So I might as well start a new thread introducing myself.

My name is Matt Ashton. I joined NANFA in about 2002. I've kept fish and bred fish since I was about 8. I got into natives ni about 2001 and was lucky enough to have an undergraduate advisor who gave me free reign over about 40 tanks at a nature center to do with what I pleased. It went from abotu 10 species of all game fish to 30+ species of natives to the Ohio region plus some other NA natives I was trying to make some observational studies and breed. I haven't kept a non NA native since. I was origionally going to go to U of ILL for a masters but I was accepted without funding, decided tons of debt would suck and worked with environmental consultant for 2 years.

I came to Tennessee Tech (between Nashville and Knoxville) in 2005 to start my masters and am finishing up shortly, I hope. For non-game oriented people this is a great place to be. I straddle the Cumberland and Tennessee Drainage. There are endemics all over the place. Non-game fish related research since I've been here has included work on the bluemask darter (undescribed related to E. stigmaeum), blackside dace, barrens topminnow, spotfin chub, chucky madtom, and whatever is needed as hosts for mussel propagation. In 2005 I documented the current distribution of the snail darter (Percina tanasi). This past summer I was characterizing the microhabitat of the snail darter in the French Broad and Hiwassee rivers. I'm unfortunately head long into the first draft of my thesis. Presentations (SDAFS, NABS?, who knows maybe NANFA2007) and publication are to follow.

Right now I've got a 55 gallon tank with some flagfish I bred this summer, a lone golden topminnow, one northern studfish, two blackspotted topminnow, two logperch, and two rainbow darters that absolutely love the lentic life. A week ago I had 6 YOY banded topminnows, but that was a week ago. My Tennessee drainage riffle was taken apart recently from a move and I had never kept killies and other 'pond' species until recently. More adventures in tub breeding are to follow this summer, hopefully with more fry to pass along to members.

I'm working on my undergraduate degree in Ohio, does U of Illinois have a good graduate studies program for people interested in working with Native Fishes?

I'm working on my undergraduate degree in Ohio, does U of Illinois have a good graduate studies program for people interested in working with Native Fishes?

Your best bet in Illinois is probably Southern Illinois U. Brooks Burr is involved with a lot of natives research and is a good guy to boot.

I agree. You may want to contact fellow NANFA member Jeremy Tienemann (not correct spelling off the top of my head). He works at INHS and you can find his contact info on their website.

I agree. You may want to contact fellow NANFA member Jeremy Tienemann (not correct spelling off the top of my head). He works at INHS and you can find his contact info on their website.

Great minds think alike... and Jeremy's last name is Tiemann.