USGS researchers tagging recently caught lake whitefish that will be released back into Lake Huron for an acoustic telemetry project to track fish movements. Photo credit: Chris Holbrook, USGS.
Christopher M Holbrook, PhD
Christopher Holbrook is a Research Fisheries Biologist based in Millersburg, MI.
Research Themes
My research supports native fish restoration and fishery management in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Most of my work uses fish tracking technology (telemetry) to fill gaps in knowledge of species ecology and population dynamics at scales or resolutions that could not be achieved with other methods. Current research projects focus on the following themes:
- Inform fisheries management, native species restoration, and invasive species control with better understanding of spatial ecology, demographics, and population dynamics.
- Develop and improve aquatic animal tracking methods and capabilities.
Professional Experience
2010 - Present. Research Fish Biologist. USGS Great Lakes Science Center, Hammond Bay Biological Station
2007 - 2010. Fishery Biologist. USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory
2005 - 2007. Graduate Research Assistant. University of Maine, Department of Biological Sciences
2002 - 2004. Biological Science Technician. NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Maine Field Station
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Fisheries and Wildlife. Michigan State University. 2015
M.S. Zoology. University of Maine. 2007
B.S. Zoology. University of Maine. 2004
Science and Products
Data releases by this scientist
Acoustic detection performance of gliding robotic fish in Higgins Lake, Michigan, USA, 2016-2018 Acoustic detection performance of gliding robotic fish in Higgins Lake, Michigan, USA, 2016-2018
An acoustic telemetry receiver was mounted on a gliding robotic fish, a novel type of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) during a series of field trials in a freshwater lake. Like underwater gliders, gliding robotic fish (dubbed GRACE, for Gliding-Robot-ACE) achieve locomotion primarily through buoyancy-driven gliding or spiraling. They are also equipped with an active tail fin that can...
Diel activity of newly metamorphosed juvenile sea lamprey in Carp River, MI 2011, Morpion Stream, Quebec 2014, and an artificial stream at Hammond Bay Biological Station 2014-2015 Diel activity of newly metamorphosed juvenile sea lamprey in Carp River, MI 2011, Morpion Stream, Quebec 2014, and an artificial stream at Hammond Bay Biological Station 2014-2015
These data contain biodata, net catch, and detection records for juvenile sea lamprey sampled in natural streams in Michigan and Quebec, Canada and those stocked into an artificial stream at the USGS Hammond Bay Biological Station for monitoring diel activity. During October 31 through November 9, 2011 scientists collected downstream migrating juvenile sea lamprey from the Little Carp...
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 58
Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed
Upstream migrating fish must balance energetic costs with environmental and ecological constraints. Theoretical models predict that fish can conserve energy by adjusting swim speed in response to changing water velocity, but detailed field tests of these predictions remain rare. We used fine-scale acoustic telemetry and hydrodynamic modeling to track adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus...
Authors
Kandace R. Griffin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel P. Zielinski, Theodore Castro-Santos, Christopher L. Cahill, C. Michael Wagner
Comparison of nonlethal techniques as indicators of lipid content in Lake Whitefish Comparison of nonlethal techniques as indicators of lipid content in Lake Whitefish
Objective Energetic reserves are important indicators of the relative health of fish and fish populations. Body condition indices that relate fish weight to length are commonly used as quick, noninvasive methods for approximating lipid content and condition. A microwave meter (i.e., fat meter or energy meter) is a noninvasive method found to be more accurate in some species. The...
Authors
Tyler Reid Funnell, Jenus Shrestha, Rachel R. Leads, Christopher M. Holbrook, Koji Sano, Cheryl A. Murphy
Single receiver target localization in mobile marine acoustic telemetry Single receiver target localization in mobile marine acoustic telemetry
Many marine ecological studies track animal movement and migration using acoustic telemetry, in which animals are implanted with acoustic transmitters broadcasting a unique ID code. Receivers detect and decode these transmissions and provide an estimate of the animal’s location. As transmissions can be detected at distances of hundreds of meters to even several kilometers, localization...
