Robert Humston
Humston teaches Introduction to Environmental Studies, Aquatic Ecology and Ecological Modeling, among other courses. He has researched fisheries management, fish ecology and dispersal/movement behavior of animals and plants.
Robert Humston
John Kyle Spencer Director for Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology
On Sabbatical AY 2024-2025
- Howe Hall 311
- P: 540-458-8341
- E: humstonr@wlu.edu
Education
- Ph.D. (2001) Marine Biology and Fisheries - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami
- BA (1994) Biology and English - Bowdoin College
Research
Fisheries management, fish ecology, spatial dynamics of populations, dispersal and movement behavior.
Teaching
- BIOL 111 – Foundations in Biology: Biology of Marine Organisms
- ENV 110 – Introduction to Environmental Studies
- ENV 201 – Applied Environmental Science
- BIOL 217 – Aquatic Ecology
- BIOL 325 – Ecological Modeling and Conservation Strategies
Selected Publications
- Stewart, K.P., T.E. McMahon, T.M. Koel, and R. Humston. 2023. Current and historical patterns of recruitment of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, as revealed by otolith microchemistry. Hydrobiologia. doi.org/10.1007/s10750-023-05245-z
- Humston., R, E. Hallerman, S. Smith, J. Sorenson*, and G. Muckleroy*. 2021. Natal and intergenerational dispersal of riverine smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 78(11):1701-1711.
- Nettere, O.N., E.W. Hamilton, R.J. Woodland, and R. Humston. 2019. Trophic ecology of smallmouth bass in a hierarchical river network. Managing Centrarchid Fisheries. M. Siepker and J. Quinn (eds). American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
- Humston, R., S.S. Doss*, C. Wass*, C. Hollenbeck*, S. Thorrold, S. Smith, C.P. Bataille. 2017. Isotope geochemistry reveals ontogeny of dispersal and exchange between mainstem and tributary habitats in smallmouth bass. Journal of Fish Biology 90:528-548.
- Freitas, C.E.C, F.K. Siqueira-Souza, R. Humston, L.E. Hurd. 2013. Drought sensitivity of Amazonian fish communities: implications for response to climate change. Hydrobiologia 705:159-171.
- Humston, R., K.A. Hemminger, N.D. Adkins*, R.J. Elsey*, J. Huss*, B.A. Meekins*, P.R. Cabe, and T.L. King. 2012. Put-and-grow stocking of brook trout in Virginia reservoirs: dispersal, naturalization, and interactions with wild populations in tributaries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 32(1):100-108.
(Undergraduate student authors noted with *)
Recent and Ongoing Projects
- Assessing fish movement in response to dam removal
- Impacts of smallmouth bass range invasion and range expansion on stream communities
- Stable isotope ecology to study stream food webs