David L. Thomas

David L. Thomas became Chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey in December 1997. The Survey has some 200 scientists and support staff doing research on and providing information related to the biota of Illinois.

Dr. Thomas received his BS in Zoology (1965) and MS in Ecology (1967) from the University of Illinois. He received his PhD in Ecology and Systematics (1971) from Cornell University where he studied the comparative life histories of six species of drums (Sciaenidae) of the Delaware River estuary.

Dr. Thomas was an INHS staff member during the 1960s, is a life member of the American Fisheries Society, and has held memberships in the Federation of Research Biologists, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

From 1970 through early 1985, Dr. Thomas worked for two environmental consulting firms and a Boston-based architect-engineering firm on various environmental projects. From May 1985 through November 1997, Dr. Thomas was the Director of the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC).

Since coming to the Survey Dr. Thomas has had significant involvement in issues related to exotic invasive species. In 2000, he was non-federal co-chair for the Research and Information workgroup for the National Invasive Species Advisory Committee. For the last couple of years he has chaired IDNR s Invasive Species Working Group that has been addressing research, management and control of invasive species within Illinois. He also serves on the state s Aquatic Nuisance Species Steering Committee and has been working on issues related to ballast water and invasive species. He has been active on issues related to the restoration of the Illinois River, including serving on the Science Advisory Committee to the Illinois River Advisory Council, and the TNC Science Advisory Committee for Restoration of Emiquon. He chaired the American Fisheries Society committee which addressed the Farm Bill 2002, which concluded with a Pending Legislation Opinion in the November 2001 issue of Fisheries. He has been an active member of the Steering Committee for Chicago Wilderness. He recently became a board member for Chicago Wilderness and also serves on a number of other boards and advisory groups dealing with natural resource issues in Illinois and the Midwest.