Header Photo Courtesy of Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Special Symposia Schedule Announced
The following symposia have been added to the schedule as indicated below. Read their overviews here and visit the schedule page for a complete list of presentations and abstracts.
S-1. Enclosed Camera Trapping Techniques for Small-bodied Wildlife | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Scott Bergeson, Dr., Purdue University - Fort Wayne, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Greg Lipps (Ohio State University)
Overview:
Enclosed camera trap systems are quickly becoming a staple for ecological surveys focusing on small vertebrate, and potentially invertebrate, communities. Camera trap techniques like the AHDriFT system, the Mostela, and others are able to detect small terrestrial vertebrates much more effectively, more efficiently, and with less stress than traditional trapping methods. However, because these techniques are relatively novel, additional work is required to determine best practices and to elucidate additional or unforeseen functions of the technique (e.g., mark-recapture surveys). This symposium is meant to be a gathering of researchers that have been using the techniques in their labs. These researchers will disseminate current work being conducted using these systems and discuss future work that needs to be done. We propose a symposium of flexible time that incorporates both oral presentations from people working with the system but also a panel discussion that allows for an honest discussion of the systems, their uses, their problems, and future work. This panel discussion can also serve as a Q&A for researchers interested in using the systems in their own labs or agencies.
Contact: Scott Bergeson, Dr., Purdue University - Fort Wayne, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Greg Lipps (Ohio State University)
Overview:
Enclosed camera trap systems are quickly becoming a staple for ecological surveys focusing on small vertebrate, and potentially invertebrate, communities. Camera trap techniques like the AHDriFT system, the Mostela, and others are able to detect small terrestrial vertebrates much more effectively, more efficiently, and with less stress than traditional trapping methods. However, because these techniques are relatively novel, additional work is required to determine best practices and to elucidate additional or unforeseen functions of the technique (e.g., mark-recapture surveys). This symposium is meant to be a gathering of researchers that have been using the techniques in their labs. These researchers will disseminate current work being conducted using these systems and discuss future work that needs to be done. We propose a symposium of flexible time that incorporates both oral presentations from people working with the system but also a panel discussion that allows for an honest discussion of the systems, their uses, their problems, and future work. This panel discussion can also serve as a Q&A for researchers interested in using the systems in their own labs or agencies.
S-2. Keeping Outdoor Participants Engaged: R3, Access, Barriers, and More | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Branndon Castellano, Outdoor Education Coordinator: Hunting, Recreational Shooting, and Trapping Programs, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Keith Warnke MAFWA, MAFWA R3 and Relevancy Committee
Overview:
This symposium will present cutting-edge research and implementation examples focused on the recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters, anglers, and target shooters, as well as agency relevancy. Recent studies have examined key barriers impacting participation and offered data-driven strategies for addressing these challenges. This session will explore both the application and continued development of these findings to sustain engagement and behavioral change. Topics will include barriers to effective agency implementation, innovative approaches to retaining aging hunters, reducing logistical burdens for families interested in fishing, and other targeted solutions aimed at improving overall engagement and programmatic adaptive management. The objective of this symposium is to equip practitioners with timely, actionable insights to inform strategic R3 efforts within the Midwest region and beyond. Additionally, it will serve as a platform for researchers and students to share current work, foster collaboration, and advance the collective understanding of effective R3 strategies.
Contact: Branndon Castellano, Outdoor Education Coordinator: Hunting, Recreational Shooting, and Trapping Programs, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Keith Warnke MAFWA, MAFWA R3 and Relevancy Committee
Overview:
This symposium will present cutting-edge research and implementation examples focused on the recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters, anglers, and target shooters, as well as agency relevancy. Recent studies have examined key barriers impacting participation and offered data-driven strategies for addressing these challenges. This session will explore both the application and continued development of these findings to sustain engagement and behavioral change. Topics will include barriers to effective agency implementation, innovative approaches to retaining aging hunters, reducing logistical burdens for families interested in fishing, and other targeted solutions aimed at improving overall engagement and programmatic adaptive management. The objective of this symposium is to equip practitioners with timely, actionable insights to inform strategic R3 efforts within the Midwest region and beyond. Additionally, it will serve as a platform for researchers and students to share current work, foster collaboration, and advance the collective understanding of effective R3 strategies.
S-3. Mussel Propagation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Laura Bowley, Surveillance Supervisor, Bureau of Water Quality, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Drew Holloway, Fisheries Biologist, Bureau of Water Quality
Overview:
Let’s get real about freshwater mussel propagation. Too often, we only talk about what works- but it’s the missteps, hard lessons, and in-the-trenches experiences that teach us the most. This symposium is a call for open, honest conversations about all that goes into mussel propagation. Let’s stop reinventing the wheel and start sharing what’s really happening in the lab, the field, and everywhere in between. Attendees are invited to share creative solutions, innovative approaches and novel techniques, but just as importantly, to openly discuss setbacks and “flops”. These moments, often overlooked and unshared, are often the catalysts for genuine learning, growth, and the advancement of freshwater mussel propagation. Potential presentation topics include host health, culture techniques, water quality, predator/pest management, feeding strategies, overwintering, release/monitoring, and genetic management. This symposium will feature traditional presentations as well as an interactive, open discussion forum between speakers and audience members in the final presentation slot.
