Abigail J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Abigail (Abby) J. Lynch is a Research Fish Biologist with the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center. Abby conducts science and science syntheses on the impacts of global change to inland fishes at local, national, and global scales. Her work aims to inform conservation and sustainable use and to help fishers, managers, and other practitioners adapt to change.
Collaborative Networks
Abby leads the National CASC's aquatics program and co-leads the CASC Fish Research Team. She is adjunct/affiliate faculty at Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Florida, and the University of Missouri.
She serves as the coordinator for the international 'InFish' research network, a steward for the Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli) and the U.S. Inland Creel & Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat), an Associate Editor for Fisheries Management and Ecology, and an Editorial Board member for Sustainability Science.
Abby received her Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University on climate impacts to Great Lakes Lake Whitefish, M.S. in marine science on Atlantic Menhaden population genetics at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, and B.S. in biology and B.A. in English literature from the University of Virginia. She also served as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Fisheries Program.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University
M.S. in Marine Science, College of William & Mary
B.S. in Biology, University of Virginia
B.A. in English, University of Virginia
Affiliations and Memberships*
IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group; IUCN Fisheries Expert Group
IPBES Global and Nexus Assessments (Fellow, Lead Author, Programmatic Review Panelist)
2024 World Fisheries Congress International Program Committee (Co-chair)
UN International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (International Steering Committee)
FAO International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability (Advisory Board Member)
American Fisheries Society International Fisheries Section (Past-President)
Honors and Awards
Outstanding Young Alumni Award, Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Science and Products
Examining Linguistic Metrics in Intergovernmental Ecosystem Assessments
Susceptibility of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout to Displacement by Non-Native Brown Trout and Implications for Future Management
Assessing the State of Global Inland Fisheries
Developing Adaptation Strategies for Recreational and Tribal Fisheries in the Upper Midwest
Estimating Global River Fisheries Harvest Potential
The U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat): A Database and Interactive Tool for Inland Fisheries Management and Research
Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand
Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends
The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico
Early pandemic recreational fishing patterns across the urban-to-rural gradient in the U.S. Early pandemic recreational fishing patterns across the urban-to-rural gradient in the U.S.
Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change
Can the planetary health concept save freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems? Can the planetary health concept save freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems?
Science and Products
Examining Linguistic Metrics in Intergovernmental Ecosystem Assessments
Susceptibility of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout to Displacement by Non-Native Brown Trout and Implications for Future Management
Assessing the State of Global Inland Fisheries
Developing Adaptation Strategies for Recreational and Tribal Fisheries in the Upper Midwest
Estimating Global River Fisheries Harvest Potential
The U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat): A Database and Interactive Tool for Inland Fisheries Management and Research
Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand Supporting climate adaptation for rural Mekong River Basin communities in Thailand
Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends
The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico
Early pandemic recreational fishing patterns across the urban-to-rural gradient in the U.S. Early pandemic recreational fishing patterns across the urban-to-rural gradient in the U.S.
Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change Inland recreational fisheries contribute nutritional benefits and economic value but are vulnerable to climate change
Can the planetary health concept save freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems? Can the planetary health concept save freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems?
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government