Barbara A Lubinski
Barb is a Biologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville, WV.
Since 1995, she has performed molecular genetics research tasks in support of conservation genetics and genomics of imperiled species, including Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sturgeon, and Brook Trout among many other organisms. Some of the recent and ongoing research projects Barb has been involved in include determining the continent-of-origin of Atlantic salmon off the west coast of Greenland, determining fish and aquatic invertebrate biodiversity using DNA metabarcoding of sediment and water samples from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, determining the genetic structure of wild Brook trout in North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland and the southern Appalachians to support conservation and management, and determining the stock composition of Atlantic sturgeon captured along the eastern coast of the U.S.
Professional Experience
2000 to present: Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV
1999 to 2000: General Biologist II, JCWS, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV
1997 to 1999: General Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV
1995 to 1997: Scientific Technician II, Asci, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV
1993 to 1995: Laboratory Technician, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA
1990 to 1995: Graduate Assistant, Biology Department, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Education and Certifications
M.S., 1993, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Biology)
B.S., 1988, Bowling Green State University (Biology)
Science and Products
Individual assignments and microsatellite genotypes for Atlantic Sturgeon from 2021 (ver. 2.0, February 2024)
This dataset includes genotypes and individual-based assignment tests for 868 Atlantic Sturgeon selected for assignment by the National Marine Fisheries Service to meet management requirements under the Endangered Species Act.
Images and annotations to automate the classification of avian species
This dataset is a collection of cropped avian images that pair with species identification annotation values.
Population genetic data for wild Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from the Midwestern United States and selected domestic strains
This dataset includes microsatellite genotypes for 8,454 brook trout from 188 wild Midwestern populations and 26 hatchery strains of both Midwest and eastern (Atlantic seaboard) origin. Each individual was genotyped at either 5 or 7 loci.
Genotypes of Atlantic Sturgeon collected from Canada to Georgia used in the development of a genetic baseline
This dataset includes microsatellite genotypes for 2510 Atlantic sturgeon from 18 different populations distributed from Canada to Georgia. Each individual was genotyped at 12 loci. Additional information about sex, capture date, and size are also provided.
Population genetics metrics for wild brook trout populations in North Carolina (1998-2016)
This data set includes information on 406 wild brook trout populations from across the State of North Carolina. Key genetics metrics on diversity and the extent of hatchery introgression are presented.
These data accompany the following article: Kazyak, D.C., Rash, Jacob, Lubinski, B.A., and King, T.L., 2018, Assessing the impact of stocking northern-origin hatchery brook trout on the genetics
Filter Total Items: 27
Genetic structure of restored Brook Trout populations in the Southern Appalachian Mountains indicates successful reintroductions
Wildlife reintroduction is an important conservation tool for threatened species, yet identifying appropriate source populations poses a challenge. In particular, the possibility of outbreeding depression is cited as a constraint limiting the range of candidate source populations for translocation. When multiple source lineages are mixed during reintroduction, genetic monitoring is necessary to ev
Authors
Rebecca J. Smith, David C. Kazyak, Matt A. Kulp, Barbara A. Lubinski, Benjamin M. Fitzpatrick
Spatiotemporal patterns in habitat use of natal and non-natal adult Atlantic sturgeon in two spawning rivers
BackgroundMonitoring movement across an organism’s ontogeny is often challenging, particularly for long-lived or wide-ranging species. When empirical data are unavailable, general knowledge about species’ ecology may be used to make assumptions about habitat use across space or time. However, inferences about habitat use based on population-level ecology may overlook important eco-evolutionary con
Authors
Shannon L. White, Matthew W. Breece, Dewayne A. Fox, David C. Kazyak, Amanda Higgs, Ian A Park, Cassia Busch, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, Amy Welsh
Integrating genetic and demographic data to refine indices of abundance for Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River, New York
Critical to Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus recovery and monitoring is the ability to estimate abundance and identify age- and stock-specific threats to survival. As adult Atlantic sturgeon spend much of their lives broadly distributed in marine and estuarine environments, it is challenging to collect data needed to estimate these demographic parameters in the adult population. A
Authors
Shannon L. White, Richard M. Pendleton, Amanda Higgs, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, David C. Kazyak
Validation of a molecular sex marker in three sturgeons from eastern North America
