Graduate Program

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

Spring 2026

Thesis Director

Robert E. Colombo

Thesis Committee Member

Eden L. Effert-Fanta

Thesis Committee Member

Eric K. Bollinger

Abstract

Lotic ecosystems are degraded at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic activities. In order to combat these changes, stream restorations are implemented to improve conditions such as water quality, habitat heterogeneity, and bank stability. However, the impacts of these restorations are often understudied and long-term impacts are unknown. Restorations are typically designed to be ‘fish attractors’; this idea is known as the ‘Field of Dreams hypothesis’ – ‘if you build it, they will come’. This study uses data collected in Kickapoo Creek, Coles County from 2009 to 2015 and again in 2021 and 2022 to assess the long-term impacts of an instream restoration. It aims to further test the ‘Field of Dreams hypothesis’ by assessing the idea ‘if you build it, will they stay’. Fish community response was analyzed using two ecological trait-based guild types, habitat and reproductive, to evaluate how fish are utilizing instream habitat within restored and unrestored habitat. Despite restoration occurring nearly twelve years prior, habitat within the restored reach remained in the good and excellent categories of the Qualitive Habitat Evaluation Index, whereas unrestored reaches saw a decline in habitat quality. Fish communities within the restored reach changed over time, with an increase of intolerant and specialist species during long-term post-restoration monitoring. Due to the increase in riffle, riprap, and pool habitat caused by restoration, habitat specialist species within the riffle and pool/cover guilds as well as those within brood hider, nest builders and nest associate reproductive guilds, were all drivers of differences within the restored reach communities. The restoration did more than the expected work as ‘fish attractor’ and evidences showed that fish communities are staying and utilizing the habitat provided by the instream restoration.

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