About Us
The Cooperative Research Units Program is a unique collaborative relationship among federal and state agencies, universities, and a non-profit organization.
The tripartite mission of the Cooperative Research Units Program is:
- Train graduate students for professional careers in natural-resource research and management.
- Conduct research that will create new information useful for natural-resource management.
- Provide technical assistance on application and integration of new science.
The Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit embraces the mission of the Cooperative Research Units Program and contributes daily to the overall success of the Cooperative Research Units Program.
Featured Student
Featured Student
Our students are involved in a wide variety of research, including diversity in ecological functions, invasive species, and habitats of various animals.
Jade Wawer's project is:
Evaluating Spatial Distribution and Composition of Mesopredator Communities in Western Nebraska
July 2027
Mesopredators are important components of animal and plant communities and play a role in maintaining ecosystem function and health. Not only does the presence of mesopredators on the landscape have a strong influence on prey density and vital rates, mesopredator composition has cascading effects on species and ecosystem processes.
Within Nebraska, scant data are available describing predator composition, occurrence and distribution. Given the influence these predators have on species, data on predator communities are needed to address knowledge gaps regarding population dynamics of harvested species and ultimately inform management strategies for both predator and harvested species.
Jade Wawers
M.S. Candidate, Wildlife
Featured Project
Evaluating the Genetic Implications of Translocation Efforts and Recolonization of River Otters in Nebraska
August 2028
River otters were once common in Nebraska, occupying major rivers throughout the state, though were extirpated by the early-1900s. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) began a reintroduction effort of river otters in 1986 and they have recolonized much of their historical distribution.