Contact: Laura Bowley, Surveillance Supervisor, Bureau of Water Quality, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Drew Holloway, Fisheries Biologist, Bureau of Water Quality
Overview:
Let’s get real about freshwater mussel propagation. Too often, we only talk about what works- but it’s the missteps, hard lessons, and in-the-trenches experiences that teach us the most. This symposium is a call for open, honest conversations about all that goes into mussel propagation. Let’s stop reinventing the wheel and start sharing what’s really happening in the lab, the field, and everywhere in between. Attendees are invited to share creative solutions, innovative approaches and novel techniques, but just as importantly, to openly discuss setbacks and “flops”. These moments, often overlooked and unshared, are often the catalysts for genuine learning, growth, and the advancement of freshwater mussel propagation. Potential presentation topics include host health, culture techniques, water quality, predator/pest management, feeding strategies, overwintering, release/monitoring, and genetic management. This symposium will feature traditional presentations as well as an interactive, open discussion forum between speakers and audience members in the final presentation slot.
S-4. Conservation Decision Support Tools in the Midwest | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Melissa Gabrielson, Science Implementation Coordinator, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Mohammed Al-Saffar, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, USFWS; Alexander (Alex) Wright, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, USFWS; Doug Gorby, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, USFWS
Overview:
Conservation planning is the foundation for successful habitat delivery. However, conservation is inherently complex, encompassing large landscapes, multiple stakeholders, and socioeconomic needs. Given this complexity, there is an increased need to link knowledge to action.
Strategic habitat conservation (SHC) is an adaptive, science-based approach to conservation that includes the biological and ecological aspects of wildlife and their habitat requirements at multiple spatial scales. It also includes social science which is the foundation for the human dimension’s aspect of conservation. Through SHC, decision support tools (DST) can be created to direct conservation actions that effectively contribute to measurable biological outcomes. These tools help conservation practitioners increase planning rigor, project accountability, stakeholder participation, transparency in decisions, and increase knowledge. The Migratory Bird Joint Venture partnership is sponsoring this symposium to allow people to discover, compare, and contrast DSTs in the Midwest to support wildlife conservation.
At the end of this symposium, participants should have a better understanding of the DST that are available within the region and how the tools can be applied to achieve landscape level conservation in the Midwest. The following topics can be expected:
a)Approaches, software, and step-down possibilities
b)Objectives, indicators, and their types
c)Processing data, types, and data integration analysis
d)Final product(s), available version(s), status, coverages, data types, resolutions, types of hot/coldspots
e)Target action(s), target habitat(s), benefiting organism(s)
f)Target audience, stakeholder(s)
Contact: Melissa Gabrielson, Science Implementation Coordinator, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Mohammed Al-Saffar, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, USFWS; Alexander (Alex) Wright, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, USFWS; Doug Gorby, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes JV, USFWS
Overview:
Conservation planning is the foundation for successful habitat delivery. However, conservation is inherently complex, encompassing large landscapes, multiple stakeholders, and socioeconomic needs. Given this complexity, there is an increased need to link knowledge to action.
Strategic habitat conservation (SHC) is an adaptive, science-based approach to conservation that includes the biological and ecological aspects of wildlife and their habitat requirements at multiple spatial scales. It also includes social science which is the foundation for the human dimension’s aspect of conservation. Through SHC, decision support tools (DST) can be created to direct conservation actions that effectively contribute to measurable biological outcomes. These tools help conservation practitioners increase planning rigor, project accountability, stakeholder participation, transparency in decisions, and increase knowledge. The Migratory Bird Joint Venture partnership is sponsoring this symposium to allow people to discover, compare, and contrast DSTs in the Midwest to support wildlife conservation.