Despite the importance of sex-specific information for sturgeon conservation and management, sex identification has been a major challenge outside of mature adults on spawning grounds. Recent work identified a sex-specific locus (AllWSex2) that appears to be broadly conserved across many Acipenserids, but the assay was not validated for all species within the family. We tested the AllWSex2 marker
Authors
Nicholas M Sard, Brian R Krieser, Richard M. Pendleton, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, Dewayne A. Fox, Joel P Van Eenennaam, Jason E Kahn, Chris H Hager, Amanda L. Higgs, David C. Kazyak
Genetic population assignments of Atlantic sturgeon provided to National Marine Fisheries Service, 2022
Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus (Atlantic sturgeon) were once abundant and supported large-scale fisheries throughout much of the east coast of the United States. However, historic overharvest and habitat loss resulted in dramatic declines in abundance and eventual listing under the Endangered Species Act of the United States. As part of this listing, Atlantic sturgeon populations were divided int
Authors
Shannon L. White, Robin L. Johnson, Barbara A. Lubinski, Michael S. Eackles, David C. Kazyak
Utilization of genetic data to inform native Brook Trout conservation in North Carolina
As North Carolina’s only native salmonid, Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis is a fish of considerable ecological and cultural significance in the state, but anthropogenic alterations to the landscape and introductions of nonnative salmonids have fragmented and reduced its native range. As a result, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has enacted numerous efforts to help conser
Authors
Jacob Rash, David C. Kazyak, Shannon L. White, Barbara A. Lubinski
Benefits of genetic data for the design of Brook Trout translocation efforts
With wild trout populations in decline, many conservation practitioners are evaluating the feasibility of incorporating reintroduction and genetic rescue into management frameworks. As interest in these conservation tools continues to grow, so too has the need for rigorous science to evaluate translocation success and improve the efficacy of future efforts. From this, it has become increasingly ap
Authors
Shannon L. White, Thomas C Johnson, Jacob M Rash, Barbara A. Lubinski, David C. Kazyak
Development of a ddPCR assay for the detection of the Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) from eDNA in stream water samples
The Smoky Madtom Noturus baileyi is a federally endangered species, whose native distribution includes lower Abrams Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and Citico Creek in nearby Cherokee National Forest. Due to challenges for bio-monitoring posed by its nocturnality and cryptic life history, an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach for detection would be useful to complement exi
Authors
Aaron Aunins, Michael S. Eackles, Paul E Super, Matt A. Kulp, Becky J Nichols, Barbara A. Lubinski, Cheryl L. Morrison, Timothy L. King
Evaluating sources of bias in pedigree-based estimates of breeding population size
Applications of genetic-based estimates of population size are expanding, especially for species for which traditional demographic estimation methods are intractable due to the rarity of adult encounters. Estimates of breeding population size (NS) are particularly amenable to genetic-based approaches as the parameter can be estimated using pedigrees reconstructed from genetic data gathered from di
Authors
Shannon L. White, Nicholas M Sard, Harold M Brundage III, Robin L. Johnson, Barbara A. Lubinski, Michael S. Eackles, Ian A Park, Dewayne A. Fox, David C. Kazyak
Using genetic data to advance stream fish reintroduction science: A case study in brook trout
Widespread extirpation of native fish populations has led to a rise in species reintroduction efforts worldwide. Most efforts have relied on demographic data alone to guide project design and evaluate success. However, the genetic characteristics of many imperiled fish populations including low diversity, local adaptation, and hatchery introgression emphasize the importance of genetic data in the
Authors
Shannon L. White, Thomas C Johnson, Jacob M Rash, Barbara A. Lubinski, David C. Kazyak
Landscape and stocking effects on population genetics of Tennessee Brook Trout
Throughout their range, Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) occupy thousands of disjunct drainages with varying levels of disturbance, which presents substantial challenges for conservation. Within the southern Appalachian Mountains, fragmentation and genetic drift have been identified as key threats to the genetic diversity of the Brook Trout populations. In addition, extensive historic stocking
Authors
John S. Hargrove, David C. Kazyak, Barbara A. Lubinski, Karli M. Rogers, Olivia K. Bowers, Kurt A. Fesenmyer, Jim W. Habera, Jason Henegar
Stock composition of the historical New York Bight Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) intercept fishery revealed through microsatellite analysis of archived spines
A targeted commercial fishery for Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus once operated in the New York Bight, where it was assumed that most harvested Atlantic Sturgeon were natal to the Hudson River population. However, more recent evidence suggests that the fishery may have been targeting a mixed-stock aggregation, in which case harvested Atlantic Sturgeon could have been comprised of
Authors
Shannon L. White, Robin L. Johnson, Barbara A. Lubinski, Michael S. Eackles, David H. Secor, David C. Kazyak
Non-USGS Publications**
Richards AL, TL King, BA Lubinski, SE Moore, M Kulp, LS Webb. 2009. Characterization of the Genetic Structure among Brook Trout in LeConte Creek, Tennessee. 2008 Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies 62: 195-202.
