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GPSAW Spotlight: Kyler Hecke

Kyler HeckeKyler Hecke is a 3rd year PhD student in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries at UT. Kyler is originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas. His dissertation research focuses on assessing spatio-temporal relationships between fish and mussel species of greatest conservation need in the Clinch River watershed, and assessing the distribution and spatial ecology of the Sickle Darter.

His work to save the Sickle Darter has been featured on UTIA’s YouTube channel. Hecke talks about the critical ecological role even small fish like the Sickle Darter play and why it’s important to maintain diversity in our ecosystem.