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
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 52
Evaluating harvest-based control of invasive fish with telemetry: Performance of sea lamprey traps in the Great Lakes Evaluating harvest-based control of invasive fish with telemetry: Performance of sea lamprey traps in the Great Lakes
Physical removal (e.g., harvest via traps or nets) of mature individuals may be a cost-effective or socially acceptable alternative to chemical control strategies for invasive species, but requires knowledge of the spatial distribution of a population over time. We used acoustic telemetry to determine the current and possible future role of traps to control and assess invasive sea...
Authors
Christopher Holbrook, Roger A. Bergstedt, Jessica M. Barber, Gale A Bravener, Michael L. Jones, Charles C. Krueger
Telemetry narrows the search for sea lamprey spawning locations in the St. Clair-Detroit River System Telemetry narrows the search for sea lamprey spawning locations in the St. Clair-Detroit River System
Adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) abundance in Lake Erie has remained above targets set by fishery managers since 2005, possibly due to increased recruitment in the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS). Sea lamprey recruitment in the SCDRS poses an enormous challenge to sea lamprey control and assessment in Lake Erie because the SCDRS contains no dams to facilitate capture and...
Authors
Christopher Holbrook, Aaron K. Jubar, Jessica M. Barber, Kevin Tallon, Darryl W. Hondorp
Spawning site fidelity of wild and hatchery lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in northern Lake Huron Spawning site fidelity of wild and hatchery lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in northern Lake Huron
Fidelity to high-quality spawning sites helps ensure that adults repeatedly spawn at sites that maximize reproductive success. Fidelity is also an important behavioural characteristic to consider when hatchery-reared individuals are stocked for species restoration, because artificial rearing environments may interfere with cues that guide appropriate spawning site selection. Acoustic...
Authors
Thomas Binder, Stephen C. Riley, Christopher Holbrook, Michael J. Hansen, Roger A. Bergstedt, Charles R. Bronte, Ji He, Charles C. Krueger
A moving target—incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations A moving target—incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations
Freshwater fish move vertically and horizontally through the aquatic landscape for a variety of reasons, such as to find and exploit patchy resources or to locate essential habitats (e.g., for spawning). Inherent challenges exist with the assessment of fish populations because they are moving targets. We submit that quantifying and describing the spatial ecology of fish and their habitat...
Authors
Steven J. Cooke, Eduardo G Martins, Daniel P Struthers, Lee F G Gutowsky, Michael H. Powers, Susan E. Doka, John M. Dettmers, David A Crook, Martyn C. Lucas, Christopher Holbrook, Charles C. Krueger
Toward a national animal telemetry network for aquatic observations in the United States Toward a national animal telemetry network for aquatic observations in the United States
Animal telemetry is the science of elucidating the movements and behavior of animals in relation to their environment or habitat. Here, we focus on telemetry of aquatic species (marine mammals, sharks, fish, sea birds and turtles) and so are concerned with animal movements and behavior as they move through and above the world’s oceans, coastal rivers, estuaries and great lakes. Animal...
Authors
Barbara A. Block, Christopher Holbrook, Samantha E. Simmons, Kim N Holland, Jerald S. Ault, Daniel P. Costa, Bruce R Mate, Andrew C. Seitz, Michael D. Arendt, John Payne, Behzad Mahmoudi, Peter L. Moore, James Price, J. J. Levenson, Doug Wilson, Randall E Kochevar
Spatial and temporal variation in positioning probability of acoustic telemetry arrays: Fine-scale variability and complex interactions Spatial and temporal variation in positioning probability of acoustic telemetry arrays: Fine-scale variability and complex interactions
Background As popularity of positional acoustic telemetry systems increases, so does the need to better understand how they perform in real-world applications, where variation in performance can bias study conclusions. Studies assessing variability in positional telemetry system performance have focused primarily on position accuracy, or comparing performance inside and outside the array...
