Ben is a population ecologist focusing on stream habitats and science communication.
Education
- PhD, 1994, NC State, Zoology with statistics and modeling minor
- M.S. 1990, URI School of Oceanography, biological option
- B.S. 1985, Trinity College, Biology
Main research questions include:
Where are the fish?
- Distribution modeling
- Modeling climate refugia
What drives fish abundances?
- Long-term individual-based field studies
- State-space abundance modeling
- Integrated demographic models
How are the fish changing?
- Thermal adaptive capacity
- Estimating fitness in the wild
How are stream environments changing?
- Stream temperature statistical models
- Stream flow modeling using images
In addition, Ben is very interested in creating integrated, interactive, web-based systems to assist decision-making for natural resources. His group has created the Spatial Hydro-Ecological Decision System (‘SHEDS’ at ecosheds.org) which links databases, models and visualization tools.
- An extensive stream temperature database is at db.ecosheds.org.
- Stream temperature and Brook Trout occupancy models are at ecosheds.org
- The Interactive Catchment Explorer (‘ICE’) which facilitates exploration of complex environmental datasets and modeling results is at ice.ecosheds.org.
- Visualizations of individual tagging data from long-term studies are at pitdata.ecosheds.org.
- A stream visualization tool linking hydrographs to images is at fpe.ecosheds.org.
- A time series explorer is at tse.ecosheds.org.
Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fwgbROwAAAAJ&hl=en
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 15
Filter Total Items: 83
Impacts of Low-Flow and Stream-Temperature Changes on Endangered Atlantic Salmon - Current Research
Recent climate studies in New England and the northeastern United States have shown evidence of physical changes over time, including trends toward earlier snowmelt runoff, decreasing river ice, and increasing spring water temperatures. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study funded by the National Global Warming and Wildlife Science Center will be investigating changes in summer low streamflows and
A model for estimating passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antenna efficiencies for interval-specific emigration rates
Our goal was to understand movement and its interaction with survival for populations of stream salmonids at long-term study sites in the northeastern United States by employing passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and associated technology. Although our PIT tag antenna arrays spanned the stream channel (at most flows) and were continuously operated, we are aware that aspects of fish behavior
An efficient smolt trap for sandy and debris-laden streams
Tripod weir and box traps are traditionally used to capture and enumerate out-migrating salmonid smolts in short-term studies and in streams where temporary or portable traps are the only practical option. Although traditional traps can be effective when conditions are ideal, they are often unable to withstand high-discharge events in streams containing a large amount of debris or sandy substrates
Early discrimination of Atlantic salmon smolt age: Time course of the relative effectiveness of body size and shape
The goal of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of morphological measurements and body size in predicting the smolt age of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and to determine the time course of body size and shape differences between smolt ages. Analyses were conducted on age-0 to age-2 fish that were stocked as fry in the West Brook, Massachusetts and on laboratory-raised age-0 to age-1 fi
Population response to habitat fragmentation in a stream-dwelling brook trout population
Fragmentation can strongly influence population persistence and expression of life-history strategies in spatially-structured populations. In this study, we directly estimated size-specific dispersal, growth, and survival of stream-dwelling brook trout in a stream network with connected and naturally-isolated tributaries. We used multiple-generation, individual-based data to develop and parameteri
Growth rate differences between resident native brook trout and non-native brown trout
Between species and across season variation in growth was examined by tagging and recapturing individual brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta across seasons in a small stream (West Brook, Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Detailed information on body size and growth are presented to (1) test whether the two species differed in growth within seasons and (2) characterize the seasonal
Influence of beaver activity on summer growth and condition of age-2 Atlantic salmon parr
The activity of beavers Castor canadensis in freshwater environments can have considerable localized impacts on the physical and biological components of riparian ecosystems. By changing the habitat of a stream, beaver dams can cause spatial variation in growth opportunity that may have direct consequences for the growth of resident fish. In a small stream in eastern Canada, we studied the effects
Diel and seasonal variation in food habits of Atlantic salmon parr in a small stream
The diel and seasonal food habits of young-of-year (YOY) and post-young-of-year (PYOY) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr were assayed over the course of 11 months in the West Brook, Massachusetts USA. Gut fullness of YOY salmon did not vary significantly among months. PYOY salmon exhibited significant seasonal differences in gut fullness, with peak fullness occurring in the spring and late fall.
Remote monitoring of fish in small streams: A unified approach using PIT tags
Accurate assessments of fish populations are often limited by re-observation or recapture events. Since the early 1990s, passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) have been used to understand the biology of many fish species. Until recently, PIT applications in small streams have been limited to physical recapture events. To maximize recapture probability, we constructed PIT antenna arrays in sma
Alternative life histories shape brain gene expression profiles in males of the same population
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) undergo spectacular marine migrations before homing to spawn in natal rivers. However, males that grow fastest early in life can adopt an alternative 'sneaker' tactic by maturing earlier at greatly reduced size without leaving freshwater. While the ultimate evolutionary causes have been well studied, virtually nothing is known about the molecular bases of this develop
Electroshocking and PIT tagging of juvenile Atlantic salmon: Are there interactive effects on growth and survival?
