Adam Sepulveda, Ph.D.
My research program focuses on aquatic invasive species risk assessment, early detection, and management in the West. I coordinate the Rapid Environmental DNA Assessment and Deployment Initiative & Network (READI-Net) project associated with the U.S. Department of the Interior National Early Detection Rapid Response program.
Research Interests
Adam Sepulveda’s research program provides science to inform aquatic invasive species management. Focal elements of his research program include:
- Research to operations of autonomous environmental (e)DNA samplers to improve detection rates
- Development of standardized procedures and statistical approaches to ensure confidence in eDNA results
- Decision support and communication tools to facilitate the uptake of eDNA results by decision-makers
Professional Experience
Research Zoologist, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, MT, 2014 – Present
Aquatic Biologist, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, MT, October 2010 – 2014
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Ecology. 2010. University of Montana, Missoula, MT
B.A. Environmental Biology and English. 2002. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Science and Products
Robotic environmental DNA bio-surveillance of freshwater health
msocc: Fit and analyse computationally efficient multi‐scale occupancy models in R
Are environmental DNA methods ready for aquatic invasive species management?
Climate-induced expansions of invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, North America: A synthesis of observations and projections
A round-robin evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of environmental DNA assays for dreissenid mussels
The Yellowstone River fish-kill: Fish health informs and is informed by vital signs monitoring
Consistent compensatory growth offsets poor condition in trout populations
Adding invasive species bio-surveillance to the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage network
Improved detection of rare, endangered and invasive trout using a new large-volume sampling method for eDNA capture
An integrated framework for ecological drought across riverscapes of North America
Using environmental DNA to extend the window of early detection for dreissenid mussels
Wetland drying linked to variations in snowmelt runoff across Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 72
Robotic environmental DNA bio-surveillance of freshwater health
Autonomous water sampling technologies may help to overcome the human resource challenges of monitoring biological threats to rivers over long time periods and large geographic areas. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has pioneered a robotic Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) that overcomes some of the constraints associated with traditional sampling since it can automate water sampleAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Jim M. Birch, Elliott Barnhart, Christopher M. Merkes, Kevan Yamahara, Roman III Marin, Stacy Kinsey, Peter R. Wright, Christian Schmidtmsocc: Fit and analyse computationally efficient multi‐scale occupancy models in R
Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling is a promising tool for the detection of rare and cryptic taxa, such as aquatic pathogens, parasites and invasive species. Environmental DNA sampling workflows commonly rely on multi‐stage hierarchical sampling designs that induce complicated dependencies within the data. This complex dependence structure can be intuitively modelled with Bayesian multi‐scale occupAuthorsChristian Stratton, Adam J. Sepulveda, Andrew B. HoeghAre environmental DNA methods ready for aquatic invasive species management?
Multiple studies have demonstrated environmental (e)DNA detections of rare, invasive species. However, invasive species managers struggle with using eDNA results because detections might not indicate species presence. We evaluated if eDNA methods have matured to a point where they can be widely applied to aquatic invasive species management. We found that eDNA methods meet legal standards for beinAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Nanette M Nelson, Christopher L. Jerde, Gordon LuikartClimate-induced expansions of invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, North America: A synthesis of observations and projections
Climate change may facilitate the expansion of non-native invasive species (NIS) in aquatic and terrestrial systems. However, empirical evidence remains scarce and poorly synthesized at scales necessary for effective management. We conducted a literature synthesis to assess the state of research on the observed and predicted effects of climate change on a suite of 398 aquatic and terrestrial NIS nAuthorsJennifer Gervais, Ryan P. Kovach, Adam J. Sepulveda, Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, J. Joseph Giersch, Clint C. MuhlfeldA round-robin evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of environmental DNA assays for dreissenid mussels
