Assistant Unit Leader - Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Research Interests
Mike’s research program focuses on answering questions related to the management and conservation of aquatic systems. The impetus for his research emerges from issues and concerns related to native fish conservation and sport fisheries management. Consequently, he frames his research questions and approaches in a manner that has relevance to the general scientific community and natural resource managers. Although Mike has interests in all aspects of applied fisheries ecology, he has several focal research areas. These areas include research on fish assemblage structure and function, ecological thresholds, fish population dynamics, management of recreational and commercial fisheries, native species conservation, and development and evaluation of techniques for managing fishes (e.g., sampling design, age and growth analyses).
Teaching Interests
In the past, Mike has taught courses focused on Fish Biology, Fisheries Techniques, and Applied Fish Ecology. He has also led a study abroad course to South Korea. Currently, Mike teaches a 2-credit graduate course focused on Ecological Thresholds, a 3-credit graduate course focused on Advanced Fisheries Techniques, and helps administer a graduate seminar course.
Professional Experience
Assistant Unit Leader, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2010-
Education and Certifications
Ph D Kansas State University 2002
MS Kansas State University 1999
BS University of Idaho 1996
Science and Products
Proposed standard weight (Ws) equation and length categories for Utah Chub
Filling knowledge gaps for a threatened species: Age and growth of Green Sturgeon of the southern distinct population segment
Movement dynamics of nonnative Burbot in the upper Green River system and implications for management
Ontogenetic diet shifts with potential ramifications for resource competition in a kokanee – Mysis diluviana system
Distribution and abundance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in relation to habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales
Influence of population density and length structure on angler catch rate in kokanee fisheries
Movement dynamics of Smallmouth Bass in a large western river system
Population characteristics and the potential suppression of common carp in Lake Spokane, Washington
Life history structure of westslope cutthroat trout: Inferences from otolith microchemistry
Population ecology and evaluation of suppression scenarios for an introduced Utah Chub population
Effects of air exposure on survival of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout angled from a stream with warm water temperatures
Distribution and movement of steelhead and anglers in the Clearwater River, Idaho
Fish collection and hydrological data for oxbows in western Iowa
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 75
Proposed standard weight (Ws) equation and length categories for Utah Chub
Condition indices, such as relative weight (Wr), provide a simple method for comparing length–weight relationships among populations. However, no standard weight (Ws) equation has been developed for Utah Chub Gila atraria, a species of important management focus in the Intermountain West. We obtained length–weight data for 30,541 Utah Chub from 24 populations in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.AuthorsAaron Blacke, Zach Beard, Jon Flinders, Michael QuistFilling knowledge gaps for a threatened species: Age and growth of Green Sturgeon of the southern distinct population segment
The Green Sturgeon Acipenser medirostris is an anadromous, long-lived species that is distributed along the Pacific coast of North America. Green Sturgeon is vulnerable to global change because of its sensitive life history (e.g., delayed maturation) and few spawning locations. The persistence of Green Sturgeon is threatened by habitat modification, altered flows, and rising river temperatures. InAuthorsMarta Ulaski, Michael QuistMovement dynamics of nonnative Burbot in the upper Green River system and implications for management
Burbot Lota lota were illegally introduced to the Green River, Wyoming, in the mid-1990s and pose a threat to recreational fisheries and native fish conservation. Although much is known about Burbot population dynamics, little is known about their movement patterns. Our objectives were to describe the movement dynamics of Burbot in the upper Green River system to provide information on the ecologyAuthorsTucker A. Brauer, Michael Quist, Darren T. Rhea, Troy W. Laughlin, Erik WaringOntogenetic diet shifts with potential ramifications for resource competition in a kokanee – Mysis diluviana system
Ontogenetic shifts represent important transitions that can influence how fish interact with their environment. However, ontogenetic shifts are rarely placed into a population context due to the difficulty of incorporating the vagaries of size-mediated interactions. As such, we evaluated the role of ontogenetic shifts in diet as they relate to potential competitive interactions between kokanee OncAuthorsZachary B. Klein, Michael C. Quist, Andrew M. Dux, Matthew P. CorsiDistribution and abundance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in relation to habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales
