae to species.

topeka shiner black and white illustration