Resource managers may be hesitant to make decisions based on environmental (e)DNA results alone since eDNA is an indirect method of species detection. One way to reduce the uncertainty of eDNA is to identify laboratory‐based protocols that ensure repeatable and reproducible results. We conducted a double‐blind round‐robin analysis of probe‐based assays for DNA of dreissenid (Dreissena spp.) musselAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Patrick R. Hutchins, Craig Jackson, Carl Ostberg, Matthew Laramie, Jon Amberg, Timothy Counihan, Andrew B. Hoegh, David PilliodThe Yellowstone River fish-kill: Fish health informs and is informed by vital signs monitoring
Trout are socioeconomically and ecologically important in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA); yet these fish face numerous threats. Disease may begin to play a larger role in reducing fish populations, partly because many existing threats may interact to exacerbate the frequency, extent, and severity of fish diseases (Lafferty 2009). For example, habitat loss and low summer flows might interact toAuthorsPatrick R. Hutchins, Adam J. Sepulveda, Lacey R. Hopper, Ken StaigmillerConsistent compensatory growth offsets poor condition in trout populations
1. Compensatory growth – when individuals in poor condition grow rapidly to “catch up” to conspecifics – may be a mechanism that allows individuals to tolerate stressful environmental conditions, both abiotic and biotic. This phenomenon has been documented fairly widely in laboratory and field experiments, but evidence for compensatory growth in the wild is scarce. 2. Cutthroat trout (OncorhyncAuthorsRobert Al-Chokhachy, Ryan Kovach, Adam J. Sepulveda, Jeff Strait, Bradley B. Shepard, Clint C. MuhlfeldAdding invasive species bio-surveillance to the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage network
The costs of invasive species in the United States alone are estimated to exceed US$100 billion per year so a critical tactic in minimizing the costs of invasive species is the development of effective, early-detection systems. To this end, we evaluated the efficacy of adding environmental (e)DNA surveillance to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgage network, which consists of > 8,200 streamAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Christian Schmidt, Jon Amberg, Patrick R. Hutchins, Christian Stratton, Christopher A. Mebane, Matthew Laramie, David PilliodImproved detection of rare, endangered and invasive trout using a new large-volume sampling method for eDNA capture
Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection probability increases with volume of water sampled. Common approaches for collecting eDNA samples often require many samples since these approaches usually use fine filters, which restrict the volume of water that can be sampled. An alternative to collecting many, small volume water samples using fine filters may be to collect fewer, large volume water samples usAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Jenna Schabacker, Seth Smith, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Gordon Luikart, Stephen J. AmishAn integrated framework for ecological drought across riverscapes of North America
Climate change is increasing the severity and extent of extreme droughts events, posing a critical threat to freshwater ecosystems, particularly with increasing human demands for diminishing water supplies. Despite the importance of drought as a significant driver of ecological and evolutionary dynamics, current understanding of drought consequences for freshwater biodiversity is very limited. WAuthorsRyan Kovach, Jason B. Dunham, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Craig Snyder, Erik A. Beever, Gregory T. Pederson, Abigail Lynch, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Christopher P. Konrad, Kristin Jaeger, Alan H. Rea, Adam J. Sepulveda, Patrick M. Lambert, Jason M. Stoker, J. Joseph Giersch, Clint C. MuhlfeldUsing environmental DNA to extend the window of early detection for dreissenid mussels
Tools that bolster early detection of invasive species are needed to prevent their spread. In this study, we assessed if environmental DNA (eDNA) can extend the seasonal window for dreissenid mussel early detection beyond that of plankton tows, which are limited to warmer seasons when mussel larvae are present. We focused eDNA sampling efforts at multiple sites in Tiber Reservoir (Montana) where dAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Jon Amberg, Erik HansonWetland drying linked to variations in snowmelt runoff across Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks
In Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks wetlands offer critical habitat and play a key role in supporting biological diversity. The shallow depths and small size of many wetlands make them vulnerable to changes in climate compared with larger and deeper aquatic habitats. Here, we use a simple water balance model to generate estimates of biophysical drivers of wetland change. We then examineAuthorsAndrew M. Ray, Adam J. Sepulveda, Kathryn M. Irvine, Siri K.C. Wilmoth, David P. Thoma, Debra A. Patla - News