At the end of this symposium, participants should have a better understanding of the DST that are available within the region and how the tools can be applied to achieve landscape level conservation in the Midwest. The following topics can be expected:
a)Approaches, software, and step-down possibilities
b)Objectives, indicators, and their types
c)Processing data, types, and data integration analysis
d)Final product(s), available version(s), status, coverages, data types, resolutions, types of hot/coldspots
e)Target action(s), target habitat(s), benefiting organism(s)
f)Target audience, stakeholder(s)
S-5. Conservation Social Science and Human Dimensions: Understanding, Measuring and Amplifying Connections Between People and Nature | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Ellie Prentice, Terrestrial Habitat and Social Science Unit Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Kiandra Rajala, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Caleb O'Brien, Missouri Dept. of Conservation; Adam Landon, MN Dept. of Natural Resources
Overview:
The conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources is a dynamic interplay between people and nature. With new research, engagement, evaluation, and attention to the social context of both management decisions and agency governance, a greater emphasis is being placed on understanding the social side of conservation. This symposium is hosted by the MAWFA Conservation Social Science / Human Dimensions technical working group to a) showcase social science research that is relevant to fish and wildlife conservation and management, as well as agency outreach and engagement strategies, and b) to provide a forum for interaction for social scientists from across the region. This is an open symposium, and authors are encouraged to submit relevant research on topics pertaining to the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and the engagement of the public in conservation-related activities, drawing on the theories and methods of sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, and other social sciences. This symposium will help facilitate discussion of how social science can address conservation challenges in the region and identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination across boundaries. We encourage submissions that relate to the conference theme of “People, Animals, Ecosystems: Finding Common Connections.” In particular, this symposium will include a special focus on benefits of nature and indicators of wellbeing, but submissions on all topics engaging social science approaches are welcome.
Contact: Ellie Prentice, Terrestrial Habitat and Social Science Unit Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Kiandra Rajala, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Caleb O'Brien, Missouri Dept. of Conservation; Adam Landon, MN Dept. of Natural Resources
Overview:
The conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources is a dynamic interplay between people and nature. With new research, engagement, evaluation, and attention to the social context of both management decisions and agency governance, a greater emphasis is being placed on understanding the social side of conservation. This symposium is hosted by the MAWFA Conservation Social Science / Human Dimensions technical working group to a) showcase social science research that is relevant to fish and wildlife conservation and management, as well as agency outreach and engagement strategies, and b) to provide a forum for interaction for social scientists from across the region. This is an open symposium, and authors are encouraged to submit relevant research on topics pertaining to the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and the engagement of the public in conservation-related activities, drawing on the theories and methods of sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, and other social sciences. This symposium will help facilitate discussion of how social science can address conservation challenges in the region and identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination across boundaries. We encourage submissions that relate to the conference theme of “People, Animals, Ecosystems: Finding Common Connections.” In particular, this symposium will include a special focus on benefits of nature and indicators of wellbeing, but submissions on all topics engaging social science approaches are welcome.
S-6. Deer Density Estimation: Advances in Tools and Applications | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Joe Caudell, State Deer Biologist, Division of Fish and Wildlife, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Sonja Christensen, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University ; Pat Zollner, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University
Overview:
White-tailed deer are the most important big game species managed in the Midwest, and under ideal circumstances, wildlife biologists have access to information on the density and distribution of deer to create and implement effective management strategies. But cost-effective methods for estimating deer density and distribution have remained elusive. If deer populations can be effectively estimated and mapped, then targeted approaches to deer management may be feasible. Therefore, we will explore recent advances in population estimation techniques at multiple scales and discuss how those estimates are being used in a variety of deer management scenarios, ranging from disease management to problems related to overabundant deer. We will also discuss cost comparisons for different techniques, opportunities for alignment across states, and the importance of considering public trust in developing methods.
Contact: Joe Caudell, State Deer Biologist, Division of Fish and Wildlife, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Sonja Christensen, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University ; Pat Zollner, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University
Overview:
White-tailed deer are the most important big game species managed in the Midwest, and under ideal circumstances, wildlife biologists have access to information on the density and distribution of deer to create and implement effective management strategies. But cost-effective methods for estimating deer density and distribution have remained elusive. If deer populations can be effectively estimated and mapped, then targeted approaches to deer management may be feasible. Therefore, we will explore recent advances in population estimation techniques at multiple scales and discuss how those estimates are being used in a variety of deer management scenarios, ranging from disease management to problems related to overabundant deer. We will also discuss cost comparisons for different techniques, opportunities for alignment across states, and the importance of considering public trust in developing methods.
S-7. Snakes in Winter | 1/26/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Bruce Kingsbury, Professor, Purdue University Fort Wayne, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Matt Kleitch, Natural Resource Manager, Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan Department of Military and Environmental Affairs
Overview:
The Eastern Massasauga is the only rattlesnake in the Midwest, and is listed as federally threatened. Conserving this species requires not only understanding its ecology and behavior during the active season, but also during the winter. Contrary to the behavior of some snakes, massasaugas overwinter in water down crayfish burrows and other access points in the vicinity of wetlands. Suitable sites appear to be limited. Understanding what habitats they select provides the opportunity to better conserve them during this sensitive time. Our intention during this symposium is to focus on a variety of elements directly relating to massasauga overwintering. However, we would include speakers conducting work on overwintering by other species to give context and further lessons into snake natural history during the "off season."
