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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.

South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Media
Walleye
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

he South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit focuses on applied research that supports state and federal wildlife management. Its work spans fisheries science, upland and big‑game ecology, and nongame species, emphasizing population dynamics, habitat relationships, and conservation challenges. The Unit also trains graduate students and collaborates with agencies to address regional natural‑resource issues.

Mechanisms of Devils Lake’s Responses to Recent Climatic Wetting: Insights from a Physically Based Hydrologic Model Mechanisms of Devils Lake’s Responses to Recent Climatic Wetting: Insights from a Physically Based Hydrologic Model

These data cover Devils Lake Basin of Northern Great Plains (NGP) region, North Dakota. We aimed to understand the mechanism of the Devils Lake responses and basin-wide hydrologic change under a wet-climatic regime using a process-based and cold region hydrologic model. The data include areal measurements (km2) of each of the Hydrological Response Units (HRUs) that were modeled.
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers

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
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

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
By
Cooperative Research Units

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
By
Cooperative Research Units

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.

South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Media
Walleye
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

he South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit focuses on applied research that supports state and federal wildlife management. Its work spans fisheries science, upland and big‑game ecology, and nongame species, emphasizing population dynamics, habitat relationships, and conservation challenges. The Unit also trains graduate students and collaborates with agencies to address regional natural‑resource issues.

Mechanisms of Devils Lake’s Responses to Recent Climatic Wetting: Insights from a Physically Based Hydrologic Model Mechanisms of Devils Lake’s Responses to Recent Climatic Wetting: Insights from a Physically Based Hydrologic Model

These data cover Devils Lake Basin of Northern Great Plains (NGP) region, North Dakota. We aimed to understand the mechanism of the Devils Lake responses and basin-wide hydrologic change under a wet-climatic regime using a process-based and cold region hydrologic model. The data include areal measurements (km2) of each of the Hydrological Response Units (HRUs) that were modeled.
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers

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
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

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
By
Cooperative Research Units

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
By
Cooperative Research Units
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