Faculty/Staff Listing
Dr. James E. Deacon
Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies, Retired
Telephone: 702-895-3275
Office: White Hall 204
E-mail: deaconj@unlv.nevada.edu
Education
- B.S. Midwestern University
- Ph.D. University of Kansas
The superb staff at the Mirage Dolphin Habitat, which now includes graduates from the UNLV Department of Environmental Studies, gave Dr. Deacon a swim with the dolphins as a retirement gift. For more than the past decade, the Mirage internship, established by Dr. Deacon in cooperation with the Mirage, has provided the best internship training experience available anywhere in the U.S. UNLV Environmental Studies interns have become valued employees at the Mirage Dolphin Habitat, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, Sea World in both California and Florida, and other aquarium and zoo facilities throughout the U.S. Contact Dr David Hassenzahl for more information about this superb opportunity.
Dr. James E. Deacon, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, completed his Ph.D. at the University of Kansas in 1960 and immediately joined the UNLV faculty where his research has focused on ecology and conservation biology of desert fishes and on issues of sustainable use of water in the Southwest. His research and conservation efforts have been funded by The National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and a variety of other agencies. His more than 85 scientific papers, articles, and contributions to books and other compendia, have brought him awards and recognition from The American Fisheries Society, National Wildlife Federation, Nevada Department of Museums and History, Nature Conservancy, and others. He has served as an expert witness in water rights litigation and adjudication proceedings at both State and Federal levels, and has been involved in development of recommendations for water quality standards and flow criteria essential to maintenance of ecosystem health and endangered fishes in Western waters. His work has been influential in guaranteeing water rights for two National Parks (Death Valley and Zion), the creation of two National Wildlife Refuges (Ash Meadows and Moapa), establishing water quality standards for Las Vegas Wash, designating several species of threatened or endangered fishes, and in an Endangered Species Act jeopardy opinion that stopped a reservoir in the Virgin River. Dr Deacon helped create UNLV's bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. programs in Biology and, more recently in Environmental Studies and served as department chair in both departments. He continues his research interests in conservation biology of desert fishes and environmental education with projects in Death Valley, Devils Hole, the Virgin River, and the lower Colorado River.
Recent Publications
Andersen, M. E. and J. E. Deacon. 2001. Population Size of Devils Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) Correlates with Water Level. Copeia 2001(1):224-228.
Lenon, N., K. Stave, T. Burke, and J. Deacon. 2002. Bonytail (Gila elegans) may enhance survival of Razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus) in rearing ponds by preying on exotic crayfish. Journal of the Arizona Nevada Academy of Sciences. 34(1):46-52.
Deacon, J.E. and C.D. Williams. 2002. A Conservation Strategy for the Virgin River Watershed. Pp. 283-322. In Ma. de Lourdes Lozano-Vilano (ed). 2002. Libro Jubilar en Honor al Dr. Salvador Contreras Balderas. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. Monterrey, Mexico.
Minckley,W., P. Marsh, J. Deacon, T. Dowling, P. Hedrick, W. Matthews, and G. Mueller. 2003. A Conservation Plan for Lower Colorado River Native Fishes. Bioscience 53(3):219-234.
Holden,P., J. Deacon and M. Golden. In press. Historical changes in fishes of the Virgin-Moapa River system: Continuing decline of a unique native fauna. In Rinne, J.N, R.M. Hughes, and R. Calamusso. Historical Changes in Fish Assemblages of Large North American Rivers. American Fisheries Society Symposium ###.
A. Riggs and J. E. Deacon. In prep. Devil's Hole: This Magical Place.
From left — Professor Tim Farnham with Distinguished Professor James Deacon