Electroshocking and tagging of fish with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are two commonly used methods for conducting mark-recapture studies in freshwater environments and are frequently used in combination. We conducted an experiment to test for the effects of electroshocking, tagging, and a combination of electroshocking plus tagging on the growth and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo
Interaction of rearing environment and reproductive tactic on gene expression profiles in Atlantic salmon
Organisms that share the same genotype can develop into divergent phenotypes, depending on environmental conditions. In Atlantic salmon, young males of the same age can be found either as sneakers or immature males that are future anadromous fish. Just as the organism-level phenotype varies between divergent male developmental trajectories, brain gene expression is expected to vary as well. We hyp
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Filter Total Items: 15
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Filter Total Items: 83
Impacts of Low-Flow and Stream-Temperature Changes on Endangered Atlantic Salmon - Current Research
Recent climate studies in New England and the northeastern United States have shown evidence of physical changes over time, including trends toward earlier snowmelt runoff, decreasing river ice, and increasing spring water temperatures. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study funded by the National Global Warming and Wildlife Science Center will be investigating changes in summer low streamflows andA model for estimating passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antenna efficiencies for interval-specific emigration rates
Our goal was to understand movement and its interaction with survival for populations of stream salmonids at long-term study sites in the northeastern United States by employing passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and associated technology. Although our PIT tag antenna arrays spanned the stream channel (at most flows) and were continuously operated, we are aware that aspects of fish behaviorAn efficient smolt trap for sandy and debris-laden streams
Tripod weir and box traps are traditionally used to capture and enumerate out-migrating salmonid smolts in short-term studies and in streams where temporary or portable traps are the only practical option. Although traditional traps can be effective when conditions are ideal, they are often unable to withstand high-discharge events in streams containing a large amount of debris or sandy substratesEarly discrimination of Atlantic salmon smolt age: Time course of the relative effectiveness of body size and shape
The goal of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of morphological measurements and body size in predicting the smolt age of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and to determine the time course of body size and shape differences between smolt ages. Analyses were conducted on age-0 to age-2 fish that were stocked as fry in the West Brook, Massachusetts and on laboratory-raised age-0 to age-1 fiPopulation response to habitat fragmentation in a stream-dwelling brook trout population
Fragmentation can strongly influence population persistence and expression of life-history strategies in spatially-structured populations. In this study, we directly estimated size-specific dispersal, growth, and survival of stream-dwelling brook trout in a stream network with connected and naturally-isolated tributaries. We used multiple-generation, individual-based data to develop and parameteriGrowth rate differences between resident native brook trout and non-native brown trout
Between species and across season variation in growth was examined by tagging and recapturing individual brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta across seasons in a small stream (West Brook, Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Detailed information on body size and growth are presented to (1) test whether the two species differed in growth within seasons and (2) characterize the seasonalInfluence of beaver activity on summer growth and condition of age-2 Atlantic salmon parr
The activity of beavers Castor canadensis in freshwater environments can have considerable localized impacts on the physical and biological components of riparian ecosystems. By changing the habitat of a stream, beaver dams can cause spatial variation in growth opportunity that may have direct consequences for the growth of resident fish. In a small stream in eastern Canada, we studied the effectsDiel and seasonal variation in food habits of Atlantic salmon parr in a small stream
The diel and seasonal food habits of young-of-year (YOY) and post-young-of-year (PYOY) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr were assayed over the course of 11 months in the West Brook, Massachusetts USA. Gut fullness of YOY salmon did not vary significantly among months. PYOY salmon exhibited significant seasonal differences in gut fullness, with peak fullness occurring in the spring and late fall.Remote monitoring of fish in small streams: A unified approach using PIT tags
Accurate assessments of fish populations are often limited by re-observation or recapture events. Since the early 1990s, passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) have been used to understand the biology of many fish species. Until recently, PIT applications in small streams have been limited to physical recapture events. To maximize recapture probability, we constructed PIT antenna arrays in smaAlternative life histories shape brain gene expression profiles in males of the same population
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) undergo spectacular marine migrations before homing to spawn in natal rivers. However, males that grow fastest early in life can adopt an alternative 'sneaker' tactic by maturing earlier at greatly reduced size without leaving freshwater. While the ultimate evolutionary causes have been well studied, virtually nothing is known about the molecular bases of this developElectroshocking and PIT tagging of juvenile Atlantic salmon: Are there interactive effects on growth and survival?
Electroshocking and tagging of fish with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are two commonly used methods for conducting mark-recapture studies in freshwater environments and are frequently used in combination. We conducted an experiment to test for the effects of electroshocking, tagging, and a combination of electroshocking plus tagging on the growth and survival of Atlantic salmon SalmoInteraction of rearing environment and reproductive tactic on gene expression profiles in Atlantic salmon
Organisms that share the same genotype can develop into divergent phenotypes, depending on environmental conditions. In Atlantic salmon, young males of the same age can be found either as sneakers or immature males that are future anadromous fish. Just as the organism-level phenotype varies between divergent male developmental trajectories, brain gene expression is expected to vary as well. We hyp - Web Tools
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