Andrea Fritts, PhD
Andrea Fritts is a Research Fish Biologist with the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Her research program is focused on understanding the effects of invasive species on native ecosystems, with special emphasis on invasive carps. Her team uses acoustic telemetry to evaluate fish behavior and to understand the dynamics of fish passage at locks and dams to inform the design and deployment of deterrent technologies.
Professional Experience
2021 to present Research Fish Biologist, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603
2016 to 2021 Biologist, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603
2015 to 2016 Aquatic Ecologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, Illinois 62644
2013 to 2015 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, Illinois 62644
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, August 2013
Dissertation: Investigation of freshwater mussel physiology and reproductive biology to inform conservation
M.S. Biology, Missouri State University, August 2009
Thesis: Factors affecting metamorphosis success of freshwater mussels
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Food web fatty acids and stable isotopes in the Upper Mississippi River Basin 2013-2014: Data Food web fatty acids and stable isotopes in the Upper Mississippi River Basin 2013-2014: Data
This dataset includes information from multiple taxa collected from four main reaches in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, including La Grange reach of Illinois River, Pool 2 of Mississippi River, Pool 19 of Mississippi River, and the St. Croix River. Taxa include hydropsychid caddisflies, chironomids, hexagenia mayflies, threeridge mussels, mapleleaf mussels, Wabash pigtoe mussels...
Filter Total Items: 32
USGS Telemetry Project: Real-Time Telemetry and Multi-State Modeling USGS Telemetry Project: Real-Time Telemetry and Multi-State Modeling
No abstract available.
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, P. Ryan Jackson, Jessica C. Stanton, Andrea K. Fritts
USGS telemetry project USGS telemetry project
Tagging bigheaded carp (i.e., Bighead Carp and Silver Carp) and surrogate fish species with acoustic transmitters has become an invaluable management tool in the Upper IWW (i.e., upper Illinois River, lower Des Plaines River, and the CAWS). For example, movement probabilities between adjacent navigation pools need to be estimated to parameterize models, such as the SEICarP Model—a...
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Jessica C. Stanton, Sean Bailey, Douglas Appel, Andrea K. Fritts, P. Ryan Jackson
Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022 Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022
Invasive carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Richardson, 1845; Bighead Carp], H. molitrix [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Silver Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Grass Carp], and Mylopharyngodon piceus [Richardson, 1846; Black Carp]) expansion threatens the Laurentian Great Lakes and other major waterways. Numerous tools and...
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Christa M. Woodley, Jessica C. Stanton, Andrea K. Fritts, Matthew D. Sholtis, Theodore Castro-Santos, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Janice L. Albers
Multimodal invasive carp deterrent study at Barkley Lock and Dam—Status update through 2022 Multimodal invasive carp deterrent study at Barkley Lock and Dam—Status update through 2022
Invasive carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Bighead Carp], Mylopharyngodon piceus [Black Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Grass Carp], and H. molitrix [Silver Carp]) continue to spread in the United States and deterrents at river navigation locks are one emerging control strategy for slowing the spread. High-head navigation dams on large rivers serve as impediments to the upstream spread...
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Daniel K. Gibson-Reinemer, Jessica C. Stanton, Kyle J. Mosel, Marybeth K. Brey, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Douglas Appel, Jacob Faulkner, Joshua Tompkins, Theodore Castro-Santos, Matthew D. Sholtis, Andy Turnpenny, Peter Sorensen, Rob Simmonds
Application of the technology readiness levels framework to natural resource management tools Application of the technology readiness levels framework to natural resource management tools
Technology advancements in fisheries science can provide useful tools to support natural resource management and conservation. However, new technologies may also present challenges for decision makers due to the lack of a standardized process to assess technologies for consideration within management plans. Future technology development in fishery and water resources could benefit from a...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Andrea K. Fritts, Marybeth K. Brey, Christa M. Woodley, David Smith, Mark Cornish, Amy McGovern, Rob Simmonds, Neal Jackson
USGS Telemetry Project USGS Telemetry Project
No abstract available.
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Brent C. Knights, Jessica Stanton, Sean Bailey, Travis J. Harrison, Douglas Appel, Andrea K. Fritts, James J. Duncker, P. Ryan Jackson
FY22 Technical Report: Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River FY22 Technical Report: Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River
FY22 Technical Report for the project, "Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the Upper Mississippi River." This document describes specific methods, highlights, and results that show how progress towards meeting objectives in a timely manner.
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Joshua Abner, Mark W. Fritts, James T. Lamer, Mark Cornish
Hydrological and lock operation conditions associated with paddlefish and bigheaded carp dam passage on a large and small scale in the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 14–18) Hydrological and lock operation conditions associated with paddlefish and bigheaded carp dam passage on a large and small scale in the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 14–18)
Movement and dispersal of migratory fish species is an important life-history characteristics that can be impeded by navigation dams. Although habitat fragmentation may be detrimental to native fish species, it might act as an effective and economical barrier for controlling the spread of invasive species in riverine systems. Various technologies have been proposed as potential fish...