Contact: Bruce Kingsbury, Professor, Purdue University Fort Wayne, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Matt Kleitch, Natural Resource Manager, Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan Department of Military and Environmental Affairs
Overview:
The Eastern Massasauga is the only rattlesnake in the Midwest, and is listed as federally threatened. Conserving this species requires not only understanding its ecology and behavior during the active season, but also during the winter. Contrary to the behavior of some snakes, massasaugas overwinter in water down crayfish burrows and other access points in the vicinity of wetlands. Suitable sites appear to be limited. Understanding what habitats they select provides the opportunity to better conserve them during this sensitive time. Our intention during this symposium is to focus on a variety of elements directly relating to massasauga overwintering. However, we would include speakers conducting work on overwintering by other species to give context and further lessons into snake natural history during the "off season."
S-8. Connecting People, Benefiting the Habitat | 1/26/2026; 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Jessica Merkling, Urban Wildlife Biologist, Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife and Nature Preserves, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Dericke Lavoine, Property Manager with Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife and Nature Preserves
Overview:
Habitat loss is the primary driver of wildlife population and diversity decline across the planet. Rapidly changing land use and human dynamics in populated areas have hampered landowners’ abilities to incorporate habitat on their properties. Though the desire for people to incorporate nature into their land is strong, there are many challenges that need to be overcome.
Most land east of the Mississippi River is privately owned, making private landowners an invaluable piece of the healthy habitat puzzle. In residential areas, average lot sizes in the United States range from approximately a third of an acre to just shy of half an acre. While these private spaces are imperative to healthy environments, these small parcels make it challenging to get financial assistance for habitat work. In instances where there are areas with large enough tracts of land that qualify for funding, those parcels are frequently owned by local government which makes them unable to qualify for some funding opportunities.
As a final obstacle, working in communities with many eyes, opinions, and managers can make the task of incorporating valuable habitat in populated areas seem daunting. Community buy-in is a huge proponent of making projects last. In attending this symposium, we hope to gather representatives from local, state, and federal agencies to talk about ways to invite each other to projects and highlight how collaborative efforts can support private landowners. We’re also inviting representatives from local government, public schools, indigenous communities, and others to offer insight into what they need and what they can offer to support healthy people and environments. This symposium is a great opportunity to learn the needs of the many in order to facilitate discussion so that we all can obtain the common goal of healthy people, wildlife, and their habitats.
Contact: Jessica Merkling, Urban Wildlife Biologist, Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife and Nature Preserves, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Dericke Lavoine, Property Manager with Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife and Nature Preserves
Overview:
Habitat loss is the primary driver of wildlife population and diversity decline across the planet. Rapidly changing land use and human dynamics in populated areas have hampered landowners’ abilities to incorporate habitat on their properties. Though the desire for people to incorporate nature into their land is strong, there are many challenges that need to be overcome.
Most land east of the Mississippi River is privately owned, making private landowners an invaluable piece of the healthy habitat puzzle. In residential areas, average lot sizes in the United States range from approximately a third of an acre to just shy of half an acre. While these private spaces are imperative to healthy environments, these small parcels make it challenging to get financial assistance for habitat work. In instances where there are areas with large enough tracts of land that qualify for funding, those parcels are frequently owned by local government which makes them unable to qualify for some funding opportunities.
As a final obstacle, working in communities with many eyes, opinions, and managers can make the task of incorporating valuable habitat in populated areas seem daunting. Community buy-in is a huge proponent of making projects last. In attending this symposium, we hope to gather representatives from local, state, and federal agencies to talk about ways to invite each other to projects and highlight how collaborative efforts can support private landowners. We’re also inviting representatives from local government, public schools, indigenous communities, and others to offer insight into what they need and what they can offer to support healthy people and environments. This symposium is a great opportunity to learn the needs of the many in order to facilitate discussion so that we all can obtain the common goal of healthy people, wildlife, and their habitats.
S-9. From Surviving to Thriving: Navigating the Path from Student to Early Career Professional | 1/27/2026; 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Hannah Mulligan, Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University, [email protected]
Co-Organizers:
Elizabeth Flaherty, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Mngt, Purdue University, [email protected]; Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, [email protected]; Hadley Boehm, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; April Simmons, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Patrick Ruhl, Forestry and Natural Resources Department at Purdue University
Overview:
This symposium will contain three different segments covering the following primary topics:
Contact: Hannah Mulligan, Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University, [email protected]
Co-Organizers:
Elizabeth Flaherty, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Mngt, Purdue University, [email protected]; Gary Potts, Past President, IL DNR (Retired) & The Wildlife Society, [email protected]; Hadley Boehm, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; April Simmons, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Patrick Ruhl, Forestry and Natural Resources Department at Purdue University
Overview:
This symposium will contain three different segments covering the following primary topics:
- From Surviving to Thriving: Navigating the Path from Graduate Student to Early Career Professional
- Navigating the natural resources job market: how to apply, get hired, and build a career
- The Importance of Student Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society in the Professional Development of Students.
