Christopher Cheek

Christopher Cheek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University. His research focuses on invasive species ecology, fish conservation, and ecosystem boundaries. He is affiliated with the Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Lab (Room 139B) and specializes in studying interactions between invasive species, aquatic ecosystems, and endangered fish populations.

Key research themes include mutualism between invasive species across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces, movement ecology of imperiled fish, and the impacts of invasive riparian trees on non-native fish diets. His work often involves translocation studies, habitat connectivity analyses, and long-term monitoring of fish assemblages in river systems like the Colorado and Pecos Rivers.

Cheek has published extensively on topics such as invasion meltdown, resource subsidies in novel ecosystems, and spatial patterns of desert fish communities. He collaborates with organizations like the Public Service Company of New Mexico and Navajo Agricultural Products Industry on fish passage and captive rearing initiatives.

No scientific awards or grants are explicitly noted in the provided materials, though his research demonstrates significant contributions to conservation biology and invasion ecology. His lab work emphasizes practical solutions for endangered species management and ecosystem restoration.