Caren S Goldberg
I am a Research Geneticist with the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Boise, Idaho. I specialize in the development and application of eDNA collection and analysis methods for detecting rare species, including early detection of invasive species.
I conduct research to better understand species distributions using environmental DNA (eDNA) and other genetic and spatial tools, with a focus on early detection and management of invasive species. I work extensively on improving eDNA sampling and analysis techniques and in facilitating the uptake of eDNA tools for detecting species where they would otherwise go undetected. Much of my research is cooperator-driven, where I help determine how genetic tools can answer relevant questions and inform decision-making.
Professional Experience
2024 – Present: Research Geneticist, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, ID
2020 – 2024: Associate Professor, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
2014 – 2020: Assistant Professor, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
2012 – 2013: Research Scientist, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
2009 – 2011: Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho (2009)
M.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Science, University of Arizona (2002)
B.S., Integrative Biology, University of California at Berkeley (1996)
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society for Conservation Biology
The Wildlife Society
Honors and Awards
Pacesetter Award, Washington State University, for excellence in generating research funding, publications and citations, and leadership in setting new standards of achievement at WSU, 2020
Project of the Year, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Resource Conservation and Resiliency, Department of Defense, 2017
Outstanding Graduate Student in Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 2009-2010
Alumni Award for Excellence, University of Idaho Alumni Association, 2009
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 19
Assessment of environmental DNA for detecting presence of imperiled aquatic amphibian species in isolated wetlands Assessment of environmental DNA for detecting presence of imperiled aquatic amphibian species in isolated wetlands
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging tool that allows low-impact sampling for aquatic species by isolating DNA from water samples and screening for DNA sequences specific to species of interest. However, researchers have not tested this method in naturally acidic wetlands that provide breeding habitat for a number of imperiled species, including the frosted salamander (Ambystoma...
Authors
Anna McKee, Daniel Calhoun, William Barichivich, Stephen Spear, Caren Goldberg, Travis Glenn
Characterizing the distribution of an endangered salmonid using environmental DNA analysis Characterizing the distribution of an endangered salmonid using environmental DNA analysis
Determining species distributions accurately is crucial to developing conservation and management strategies for imperiled species, but a challenging task for small populations. We evaluated the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for improving detection and thus potentially refining the known distribution of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Methow and Okanogan...
Authors
Matthew Laramie, David S. Pilliod, Caren Goldberg
Moving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms Moving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms
The discovery that macroorganisms can be detected from their environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic systems has immense potential for the conservation of biological diversity. This special issue contains 11 papers that review and advance the field of eDNA detection of vertebrates and other macroorganisms, including studies of eDNA production, transport, and degradation; sample collection...
Authors
Caren Goldberg, Katherine Strickler, David S. Pilliod
Factors influencing detection of eDNA from a stream-dwelling amphibian Factors influencing detection of eDNA from a stream-dwelling amphibian
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting and estimating abundance of aquatic species are emerging rapidly, but little is known about how processes such as secretion rate, environmental degradation, and time since colonization or extirpation from a given site affect eDNA measurements. Using stream-dwelling salamanders and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, we conducted three...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Caren Goldberg, Robert S. Arkle, Lisette Waits
Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting aquatic species are advancing rapidly, but with little evaluation of field protocols or precision of resulting estimates. We compared sampling results from traditional field methods with eDNA methods for two amphibians in 13 streams in central Idaho, USA. We also evaluated three water collection protocols and the influence of sampling...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Caren Goldberg, Robert S. Arkle, Lisette Waits
Environmental DNA as a new method for early detection of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) Environmental DNA as a new method for early detection of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)
Early detection of aquatic invasive species is a critical task for management of aquatic ecosystems. This task is hindered by the difficulty and cost of surveying aquatic systems thoroughly. The New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is a small, invasive parthenogenic mollusk that can reach very high population densities and severely affects ecosystem functioning. To assist in...
Authors
Caren Goldberg, Adam Sepulveda, Andrew Ray, Jeremy Baumgardt, Lisette Waits
Molecular detection of vertebrates in stream water: A demonstration using rocky mountain tailed frogs and Idaho giant salamanders Molecular detection of vertebrates in stream water: A demonstration using rocky mountain tailed frogs and Idaho giant salamanders
Stream ecosystems harbor many secretive and imperiled species, and studies of vertebrates in these systems face the challenges of relatively low detection rates and high costs. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has recently been confirmed as a sensitive and efficient tool for documenting aquatic vertebrates in wetlands and in a large river and canal system. However, it was unclear whether this...
Authors
C.S. Goldberg, D. S. Pilliod, R.S. Arkle, L.P. Waits
Non-USGS Publications**
Burgher, J., C. S. Goldberg, A. C. K. Duke, S. Garrison, J. Piovia-Scott. 2024. Assessment of environmental DNA for detecting and monitoring translocated North American beaver. Animal Conservation 27:851-862.
Mayne, S. R., J. A. Manning, S. Henderson, M. B Parsley, K. Strickler, J. Nielson, and C. S. Goldberg. 2024. Hydrodynamics and aquatic vegetation drive spatial patterns of environmental DNA in ponds. Environmental DNA 6:e70036.
