In memoriam remembering John A. Baker (1947 – 2021)

John Baker passed away on June 4, 2021, after a courageous battle with colon cancer. was loving and supportive husband father an outstanding fish ecologist. His early interest in fishes no doubt related to his fishing, something that he enjoyed throughout life. formal training biology began as undergraduate at Northern Illinois University (NIU) David Greenfield faculty advisor. Dr. remembers being excited learn about fishes. A highlight of Greenfield's ichthyology class trip southern Mississippi the Gulf Coast over Thanksgiving break, hosted by Steve Ross Southern (USM). The meeting between during 1974 ultimately led moving work master's degree lab USM 1975 graduated from NIU. John's thesis, ‘Resource partitioning cyprinid Black Creek, Mississippi’, involved extensive fieldwork, including hours underwater observations vertical water column separation cyprinids. data analysis for thesis included use multiple discriminant analysis, techniques were only beginning be used ecology papers. clearly showed statistical skills, which continued hone career. He completed 1978, it published Copeia 1981 (Baker & Ross, 1981). As expansion studies, John, along graduate student Kate Clark, microhabitat south-eastern stream (Ross et al., 1987). skills field biologist very inquisitive mind him take advantage natural environmental variation, such how spring floods might impact behaviour On local site 1976 research, found area totally inundated floodwaters. Instead returning home because sites flooded, they quickly initiated new study impacts flooding This research lot late-night efforts build traps could combined into trap lines submerged different distances main channel. distinct day–night changes responses position floodplain assemblage Baker, 1983). had intended Ph.D. addressing life-history variation under mentorship Heins doctoral committee. Personal matters intervened; instead, accepted Research Biologist U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station 1981. Soon after, invited join investigation egg size Blacktail Shiner, Cyprinella venusta, United States. this presented symposium Community Evolutionary Ecology Stream Fishes later chapter (Heins 1987) book drawn symposium, edit Bill Matthews (Matthews Heins, experience propelled long productive collaboration David. Together produced number papers fishes, establish repeatable methods yielding directly comparable data. demonstrated applicability clutch concept evolutionary minnows Rabito, 1986) developing methodology reproductive darters minnows. Studies Brighteye Darter, Etheostoma lynceum, allowed completion effort 1994; 1988, 1993, 1993; 1992). last these joint report following up 1987 Shiner 2018) long-term stability regional relationship streamflow size, further supporting inference observed pattern reflects adaptive-genetic variation. Although publish States David, turned focus Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, Alaska. Among significant contributions is 1994 review (Baker, 1994) Three-spine Stickleback, provided comprehensive perspectives critical evaluations knowledge available scientific community. That followed update 2008) accumulating body information conducted One aspect reviews illumination need consistent approaches based understanding small fish. developed also applied Sticklebacks, their life history 1995, 1998; Foster Significant Alaska differences benthic limnetic forms, phenotypic plasticity, predation morphology host-parasite relationships, working several collaborators Matt Wund. initiative 1986 when met Susan Annual Meeting Ichthyologists Herpetologists Victoria, British Columbia. postdoc Mike Bell Stony Brook time soon wife. Her academic trajectory would her Arkansas Assistant Professor then Clark Associate Professor. Life's experiences bond would, therefore, Brook, where got Kimberly G. Smith, finally 1996 established leading programme helped transform science curriculum infrastructure institution. served many capacities, starting Instructor retiring Co-chair Environmental Sciences programme, held 2008 through retirement 2020. exceptionally popular professor, teaching variety courses all levels curriculum, Introductory Biology, Biodiversity, Applied Conservation Biology. By end career, rough estimate indicated nearly half undergraduates taken least one prior graduation. In 2013, distinguished university-wide Teacher Year award recognition pedagogy commitment students’ success well-being. exceptional prolific mentors, engaging dozens undergraduates, masters’ students, students postdocs—including Wund—in investigations evolution history, morphology. Being part Foster/Baker meant family—indeed, quite common Susan's beloved, centuries-old farmhouse Petersham, MA. home, boundaries blurred professors everyone harvested fresh produce garden, fabulous cooking wheat beer discourse multitude topics. Along Susan, nurtured careers, collaborations lifelong friendships across globe. smartest, kindest, most delightful good-humoured friend colleague anyone hope for. will sorely missed, memory dearly cherished.