S-10. Research to Inform Management: Conservation of Freshwater Turtles and Other Threatened Amphibians and Reptiles in the Midwest | 1/27/2026; 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM & 1/28/2026; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Callie Klatt Golba, Curator of Turtle Conservation, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Nate Engbrecht, [email protected], Herpetologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Melissa Youngquist, [email protected], Research Biologist, Wetlands; Conservation Research Department, John G. Shedd Aquarium; Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
Overview:
Amphibian and reptile populations in the Midwest are experiencing rapid declines and are in need of urgent management. As ectotherms with low dispersal capabilities, these organisms face a myriad of conservation challenges including habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease, climate change, and illegal collection for the pet trade. The ability to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions is further complicated for long-lived, late-maturing species, like freshwater turtles. In the face of these challenges, science-backed strategies and collaborative partnerships are imperative for the long-term survival of sustainable populations. This symposium, which is sponsored by the Midwest Chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, will include presentations on regional studies involving amphibian and reptiles and their conservation in the Midwest. The first half of the day of will focus on regionally threatened species, the second half of the day will focus on freshwater turtles.
Contact: Callie Klatt Golba, Curator of Turtle Conservation, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Nate Engbrecht, [email protected], Herpetologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Melissa Youngquist, [email protected], Research Biologist, Wetlands; Conservation Research Department, John G. Shedd Aquarium; Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
Overview:
Amphibian and reptile populations in the Midwest are experiencing rapid declines and are in need of urgent management. As ectotherms with low dispersal capabilities, these organisms face a myriad of conservation challenges including habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease, climate change, and illegal collection for the pet trade. The ability to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions is further complicated for long-lived, late-maturing species, like freshwater turtles. In the face of these challenges, science-backed strategies and collaborative partnerships are imperative for the long-term survival of sustainable populations. This symposium, which is sponsored by the Midwest Chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, will include presentations on regional studies involving amphibian and reptiles and their conservation in the Midwest. The first half of the day of will focus on regionally threatened species, the second half of the day will focus on freshwater turtles.
S-11. From Plankton to Piscivores: Invasive Carp Driven Shifts Across Rivers of the Mississippi Basin | 1/27/2026; 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Rachel Bowes, Assistant Professor, Emporia State University, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Erin Shepta, West Virginia University; Jason DeBoer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Type: Open Symposium
Overview:
Invasive Silver and Bighead Carp have fundamentally altered the ecology of large rivers throughout the Mississippi River Basin. While the impacts on native fish communities are widely acknowledged, understanding the trophic mechanisms driving these impacts remains critical for effective management. This symposium brings together researchers from across the basin — including those studying the Ohio, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Wabash, and Upper-Mississippi Rivers — to share findings from stable isotope analyses that demonstrate how invasive carp alter food webs and impact native fish populations.
Emerging evidence demonstrates that carp impacts are both density-dependent and food web-wide. As carp densities increase, food webs undergo a structural shift. Native fish broaden their diets to include greater reliance on detrital, benthic, and terrestrial carbon sources, often signaling a transition to degraded, lower-quality food webs. This symposium highlights both common patterns and key regional differences in how carp invasions impact trophic dynamics. Together, these cross-system studies provide valuable insights into how carp invasions restructure food webs. Discussions will focus on how stable isotope tools can inform early detection of food web stress, identify critical intervention points, and support integrated management strategies that combine carp population control with habitat protection and ecosystem restoration.
Contact: Rachel Bowes, Assistant Professor, Emporia State University, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Erin Shepta, West Virginia University; Jason DeBoer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Type: Open Symposium
Overview:
Invasive Silver and Bighead Carp have fundamentally altered the ecology of large rivers throughout the Mississippi River Basin. While the impacts on native fish communities are widely acknowledged, understanding the trophic mechanisms driving these impacts remains critical for effective management. This symposium brings together researchers from across the basin — including those studying the Ohio, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Wabash, and Upper-Mississippi Rivers — to share findings from stable isotope analyses that demonstrate how invasive carp alter food webs and impact native fish populations.
Emerging evidence demonstrates that carp impacts are both density-dependent and food web-wide. As carp densities increase, food webs undergo a structural shift. Native fish broaden their diets to include greater reliance on detrital, benthic, and terrestrial carbon sources, often signaling a transition to degraded, lower-quality food webs. This symposium highlights both common patterns and key regional differences in how carp invasions impact trophic dynamics. Together, these cross-system studies provide valuable insights into how carp invasions restructure food webs. Discussions will focus on how stable isotope tools can inform early detection of food web stress, identify critical intervention points, and support integrated management strategies that combine carp population control with habitat protection and ecosystem restoration.
