Patterns of species distribution and abundance directly impact the rate, pathways and flow of energy through aquatic ecosystems. As such, understanding the factors that structure aquatic ecosystems is critical in understanding ecosystem function.

Several projects have focused on aspects of species assembly and abundance in the lab. Hannah Hancock evaluated physical habitat associations of northern fish communities. Several students have used technological advances, including video analysis and eDNA to understand determinants of the distribution and abundance of salmonids in streams (Cam Leitrants, Mallory Weibe, Mark Schutte). Work with collaborator Joanne Littlefair has used eDNA from lake waters to understand both environmental and spatial drivers of fish distributions; Wyatt Beach built off this work to find that connectivity matters as much (if not more) than biological and physical determinants in dictating fish community composition among hydrologically connected lakes.