Authors
Eric M. Gaskell, Tyler Reid Funnell, Christopher M. Holbrook, Darryl W. Hondorp, Xiaobo Tan
Movements and survival of hatchery reared juvenile cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron Movements and survival of hatchery reared juvenile cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron
Background
Authors
Todd Hayden, Christopher M. Holbrook, Thomas R. Binder, Andrew Edgar Honsey, Roger Gordon, Kevin McDonnell, David G. Fielder, Aaron T. Fisk
Dispersal and survival of sea lamprey in Lake Erie and connected waterways Dispersal and survival of sea lamprey in Lake Erie and connected waterways
Invasive sea lamprey inhabiting the North American Laurentian Great Lakes are the target of the world’s longest running vertebrate invasive species control program. However, metapopulation dynamics comprising survival and dispersal during the sea lampreys’ lake-resident life stages are poorly understood. We applied acoustic telemetry and continuous-time multistate capture-recapture...
Authors
Sean Alois Lewandoski, Christopher M. Holbrook
Identifying novel Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) spawning areas in a large unimpounded river system Identifying novel Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) spawning areas in a large unimpounded river system
Introduction: Despite the success of the Sea Lamprey Control Program (SLCP) in reducing Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) abundance throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes, control remains a significant challenge in the Saint Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS) due to the system's size, flow dynamics, and amount of potentially suitable spawning habitat. Methods: We used acoustic telemetry to...
Authors
Michael R. Lowe, Aaron K. Jubar, Jessica M. Barber, Darryl W. Hondorp, Christopher M. Holbrook
Integrating acoustic telemetry research into management: successes and challenges in the Laurentian Great Lakes Integrating acoustic telemetry research into management: successes and challenges in the Laurentian Great Lakes
In the Laurentian Great Lakes, the application of acoustic telemetry to track fish movements has evolved into an important part of multijurisdictional management. Nevertheless, barriers remain in translating telemetry research into management or conservation actions. Here, we synthesize acoustic telemetry literature within the Great Lakes basin to explore factors that have contributed to...
Authors
Natalie V. Klinard, Christopher S. Vandergoot, Andrew S. Briggs, Connor W. Elliott, Matthew D. Faust, David G. Fielder, Dimitry Gorsky, Travis Hartman, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel A. Isermann, Jonathan D. Midwood, Michael J. Siefkes, Justin VanDeHey, Dan Wilfond, Todd C. Wills, Troy Zorn, Ana P. Barbosa Martins, Arun Oakley-Cogan, Aaron T. Fisk, Jordan K. Matley
Upriver migrating sea lamprey exhibit similar responses to hydrodynamic features as other up and downriver-moving species Upriver migrating sea lamprey exhibit similar responses to hydrodynamic features as other up and downriver-moving species
Identifying commonalities in how fish navigate rivers near infrastructure will enhance water operations and design by improving our ability to predict engineering outcomes (e.g., barrier construction/removal, fish passage installation) in novel settings before the cost of real-world implementation. Evidence from intermediate-scale computer models (time scales of minutes to days and...
Authors
James R. Kerr, Daniel P. Zielinski, R. Andrew Goodwin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Robert L. McLaughlin
Not all who meander are lost: Migrating sea lamprey follow river thalwegs to facilitate safe and efficient passage upstream Not all who meander are lost: Migrating sea lamprey follow river thalwegs to facilitate safe and efficient passage upstream
Efficient navigation is crucial for the reproductive success of many migratory species, often driven by competing pressures to conserve energy and reduce predation risk. Little is known about how non-homing species achieve this balance. We show that sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an ancient extant vertebrate, uses persistent patterns in hydro-geomorphology to quickly and efficiently...
Authors
Kandace R. Griffin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel P. Zielinski, Christopher L. Cahill, C. Michael Wagner
Characterization of acoustic detection efficiency using an unmanned surface vessel as a mobile receiver platform Characterization of acoustic detection efficiency using an unmanned surface vessel as a mobile receiver platform
Studies involving acoustic telemetry typically use stationary acoustic receivers arranged in an array or grid. Unmanned surface vehicle (USV)-based mobile receivers offer advantages over the latter approach: the USV can be programmed to autonomously carry a receiver to and from target locations, more readily adapting to a survey’s spatial scope and scale. This work examines the acoustic...