Laughlin TF, BA Lubinski, EH Park, DS Taylor, and BJ Turner. 1995. Clonal stability and mutation in the self-fertilizing hermaphroditic fish, Rivulus marmoratus. J Hered 86(5): 399-402.
Lubinski BA, WP Davis, DS Taylor, and BJ Turner. 1995. Outcrossing in a natural population of a self-fertilizing hermaphroditic fish. J Hered 86: 469-473.
**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
Individual assignments and microsatellite genotypes for Atlantic Sturgeon from 2021 (ver. 2.0, February 2024)
This dataset includes genotypes and individual-based assignment tests for 868 Atlantic Sturgeon selected for assignment by the National Marine Fisheries Service to meet management requirements under the Endangered Species Act.
Images and annotations to automate the classification of avian species
This dataset is a collection of cropped avian images that pair with species identification annotation values.
Population genetic data for wild Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from the Midwestern United States and selected domestic strains
This dataset includes microsatellite genotypes for 8,454 brook trout from 188 wild Midwestern populations and 26 hatchery strains of both Midwest and eastern (Atlantic seaboard) origin. Each individual was genotyped at either 5 or 7 loci.
Genotypes of Atlantic Sturgeon collected from Canada to Georgia used in the development of a genetic baseline
This dataset includes microsatellite genotypes for 2510 Atlantic sturgeon from 18 different populations distributed from Canada to Georgia. Each individual was genotyped at 12 loci. Additional information about sex, capture date, and size are also provided.
Population genetics metrics for wild brook trout populations in North Carolina (1998-2016)
This data set includes information on 406 wild brook trout populations from across the State of North Carolina. Key genetics metrics on diversity and the extent of hatchery introgression are presented.
These data accompany the following article: Kazyak, D.C., Rash, Jacob, Lubinski, B.A., and King, T.L., 2018, Assessing the impact of stocking northern-origin hatchery brook trout on the genetics
Filter Total Items: 27
Genetic structure of restored Brook Trout populations in the Southern Appalachian Mountains indicates successful reintroductions
Wildlife reintroduction is an important conservation tool for threatened species, yet identifying appropriate source populations poses a challenge. In particular, the possibility of outbreeding depression is cited as a constraint limiting the range of candidate source populations for translocation. When multiple source lineages are mixed during reintroduction, genetic monitoring is necessary to ev
Authors
Rebecca J. Smith, David C. Kazyak, Matt A. Kulp, Barbara A. Lubinski, Benjamin M. Fitzpatrick
Spatiotemporal patterns in habitat use of natal and non-natal adult Atlantic sturgeon in two spawning rivers
BackgroundMonitoring movement across an organism’s ontogeny is often challenging, particularly for long-lived or wide-ranging species. When empirical data are unavailable, general knowledge about species’ ecology may be used to make assumptions about habitat use across space or time. However, inferences about habitat use based on population-level ecology may overlook important eco-evolutionary con
Authors
Shannon L. White, Matthew W. Breece, Dewayne A. Fox, David C. Kazyak, Amanda Higgs, Ian A Park, Cassia Busch, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, Amy Welsh
Integrating genetic and demographic data to refine indices of abundance for Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River, New York
Critical to Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus recovery and monitoring is the ability to estimate abundance and identify age- and stock-specific threats to survival. As adult Atlantic sturgeon spend much of their lives broadly distributed in marine and estuarine environments, it is challenging to collect data needed to estimate these demographic parameters in the adult population. A
Authors
Shannon L. White, Richard M. Pendleton, Amanda Higgs, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, David C. Kazyak
Validation of a molecular sex marker in three sturgeons from eastern North America
Despite the importance of sex-specific information for sturgeon conservation and management, sex identification has been a major challenge outside of mature adults on spawning grounds. Recent work identified a sex-specific locus (AllWSex2) that appears to be broadly conserved across many Acipenserids, but the assay was not validated for all species within the family. We tested the AllWSex2 marker
Authors
Nicholas M Sard, Brian R Krieser, Richard M. Pendleton, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, Dewayne A. Fox, Joel P Van Eenennaam, Jason E Kahn, Chris H Hager, Amanda L. Higgs, David C. Kazyak
Genetic population assignments of Atlantic sturgeon provided to National Marine Fisheries Service, 2022
Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus (Atlantic sturgeon) were once abundant and supported large-scale fisheries throughout much of the east coast of the United States. However, historic overharvest and habitat loss resulted in dramatic declines in abundance and eventual listing under the Endangered Species Act of the United States. As part of this listing, Atlantic sturgeon populations were divided int
