Research Topics:

Fish ecology, population modeling and life history theory

Michael Frisk’s research focuses on the interaction of population dynamics, ecology and life history evolution in fishes in the general areas of applied ecosystem and population modeling, basic ecological questions and meta-analyses. He is developing a length-based statistical catch-at-age model for winter skate in the western Atlantic and a multi-species model of Delaware Bay using Ecopath and Ecosim. Knowledge of a species’ basic vital rates and ecology is essential for development of population models and management. For example, Frisk has estimated growth, age, fecundity and maturation for little skate and winter skate in the western Atlantic. Lastly, meta-analyses use previously published data to develop mathematical and statistical trends of related species to gain insight into the ecology, evolution and management of animal taxa. In this vein, Frisk’s current research focuses on developing meta-analyses for elasmobranchs and teleost species.