Brian P O'Malley, PhD
Brian is a Research Fishery Biologist based in Oswego, NY, working on prey fish assessments, lake trout restoration, invertebrate ecology, and coregonine restoration science.
Brian O’Malley is a Research Fishery Biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Great Lakes Science Center. He works based out of the Lake Ontario Biological Station in Oswego, NY, located on the shores of Lake Ontario. Brian earned his PhD from the University of Vermont where he studied the causes and consequences of partial diel vertical migration in Mysis diluviana, a shrimp-like invertebrate that serves as the primary prey for several native fish species in the Great Lakes. Brian’s current research with the USGS spans from invertebrates to top predator fishes. Brian leads binational annual assessments of Lake Ontario’s benthic prey fish community and evaluations of native species restoration projects, which are collaborative projects conducted with state, federal, and provincial partners. Brian is the lead investigator of Lake Ontario’s Lake Trout restoration program which provides science to inform management decisions regarding stocking, efficacy of Sea Lamprey control, and the relative contribution of wild and stocked fish to the fishery. Brian also leads research on native coregonine restoration in which includes such topics as fish ecology, behavior, and intra- and interspecific studies on coregonine morphology as they relate to taxonomy and ecology. Brian’s work environment makes use of both large and small research vessels on the Great Lakes, as well as laboratory and experimental approaches, and syntheses of population dynamics using long-term datasets on Great Lakes fish communities.
Professional Experience
Research Fishery Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Ontario Biological Station, 2022 - present
Fishery Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Ontario Biological Station, 2019 - 2022
Pathways Trainee (Biology), U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Ontario Biological Station, 2017 - 2019
Graduate Research Assistant, Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, University of Vermont, 2014 - 2018
Research Technician, Cornell Biological Field Station, Cornell University, 2013-2014
Contractor, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor MI, 2011-2013
Education and Certifications
2019, PhD in Natural Resources, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
2011, BSc in Environmental Biology, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Honors and Awards
2017, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Graduate Student Award for Outstanding Research and Scholarship (University of Vermont)
2017, Scholarship, International Association for Great Lakes Research
2016, Chrysalis Research Award, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (University of Vermont)
Science and Products
Data releases by this scientist
Traditional and geometric morphometric data describing wild and artificially reared cisco (Coregonus artedi) from lakes Huron and Ontario
Morphometric measurements of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) from Lake Ontario 2018
Publications by this scientist
Documentation of a probable spawning run of cisco Coregonus artedi in the Spanish River, Ontario, Canada
Bottom trawl assessment of Lake Ontario's benthic preyfish community, 2023
Histological analysis of deepwater sculpin ovaries supports single spawning reproductive strategy
Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2023
Impacts of artificial rearing on cisco Coregonus artedi morphology, including pugheadedness
Delineating spatial units for coregonine conservation, restoration, and stewardship
Field and laboratory validation of new sampling gear to quantify coregonine egg deposition and larval emergence across spawning habitat gradients
Seasonal habitat utilization provides evidence for site fidelity during both spawn and non-spawning seasons in Lake Ontario cisco Coregonus artedi
Bottom trawl assessment of Lake Ontario's benthic preyfish community, 2022
Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2022
Lake Ontario’s nearshore zooplankton: Community composition changes and comparisons to the offshore
Comparison of traditional and geometric morphometrics using Lake Huron ciscoes of the Coregonus artedi complex
News about this scientist
Science and Products
Data releases by this scientist
Traditional and geometric morphometric data describing wild and artificially reared cisco (Coregonus artedi) from lakes Huron and Ontario
Morphometric measurements of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) from Lake Ontario 2018
Publications by this scientist
Documentation of a probable spawning run of cisco Coregonus artedi in the Spanish River, Ontario, Canada
Bottom trawl assessment of Lake Ontario's benthic preyfish community, 2023
Histological analysis of deepwater sculpin ovaries supports single spawning reproductive strategy
Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2023
Impacts of artificial rearing on cisco Coregonus artedi morphology, including pugheadedness
Delineating spatial units for coregonine conservation, restoration, and stewardship
Field and laboratory validation of new sampling gear to quantify coregonine egg deposition and larval emergence across spawning habitat gradients
Seasonal habitat utilization provides evidence for site fidelity during both spawn and non-spawning seasons in Lake Ontario cisco Coregonus artedi
Bottom trawl assessment of Lake Ontario's benthic preyfish community, 2022
Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2022
Lake Ontario’s nearshore zooplankton: Community composition changes and comparisons to the offshore
Comparison of traditional and geometric morphometrics using Lake Huron ciscoes of the Coregonus artedi complex
News about this scientist