Carl Ostberg, Ph.D.
Carl is a Research Fish Biologist at the Western Fisheries Research Center.
Research Interests:
Carl’s research interests focus on evolutionary and conservation genetics. Current research projects include several studies directed at generating a greater understanding of intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with hybridization between rainbow and cutthroat trout, using next generation sequencing to develop species-specific markers that differentiate endangered suckers endemic to the Klamath Lake basin, developing eDNA tool to evaluate recolonization extent of native and non-native fishes in the Elwha River following dam removal, and investigating morphological and genetic diversity of Dolly Varden in the Russian Far East.
Professional Experience
2008 to Present - Research Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2004-2008 - Fishery Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1997-2004 - Laboratory Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1995-1997 - Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2014. University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA
M.S. 1997. Washington State University, Zoology, Pullman, WA
B.S. 1989. Washington State University, Biology, Pullman, WA
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society, Genetics section
Science and Products
A round-robin evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of environmental DNA assays for dreissenid mussels
Development of two quantitative PCR assays for detection of several Cottus species from environmental DNA in Pacific coast watersheds of North America
Evaluation of environmental DNA surveys for identifying occupancy and spatial distribution of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) and Lampetra spp. in a Washington coast watershed
Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year class strength, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2016 Monitoring Report
Distribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds
Health and condition of endangered young-of-the-year Lost River and Shortnose suckers relative to water quality in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2014–2015
Risk assessment for the reintroduction of anadromous salmonids upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, Northeastern Washington
Juvenile sucker cohort tracking data summary and assessment of monitoring program, 2015
Predation on larval suckers in the Williamson River Delta revealed by molecular genetic assays—A pilot study
Health and condition of endangered juvenile Lost River and shortnose suckers relative to water quality and fish assemblages in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California
Hybridization between Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout alters the expression of muscle growth-related genes and their relationships with growth patterns
Development of 20 TaqMan assays differentiating the endangered shortnose and Lost River suckers
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
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Filter Total Items: 37
A round-robin evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of environmental DNA assays for dreissenid mussels
Resource managers may be hesitant to make decisions based on environmental (e)DNA results alone since eDNA is an indirect method of species detection. One way to reduce the uncertainty of eDNA is to identify laboratory‐based protocols that ensure repeatable and reproducible results. We conducted a double‐blind round‐robin analysis of probe‐based assays for DNA of dreissenid (Dreissena spp.) musselAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Patrick R. Hutchins, Craig Jackson, Carl Ostberg, Matthew Laramie, Jon Amberg, Timothy Counihan, Andrew B. Hoegh, David PilliodDevelopment of two quantitative PCR assays for detection of several Cottus species from environmental DNA in Pacific coast watersheds of North America
We developed two quantitative PCR assays for use with environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect numerous species in the genus Cottus that are indigenous to the Pacific coast watersheds of North America. We conducted in vitro assay validations on ten Cottus species and 32 potentially co-occurring non-Cottus species. We demonstrate the efficacy of these assays by field testing eDNA samples collected from sAuthorsMarshal Hoy, Carl OstbergEvaluation of environmental DNA surveys for identifying occupancy and spatial distribution of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) and Lampetra spp. in a Washington coast watershed
Surveys of environmental DNA (eDNA) have become an important and multifaceted tool for monitoring and identifying distributions and occupancy of aquatic species. This tool is attractive because it is powerful, easy to apply, and provides an alternative to traditional field survey methods. However, validating eDNA survey methods against traditional field survey methods is warranted prior to their aAuthorsCarl Ostberg, Dorothy Murphy Chase, Marshal Hoy, Jeff Duda, Michael Hayes, Jeffrey Jolley, Gregory S Silver, Carrie Cook-TaborJuvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year class strength, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2016 Monitoring Report
Executive SummaryThe largest populations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) exist in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because adult mortality, which is relatively low, is not being balanced by recruitment of young adult suckers into known spawning aggreAuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Carl O. Ostberg, Marshal S. HoyDistribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds
Lampreys have a worldwide distribution, are functionally important to ecological communities and serve significant roles in many cultures. In Pacific coast drainages of North America, lamprey populations have suffered large declines. However, lamprey population status and trends within many areas of this region are unknown and such information is needed for advancing conservation goals. We developAuthorsCarl O. Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Michael C. Hayes, Jeffrey J. DudaHealth and condition of endangered young-of-the-year Lost River and Shortnose suckers relative to water quality in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2014–2015
Most mortality of endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, occurs within the first year of life. Juvenile suckers in Clear Lake Reservoir, California, survive longer and may even recruit to the spawning populations. In a previous (2013–2014) study, the health and condition of juvenile suckers and the dynamics of waterAuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Carla M. Conway, Diane G. Elliott, Marshal S. Hoy, Amari Dolan-Caret, Carl O. OstbergRisk assessment for the reintroduction of anadromous salmonids upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, Northeastern Washington
The Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT; Spokane, Colville, Kootenai, Coeur d’Alene, and Kalispel Tribes) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife want to reintroduce anadromous salmonids to their historical range to restore ecosystem function and lost cultural and spiritual relationships in the upper Columbia River, northeastern Washington. The UCUT contracted with the U.S. Geological SurveyAuthorsJill M. Hardiman, Rachel B. Breyta, Craig A. Haskell, Carl O. Ostberg, James R. Hatten, Patrick J. ConnollyJuvenile sucker cohort tracking data summary and assessment of monitoring program, 2015
Populations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, are experiencing long-term declines in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because adult mortality, which is relatively low, is not being balanced by recruitment of young adult suckers into known adult spawning aggregations. PreviousAuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Carl O. Ostberg, Mark E. Hereford, Marshal S. HoyPredation on larval suckers in the Williamson River Delta revealed by molecular genetic assays—A pilot study
Predation of endangered Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) during larval egress to Upper Klamath Lake from the Williamson River is poorly understood but may be an important factor limiting recruitment into adult spawning populations. Native and non-native piscivores are abundant in nursery wetland habitat, but larval predation has not been directAuthorsDanielle M. Hereford, Carl O. Ostberg, Summer M. BurdickHealth and condition of endangered juvenile Lost River and shortnose suckers relative to water quality and fish assemblages in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California
Executive Summary Most mortality of endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, appears to occur within the first year of life. However, juvenile suckers in Clear Lake Reservoir, California, appear to survive longer and may even recruit to the spawning populations. Our goal in this study was to develop productive lines ofAuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Diane G. Elliott, Carl O. Ostberg, Carla M. Conway, Amari Dolan-Caret, Marshal S. Hoy, Kevin P. Feltz, Kathy R. EcholsHybridization between Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout alters the expression of muscle growth-related genes and their relationships with growth patterns
Hybridization creates novel gene combinations that may generate important evolutionary novelty, but may also reduce existing adaptation by interrupting inherent biological processes, such as genotype-environment interactions. Hybridization often causes substantial change in patterns of gene expression, which, in turn, may cause phenotypic change. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and cutthroat tAuthorsCarl O. Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Lorenz HauserDevelopment of 20 TaqMan assays differentiating the endangered shortnose and Lost River suckers
Accurate species identification is vital to conservation and management of species at risk. Species identification is challenging when taxa express similar phenotypic characters and form hybrids, for example the endangered shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) and Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus). Here, we developed 20 Taqman assays that differentiate these species (19 nuclear DNA and onAuthorsMarshal S. Hoy, Carl O. OstbergNon-USGS Publications**
Ristow, S.S., L.D. Grabowski, C.O. Ostberg, B. Robison, and G.H. Thorgaard. 1998. Development of long-term cell lines from homozygous clones of rainbow trout. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 10(1): 75-82. DOI: 10.1577/1548-8667(1998)010<0075:DOLTCL>2.0.CO;2.Peek, A.S., P.A. Wheeler, C.O. Ostberg, and G.H. Thorgaard. 1997. A minichromosome carrying a pigmentation gene and brook trout DNA sequences in transgenic rainbow trout. Genome 40(5): 594-599. DOI: 10.1139/g97-778.**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.
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*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