Michi Tobler

A Professor of Biology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a Senior Scientist at the WildCare Institute of the Saint Louis Zoo. Ever since childhood, he has been fascinated with fish and other aquatic animals, a passion that grew into a career studying the ecology, evolution, and conservation of fishes, particularly those in the livebearing family Poeciliidae. His work takes him across the Americas, where he conducts fieldwork to observe and collect fish in their natural environments, often focusing on species adapted to unusual habitats such as caves, hydrogen sulfide-rich springs, and desert wetlands that harbor remarkable biodiversity. Back in St. Louis, he maintains a research laboratory with more than 400 aquaria to study the genetics, physiology, and behavior of these fishes. Many of the species Michi works with are threatened by human activities and are in urgent need of conservation. He collaborates closely with zoos, conservation organizations, and government agencies to develop strategies for protecting both the fish and their habitats.