Authors
Eric M. Gaskell, Tyler Reid Funnell, Christopher M. Holbrook, Darryl W. Hondorp, Xiaobo Tan
Positioning aquatic animals with acoustic transmitters Positioning aquatic animals with acoustic transmitters
Geolocating aquatic animals with acoustic tags has been ongoing for decades, relying on the detection of acoustic signals at multiple receivers with known positions to calculate a 2D or 3D position, and ultimately recreate the path of an aquatic animal from detections at fixed stations.This method of underwater geolocation is evolving with new software and hardware options available to...
Authors
Robert J. Lennox, Kim Aarestrup, Josep Alos, Robert Arlinghaus, Eneko Aspillaga, Michael G. Bertram, Kim Birnie-Gauvin, Tomas Brodin, Steven J. Cooke, Lotte S. Dahlmo, Felicie Dhellemmes, Karl O. Gjelland, Gustav Hellstrom, Henry Hershey, Christopher M. Holbrook, Thomas Klefoth, Susan K. Lowerre-Barbieri, Christopher T. Monk, Cecilie Iden Nilsen, Ina Pauwels, Renanel Pickholtz, Marie Prchalova, Jan Reubens, Milan Říha, David Villegas-Rios, Knut Wiik Vollset, Samuel Westrelin, Henrik Baktoft
Automated soft pressure sensor array-based sea lamprey detection using machine learning Automated soft pressure sensor array-based sea lamprey detection using machine learning
Sea lamprey, a destructive invasive species in the Great Lakes in North America, is among very few fishes that rely on oral suction during migration and spawning. Recently, soft pressure sensors have been proposed to detect the attachment of sea lamprey as part of the monitoring and control effort. However, human decision is still required for the recognition of patterns in the measured...
Authors
Hongyang Shi, Yu Mei, Ian González-Afanador, Claudia Chen, Scott M. Miehls, Christopher M. Holbrook, Nelson Sepulveda, Xiaobo Tan
Non-USGS Publications**
Holbrook, C.M., Zydlewski, J., Gorsky, D., Shepard, S., and M.T. Kinnison. 2009. Movements of pre-spawn adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) near hydroelectric dams in the lower Penobscot River, Maine. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29: 495-505.
**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
Data releases by this scientist
Acoustic detection performance of gliding robotic fish in Higgins Lake, Michigan, USA, 2016-2018 Acoustic detection performance of gliding robotic fish in Higgins Lake, Michigan, USA, 2016-2018
An acoustic telemetry receiver was mounted on a gliding robotic fish, a novel type of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) during a series of field trials in a freshwater lake. Like underwater gliders, gliding robotic fish (dubbed GRACE, for Gliding-Robot-ACE) achieve locomotion primarily through buoyancy-driven gliding or spiraling. They are also equipped with an active tail fin that can...
Diel activity of newly metamorphosed juvenile sea lamprey in Carp River, MI 2011, Morpion Stream, Quebec 2014, and an artificial stream at Hammond Bay Biological Station 2014-2015 Diel activity of newly metamorphosed juvenile sea lamprey in Carp River, MI 2011, Morpion Stream, Quebec 2014, and an artificial stream at Hammond Bay Biological Station 2014-2015
These data contain biodata, net catch, and detection records for juvenile sea lamprey sampled in natural streams in Michigan and Quebec, Canada and those stocked into an artificial stream at the USGS Hammond Bay Biological Station for monitoring diel activity. During October 31 through November 9, 2011 scientists collected downstream migrating juvenile sea lamprey from the Little Carp...
Tag Team
USGS researchers tagging recently caught lake whitefish that will be released back into Lake Huron for an acoustic telemetry project to track fish movements. Photo credit: Chris Holbrook, USGS.
USGS researchers tagging recently caught lake whitefish that will be released back into Lake Huron for an acoustic telemetry project to track fish movements. Photo credit: Chris Holbrook, USGS.
