James Whitney

Associate Professor of Biology

Discipline/Specialization: Aquatic biology, ichthyology, stream fish ecology, invasive species biology

About Dr. James Whitney

I teach introductory and intermediate-level courses related to environmental biology and ecology, in addition to upper-division courses concerning fishes and aquatic biology. My major research interests include stream fish ecology, climate change, nonnative species, and conservation biology. For further information, please visit my professional website.

Courses Taught

• Environmental Life Sciences (BIOL 113)
• Principles of Ecology (BIOL 330)
• Ichthyology (BIOL 533)
• Fisheries Management (BIO 634)

Advising

I advise in the emphasis areas of Field Biology & Environment, and Ecology & Organismic Biology. These emphases prepare students for positions in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consulting firms, or to continue their education in pursuit of a graduate degree. I meet with students at least once per semester for pre-enrollment conferences to determine class schedules for upcoming semesters, but I am also available for meetings as needed.

Research Interests

My research seeks to inform the conservation and management of aquatic organisms in an era of global change. The aquatic organisms I am most interested in include fishes, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Previous geographic regions where I have conducted research include streams and rivers located in the desert southwest and Midwestern tallgrass prairie streams of the United States, in addition to my involvement in synthesis projects that included the entire United States and Canada.

Publications

• Whitney, J.E., R. Al-Chokhachy, D.B. Bunnell, C.A. Caldwell, S.J. Cooke, E.J. Eliason, M. Rogers, A.J. Lynch, and C.P. Paukert. In Press. Physiological basis of climate change impacts on North American inland fishes. Fisheries.
• Lynch, A.J., B.J.E Myers, C. Chu, L.A. Eby, J.A. Falke, R.P. Kovach, T.J. Krabbenhoft, T.J. Kwak, J. Lyons, C.P. Paukert, and J.E. Whitney. In Press. Climate change effects on North American inland fish populations and assemblages. Fisheries.
• Paukert, C.P., B. Glazer, G.J.A. Hansen, B. Irwin, P. Jacobson, J. Kershner, B. Shuter, J.E. Whitney, and A.J. Lynch. In Press. Adapting inland fisheries management to a changing climate. Fisheries.
• Hunt, L.M., E.P. Fenichel, D.C. Fulton, R. Mendelsohn, J.W. Smith, T.D. Tunney, A.J. Lynch, C.P. Paukert, and J.E. Whitney. In Press. Identifying alternate pathways for climate change to impact inland recreational fishers. Fisheries.
• Hedden, S.C., K.B. Gido, and J.E. Whitney. 2016. Introduced flathead catfish consumptive demand on native fishes of the upper Gila River, New Mexico. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 36:55-61.
• Whitney, J.E., K.B. Gido, E.C Martin, and K.J. Hase. 2015. The first to arrive and the last to leave: colonization and extinction dynamics of common and rare fishes in intermittent prairie streams. Freshwater Biology.
• Whitney, J.E., K.B. Gido, T.J. Pilger, D.L. Propst, and T.F. Turner. 2015. Consecutive wildfires affect stream biota in cold- and warm-water dryland river networks. Freshwater Science 34: 1510-1526.
• Pilger, T.J., K.B. Gido, D.L. Propst, J.E. Whitney, and T.F. Turner. 2015. Comparative conservation genetics of protected endemic fishes in an arid-land riverscape. Conservation Genetics 16: 875-888.
• Whitney, J.E., K.B. Gido, T.J. Pilger, D.L. Propst, and T.F. Turner. 2015. Metapopulation analysis indicates native and nonnative fishes respond differently to effects of wildfire on desert streams. Ecology of Freshwater Fsh.
• Propst, D.L., K.B. Gido, J.E. Whitney, E.I. Gilbert, T.J. Pilger, A.M. Monie, Y.M. Paroz, J.M. Wick, J.A. Monzingo, and D.M. Myers. 2014. Efficacy of mechanically removing nonnative predators from a desert stream. River Research and Applications 31: 692-703.
• Troia, M.J., J.E. Whitney, and K.B. Gido. 2015. Thermal performance of larval longfin dace (Agosia chrysogaster), with implications for climate change. Environmental Biology of Fishes 98: 395-404.
• Maine, J.J., J.E. Whitney, and K.B. Gido. 2014. Dietary overlap of invertivorous fishes and macroinvertebrates in the Gila River, NM. The Southwestern Naturalist 59: 292-295.
• Troia, M.J., J.E. Whitney, and K.B. Gido. 2014. Alternative spawning strategy and temperature for larval emergence of longfin dace (Agosia chrysogaster) in stream mesocosms. The Southwestern Naturalist 59: 277-280.
• Whitney, J.E., K.B. Gido, and D.L. Propst. 2014. Factors associated with the success of native and nonnative species in an unfragmented arid-land riverscape. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 71: 1134-1145.
• Martin, E.C., J.E. Whitney, K.B. Gido, and K.J. Hase. 2013. Habitat associations of stream fishes in protected tallgrass prairie streams. American Midland Naturalist 170: 39-51.

Book Chapters

• Gido, K.B., J.E. Whitney, J.S. Perkin, and T.F. Turner. 2016. Fragmentation, connectivity, and species persistence in freshwater ecosystems. Pages 292-323 In G. Closs, M. Krkosek, and J. Olden (editors). Conservation of Freshwater Fishes. Cambridge University Press.