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Ichthyology, Aquatic Ecology, Conservation Biology

A century-old bigmouth buffalo

Latest News

Bigmouth buffalo in MeatEater’s Das Boat

Bigmouth buffalo in National Geographic.

Precision & Accuracy

Age analysis of fishes using otoliths (“earstones”): thin-sectioned otoliths and bomb radiocarbon age validation.

Focus

Understanding the life histories of the underappreciated species in our midst.

Publications

Communications Biology (2019): Bigmouth Buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus sets freshwater teleost record as improved age analysis reveals centenarian longevity
North American Journal of Fisheries Management (2019). Otolith‐based age estimates of Alligator Gar assessed using bomb radiocarbon dating to greater than 60 years.

Publicity

National Geographic: 112-year-old fish has broken a longevity record
MPR: New appreciation for a Minnesota fish long considered junk
Star Tribune: Record catch: At 112 years, Minnesota fish is the oldest freshwater fish ever verified

Collaboration

Nicholls State University, Louisiana, GarLab – aging of gar and other fishes
Eastern Illinois University – aging of blue sucker
University of Saskatchewan and the Water Security Agency, Canada – aging of bigmouth buffalo
University of North Texas – aging of smallmouth buffalo

A Research Team

Contact

alackman@d.umn.edu

meclark@d.umn.edu

astrofish226@gmail.com

Specialties

Fish aging, longevity, age validation, fisheries, population biology, aquatic ecology, life history