Dr. Chris McAllister and three Northeast Texas Community College students recently spent a week conducting field research in the lower Ouachita River watershed in Arkansas.
McAllister was joined by Biology 2289 students José Fuentes, Xenia Esparza and Cecilia Phan for the research trip Aug. 9-14. One of the highlights was a boat electrofishing survey on the Little Missouri River near Prescott in collaboration with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Tyler Thomson with AGFC served as boat captain for the outing.
The team collected several large river fish species, including spotted gar, smallmouth buffalo, freshwater drum, common carp, golden redhorse, spotted sucker, largemouth bass and spotted bass.
In addition to collecting and examining fish, the group made several new discoveries related to parasites and disease. These included new species of myxosporeans, microscopic parasites that infect fish, as well as documentation of fish with a skin disease caused by a ciliate known as Epistylis.
The trip gave NTCC students an opportunity to participate in hands-on field research alongside professional biologists while contributing to ongoing scientific study of fish and their parasites in the region.
McAllister will continue the research with a new group of NTCC students enrolled in Biology 2289 during the Fall 2026 semester. For more information about biology research opportunities at NTCC, contact Dr. McAllister at (903) 434-8286.
