Sea Grant collaboration produces essential work on fish ecology and aquatic ecosystems

Posted July 18th, 2023 in Education, Featured, Fisheries, Funding, News
Book cover of Biology and Ecology of Fishes; headshots of authors Tomas Hook of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and James Diana of Michigan Sea Grant

An updated textbook has been released that provides a fundamental introduction to aquatic life and ecosystems and multidisciplinary fish studies, including an understanding of the anatomical, environmental, and ethological topics of fish ecology.

This updated edition is the result of a collaboration between Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Michigan Sea Grant. Sea Grant is a national network of 34 university-based programs and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support coastal communities through research, extension, and education.

Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Third Edition, incorporates two distinct aspects of fish study: biology and management. Beginning with a general introduction to aquatic life and ecosystems, the textbook covers the basic topics of anatomy, physiology, and theoretical ecology of fish. It also includes more practical issues concerning fish populations, management, and habitats. Combining both tracks into a single holistic approach has never been more critical in preparing the next generation of fish biologists and fishery scientists.

“New chapters and content include additional information about emerging issues and stressors facing fish populations and communities, such as climate change, invasive species, and effects of fisheries harvest” said co-author Tomas O. Höök, professor of Fisheries Biology in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and director of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. 

Image of cover of Biology and Ecology of Fishes by James S. Diana and Thomas O. Hook. It features images of 5 fish swimming in dark water

Biology and Ecology of Fishes provides an essential overview for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying fish ecology or fisheries biology. It can also serve as a reference for researchers and professionals in fish ecology, population management, and related fields. Topics cover everything from fish diversity, growth, and reproduction to mortality, recruitment, and social behavior. The book also discusses life-history patterns and reproductive strategies, and the effects of climate change on fish and conservation. Readers will also find detailed coverage of growth and bioenergetics, feeding and predation, basic fisheries data analyses, and more. 

“Similar to the first two editions of the book (with James Diana as sole author), with this third edition we have aimed to draft a text that is readable and accessible with an emphasis on concepts and issues,” added Höök.

Co-author James S. Diana is emeritus professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability and former director of Michigan Sea Grant. 

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a bi-state cooperative program of NOAA, University of Illinois, and Purdue University bringing science together with communities for solutions that work. Michigan Sea Grant is a cooperative program of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and NOAA that funds research, education, and outreach projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of Great Lakes resources. Sea Grant is a network of 34 science, education, and outreach programs located in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Lake Champlain, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Learn more about the book, including how to order, from the Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Third Edition page on Wiley Publishing’s website.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a partnership between NOAA, University of Illinois Extension, and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources, bringing science together with communities for solutions that work. Sea Grant is a network of 34 science, education and outreach programs located in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Lake Champlain, Puerto Rico and Guam.

 

Writer: Elizabeth Striano, Michigan Sea Grant
Contact: Tomas Höök, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

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We are excited to offer the opportunity to propose a speaker or panel session during the 2026 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference April 28-29. The conference will feature traditional 15-minute presentations and a poster session on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and outreach in the soil, water, and air.

The deadline to propose a session is June 16, 2025.

Learn more at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17944730567859300
We are excited to offer the opportunity to propose a speaker or panel session during the 2026 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference April 28-29. The conference will feature traditional 15-minute presentations and a poster session on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and outreach in the soil, water, and air.The deadline to propose a session is June 16, 2025.Learn more at the link in bio.

A recent @seagrant_noaa publication, Aquaculture Regulation in the Great Lakes, serves as a valuable resource for fish farmers & policymakers in the region in navigating the complex legal environment of aquaculture.

The report breaks down complex legal framework and provides practical insights to help aquaculture producers understand and navigate state and regional requirements with greater confidence.

It was developed by the National Sea Grant Law Center in partnership with @mnseagrant-led Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC) which formed to support aquaculture in the eight Sea Grant programs that border the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

Read more and access the report at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17979639236829390
A recent @seagrant_noaa publication, Aquaculture Regulation in the Great Lakes, serves as a valuable resource for fish farmers & policymakers in the region in navigating the complex legal environment of aquaculture.The report breaks down complex legal framework and provides practical insights to help aquaculture producers understand and navigate state and regional requirements with greater confidence.It was developed by the National Sea Grant Law Center in partnership with @mnseagrant-led Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC) which formed to support aquaculture in the eight Sea Grant programs that border the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Read more and access the report at the link in bio.

Our new aquaponics curriculum is here! Designed for 9-12th grade classrooms with operating aquaponics systems, this curriculum, created by educators for educators, teaches STEM concepts through the lens of aquaponics, aligning with NGSS and Great Lakes Literacy Principles. Learn more via the link in bio.

@seagrant_noaa
@ilextension
@purduefnr
@noaaeducation
@environmental_ed_of_il
@eeaindiana

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18505536562052343
Our new aquaponics curriculum is here! Designed for 9-12th grade classrooms with operating aquaponics systems, this curriculum, created by educators for educators, teaches STEM concepts through the lens of aquaponics, aligning with NGSS and Great Lakes Literacy Principles. Learn more via the link in bio. @seagrant_noaa@ilextension@purduefnr@noaaeducation@environmental_ed_of_il@eeaindiana

Congress is finalizing the FY26 budget, and federal funding for Sea Grant programs across the country—including Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant—is uncertain. Sea Grant programs have consistently had broad community and political support, and now such support is more important than ever.

Add your name to our sign-on letter urging Congress to support continuation of programs benefiting the Great Lakes, supporting local economies, and connecting communities with science-backed solutions.


Scan the QR code or visit the link in bio to take action.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18028430444427675
Congress is finalizing the FY26 budget, and federal funding for Sea Grant programs across the country—including Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant—is uncertain. Sea Grant programs have consistently had broad community and political support, and now such support is more important than ever.Add your name to our sign-on letter urging Congress to support continuation of programs benefiting the Great Lakes, supporting local economies, and connecting communities with science-backed solutions.Scan the QR code or visit the link in bio to take action.
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