Authors
Dominique D. Turney, Andrea K. Fritts, Brent C. Knights, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Douglas Appel, James T. Lamar
Lake Barkley BioAcoustic fish fence effectiveness study project status update Lake Barkley BioAcoustic fish fence effectiveness study project status update
No abstract available.
Authors
Rob Simmonds, Brent C. Knights, Andrea K. Fritts, Jessica C. Stanton, Marybeth K. Brey, Jonathan M. Vallazza
Real-time telemetry and multi-state modeling Real-time telemetry and multi-state modeling
This project will result in real-time data and other invasive carp movement information to inform realtime management decisions and refine the SEICarP model. FY 2022 funding will produce final transition probability estimates from the newly-developed Bayesian multi-state model, continue the maintenance of real-time telemetry to inform contingency actions, and produce a study plan to...
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Brent C. Knights, P. Ryan Jackson, Jessica C. Stanton, Douglas Appel, James J. Duncker, Andrea K. Fritts
Emerging control strategies for integrated pest management of invasive carps Emerging control strategies for integrated pest management of invasive carps
Invasive carps are ecologically and economically problematic fish species in many large river basins in the United States and pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems throughout much of North America. Four species of invasive carps: black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Marybeth K. Brey, Robin D. Calfee, Duane Chapman, Richard A. Erickson, Jesse Robert Fischer, Andrea K. Fritts, Amy E. George, P. Ryan Jackson, Brent C. Knights, Gavin N. Saari, Patrick Kocovsky
Non-USGS Publications**
Fritts, A.K., M.W. Fritts, W.R. Haag, J.A. DeBoer, and A.F. Casper. 2017. Freshwater mussel shells (Unionidae) chronicle changes in a North American river over the past 1000 years. Science of the Total Environment 575: 199-206.
Fritts, M.W., J.A. DeBoer, A.K. Fritts, A.F. Casper, K. Kellock, and R.B. Bringolf. 2016. Survey of Intersex Occurrence in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from the Upper Illinois River Waterway. American Midland Naturalist 176: 168-175.
Fritts, A.K., A.P. Stodola, S.A. Douglass, and R.M. Vinsel. 2016. Investigation of freshwater mussel glochidia presence on Asian carp and native fishes of the Illinois River. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 19: 22-28.
Fritts, A.K., J.T. Peterson, J.M. Wisniewski & R.B. Bringolf. 2015. Nonlethal assessment of freshwater mussel physiological response to changes in environmental factors. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 72(10): 1460-1468.
Fritts, A.K., J.T. Peterson, P.D. Hazelton, and R.B. Bringolf. 2015. Evaluation of methods for assessing physiological biomarkers of stress in freshwater mussels. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 72(10): 1450-1459.
Fritts, A.K. and R.B. Bringolf. 2014. New host species confirmed for four federally endangered freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin. Walkerana 17(2): 51-59.
Fritts, A.K., M.C. Barnhart, M. Bradley, N. Liu, W.G. Cope, E. Hammer, and R.B. Bringolf. 2014. Assessment of toxicity test endpoints for freshwater mussel larvae (glochidia). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 33: 199-207.
Hazelton, P.D, B. Du, S.P. Haddad, A.K. Fritts, C.K. Chambliss, B.W. Brooks, and R.B. Bringolf. 2014. Chronic fluoxetine exposure alters movement and burrowing in adult freshwater mussels. Aquatic Toxicology 151: 27-35.
Fritts, M.W., A.K. Fritts, S.A. Carleton, and R.B. Bringolf. 2013. Shifts in stable isotope signatures confirm parasitic relationship of freshwater mussel glochidia attached to host fish. Journal of Molluscan Studies 79: 163-167.
Wisniewski, J.M., K.D. Bockrath, J.P. Wares, A.K. Fritts, and M.J. Hill. 2013. The mussel-fish relationship: a potential new twist in North America? Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142: 642-648.
Fritts, A., M. Fritts, D. Peterson, D. Fox, and R. Bringolf. 2012. Critical linkage of imperiled species: Gulf sturgeon as hosts for purple bankclimber mussels. Freshwater Science 31(4): 1223-1232.
Fritts, A., B. Sietman, M. Hove, N. Rudh, M. Davis and D. Heath. 2012. Early life history and conservation status of Theliderma metanevra (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Walkerana 15(2): 99-112.
