Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Carps, Suckers, Carp-Suckers, & Non-Suckers: What Fish Live in Missouri’s Rivers?
Curious onlookers often pose the same question to biologists loading their gear at boat-ramps across Missouri – “What fish are in the river?”
Missourians recognize the names of fish occasionally in the news – invasive carps, imperiled sturgeons, and river-monster-esque catfish. Few, however, are aware that Missouri’s rivers are among earth’s most biologically diverse, and only a fraction of the fish underlying this biodiversity could possibly be mentioned during a hurried boat-ramp exchange.
Missouri Saddled Darter - a fish that can only be found in the Moreau, Gasconade and Osage Rivers. photo courtesy of Corey Dunn.
Meet Your Presenter
Corey Dunn
, fisheries biologist
University of Missouri PhD Candidate Corey Dunn will be giving us a proper introduction to Missouri’s immense fish diversity. He is offering a figurative float alongside a research team tasked with innovating ways to study the fish that live in Missouri’s most underexplored rivers. We will discover the linkages between the Missouri River and it’s principal tributaries, while learning about the many sampling methods that inform efforts to conserve the numerous fish dependent on Missouri’s riverine ecosystems.
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Special thanks to Les Bourgeois Vineyards for giving us the opportunity to use their beautiful space overlooking the Missouri River. All speakers are presenting for free! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Kansas City and St. Charles.
The views and opinions expressed by our presenters do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of Missouri River Relief, the Big Muddy Speaker Series or any of the partners that support this public forum. The Big Muddy Speaker Series believes that hearing diverse perspectives is a crucial building block for an informed public.
Upcoming Presentations
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Join us for a special Big Muddy Speaker Series on the Living Lands & Waters Barge where Perry Whitaker will lead us in a Leave No Trace Training.
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November 10, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.
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