S-12. Conservation of Native Threatened and Non-game Aquatic Species | 1/27/2026; 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM & 1/28/2026; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Erin Driehaus ([email protected]), Dominique Turney, Tomas Hook (Purdue, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant)
Overview:
Native aquatic species are cornerstones of midwestern waterways and face a multitude of threats. Anthropogenic impacts like unsustainable harvest, habitat destruction and invasive species introduction threaten to overwhelm these species and drive their populations to a point of no return. Developing methods for conserving native species, both threatened and non-game, is essential to protect the future integrity of aquatic ecosystems. For this session, we invite presentations that pertain to a range of topics surrounding conservation of native aquatic species, including research on the conservation and characteristics of threatened species, effectiveness of native aquatic conservation management, and past, present and future threats to native species and their impacts.
Contact: Erin Driehaus ([email protected]), Dominique Turney, Tomas Hook (Purdue, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant)
Overview:
Native aquatic species are cornerstones of midwestern waterways and face a multitude of threats. Anthropogenic impacts like unsustainable harvest, habitat destruction and invasive species introduction threaten to overwhelm these species and drive their populations to a point of no return. Developing methods for conserving native species, both threatened and non-game, is essential to protect the future integrity of aquatic ecosystems. For this session, we invite presentations that pertain to a range of topics surrounding conservation of native aquatic species, including research on the conservation and characteristics of threatened species, effectiveness of native aquatic conservation management, and past, present and future threats to native species and their impacts.
S-13. Environmental Drivers of Fish & Wildlife Diseases in the Midwest | 1/27/2026; 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Contact: Janetta Kelly, Fish and Wildlife Health Biologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Michelle Benavidez Westrich - Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Overview:
Various facets of environmental change can greatly shape the ecology of diseases in fish and wildlife populations, sometimes with detrimental effects. Factors such as land use changes, urbanization, and agricultural expansion all play a critical role in shaping the fish & wildlife disease transmission across the landscape. This is especially true in areas such as the Midwest where anthropogenic drivers like wetland drainage and large-scale agricultural expansion have vastly changed the environment over the past centuries. As the Midwest landscape continues to transform throughout the years through urban growth, agricultural practices, and weather patterns, the threat of fish & wildlife disease outbreaks is quickly increasing.
This symposium explores how environmental drivers such as land use changes, fragmentation, and urbanization are reshaping disease emergence, persistence, and spread. We’ll spotlight patterns of disease outbreaks, land use, regional weather variability,
environmental contamination, and how suburban expansion is influencing host-pathogen relationships. The goal of this symposium is to bridge the link between animal and environmental health, providing fish & wildlife health biologists with a broader set of tools to address pressing problems in the Midwest.
Contact: Janetta Kelly, Fish and Wildlife Health Biologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Michelle Benavidez Westrich - Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Overview:
Various facets of environmental change can greatly shape the ecology of diseases in fish and wildlife populations, sometimes with detrimental effects. Factors such as land use changes, urbanization, and agricultural expansion all play a critical role in shaping the fish & wildlife disease transmission across the landscape. This is especially true in areas such as the Midwest where anthropogenic drivers like wetland drainage and large-scale agricultural expansion have vastly changed the environment over the past centuries. As the Midwest landscape continues to transform throughout the years through urban growth, agricultural practices, and weather patterns, the threat of fish & wildlife disease outbreaks is quickly increasing.
This symposium explores how environmental drivers such as land use changes, fragmentation, and urbanization are reshaping disease emergence, persistence, and spread. We’ll spotlight patterns of disease outbreaks, land use, regional weather variability,
environmental contamination, and how suburban expansion is influencing host-pathogen relationships. The goal of this symposium is to bridge the link between animal and environmental health, providing fish & wildlife health biologists with a broader set of tools to address pressing problems in the Midwest.
S-14. Bridging the Divide: Wildlife Connectivity, Crossings, and the Future of Transportation Ecology in the Midwest | 1/27/2026; 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Contact: Jordan Meyer, Policy Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, [email protected]
Overview:
Habitat fragmentation caused by transportation infrastructure remains a leading threat to wildlife movement, population viability, and ecosystem health across the Midwest. However, a new era of opportunity has emerged with unprecedented federal investment in ecological infrastructure through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP). This symposium will explore the intersection of wildlife connectivity, transportation ecology, and infrastructure planning—examining how science, policy, and community values are shaping a more connected and resilient landscape.
Presentations will highlight successful wildlife crossing structure design, monitoring, and implementation across the region, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary partnerships among transportation agencies, wildlife biologists, tribal governments, and local communities. This symposium invites researchers, managers, engineers, and policy makers to share strategies, challenges, and innovations in reconnecting fragmented landscapes.
Contact: Jordan Meyer, Policy Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, [email protected]
Overview:
Habitat fragmentation caused by transportation infrastructure remains a leading threat to wildlife movement, population viability, and ecosystem health across the Midwest. However, a new era of opportunity has emerged with unprecedented federal investment in ecological infrastructure through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP). This symposium will explore the intersection of wildlife connectivity, transportation ecology, and infrastructure planning—examining how science, policy, and community values are shaping a more connected and resilient landscape.
