Wildlife Research

The Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture (WFA) program at Mississippi State University (MSU) is among the strongest in the country. MSU has the largest Wildlife and Fisheries Program in the Southeastern U.S. (based on student enrollment) and provides excellent opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to participate in research. Undergraduate research experiences help prepare students for a future career in managing wildlife and fisheries programs. The extensive and diverse wildlife and fisheries populations in Mississippi provide an excellent study site for many research projects, especially as we are located within one of the highest areas of biodiversity within the U.S.

Building on our robust interdisciplinary foundation focused on applied management, faculty and students conduct practical conservation studies within a social-ecological framework. We work closely with our partners including private landowners, community organizations, private enterprises, zoos and aquariums, government agencies and non-government organizations to derive practical solutions related to biodiversity conservation. Our faculty employ complex cross-disciplinary strategies to address conservation challenges through our research strengths in various disciplines including: wildlife, fisheries and aquatic ecology, conservation biology, human dimensions, global change, movement ecology, genetics, zoo and aquarium collections management, population ecology, quantitative ecology, habitat restoration and protection, urban wildlife management, wildlife interactions, agroecology and wildlife/zoonotic disease ecology. Read further to see what we are doing to conserve WILDLIFE and WILD PLACES!!

Come explore our research interests and let's partner together to address the Grand Challenges for a more sustainable planet.
Explore our Research Interests