Devils Hole retrospective: working with Jim Deacon to compare Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) populations and water levels

Authors: Matthew E.* Andersen

Year: 2015 (xlvii)

Abstract

As a graduate student at UNLV in the 1990s I was curious about desert fish ecology. This interest and being enrolled at this institution meant, of course, that I would be working with Jim Deacon. I had started on a different study at UNLV, but that project could not be completed. Jim was very helpful to me in opening up his extensive data sets and sharing ideas about what the data might mean helped me bring a study to fruition that compared historic Devils Hole population counts with the water level in Devils Hole and some historic events. It was a great chance to work with Jim, to advance my education, and to learn more about this fascinating, unique system. Working with Jim later in his career required me to be independent and resourceful, so graduate school was a very useful and valuable experience for me under his tutelage. I intend to briefly review my study (published in a journal article in 2001) and to discuss my experience studying under Jim Deacon.