Parsley, M. B., E. J. Crespi, T. A.G. Rittenhouse, J. L. Brunner, and C. S. Goldberg. 2024. Population level environmental DNA concentrations vary greatly across productive and degradative conditions, with implications for the precision of population estimates. Scientific Reports 14:17392.
Parsley M. B. and C. S. Goldberg. 2024. Environmental RNA (eRNA) can distinguish life stages in amphibian populations. Molecular Ecology Resources 24:e13857.
Brunner, J., C. Yarber, R. Pearhill, and C. S. Goldberg. 2023. Environmental DNA-based detection of pathogens in trade and captive settings: best practices and validation for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 14:2787-2799.
**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
Filter Total Items: 19
Assessment of environmental DNA for detecting presence of imperiled aquatic amphibian species in isolated wetlands Assessment of environmental DNA for detecting presence of imperiled aquatic amphibian species in isolated wetlands
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging tool that allows low-impact sampling for aquatic species by isolating DNA from water samples and screening for DNA sequences specific to species of interest. However, researchers have not tested this method in naturally acidic wetlands that provide breeding habitat for a number of imperiled species, including the frosted salamander (Ambystoma...
Authors
Anna McKee, Daniel Calhoun, William Barichivich, Stephen Spear, Caren Goldberg, Travis Glenn
Characterizing the distribution of an endangered salmonid using environmental DNA analysis Characterizing the distribution of an endangered salmonid using environmental DNA analysis
Determining species distributions accurately is crucial to developing conservation and management strategies for imperiled species, but a challenging task for small populations. We evaluated the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for improving detection and thus potentially refining the known distribution of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Methow and Okanogan...
Authors
Matthew Laramie, David S. Pilliod, Caren Goldberg
Moving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms Moving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms
The discovery that macroorganisms can be detected from their environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic systems has immense potential for the conservation of biological diversity. This special issue contains 11 papers that review and advance the field of eDNA detection of vertebrates and other macroorganisms, including studies of eDNA production, transport, and degradation; sample collection...
Authors
Caren Goldberg, Katherine Strickler, David S. Pilliod
Factors influencing detection of eDNA from a stream-dwelling amphibian Factors influencing detection of eDNA from a stream-dwelling amphibian
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting and estimating abundance of aquatic species are emerging rapidly, but little is known about how processes such as secretion rate, environmental degradation, and time since colonization or extirpation from a given site affect eDNA measurements. Using stream-dwelling salamanders and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, we conducted three...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Caren Goldberg, Robert S. Arkle, Lisette Waits
Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting aquatic species are advancing rapidly, but with little evaluation of field protocols or precision of resulting estimates. We compared sampling results from traditional field methods with eDNA methods for two amphibians in 13 streams in central Idaho, USA. We also evaluated three water collection protocols and the influence of sampling...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Caren Goldberg, Robert S. Arkle, Lisette Waits
Environmental DNA as a new method for early detection of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) Environmental DNA as a new method for early detection of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)
Early detection of aquatic invasive species is a critical task for management of aquatic ecosystems. This task is hindered by the difficulty and cost of surveying aquatic systems thoroughly. The New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is a small, invasive parthenogenic mollusk that can reach very high population densities and severely affects ecosystem functioning. To assist in...
Authors
Caren Goldberg, Adam Sepulveda, Andrew Ray, Jeremy Baumgardt, Lisette Waits
Molecular detection of vertebrates in stream water: A demonstration using rocky mountain tailed frogs and Idaho giant salamanders Molecular detection of vertebrates in stream water: A demonstration using rocky mountain tailed frogs and Idaho giant salamanders
Stream ecosystems harbor many secretive and imperiled species, and studies of vertebrates in these systems face the challenges of relatively low detection rates and high costs. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has recently been confirmed as a sensitive and efficient tool for documenting aquatic vertebrates in wetlands and in a large river and canal system. However, it was unclear whether this...
Authors
C.S. Goldberg, D. S. Pilliod, R.S. Arkle, L.P. Waits
Non-USGS Publications**
Burgher, J., C. S. Goldberg, A. C. K. Duke, S. Garrison, J. Piovia-Scott. 2024. Assessment of environmental DNA for detecting and monitoring translocated North American beaver. Animal Conservation 27:851-862.
Mayne, S. R., J. A. Manning, S. Henderson, M. B Parsley, K. Strickler, J. Nielson, and C. S. Goldberg. 2024. Hydrodynamics and aquatic vegetation drive spatial patterns of environmental DNA in ponds. Environmental DNA 6:e70036.
Parsley, M. B., E. J. Crespi, T. A.G. Rittenhouse, J. L. Brunner, and C. S. Goldberg. 2024. Population level environmental DNA concentrations vary greatly across productive and degradative conditions, with implications for the precision of population estimates. Scientific Reports 14:17392.
Parsley M. B. and C. S. Goldberg. 2024. Environmental RNA (eRNA) can distinguish life stages in amphibian populations. Molecular Ecology Resources 24:e13857.
Brunner, J., C. Yarber, R. Pearhill, and C. S. Goldberg. 2023. Environmental DNA-based detection of pathogens in trade and captive settings: best practices and validation for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 14:2787-2799.
**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.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government