Presentations will highlight successful wildlife crossing structure design, monitoring, and implementation across the region, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary partnerships among transportation agencies, wildlife biologists, tribal governments, and local communities. This symposium invites researchers, managers, engineers, and policy makers to share strategies, challenges, and innovations in reconnecting fragmented landscapes.
S-15. Emerging Technologies and the Future of Bird Conservation | 1/28/2026; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Stephanie Beilke, Senior Manager, Conservation Science/Audubon Great Lakes, Audubon Great Lakes, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Allisyn Gillet, IN DNR; Nate Michael, Audubon Great Lakes
Overview:
Since 1970, North America has seen the staggering loss of nearly 3 billion birds—a crisis driven by climate change, habitat destruction, and human activity. In a world being rapidly transformed by both environmental and technological shifts, bird conservation faces urgent new challenges as well as unprecedented opportunities.
One major advancement is the miniaturization of tracking devices, which now allows researchers to monitor even small songbirds throughout their migratory journeys — providing critical data on movement patterns, habitat use, and threats. Meanwhile, radar technology, originally developed for meteorology and aviation, is now being used to track bird migrations at continental scales, offering real-time insights into species migratory behaviors and important migratory pathways.
Additionally, automated devices, like remote cameras and acoustic recording units, continuously monitor birds in the field, dramatically increasing the temporal and geographic scale of these efforts. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionizing data analysis, enabling rapid identification of species from images and audio recordings. These tools not only accelerate research but also engage citizen science platforms that have the power to vastly expand data collection. They are also becoming more affordable to empower a broader community of conservationists like passionate individuals and non-profit land trusts to participate in bird conservation.
As we navigate a future marked by ecological uncertainty and technological acceleration, this symposium aims to highlight how innovation can serve as a powerful ally in avian conservation. We intend to bring together scientists, computer engineers, conservationists, and innovators to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping our understanding and protection of birds in the Midwest. We hope it serves as both a call to action and a celebration of the remarkable ways technology is helping us reconnect with and conserve birds.
Contact: Stephanie Beilke, Senior Manager, Conservation Science/Audubon Great Lakes, Audubon Great Lakes, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Allisyn Gillet, IN DNR; Nate Michael, Audubon Great Lakes
Overview:
Since 1970, North America has seen the staggering loss of nearly 3 billion birds—a crisis driven by climate change, habitat destruction, and human activity. In a world being rapidly transformed by both environmental and technological shifts, bird conservation faces urgent new challenges as well as unprecedented opportunities.
One major advancement is the miniaturization of tracking devices, which now allows researchers to monitor even small songbirds throughout their migratory journeys — providing critical data on movement patterns, habitat use, and threats. Meanwhile, radar technology, originally developed for meteorology and aviation, is now being used to track bird migrations at continental scales, offering real-time insights into species migratory behaviors and important migratory pathways.
Additionally, automated devices, like remote cameras and acoustic recording units, continuously monitor birds in the field, dramatically increasing the temporal and geographic scale of these efforts. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionizing data analysis, enabling rapid identification of species from images and audio recordings. These tools not only accelerate research but also engage citizen science platforms that have the power to vastly expand data collection. They are also becoming more affordable to empower a broader community of conservationists like passionate individuals and non-profit land trusts to participate in bird conservation.
As we navigate a future marked by ecological uncertainty and technological acceleration, this symposium aims to highlight how innovation can serve as a powerful ally in avian conservation. We intend to bring together scientists, computer engineers, conservationists, and innovators to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping our understanding and protection of birds in the Midwest. We hope it serves as both a call to action and a celebration of the remarkable ways technology is helping us reconnect with and conserve birds.
S-16. Chemicals of Concern and Midwest Ecosystems: Where Are They Now? Where Are They Going? How Do We Adapt? | 1/28/2026; 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Carolyn Foley, , Purdue University, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Paris Collingsworth, Purdue University and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant; Tyler Hoskins, Purdue University; Marisol Sepulveda, Purdue University; Sarah Zack, University of Illinois and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Overview:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes termed “forever chemicals”, are widely recognized as chemicals of emerging concern. While many Midwest states have heavily invested in drinking water monitoring and/or have enacted legislation to protect workers known to experience high levels of exposure, much remains to be learned about how these chemicals move through Midwest ecosystems; how best to communicate up-to-date information to end users, e.g., public health specialists, natural resource managers, and the public; and how to mitigate exposure and risk. We invite presentations that describe how “forever chemicals” and their metabolites move through Midwest ecosystems, from introduction to removal. In particular, we encourage presentations that share previously understudied toxicological effects, linkages in Midwest food webs, and how to effectively share up-to-date information with end users. While we also encourage presentations on removal or remediation methods, we ask all presenters to include discussion of how their results apply to real world situations, including but not limited to the scale at which information, control methods, or methodologies could be implemented, benefits to end users, and the likelihood of overcoming barriers to implementation.
