John B. Hume

John B. Hume serves as an Assistant Professor - Research in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. His position is funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) through the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management (PERM), collaborating with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and federal agencies including US Fish & Wildlife Service and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to advance sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Evolutionary Ecology from the University of Glasgow (2013)
• MSci in Zoology from the University of Glasgow (2009)

Dr. Hume's research integrates lamprey conservation and invasive species management, focusing on their ecological roles as prey, nutrient transporters, and habitat modifiers in freshwater systems. His expertise spans behavioral ecology, chemical ecology, and evolutionary biology, with particular attention to anthropogenic stressors including habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change impacts on migratory fish species. He emphasizes the interconnected nature of lamprey conservation and control as 'two sides of the same coin' requiring public and political support.

Analysis of his 2018-2021 publications reveals consistent focus on Great Lakes sea lamprey management through integrated approaches. His work bridges fundamental biological research (e.g., alarm cue responses, ecotype evolution) with applied solutions (selective fish passage, chemical cue trapping, aquaculture protocols). Key trends include international collaboration on conservation initiatives, development of non-lethal control methods, and assessment of anthropogenic threats across native and invasive lamprey populations.

No scientific awards, fellowships, or medals are documented in the provided materials.

Dr. Hume's research is primarily supported by the GLFC through PERM, enabling collaboration with multiple federal and state agencies. His grants fund initiatives including the Sea Lamprey Aquaculture & Procurement Initiative (SLAP) for developing lab-rearing protocols, media analysis projects assessing lamprey portrayal, and nationwide mapping of lamprey distributions for State Wildlife Action Plans. He has previously directed projects on sex ratio dynamics, selective fish passage development, and evolutionary ecology of lamprey 'paired species'.

He leads 'That Lamprey Lab' at Michigan State University, which employs multidisciplinary methodologies from genetic analysis to whole-organism field studies. The lab conducts research through three primary channels: the Sea Lamprey Aquaculture & Procurement Initiative for invasive species control, conservation-focused projects mapping US lamprey distributions and assessing media bias, and fundamental research on lamprey life history and evolutionary ecology. Current work includes preparing for 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans and developing selective passage systems to balance native fish restoration with sea lamprey control.