Working and Careers in Water and Aquatic Science

A freshwater stream ecologist and river ecologist study the animal and plant life in Texas’ streams and rivers.

Photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

A stream ecologist may conduct surveys of stream life, run statistical analysis, or do research studies. It is interesting to work from a boat, wade through streams, or even work in a laboratory using special tanks that imitate stream and river habitats. An ecologist can find work in state and federal agencies, and in environmental consulting firms. A river or stream ecologist usually has a master’s or doctorate degree in aquatic biology or a related field.

* * *

Texas Aquatic Science is a cooperative education project sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. Additional project support came from the Ewing Halsell Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program. Rudolph Rosen, Ph.D. wrote and edited the Texas Aquatic Science textbook. Videos were produced by Randall Maxwell. Sandra Johnson, Ph.D. served as educational consultant and authored the accompanying Teacher’s Guide.