Cara A. Campbell, PhD
I am a Science Quality Specialist with the Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI).
I am a senior team member involved with ensuring the quality of USGS science information products, administering the USGS Research Grade Evaluation and Equipment Development Grade Evaluation (RGE/EDGE) process, and coordinating the USGS Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Program. I also managed the operation and development of the USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program from 2019 to 2025.
Education and Certifications
2014 Ph.D., Ecology, University of Maryland
1999 M.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation, University of Massachusetts
1990 B.A., Biology (Math Minor), Ithaca College
Honors and Awards
2021 DOI Meritorious Service Award
2019 DOI Superior Service Award
Science and Products
Using maximum entropy to predict suitable habitat for the endangered dwarf wedgemussel in the Maryland Coastal Plain Using maximum entropy to predict suitable habitat for the endangered dwarf wedgemussel in the Maryland Coastal Plain
Species distribution modelling can be useful for the conservation of rare and endangered species. Freshwater mussel declines have thinned species ranges producing spatially fragmented distributions across large areas. Spatial fragmentation in combination with a complex life history and heterogeneous environment makes predictive modelling difficult.A machine learning approach (maximum...
Authors
Cara Campbell, Robert Hilderbrand
Physical and chemical constraints limit the habitat window for an endangered mussel Physical and chemical constraints limit the habitat window for an endangered mussel
Development of effective conservation and restoration strategies for freshwater pearly mussels requires identification of environmental constraints on the distributions of individual mussel species. We examined whether the spatial distribution of the endangered Alasmidonta heterodon in Flat Brook, a tributary of the upper Delaware River, was constrained by water chemistry (i.e., calcium...
Authors
Cara Campbell, Karen Prestegaard
Summer temperature variation and implications for juvenile Atlantic salmon Summer temperature variation and implications for juvenile Atlantic salmon
Temperature is important to fish in determining their geographic distribution. For cool- and cold-water fish, thermal regimes are especially critical at the southern end of a species' range. Although temperature is an easy variable to measure, biological interpretation is difficult. Thus, how to determine what temperatures are meaningful to fish in the field is a challenge. Herein, we...
Authors
M. Mather, D.L. Parrish, C.A. Campbell, J.R. McMenemy, Joseph Smith
Non-USGS Publications**
Campbell, C.A. 2014. Identifying the elusive dwarf wedgemussel habitat through modeling and field approaches. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
Sanderson, B.L., E.A. Steel, T.J. Beechie, G.R. Pess, M.B. Sheer, and C.A. Campbell. 2003. Analyses for phase I recovery planning: setting recovery goals. Pages 18-39 In T.J. Beechie, T.J., E.A. Steel, P. Roni, and E. Quimby (editors), Ecosystem recovery planning for listed salmon: an integrated assessment approach for salmon habitat. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-58, 183 p.
Campbell, C.A. 2003. Issues of scale in habitat recovery planning. Pages 127-136 In T.J. Beechie, T.J., E.A. Steel, P. Roni, and E. Quimby (editors), Ecosystem recovery planning for listed salmon: an integrated assessment approach for salmon habitat. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-58, 183 p.
**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.
Neversink River freshwater mussel surveys: 2006-2009 Neversink River freshwater mussel surveys: 2006-2009
Data are included for two types of field surveys conducted for freshwater mussels within the Neversink River in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Timed search (qualitative) surveys were conducted in consecutive ~200 meter sections of river in 2006 and 2007; a subset of these sections were re-surveyed qualitatively in 2009. The number of mussels of each species and associated...
Science and Products
Using maximum entropy to predict suitable habitat for the endangered dwarf wedgemussel in the Maryland Coastal Plain Using maximum entropy to predict suitable habitat for the endangered dwarf wedgemussel in the Maryland Coastal Plain
Species distribution modelling can be useful for the conservation of rare and endangered species. Freshwater mussel declines have thinned species ranges producing spatially fragmented distributions across large areas. Spatial fragmentation in combination with a complex life history and heterogeneous environment makes predictive modelling difficult.A machine learning approach (maximum...
Authors
Cara Campbell, Robert Hilderbrand
Physical and chemical constraints limit the habitat window for an endangered mussel Physical and chemical constraints limit the habitat window for an endangered mussel
Development of effective conservation and restoration strategies for freshwater pearly mussels requires identification of environmental constraints on the distributions of individual mussel species. We examined whether the spatial distribution of the endangered Alasmidonta heterodon in Flat Brook, a tributary of the upper Delaware River, was constrained by water chemistry (i.e., calcium...
Authors
Cara Campbell, Karen Prestegaard
Summer temperature variation and implications for juvenile Atlantic salmon Summer temperature variation and implications for juvenile Atlantic salmon
Temperature is important to fish in determining their geographic distribution. For cool- and cold-water fish, thermal regimes are especially critical at the southern end of a species' range. Although temperature is an easy variable to measure, biological interpretation is difficult. Thus, how to determine what temperatures are meaningful to fish in the field is a challenge. Herein, we...
Authors
M. Mather, D.L. Parrish, C.A. Campbell, J.R. McMenemy, Joseph Smith
Non-USGS Publications**
Campbell, C.A. 2014. Identifying the elusive dwarf wedgemussel habitat through modeling and field approaches. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
Sanderson, B.L., E.A. Steel, T.J. Beechie, G.R. Pess, M.B. Sheer, and C.A. Campbell. 2003. Analyses for phase I recovery planning: setting recovery goals. Pages 18-39 In T.J. Beechie, T.J., E.A. Steel, P. Roni, and E. Quimby (editors), Ecosystem recovery planning for listed salmon: an integrated assessment approach for salmon habitat. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-58, 183 p.
Campbell, C.A. 2003. Issues of scale in habitat recovery planning. Pages 127-136 In T.J. Beechie, T.J., E.A. Steel, P. Roni, and E. Quimby (editors), Ecosystem recovery planning for listed salmon: an integrated assessment approach for salmon habitat. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-58, 183 p.
**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.
Neversink River freshwater mussel surveys: 2006-2009 Neversink River freshwater mussel surveys: 2006-2009
Data are included for two types of field surveys conducted for freshwater mussels within the Neversink River in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Timed search (qualitative) surveys were conducted in consecutive ~200 meter sections of river in 2006 and 2007; a subset of these sections were re-surveyed qualitatively in 2009. The number of mussels of each species and associated...