Associate Professor

Ph.D., Fisheries Management and Statistics, 1996 
Mississippi State University 

M.S. Fisheries Ecology, 1992 
Auburn University 

B.S. Fisheries Ecology, 1990 
Texas A&M University 

Mike Allen is a fisheries scientist whose research interests include the impacts of fishing on fish population viability, critical habitat issues, and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes.  His research approach utilizes a combination of population modeling and quantitative field sampling to address issues important to both fish and angler populations. 

Dr. Allen's program has evaluated the implications of habitat enhancement projects on lake fish communities and sport fish populations.  His laboratory has also assessed the influence of water level fluctuations on recruitment of numerous fish species for Florida lakes and rivers, and these results have strong impacts for setting Minimum Flow and Level regulations (MFLs).

Using fish tagging methods and population models, Dr. Allen and his students have evaluated the impacts of fishing mortality and harvest restrictions on black crappie and largemouth bass population abundance, age structure, and angler catch rates.  Results of this work has contributed to management of these fisheries.

In 2005, Dr. Allen served in a visiting scientist position for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries in Brisbane, Australia.  He conducted a stock assessment for pink snapper, which support important recreational and commercial fisheries.  Results of this assessment are being used in the management of the pink snapper fishery.

Currently, Dr. Allen's lab is evaluating gizzard shad population responses to an experimental commercial harvest at the Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida. As part of this same study and in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they are also measuring the impacts of bycatch from the commercial harvest operation on sport-fish populations.

Dr. Allen teaches three courses at UF entitled "Fish Population Dynamics", "Field Ecology of Aquatic Organisms", and "Ecological Statistics" (multi-department course, team taught with B. Pine and C. Staudhammer).   His graduate students have obtained a variety of positions in state management agencies, academia, and the private sector regarding fisheries ecology.

Courses

FAS 5276C Field Ecology of Aquatic Organisms 4 credits 

This course is taught during Summer A term every year. The course provides an overview of the diverse aquatic ecosystems in Florida with an emphasis on freshwater systems. Extensive field trips are required. Predominant plants, invertebrates and fishes are identified from each field trip. An overview of ecological methodologies for field research is provided. This course is intended for upper-level undergraduates or entry-level graduate students. 

FAS 6932 Fish Population Dynamics 4 credits 

This course is taught during Spring semester of odd years. The course demonstrates the analysis of fish populations for management purposes. Methods for estimating age, growth, recruitment, and mortality of exploited fishes will be demonstrated. Students will use population parameters and existing computer models to predict yield and catch composition for recreational or commercial fisheries. The use of bioenergetics models for fisheries management problems will also be presented. This course is intended for graduate students in FAS or other natural-resource management departments. Prerequisites are STA 6166 or higher, or consent of instructor.

For more information, go to Dr. Allen's lab pages: http://allenlab.ifas.ufl.edu/

E-mail: msal@ifas.ufl.edu

Phone: 352-392-9617 ext. 252

Curriculum Vitae (pdf -includes all publications)

Selected Publications
(Click on PDF to download a copy)

Allen, M. S., M. Rogers, R. Myers, and M. Binford. 2005. Simulated impacts of tournament-associated mortality on largemouth bass fisheries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24:1252-1261. (pdf)

Bonvechio, T. F., and M. S. Allen.  2005.  Relations between hydrologic variables and year class strength of sportfish in eight Florida waterbodies.  Hydrobiologia 532:193-207 (pdf).

Allen, M. S., K. I. Tugend, and M. J. Mann. 2004. Largemouth bass abundance and angler catch rates following a habitat enhancement project at Lake Kissimmee, Florida. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 23:845-855. (pdf)

Wheeler, A. P., and M. S. Allen. 2003. Habitat and diet partitioning between shoal bass and largemouth bass in the Chipola River, Florida. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 132:438-449. (pdf)

Allen, Micheal S. and Kimberly Tugend. 2002. Effects of a large-scale habitat enhancement project on habitat quality for age-0 largemouth bass at Lake Kissimmee, Florida. Proceedings of the International Black Bass Symposium 2000, American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. (pdf)

Allen, M. S., W. Sheaffer, W. F. Porak and S. Crawford. 2002. Growth and mortality of largemouth bass in Florida waters: implications for use of length limits. Proceedings of the International Black Bass Symposium 2000, American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. (pdf)

Allen, Micheal S. and Leandro E. Miranda. 2001. Quasi-cycles in crappie populations are forced by interactions among population characteristics and environment. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58(3): 594-601. (pdf)

Pine, William E. III and Micheal S. Allen. 2001. Differential growth and survival of weekly age-0 black crappie cohorts in a Florida lake. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130-89-91. (pdf)

Pine, William E. III and Mike S. Allen. 2001. Population viability of the Gulf of Mexico sturgeon: Inferences from capture-recapture and age-structured models. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130:1164-1174 (pdf)

Allen, M. S., and W. E. Pine III. 2000. Detecting fish-population responses to a minimum length limit: effects of variable recruitment and duration of evaluation. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 20:672-682. PDF al of Fisheries Management. 18:864-871. (pdf)