Claire Rude

Claire Rude serves as a Research Fellow at Minnesota Sea Grant, a University of Minnesota program, where she leads field coordination, data analysis, and outreach for the invasive cattail-dominated shorelines project. Her work investigates whether removing invasive hybrid cattails along Minnesota lake shorelines enhances native plant and fish community diversity and abundance.

Her academic credentials include:

• M.S. in Fisheries Biology from Iowa State University
• B.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology & Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Rude's research centers on practical ecosystem restoration, specifically targeting invasive species impacts in freshwater shorelines. Her field-based approach examines small-scale cattail removal effects on native biodiversity, bridging fisheries biology and conservation ecology. This work directly informs management strategies for Great Lakes region aquatic habitats, emphasizing measurable ecological outcomes over theoretical frameworks.

As part of Minnesota Sea Grant's Fisheries and Aquaculture Program, she contributes to initiatives like the Invasive Cattail-Dominated Shorelines project, which aligns with the program's broader mission of addressing invasive species threats and promoting sustainable aquatic ecosystems through science-based outreach.