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 58
Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed Keeping pace: Migrating sea lampreys adjust swim speed in response to shifting water velocity to maintain a constant ground speed
Upstream migrating fish must balance energetic costs with environmental and ecological constraints. Theoretical models predict that fish can conserve energy by adjusting swim speed in response to changing water velocity, but detailed field tests of these predictions remain rare. We used fine-scale acoustic telemetry and hydrodynamic modeling to track adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus...
Authors
Kandace R. Griffin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel P. Zielinski, Theodore Castro-Santos, Christopher L. Cahill, C. Michael Wagner
Comparison of nonlethal techniques as indicators of lipid content in Lake Whitefish Comparison of nonlethal techniques as indicators of lipid content in Lake Whitefish
Objective Energetic reserves are important indicators of the relative health of fish and fish populations. Body condition indices that relate fish weight to length are commonly used as quick, noninvasive methods for approximating lipid content and condition. A microwave meter (i.e., fat meter or energy meter) is a noninvasive method found to be more accurate in some species. The...
Authors
Tyler Reid Funnell, Jenus Shrestha, Rachel R. Leads, Christopher M. Holbrook, Koji Sano, Cheryl A. Murphy
Single receiver target localization in mobile marine acoustic telemetry Single receiver target localization in mobile marine acoustic telemetry
Many marine ecological studies track animal movement and migration using acoustic telemetry, in which animals are implanted with acoustic transmitters broadcasting a unique ID code. Receivers detect and decode these transmissions and provide an estimate of the animal’s location. As transmissions can be detected at distances of hundreds of meters to even several kilometers, localization...
Authors
Eric M. Gaskell, Tyler Reid Funnell, Christopher M. Holbrook, Darryl W. Hondorp, Xiaobo Tan
Movements and survival of hatchery reared juvenile cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron Movements and survival of hatchery reared juvenile cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron
Background
Authors
Todd Hayden, Christopher M. Holbrook, Thomas R. Binder, Andrew Edgar Honsey, Roger Gordon, Kevin McDonnell, David G. Fielder, Aaron T. Fisk
Dispersal and survival of sea lamprey in Lake Erie and connected waterways Dispersal and survival of sea lamprey in Lake Erie and connected waterways
Invasive sea lamprey inhabiting the North American Laurentian Great Lakes are the target of the world’s longest running vertebrate invasive species control program. However, metapopulation dynamics comprising survival and dispersal during the sea lampreys’ lake-resident life stages are poorly understood. We applied acoustic telemetry and continuous-time multistate capture-recapture...
Authors
Sean Alois Lewandoski, Christopher M. Holbrook
Identifying novel Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) spawning areas in a large unimpounded river system Identifying novel Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) spawning areas in a large unimpounded river system
Introduction: Despite the success of the Sea Lamprey Control Program (SLCP) in reducing Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) abundance throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes, control remains a significant challenge in the Saint Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS) due to the system's size, flow dynamics, and amount of potentially suitable spawning habitat. Methods: We used acoustic telemetry to...
Authors
Michael R. Lowe, Aaron K. Jubar, Jessica M. Barber, Darryl W. Hondorp, Christopher M. Holbrook
Integrating acoustic telemetry research into management: successes and challenges in the Laurentian Great Lakes Integrating acoustic telemetry research into management: successes and challenges in the Laurentian Great Lakes
In the Laurentian Great Lakes, the application of acoustic telemetry to track fish movements has evolved into an important part of multijurisdictional management. Nevertheless, barriers remain in translating telemetry research into management or conservation actions. Here, we synthesize acoustic telemetry literature within the Great Lakes basin to explore factors that have contributed to...
