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Steven J. Zigler

Position title:  Research Fishery Biologist

Email: szigler@usgs.gov
Phone:  608.781.6395
Fax:  608.783.6066

Education: 
1986 M.Sc. Aquatic Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin 
1982 B.A. Biology, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Primary Responsibilities/Activities:
My research  examines a variety of topics within my expertise on large rivers including (1) the ecological functioning of aquatic communities and their responses to human alterations; (2) the community ecology of fishes, mussels, and other aquatic organisms; (3) the biology, life history, habitat requirements, and population ecology of aquatic species of special interest to resource managers.  Currently, I work on Center teams focusing two broad areas, which are freshwater mussels, and biological production in large rivers.

Research Interests:

• Modeling aquatic habitats in rivers
• Ecology of at-risk fish species
• Freshwater mussel ecology
• Warm-water fish passage
• Ecological linkages between fish and vegetation
• Early life history of fishes

Active Projects:

• Geomorphic and hydraulic mechanisms that limit unionid populations in large rivers (Unionid Team)
• Factors affecting production of centrarchids in large rivers (Productivity Team)

Select Publications:
Zigler, S., T. Newton, J. Steuer, M. Bartsch, and J. Sauer.  Accepted.  Importance of physical and hydraulic characteristics in models of unionid mussel distributions: a retrospective analysis in a reach of large river.  Hydrobiologia.

Zigler, S., M. Dewey, B, Knights, A. Runstrom, and M. Steingraeber.  2004.  Hydrologic and hydraulic factors affecting passage of paddlefish through dams in the upper Mississippi River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 133:160-172.

Zigler, S., M. Dewey,B. Knights, A. Runstrom, and M. Steingraeber.  2003. Movement and habitats of radio-tagged paddlefish in the Upper Mississippi River and tributaries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 23:189-205.

Richardson, W. B., S. J. Zigler and M. R. Dewey.  1998.  Bioenergetic relations in submerged aquatic vegetation: an experimental test of prey use by juvenile bluegill.  Ecology of Freshwater Fish 7:1-12.

Zigler, S. J. and C. A. Jennings.  1993.  Growth and mortality of larval sunfish in backwaters of the upper Mississippi River.  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 122:1080-1087.

Links:
Ecological interactions between aquatic macrophytes and fish in Lake Onalaska, Pool 7, Upper Mississippi River

Habitat use and movement of lake sturgeon in the Upper Mississippi River: effects of navigation

Landscape analysis of freshwater mussels in the Upper Mississippi River System

Middle Mississippi River Decision Support System

Paddlefish Study Project

Fish passage bibliography

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