Authors
Thomas Binder, Christopher Holbrook, Todd A. Hayden, Charles C. Krueger
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
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 52
Evaluating harvest-based control of invasive fish with telemetry: Performance of sea lamprey traps in the Great Lakes Evaluating harvest-based control of invasive fish with telemetry: Performance of sea lamprey traps in the Great Lakes
Physical removal (e.g., harvest via traps or nets) of mature individuals may be a cost-effective or socially acceptable alternative to chemical control strategies for invasive species, but requires knowledge of the spatial distribution of a population over time. We used acoustic telemetry to determine the current and possible future role of traps to control and assess invasive sea...
Authors
Christopher Holbrook, Roger A. Bergstedt, Jessica M. Barber, Gale A Bravener, Michael L. Jones, Charles C. Krueger
Telemetry narrows the search for sea lamprey spawning locations in the St. Clair-Detroit River System Telemetry narrows the search for sea lamprey spawning locations in the St. Clair-Detroit River System
Adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) abundance in Lake Erie has remained above targets set by fishery managers since 2005, possibly due to increased recruitment in the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS). Sea lamprey recruitment in the SCDRS poses an enormous challenge to sea lamprey control and assessment in Lake Erie because the SCDRS contains no dams to facilitate capture and...
Authors
Christopher Holbrook, Aaron K. Jubar, Jessica M. Barber, Kevin Tallon, Darryl W. Hondorp
Spawning site fidelity of wild and hatchery lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in northern Lake Huron Spawning site fidelity of wild and hatchery lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in northern Lake Huron
Fidelity to high-quality spawning sites helps ensure that adults repeatedly spawn at sites that maximize reproductive success. Fidelity is also an important behavioural characteristic to consider when hatchery-reared individuals are stocked for species restoration, because artificial rearing environments may interfere with cues that guide appropriate spawning site selection. Acoustic...
Authors
Thomas Binder, Stephen C. Riley, Christopher Holbrook, Michael J. Hansen, Roger A. Bergstedt, Charles R. Bronte, Ji He, Charles C. Krueger
A moving target—incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations A moving target—incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations
Freshwater fish move vertically and horizontally through the aquatic landscape for a variety of reasons, such as to find and exploit patchy resources or to locate essential habitats (e.g., for spawning). Inherent challenges exist with the assessment of fish populations because they are moving targets. We submit that quantifying and describing the spatial ecology of fish and their habitat...
Authors
Steven J. Cooke, Eduardo G Martins, Daniel P Struthers, Lee F G Gutowsky, Michael H. Powers, Susan E. Doka, John M. Dettmers, David A Crook, Martyn C. Lucas, Christopher Holbrook, Charles C. Krueger
Toward a national animal telemetry network for aquatic observations in the United States Toward a national animal telemetry network for aquatic observations in the United States
Animal telemetry is the science of elucidating the movements and behavior of animals in relation to their environment or habitat. Here, we focus on telemetry of aquatic species (marine mammals, sharks, fish, sea birds and turtles) and so are concerned with animal movements and behavior as they move through and above the world’s oceans, coastal rivers, estuaries and great lakes. Animal...
Authors
Barbara A. Block, Christopher Holbrook, Samantha E. Simmons, Kim N Holland, Jerald S. Ault, Daniel P. Costa, Bruce R Mate, Andrew C. Seitz, Michael D. Arendt, John Payne, Behzad Mahmoudi, Peter L. Moore, James Price, J. J. Levenson, Doug Wilson, Randall E Kochevar
Spatial and temporal variation in positioning probability of acoustic telemetry arrays: Fine-scale variability and complex interactions Spatial and temporal variation in positioning probability of acoustic telemetry arrays: Fine-scale variability and complex interactions
Background As popularity of positional acoustic telemetry systems increases, so does the need to better understand how they perform in real-world applications, where variation in performance can bias study conclusions. Studies assessing variability in positional telemetry system performance have focused primarily on position accuracy, or comparing performance inside and outside the array...
Authors
Thomas Binder, Christopher Holbrook, Todd A. Hayden, Charles C. Krueger
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.