The distribution and relative abundance of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi in relation to habitat characteristics remain unknown across large portions of the species’ range. The goals of this research were to provide a foundational understanding of WCT distribution and relative abundance related to habitat characteristics in tributaries of the St. Maries River, Idaho—aAuthorsJohn W Heckel, Michael Quist, Carson J. Watkins, Andrew M. DuxInfluence of population density and length structure on angler catch rate in kokanee fisheries
Management agencies are often charged with providing fisheries that lead to angler participation. Catch rate is one of the primary drivers of angler participation but can be influenced by a suite of factors, including population structure (e.g., density and size structure). The complexity of understanding how population structure influences angler catch rate is typified in kokanee Oncorhynchus nerAuthorsZachary B. Klein, Michael C. Quist, Daniel J. Schill, Andrew M. Dux, Matthew P. CorsiMovement dynamics of Smallmouth Bass in a large western river system
The Snake River, Idaho, between Swan Falls and Brownlee dams supports a popular fishery for Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu. Recently, anglers have expressed concern about harvest of Smallmouth Bass associated with seasonal congregations in and near the lower reaches of several major tributaries. Little is known about Smallmouth Bass movement in the system, and a better understanding of movemAuthorsConor McClure, Michael C. Quist, Joseph Kozfkay, Michael Peterson, Daniel J. SchillPopulation characteristics and the potential suppression of common carp in Lake Spokane, Washington
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio is a nonnative species that often has deleterious effects on aquatic systems. As such, there is interest in suppressing nonnative Common Carp populations in areas where humans have introduced them. The objectives of this study were to 1) provide insight on efficient techniques for capturing Common Carp, 2) describe their population demographics and dynamics, 3) evaluateAuthorsStacey Feeken, Zachary B. Klein, Michael C. Quist, Ned HornerLife history structure of westslope cutthroat trout: Inferences from otolith microchemistry
Life history diversity is important for population stability and is dependent on connectivity to habitat that supports all life stages and life history strategies for a species. Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (WCT) exhibit plasticity in life history strategies in response to environmental variability, but fisheries managers have been challenged with evaluating the life histoAuthorsJohn W Heckel, Michael Quist, Carson J. Watkins, Andrew M. DuxPopulation ecology and evaluation of suppression scenarios for an introduced Utah Chub population
Introduced Utah Chub Gila atraria were first sampled in Henrys Lake, Idaho, in 1993, and their presence in the system is a concern given possible interactions with sport fishes. Our objective was to describe the population dynamics of Utah Chub in Henrys Lake. A total of 362 Utah Chub was sampled via gill nets, with an average catch rate of 20.5 fish/net-night (SE = 6.0) during May 2016. Average TAuthorsCurtis J. Roth, Zachary S. Beard, Jonathan M Flinders, Michael QuistEffects of air exposure on survival of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout angled from a stream with warm water temperatures
We evaluated the effects of air exposure on Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri caught and released in a cold-water stream with elevated water temperatures (i.e., > 14°C) in southeastern Idaho. Anglers caught fish in a 2.3-km section of Fall Creek, Idaho, during August 2018. Sampled fish remained underwater while we measured and then tagged them with T-bar anchor tags. We expAuthorsDarcy K. McCarrick, Curtis J. Roth, Daniel J. Schill, Brett High, Michael QuistDistribution and movement of steelhead and anglers in the Clearwater River, Idaho
Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss is a species that is of high economic value that supports popular sport fisheries across the Pacific Northwest. The Clearwater River in Idaho provides a trophy steelhead fishery, and it is home to both wild- and hatchery-origin steelhead. To manage the fishery effectively, information is needed about the spatial and temporal overlap of wild and hatchery steelhead in tAuthorsStacey F Feeken, Brett J. Bowersox, Marika E. Dobos, Matthew P. Corsi, Michael C. Quist, Timothy Copeland - Data
Fish collection and hydrological data for oxbows in western Iowa
The data set associated with this metadata is included in three separate csv files: 'Occupancy_Data', 'Stage_Raw', and 'Flood_Stage_Height'. 'Occupancy_Data' was used to fit the dynamic occupancy models and includes 17 columns: Time: time periods numbered 1 to 5; 'Oxbow': individual oxbows numbered 1 through 10; 'OxbowName': the name of each oxbow; 'Species': species encountered during sampling