The Scientific Achievements of Gordon H. Copp (1956–2023): An Unabridged Version From His Doctor of Science Portfolio

Abstract

This paper outlines the scientific achievements of Gordon H. Copp (1956–2023) in fish biology and invasion science as presented in his Doctor of Science portfolio. Gordon's mentorship began during his postdoctoral research and expanded to involve students, early-career researchers as well as prominent fish biologists in a vast number of research projects. Early in his career, Gordon was involved in the study of floodplain fish communities for which he developed a novel technique for sampling young-of-year (0+) fish and in the early ontogeny of fishes. Gordon's later involvement in non-native species policy has been pivotal, from developing risk analysis schemes for freshwater fishes to advising on EU and UK regulations. Gordon's research throughout his entire career on the pumpkinseed sunfish Lepomis gibbosus as a model species highlights his focus on understanding and predicting invasiveness under varying climate conditions, contributing to a broader understanding of non-native species impacts.