Jake Schaefer

Dr. Jake Schaefer is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). His research focuses on the evolutionary ecology, physiology, and conservation of freshwater fishes, particularly within the Fundulus notatus species complex. His lab investigates hybridization dynamics, geomorphological impacts on fish communities, and species distribution patterns in dynamic river systems. He is affiliated with the Ichthyology Program at USM, with a laboratory website at ichthyology.usm.edu.

Educational Background:

• PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oklahoma (1999)
• MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oklahoma (1995)
• BS in Biology, Stetson University (1992)

Research Interests: Dr. Schaefer’s work emphasizes understanding how environmental factors (e.g., geomorphic dynamics, habitat fragmentation) shape fish populations and communities. His studies on hybrid zones in Fundulus species reveal adaptive responses to ecological gradients and hybridization barriers. Key themes include evolutionary processes in stream fishes, conservation genetics of endangered species, and the effects of human-induced stressors on aquatic ecosystems.

Publications: His recent work addresses fluvial geomorphology’s role in fish community structure, hybridization patterns in topminnows, and long-term ecological changes in geomorphically dynamic watersheds. This research highlights the interplay between biotic and abiotic factors in freshwater ecosystems.

Professional Affiliations: He is a member of the Society for the Study of Evolution, American Fisheries Society, Ecological Society of America, and Southeastern Fishes Council.

Laboratory and Fieldwork: His lab operates out of Johnson Science Tower (Room 1007) and collaborates on projects involving genomic analyses, field surveys in Mississippi river systems, and conservation assessments of endangered darters. Ongoing projects investigate the impacts of climate change on stream fish metapopulations and the genetic consequences of hybridization in replicated contact zones.