Solomon R. DavidNobel Conference 62

Solomon R. David

Assistant Professor of Aquatic Ecology in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota

Ancient Fishes and the Modern Mississippi: Conserving the Past for our Future

What can living fossil fishes tell us about ecological change and adaptation on the Mighty Mississippi River? Fish and other wildlife depend on the river in surprisingly similar ways to humans, yet we’ve drastically altered the Mississippi River from its Minnesota headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico, and across its vast floodplains. Through the ancient aquatic lineages of gars and other Mississippi River native species, we’ll explore multi-faceted science communication to increase public awareness of the importance of freshwater biodiversity. How can “river monsters” help us restore vital habitats? Could some of the slowest-evolving vertebrates help improve modern medicine? Why do we consider some species valuable game fish and discard others as rough fish? Amidst these currents of change, we’ll discuss the concept of diverse fishes and diverse voices: how listening to diverse groups of people allows us to better conserve fish diversity, and how conserving diverse fishes can benefit diverse peoples.

Biography

Solomon R. David serves as Principal Investigator of GarLab at the University of Minnesota. An internationally recognized expert on ancient fishes, Dr. David’s research focuses on the ecology, conservation, and management of native non-game fishes, particularly “living fossil” species such as gars and bowfins and their critical roles in freshwater ecosystems.

Dr. David earned his PhD and MS from the University of Michigan-School of Natural Resources and Environment and his BS in Biology from Ohio Northern University. His work challenges the outdated “rough fish” paradigm, advocating for the conservation value of native species long dismissed or persecuted. His research examines fish biodiversity from the Great Lakes to Louisiana bayous, and addresses how habitat connectivity and ecosystem restoration benefit aquatic life.

A passionate science communicator, Dr. David co-leads the annual Gar Week social media campaign with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, bringing scientific knowledge about these misunderstood ancient fish to thousands of followers. In 2025, he and colleagues Alec Lackmann, Jason Schooley, and Dennis Scarnecchia received the American Fisheries Society’s Award of Merit for their collective efforts to advance understanding, appreciation, and conservation of native non-game fishes in the United States. Through GarLab’s active presence on social media and his diverse popular and scientific publications, Dr. David demonstrates how effective science communication can transform public perception and policy around freshwater biodiversity conservation.