Contact: Carolyn Foley, , Purdue University, [email protected]
Co-Organizers: Paris Collingsworth, Purdue University and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant; Tyler Hoskins, Purdue University; Marisol Sepulveda, Purdue University; Sarah Zack, University of Illinois and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Overview:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes termed “forever chemicals”, are widely recognized as chemicals of emerging concern. While many Midwest states have heavily invested in drinking water monitoring and/or have enacted legislation to protect workers known to experience high levels of exposure, much remains to be learned about how these chemicals move through Midwest ecosystems; how best to communicate up-to-date information to end users, e.g., public health specialists, natural resource managers, and the public; and how to mitigate exposure and risk. We invite presentations that describe how “forever chemicals” and their metabolites move through Midwest ecosystems, from introduction to removal. In particular, we encourage presentations that share previously understudied toxicological effects, linkages in Midwest food webs, and how to effectively share up-to-date information with end users. While we also encourage presentations on removal or remediation methods, we ask all presenters to include discussion of how their results apply to real world situations, including but not limited to the scale at which information, control methods, or methodologies could be implemented, benefits to end users, and the likelihood of overcoming barriers to implementation.
S-17. Stewarding the Heartland: Wildlife on Working Lands | 1/28/2026; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Dale Gentry, Director of Conservation, Audubon Upper Mississippi River, [email protected]
Overview:
Working lands represent one of the best hopes for conservation. These parcels of forests, ranches, and farms add up to roughly a billion acres—or about half the land in the entire Lower 48 states. By collaborating with landowners, land managers, government agencies, and private industry across the hemisphere, conservationists are leading the improvement of habitat quality on privately and publicly managed lands. This symposia will highlight today’s leading working lands strategies implemented throughout the Midwest and beyond by prominent wildlife conservation organizations. Presentations will emphasize the importance of weaving wildlife-friendly land management practices, science, local economies, and policy to support wildlife and people alike.
Contact: Dale Gentry, Director of Conservation, Audubon Upper Mississippi River, [email protected]
Overview:
Working lands represent one of the best hopes for conservation. These parcels of forests, ranches, and farms add up to roughly a billion acres—or about half the land in the entire Lower 48 states. By collaborating with landowners, land managers, government agencies, and private industry across the hemisphere, conservationists are leading the improvement of habitat quality on privately and publicly managed lands. This symposia will highlight today’s leading working lands strategies implemented throughout the Midwest and beyond by prominent wildlife conservation organizations. Presentations will emphasize the importance of weaving wildlife-friendly land management practices, science, local economies, and policy to support wildlife and people alike.
S-18. Working toward resilient fisheries in the Laurentian Great Lakes | 1/28/2026; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Les Warren ([email protected]) (Purdue / Illinois Sea Grant), Paris Collingsworth (Purdue / Illinois Sea Grant), Peter Euclide (IU)
Overview:
The Laurentian Great Lakes have undergone extensive spatial and temporal shifts due to anthropogenic stressors and changing climate conditions. Many of these changes have directly affected ecosystem-level processes which directly impact Great Lakes fish assemblages across the region. Understanding how fish have historically and will likely respond to these changes presents numerous challenges to the effective management of fisheries. Thus, there is a critical need to explore how Great Lakes fisheries are adapting to and building resiliency in the face of ongoing climate and ecosystem-level changes. For this session, we invite presentations that address a broad range of topics related to understanding fish population dynamics within the Great Lakes, including shifts in fish assemblages and communities, advancements in modeling Great Lakes ecosystems, the role of diverse habitats supporting food webs and fisheries, and innovative strategies for habitat restoration.
Contact: Les Warren ([email protected]) (Purdue / Illinois Sea Grant), Paris Collingsworth (Purdue / Illinois Sea Grant), Peter Euclide (IU)
Overview:
The Laurentian Great Lakes have undergone extensive spatial and temporal shifts due to anthropogenic stressors and changing climate conditions. Many of these changes have directly affected ecosystem-level processes which directly impact Great Lakes fish assemblages across the region. Understanding how fish have historically and will likely respond to these changes presents numerous challenges to the effective management of fisheries. Thus, there is a critical need to explore how Great Lakes fisheries are adapting to and building resiliency in the face of ongoing climate and ecosystem-level changes. For this session, we invite presentations that address a broad range of topics related to understanding fish population dynamics within the Great Lakes, including shifts in fish assemblages and communities, advancements in modeling Great Lakes ecosystems, the role of diverse habitats supporting food webs and fisheries, and innovative strategies for habitat restoration.
Responsibilities of Symposium Organizers
Organizers are responsible for coordinating with the Program Committee, planning their session, selecting presenters, moderating their symposia, and adhering to all deadlines. MWFWC does not pay registration fees, travel expenses, or honoraria for symposium organizers or presenters; and everyone must register for the conference.