Johnson, J.A., J.M. Wisniewski, A.K. Fritts, and R.B. Bringolf. 2012. Host identification and glochidia morphology of freshwater mussels from the Altamaha River Basin. Southeastern Naturalist 11(4): 733-746.
Crane, A., A. Fritts, J. Lisek, A. Mathis and C. Barnhart. 2011. Do parasite-induced energetic demands affect the forageing and anti-predator behavior of rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum)? Animal Behaviour 82(4): 817-823.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Food web fatty acids and stable isotopes in the Upper Mississippi River Basin 2013-2014: Data Food web fatty acids and stable isotopes in the Upper Mississippi River Basin 2013-2014: Data
This dataset includes information from multiple taxa collected from four main reaches in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, including La Grange reach of Illinois River, Pool 2 of Mississippi River, Pool 19 of Mississippi River, and the St. Croix River. Taxa include hydropsychid caddisflies, chironomids, hexagenia mayflies, threeridge mussels, mapleleaf mussels, Wabash pigtoe mussels...
Filter Total Items: 32
USGS Telemetry Project: Real-Time Telemetry and Multi-State Modeling USGS Telemetry Project: Real-Time Telemetry and Multi-State Modeling
No abstract available.
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, P. Ryan Jackson, Jessica C. Stanton, Andrea K. Fritts
USGS telemetry project USGS telemetry project
Tagging bigheaded carp (i.e., Bighead Carp and Silver Carp) and surrogate fish species with acoustic transmitters has become an invaluable management tool in the Upper IWW (i.e., upper Illinois River, lower Des Plaines River, and the CAWS). For example, movement probabilities between adjacent navigation pools need to be estimated to parameterize models, such as the SEICarP Model—a...
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Jessica C. Stanton, Sean Bailey, Douglas Appel, Andrea K. Fritts, P. Ryan Jackson
Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022 Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022
Invasive carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Richardson, 1845; Bighead Carp], H. molitrix [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Silver Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Grass Carp], and Mylopharyngodon piceus [Richardson, 1846; Black Carp]) expansion threatens the Laurentian Great Lakes and other major waterways. Numerous tools and...
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Christa M. Woodley, Jessica C. Stanton, Andrea K. Fritts, Matthew D. Sholtis, Theodore Castro-Santos, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Janice L. Albers
Multimodal invasive carp deterrent study at Barkley Lock and Dam—Status update through 2022 Multimodal invasive carp deterrent study at Barkley Lock and Dam—Status update through 2022
Invasive carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Bighead Carp], Mylopharyngodon piceus [Black Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Grass Carp], and H. molitrix [Silver Carp]) continue to spread in the United States and deterrents at river navigation locks are one emerging control strategy for slowing the spread. High-head navigation dams on large rivers serve as impediments to the upstream spread...
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Daniel K. Gibson-Reinemer, Jessica C. Stanton, Kyle J. Mosel, Marybeth K. Brey, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Douglas Appel, Jacob Faulkner, Joshua Tompkins, Theodore Castro-Santos, Matthew D. Sholtis, Andy Turnpenny, Peter Sorensen, Rob Simmonds
Application of the technology readiness levels framework to natural resource management tools Application of the technology readiness levels framework to natural resource management tools
Technology advancements in fisheries science can provide useful tools to support natural resource management and conservation. However, new technologies may also present challenges for decision makers due to the lack of a standardized process to assess technologies for consideration within management plans. Future technology development in fishery and water resources could benefit from a...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Andrea K. Fritts, Marybeth K. Brey, Christa M. Woodley, David Smith, Mark Cornish, Amy McGovern, Rob Simmonds, Neal Jackson
USGS Telemetry Project USGS Telemetry Project
No abstract available.
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Brent C. Knights, Jessica Stanton, Sean Bailey, Travis J. Harrison, Douglas Appel, Andrea K. Fritts, James J. Duncker, P. Ryan Jackson
FY22 Technical Report: Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River FY22 Technical Report: Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River
FY22 Technical Report for the project, "Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the Upper Mississippi River." This document describes specific methods, highlights, and results that show how progress towards meeting objectives in a timely manner.
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Joshua Abner, Mark W. Fritts, James T. Lamer, Mark Cornish
Hydrological and lock operation conditions associated with paddlefish and bigheaded carp dam passage on a large and small scale in the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 14–18) Hydrological and lock operation conditions associated with paddlefish and bigheaded carp dam passage on a large and small scale in the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 14–18)
Movement and dispersal of migratory fish species is an important life-history characteristics that can be impeded by navigation dams. Although habitat fragmentation may be detrimental to native fish species, it might act as an effective and economical barrier for controlling the spread of invasive species in riverine systems. Various technologies have been proposed as potential fish...