Authors
Shannon L. White, Robin L. Johnson, Barbara A. Lubinski, Michael S. Eackles, David C. Kazyak
Utilization of genetic data to inform native Brook Trout conservation in North Carolina
As North Carolina’s only native salmonid, Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis is a fish of considerable ecological and cultural significance in the state, but anthropogenic alterations to the landscape and introductions of nonnative salmonids have fragmented and reduced its native range. As a result, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has enacted numerous efforts to help conser
Authors
Jacob Rash, David C. Kazyak, Shannon L. White, Barbara A. Lubinski
Benefits of genetic data for the design of Brook Trout translocation efforts
With wild trout populations in decline, many conservation practitioners are evaluating the feasibility of incorporating reintroduction and genetic rescue into management frameworks. As interest in these conservation tools continues to grow, so too has the need for rigorous science to evaluate translocation success and improve the efficacy of future efforts. From this, it has become increasingly ap
Authors
Shannon L. White, Thomas C Johnson, Jacob M Rash, Barbara A. Lubinski, David C. Kazyak
Development of a ddPCR assay for the detection of the Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) from eDNA in stream water samples
The Smoky Madtom Noturus baileyi is a federally endangered species, whose native distribution includes lower Abrams Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and Citico Creek in nearby Cherokee National Forest. Due to challenges for bio-monitoring posed by its nocturnality and cryptic life history, an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach for detection would be useful to complement exi
Authors
Aaron Aunins, Michael S. Eackles, Paul E Super, Matt A. Kulp, Becky J Nichols, Barbara A. Lubinski, Cheryl L. Morrison, Timothy L. King
Evaluating sources of bias in pedigree-based estimates of breeding population size
Applications of genetic-based estimates of population size are expanding, especially for species for which traditional demographic estimation methods are intractable due to the rarity of adult encounters. Estimates of breeding population size (NS) are particularly amenable to genetic-based approaches as the parameter can be estimated using pedigrees reconstructed from genetic data gathered from di
Authors
Shannon L. White, Nicholas M Sard, Harold M Brundage III, Robin L. Johnson, Barbara A. Lubinski, Michael S. Eackles, Ian A Park, Dewayne A. Fox, David C. Kazyak
Using genetic data to advance stream fish reintroduction science: A case study in brook trout
Widespread extirpation of native fish populations has led to a rise in species reintroduction efforts worldwide. Most efforts have relied on demographic data alone to guide project design and evaluate success. However, the genetic characteristics of many imperiled fish populations including low diversity, local adaptation, and hatchery introgression emphasize the importance of genetic data in the
Authors
Shannon L. White, Thomas C Johnson, Jacob M Rash, Barbara A. Lubinski, David C. Kazyak
Landscape and stocking effects on population genetics of Tennessee Brook Trout
Throughout their range, Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) occupy thousands of disjunct drainages with varying levels of disturbance, which presents substantial challenges for conservation. Within the southern Appalachian Mountains, fragmentation and genetic drift have been identified as key threats to the genetic diversity of the Brook Trout populations. In addition, extensive historic stocking
Authors
John S. Hargrove, David C. Kazyak, Barbara A. Lubinski, Karli M. Rogers, Olivia K. Bowers, Kurt A. Fesenmyer, Jim W. Habera, Jason Henegar
Stock composition of the historical New York Bight Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) intercept fishery revealed through microsatellite analysis of archived spines
A targeted commercial fishery for Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus once operated in the New York Bight, where it was assumed that most harvested Atlantic Sturgeon were natal to the Hudson River population. However, more recent evidence suggests that the fishery may have been targeting a mixed-stock aggregation, in which case harvested Atlantic Sturgeon could have been comprised of
Authors
Shannon L. White, Robin L. Johnson, Barbara A. Lubinski, Michael S. Eackles, David H. Secor, David C. Kazyak
Non-USGS Publications**
Richards AL, TL King, BA Lubinski, SE Moore, M Kulp, LS Webb. 2009. Characterization of the Genetic Structure among Brook Trout in LeConte Creek, Tennessee. 2008 Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies 62: 195-202.
Laughlin TF, BA Lubinski, EH Park, DS Taylor, and BJ Turner. 1995. Clonal stability and mutation in the self-fertilizing hermaphroditic fish, Rivulus marmoratus. J Hered 86(5): 399-402.
Lubinski BA, WP Davis, DS Taylor, and BJ Turner. 1995. Outcrossing in a natural population of a self-fertilizing hermaphroditic fish. J Hered 86: 469-473.
**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.