Assistant Professor and Research Scientist

136 Lake Michigan Center
740 West Shoreline Drive
Muskegon, MI 49441
(616) 331-3946
ruetzc@gvsu.edu

AWRI / Teaching Activities:

• Long-term monitoring of fish populations in Muskegon Lake
• Status of lake sturgeon in the Muskegon River
• Reproductive bottlenecks of walleye in the Muskegon River
• Ecology of the invasive round goby in the Great Lakes basin
• Teach BIO 362 Fisheries Biology (Fall)
• Teach NRM 580/680 Fisheries Management (Winter odd years)

Expertise:

• Fisheries ecology & management
• Experimental design & statistics
• Population & community ecology
• Stream ecology: invertebrate drift, leaf breakdown, and predator-prey interactions between fish and benthic macroinvertebrates

• President, Michigan Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, 2008
• Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, Graduate and Professional Student Organization, Grand Valley State University, Fall 2007

General Information:

• Curriculum Vitae [PDF]
• Ph.D., Fisheries, 2001 - University of Minnesota
• M.S., Forest Resources, 1997 - University of Georgia
• B.S., Biology, 1994 - Lake Superior State University
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Florida International University

Research Interests & Approach:

I have a general interest in fisheries biology with emphasis on research questions related to population and community ecology. My research focuses on streams, lakes, and wetlands. In addition to fishes, benthic macroinvertebrates are often a focal study species. I enjoy both empirical and theoretical approaches to research, and I strive to include mathematical modeling in my research.  I have a strong interest in experimental design and statistical analyses, which are critical for planning and executing empirical research.

My current research includes studies that examine the distribution and ecological impacts of the invasive round goby in the Great Lakes ecosystem, assess the long-term dynamics of fish populations in a local lake impacted by current and past anthropogenic activities, evaluate sampling bias of fishes, investigate the role of fish predation in structuring stream food webs, and identify recruitment bottlenecks in fish populations.  Undergraduate and graduate students are an important component of my research program, and I pride myself in mentoring students.