Benjamin H Letcher
Ben Letcher is an Ecologist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Turners Falls, Massachusetts.
Ben is a population ecologist focusing on stream habitats, science communication and the development of data systems. A collection of data systems and interactive data visualization tools can be found in our EcoSHEDS environment.
Professional Experience
1995-now USGS, Ecology section leader, Anadromous Fish Research Center, Turners, Falls, MA, and adjunct professor Department of Natural Resources
Conservation, University of Massachusetts - Amherst1994-1995 Oak Ridge Postdoctoral Fellow (with Dr. David Conover) State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY
1992-1994 Electric Power Research Institute Fellow, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
1990-1992 Wisconsin Sea Grant Fellow, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
1987-1990 URI-USEPA Cooperative Research Fellow, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1986-1987 Research Assistant, Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA.
1985-1986 Research Assistant, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
Education and Certifications
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
Science and Products
Variation in freshwater growth and development among five New England Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations reared in a common environment
Effects of life history variation on size and growth in stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon
Predation on stocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry
Life history dependent morphometric variation in stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon
Survival of stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon: Effects of life history variation, season, and age
A night seining technique for sampling juvenile Atlantic salmon in streams
Tag retention and survival of Age-0 Atlantic salmon following surgical implantation with passive integrated transponder tags
Parentage and grandparentage assignment with known and unknown matings: application to Connecticut River Atlantic salmon restoration
Effects of developmental stage at stocking on growth and survival of Atlantic salmon fry
Ecology of stream fish: Insights gained from an individual-based approach to juvenile Atlantic salmon
Targeted stock identification using multilocus genotype 'familyprinting'
Targeted stock identification using multilocus genotype 'familyprinting'
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 92
Variation in freshwater growth and development among five New England Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations reared in a common environment
We examined phenotypic variation in growth and development from the eyed-egg stage to the age-1+ smolt stage among five New England populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar: East Machias, Narraguagus, Sheepscot, Penobscot, Connecticut) reared in a common laboratory environment. Study populations originated from rivers varying in size, latitude, and level of hatchery supplementation and includedAuthorsM. Obedzinski, B. H. LetcherEffects of life history variation on size and growth in stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon
A large size variation amongst life histories for stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was found and the relative effect of life histories on size varied over time. As early as December (age 0+ years), fish that later smolted at age 2+ years were significantly larger than fish that did not smolt at age 2+ years. In contrast, there were no mass differences at age 0+ years between fish that wAuthorsB. H. Letcher, G. GriesPredation on stocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry
We studied predator-prey interactions between juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and trout in three Massachusetts, U.S.A., streams and in artificial streams. We sampled stomach contents of age-1+ and older salmon and trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, Salmo trutta) following salmon fry stocking in the spring of 1997 and 1998. Between 4.3 and 48.6% of the stocked fry were consumed within the first 2AuthorsJ.N. Henderson, B. H. LetcherLife history dependent morphometric variation in stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon
The time course of morphometric variation among life histories for stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr (age-0+ to age-2+) was analyzed. Possible life histories were combinations of parr maturity status in the autumn (mature or immature) and age at outmigration (smolt at age-2+ or later age). Actual life histories expressed with enough fish for analysis in the 1997 cohort were immAuthorsB. H. LetcherSurvival of stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon: Effects of life history variation, season, and age
To determine seasonal and age-class variation in the abundance and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, we conducted multiple samplings of individually tagged juveniles in a small stream (West Brook, Massachusetts). We also estimated the differences in survival and probability of smolting for mature and immature parr. Survival was approximately twofold lower during winter as compared with summAuthorsB. H. Letcher, G. Gries, F. JuanesA night seining technique for sampling juvenile Atlantic salmon in streams
For many studies of the population dynamics, growth, and movement of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, it is necessary to resample tagged individuals multiple times. However, common sampling techniques such as electrofishing can have negative effects on fish survival and growth, especially when individuals are repeatedly sampled. We describe an alternative to electrofishing that involves samplAuthorsG. Gries, B. H. LetcherTag retention and survival of Age-0 Atlantic salmon following surgical implantation with passive integrated transponder tags
We evaluated an alternative to using hypodermic needles to implant passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in the body cavities of juvenile salmonids. We used surgical techniques to place PIT tags into the body cavities of 3,037 age-0 Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and then held fish under hatchery conditions for 9 months. Tag retention was 99.8% (six fish lost tags), and survival was 94.3% (174 fiAuthorsG. Gries, B. H. LetcherParentage and grandparentage assignment with known and unknown matings: application to Connecticut River Atlantic salmon restoration
No abstract available.AuthorsB. H. Letcher, T.L. KingEffects of developmental stage at stocking on growth and survival of Atlantic salmon fry
Stocked fry are the primary source of fish for the restoration effort for Connecticut River Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, yet it is unknown whether there is a developmental stage at stocking that yields optimal growth and survival or whether good growth and survival can be achieved across a wide range of fry developmental stages. To evaluate the effects of developmental stage on growth and survivalAuthorsB. H. Letcher, T.D. TerrickEcology of stream fish: Insights gained from an individual-based approach to juvenile Atlantic salmon
Using data from an ongoing study of juvenile Atlantic salmon growth and survival in tributaries of the Connecticut River, USA, we compare standard population-level approaches to those focusing on individuals. We highlight the potential benefits of resampling individually tagged stream fish as compared to standard approaches. Specifically we focus on growth, survival, movements and population estimAuthorsJ. Juanes, B. H. Letcher, G. GriesTargeted stock identification using multilocus genotype 'familyprinting'
We present an approach to stock identification of small, targeted populations that uses multilocus microsatellite genotypes of individual mating adults to uniquely identify first- and second-generation offspring in a mixture. We call the approach ‘familyprinting’; unlike DNA fingerprinting where tissue samples of individuals are matched, offspring from various families are assigned to pairs of parAuthorsBenjamin Letcher, Tim L. KingTargeted stock identification using multilocus genotype 'familyprinting'
We present an approach to stock identification of small, targeted populations that uses multilocus microsatellite genotypes of individual mating adults to uniquely identify first- and second-generation offspring in a mixture. We call the approach 'familyprinting'; unlike DNA fingerprinting where tissue samples of individuals are matched, offspring from various families are assigned to pairs of parAuthorsB. H. Letcher, T.L. King - Science
Filter Total Items: 17
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