Authors
Natalie V. Klinard, Christopher S. Vandergoot, Andrew S. Briggs, Connor W. Elliott, Matthew D. Faust, David G. Fielder, Dimitry Gorsky, Travis Hartman, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel A. Isermann, Jonathan D. Midwood, Michael J. Siefkes, Justin VanDeHey, Dan Wilfond, Todd C. Wills, Troy Zorn, Ana P. Barbosa Martins, Arun Oakley-Cogan, Aaron T. Fisk, Jordan K. Matley
Upriver migrating sea lamprey exhibit similar responses to hydrodynamic features as other up and downriver-moving species Upriver migrating sea lamprey exhibit similar responses to hydrodynamic features as other up and downriver-moving species
Identifying commonalities in how fish navigate rivers near infrastructure will enhance water operations and design by improving our ability to predict engineering outcomes (e.g., barrier construction/removal, fish passage installation) in novel settings before the cost of real-world implementation. Evidence from intermediate-scale computer models (time scales of minutes to days and...
Authors
James R. Kerr, Daniel P. Zielinski, R. Andrew Goodwin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Robert L. McLaughlin
Not all who meander are lost: Migrating sea lamprey follow river thalwegs to facilitate safe and efficient passage upstream Not all who meander are lost: Migrating sea lamprey follow river thalwegs to facilitate safe and efficient passage upstream
Efficient navigation is crucial for the reproductive success of many migratory species, often driven by competing pressures to conserve energy and reduce predation risk. Little is known about how non-homing species achieve this balance. We show that sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an ancient extant vertebrate, uses persistent patterns in hydro-geomorphology to quickly and efficiently...
Authors
Kandace R. Griffin, Christopher M. Holbrook, Daniel P. Zielinski, Christopher L. Cahill, C. Michael Wagner
Characterization of acoustic detection efficiency using an unmanned surface vessel as a mobile receiver platform Characterization of acoustic detection efficiency using an unmanned surface vessel as a mobile receiver platform
Studies involving acoustic telemetry typically use stationary acoustic receivers arranged in an array or grid. Unmanned surface vehicle (USV)-based mobile receivers offer advantages over the latter approach: the USV can be programmed to autonomously carry a receiver to and from target locations, more readily adapting to a survey’s spatial scope and scale. This work examines the acoustic...
Authors
Eric M. Gaskell, Tyler Reid Funnell, Christopher M. Holbrook, Darryl W. Hondorp, Xiaobo Tan
Positioning aquatic animals with acoustic transmitters Positioning aquatic animals with acoustic transmitters
Geolocating aquatic animals with acoustic tags has been ongoing for decades, relying on the detection of acoustic signals at multiple receivers with known positions to calculate a 2D or 3D position, and ultimately recreate the path of an aquatic animal from detections at fixed stations.This method of underwater geolocation is evolving with new software and hardware options available to...
Authors
Robert J. Lennox, Kim Aarestrup, Josep Alos, Robert Arlinghaus, Eneko Aspillaga, Michael G. Bertram, Kim Birnie-Gauvin, Tomas Brodin, Steven J. Cooke, Lotte S. Dahlmo, Felicie Dhellemmes, Karl O. Gjelland, Gustav Hellstrom, Henry Hershey, Christopher M. Holbrook, Thomas Klefoth, Susan K. Lowerre-Barbieri, Christopher T. Monk, Cecilie Iden Nilsen, Ina Pauwels, Renanel Pickholtz, Marie Prchalova, Jan Reubens, Milan Říha, David Villegas-Rios, Knut Wiik Vollset, Samuel Westrelin, Henrik Baktoft
Automated soft pressure sensor array-based sea lamprey detection using machine learning Automated soft pressure sensor array-based sea lamprey detection using machine learning
Sea lamprey, a destructive invasive species in the Great Lakes in North America, is among very few fishes that rely on oral suction during migration and spawning. Recently, soft pressure sensors have been proposed to detect the attachment of sea lamprey as part of the monitoring and control effort. However, human decision is still required for the recognition of patterns in the measured...
Authors
Hongyang Shi, Yu Mei, Ian González-Afanador, Claudia Chen, Scott M. Miehls, Christopher M. Holbrook, Nelson Sepulveda, Xiaobo Tan
Non-USGS Publications**
Holbrook, C.M., Zydlewski, J., Gorsky, D., Shepard, S., and M.T. Kinnison. 2009. Movements of pre-spawn adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) near hydroelectric dams in the lower Penobscot River, Maine. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29: 495-505.
**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.