South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
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By Cooperative Research Units
February 19, 2026
The South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (est. 1963) is a partnership among the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.
Big River bluegill: Combining vital rates and long-term monitoring to understand population dynamics in large rivers Big River bluegill: Combining vital rates and long-term monitoring to understand population dynamics in large rivers
Long-term monitoring indicates bluegill catch rates are relatively stable in some reaches of the Upper Mississippi River and highly variable in others, whereas in the Illinois River, catch rates have decreased. A lack of age structure information precludes understanding population processes responsible for patterns in catch rates. To build a better understanding of why catch rates have...
Authors
Kristen L. Bouska, Levi E. Solomon, Andrew D. Bartels, Melvin C. Bowler, Steven A. DeLain, Eric J. Gittinger, Travis Kueter, Kristopher A. Maxson, Eric N. Ratcliff, John L. West, James T. Lamer, Hae H. Kim, Quinton Edward Phelps
Control of a dominant predator influences the occurrence of a mesocarnivore of conservation concern Control of a dominant predator influences the occurrence of a mesocarnivore of conservation concern
Context Interspecific interactions shape ecological communities, influence community dynamics, and drive co-evolution. Despite their ecological significance, predation and competition remain understudied in plains spotted skunks (Spilogale interrupta), a species of conservation concern. Clarifying how predator management influences their occurrence is crucial for effective conservation...
Authors
Kara M. White, Amanda E. Cheeseman, Joshua D. Stafford, Robert Charles Lonsinger
Predicting aquatic habitat connectivity across watershed boundaries: Implications for interbasin spread of nonindigenous aquatic species. Predicting aquatic habitat connectivity across watershed boundaries: Implications for interbasin spread of nonindigenous aquatic species.
Understanding habitat connectivity is critical for managing nonindigenous aquatic species (NAS) spread. Dams and watershed boundaries can be impassable to NAS during typical conditions but may become temporarily passable during flooding. The goal of our project was to develop an approach for identifying locations of aquatic connectivity at a fine spatial scale along watershed boundaries...
Authors
Peter J. Pfaff, Alison A. Coulter, Benjamin J. Schall, Tanner Davis, Steven R. Chipps, David P. Coulter
The South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (est. 1963) is a partnership among the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.
Big River bluegill: Combining vital rates and long-term monitoring to understand population dynamics in large rivers Big River bluegill: Combining vital rates and long-term monitoring to understand population dynamics in large rivers
Long-term monitoring indicates bluegill catch rates are relatively stable in some reaches of the Upper Mississippi River and highly variable in others, whereas in the Illinois River, catch rates have decreased. A lack of age structure information precludes understanding population processes responsible for patterns in catch rates. To build a better understanding of why catch rates have...
Authors
Kristen L. Bouska, Levi E. Solomon, Andrew D. Bartels, Melvin C. Bowler, Steven A. DeLain, Eric J. Gittinger, Travis Kueter, Kristopher A. Maxson, Eric N. Ratcliff, John L. West, James T. Lamer, Hae H. Kim, Quinton Edward Phelps
Control of a dominant predator influences the occurrence of a mesocarnivore of conservation concern Control of a dominant predator influences the occurrence of a mesocarnivore of conservation concern
Context Interspecific interactions shape ecological communities, influence community dynamics, and drive co-evolution. Despite their ecological significance, predation and competition remain understudied in plains spotted skunks (Spilogale interrupta), a species of conservation concern. Clarifying how predator management influences their occurrence is crucial for effective conservation...
Authors
Kara M. White, Amanda E. Cheeseman, Joshua D. Stafford, Robert Charles Lonsinger
Predicting aquatic habitat connectivity across watershed boundaries: Implications for interbasin spread of nonindigenous aquatic species. Predicting aquatic habitat connectivity across watershed boundaries: Implications for interbasin spread of nonindigenous aquatic species.
Understanding habitat connectivity is critical for managing nonindigenous aquatic species (NAS) spread. Dams and watershed boundaries can be impassable to NAS during typical conditions but may become temporarily passable during flooding. The goal of our project was to develop an approach for identifying locations of aquatic connectivity at a fine spatial scale along watershed boundaries...
Authors
Peter J. Pfaff, Alison A. Coulter, Benjamin J. Schall, Tanner Davis, Steven R. Chipps, David P. Coulter