Authors
Dominique D. Turney, Andrea K. Fritts, Brent C. Knights, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Douglas Appel, James T. Lamar
Lake Barkley BioAcoustic fish fence effectiveness study project status update Lake Barkley BioAcoustic fish fence effectiveness study project status update
No abstract available.
Authors
Rob Simmonds, Brent C. Knights, Andrea K. Fritts, Jessica C. Stanton, Marybeth K. Brey, Jonathan M. Vallazza
Real-time telemetry and multi-state modeling Real-time telemetry and multi-state modeling
This project will result in real-time data and other invasive carp movement information to inform realtime management decisions and refine the SEICarP model. FY 2022 funding will produce final transition probability estimates from the newly-developed Bayesian multi-state model, continue the maintenance of real-time telemetry to inform contingency actions, and produce a study plan to...
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Brent C. Knights, P. Ryan Jackson, Jessica C. Stanton, Douglas Appel, James J. Duncker, Andrea K. Fritts
Emerging control strategies for integrated pest management of invasive carps Emerging control strategies for integrated pest management of invasive carps
Invasive carps are ecologically and economically problematic fish species in many large river basins in the United States and pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems throughout much of North America. Four species of invasive carps: black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Marybeth K. Brey, Robin D. Calfee, Duane Chapman, Richard A. Erickson, Jesse Robert Fischer, Andrea K. Fritts, Amy E. George, P. Ryan Jackson, Brent C. Knights, Gavin N. Saari, Patrick Kocovsky
Non-USGS Publications**
Fritts, A.K., M.W. Fritts, W.R. Haag, J.A. DeBoer, and A.F. Casper. 2017. Freshwater mussel shells (Unionidae) chronicle changes in a North American river over the past 1000 years. Science of the Total Environment 575: 199-206.
Fritts, M.W., J.A. DeBoer, A.K. Fritts, A.F. Casper, K. Kellock, and R.B. Bringolf. 2016. Survey of Intersex Occurrence in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from the Upper Illinois River Waterway. American Midland Naturalist 176: 168-175.
Fritts, A.K., A.P. Stodola, S.A. Douglass, and R.M. Vinsel. 2016. Investigation of freshwater mussel glochidia presence on Asian carp and native fishes of the Illinois River. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 19: 22-28.
Fritts, A.K., J.T. Peterson, J.M. Wisniewski & R.B. Bringolf. 2015. Nonlethal assessment of freshwater mussel physiological response to changes in environmental factors. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 72(10): 1460-1468.
Fritts, A.K., J.T. Peterson, P.D. Hazelton, and R.B. Bringolf. 2015. Evaluation of methods for assessing physiological biomarkers of stress in freshwater mussels. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 72(10): 1450-1459.
Fritts, A.K. and R.B. Bringolf. 2014. New host species confirmed for four federally endangered freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin. Walkerana 17(2): 51-59.
Fritts, A.K., M.C. Barnhart, M. Bradley, N. Liu, W.G. Cope, E. Hammer, and R.B. Bringolf. 2014. Assessment of toxicity test endpoints for freshwater mussel larvae (glochidia). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 33: 199-207.
Hazelton, P.D, B. Du, S.P. Haddad, A.K. Fritts, C.K. Chambliss, B.W. Brooks, and R.B. Bringolf. 2014. Chronic fluoxetine exposure alters movement and burrowing in adult freshwater mussels. Aquatic Toxicology 151: 27-35.
Fritts, M.W., A.K. Fritts, S.A. Carleton, and R.B. Bringolf. 2013. Shifts in stable isotope signatures confirm parasitic relationship of freshwater mussel glochidia attached to host fish. Journal of Molluscan Studies 79: 163-167.
Wisniewski, J.M., K.D. Bockrath, J.P. Wares, A.K. Fritts, and M.J. Hill. 2013. The mussel-fish relationship: a potential new twist in North America? Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142: 642-648.
Fritts, A., M. Fritts, D. Peterson, D. Fox, and R. Bringolf. 2012. Critical linkage of imperiled species: Gulf sturgeon as hosts for purple bankclimber mussels. Freshwater Science 31(4): 1223-1232.
Fritts, A., B. Sietman, M. Hove, N. Rudh, M. Davis and D. Heath. 2012. Early life history and conservation status of Theliderma metanevra (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Walkerana 15(2): 99-112.
Johnson, J.A., J.M. Wisniewski, A.K. Fritts, and R.B. Bringolf. 2012. Host identification and glochidia morphology of freshwater mussels from the Altamaha River Basin. Southeastern Naturalist 11(4): 733-746.
Crane, A., A. Fritts, J. Lisek, A. Mathis and C. Barnhart. 2011. Do parasite-induced energetic demands affect the forageing and anti-predator behavior of rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum)? Animal Behaviour 82(4): 817-823.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.