NEWS

Gary D. Grossman

Distinguished Research Professor 2004

Gary D. Grossman, Professor of Animal Ecology, studies freshwater fish ecology and focuses on how complex fish populations interact both with other species and with the ever-changing environment. He has made fundamental contributions in three areas: understanding the role of environmental change on community structure and resource use; providing new insight on the role of competition in community structure; and developing mathematical habitat selection models. His long-term stream studies – which examine fish behavior, species interactions and community structure – will help track the effects of global climate change on freshwater fish communities. Dr. Grossman and his collaborators have examined the effects of environmental changes, competitors and predators on stream fish community structure in Coweeta Creek, N.C. Recent work includes studies of invasive freshwater species, landscape influences on stream fish and population-level molecular genetics. Among his more than 50 journal articles, two monographs published in Ecological Monographs and Ecology of Freshwater Fishes, based on more than 10 years of research, stand out for their contributions to understanding factors that influence community structure and microhabitat use by freshwater fish in streams. Because his research program tackles both basic and applied questions, his findings have implications for stream management.