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Clayton Raines

Clay is a Biological Science Technician at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Fish Health Research Laboratory in Kearneysville, WV.

I previously worked as a biologist with the WV DNR, as well as the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute where I oversaw restoration and monitoring efforts for threatened and endangered freshwater species as well as conducted research on a variety of fisheries management topics. Additionally, I studied Southeast reservoir fish ecology and physiology as a graduate research assistant at Mississippi State University. I also completed a GIS internship with Jefferson County Planning and Zoning, as well as conducting research at The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute and USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station.

Professional Experience

  • August 2019-Current Employer: USGS - National Fish Health Research Lab Job Title: Research Technician

  • February 2018-August 2019 Employer: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Job Title: Fisheries Biologist

  • October 2017-January 2018 Employer: Critter Control Job Title: Wildlife Biologist

  • December 2015-October 2017 Employer: Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Job Title: Reintroduction Biologist

  • June 2014-December 2015 Employer: Mississippi State University Job Title: Graduate Research Assistant

  • September 2013-January 2015 Employer: USDA Fruit Research Station Job Title: Biological Science Aid

  • September 2013-June 2014 Employer: The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute Job Title: Research Technician

Education and Certifications

  • 2020-Current Degree: PhD, Fisheries Resource Management University: West Virginia University Morgantown, WV

  • 2014-2017 Degree: MS Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Sciences University: Mississippi State University Starkville, MS

  • 2008-2013 Degree: Honors BS, Biology-Ecological Science University: Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • WV Chapter of the American Fisheries Society- Secretary/Treasurer

  • WV Health Science and Technology Academy- Research Coordinator

  • American Fisheries Society (AFS) – member

  • Early Career Professional Section- member

  • Marine Fisheries Subsection -member

  • AFS Fish Culture Subsection- member

  • AFS Fish Health Subsection -member

Science and Products

link
Bass with spots held in hands

Investigating blotchy bass syndrome in black basses

Black basses (Micropterus spp) are enigmatic North American sportfishes that support the most economically valuable freshwater sport fishery in the United States and serve as keystone predators within aquatic ecosystems. Hyperpigmented melanistic lesions on the surface of black basses have been observed in a number of waterbodies across the country in increasing frequency. We have recently...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
link

Investigating blotchy bass syndrome in black basses

Black basses (Micropterus spp) are enigmatic North American sportfishes that support the most economically valuable freshwater sport fishery in the United States and serve as keystone predators within aquatic ecosystems. Hyperpigmented melanistic lesions on the surface of black basses have been observed in a number of waterbodies across the country in increasing frequency. We have recently...
Learn More

SARS-CoV-2 Data from National Wastewater Surveillance System Surge Capacity Sampling, September 2021

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is used to determine the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals or pathogens in human populations, and is conducted by collecting representative samples of untreated wastewater (influent) to quantify pathogens shed in the population served by the sampled wastewater system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health an
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center
Powerpoint slide of title of seminar link
Powerpoint slide of title of seminar
link
a USGS scientist wearing a black t-shirt and a facemask is swabbing the skin of a fish to collect a biological sample
link
Gloved hands and a discolored swab showing successful collection of hyperpigmented skin tissue to the swab.
link
Man in full protective gear working on a sample under the vacuum hood in a lab.
link
Man and woman in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
link
Man and two women in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
link
Two women in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
link

Evaluating brook trout egg and alevin survival at different temperatures in simulated karst environments with marl sedimentation

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) have been extirpated from many karst-geology streams in West Virginia; however, the causes are not fully understood. Specifically, the impact of calcareous precipitate (marl), which is common in hard-water environments, has not been evaluated as an im- pediment to juvenile survival. Accordingly, two lab-based studies were conducted to determine if brook trout eg
Authors
John. Davidson, Clayton D Raines, Curtis Crouse, CHristopher Goodchild, Brandon J. Keplinger

Reservoir diel water quality patterns relative to riparian shade

Investigations into the effects of riparian shade on water quality have focused on streams, with less emphasis on natural lakes, and almost no attention given to reservoirs. In view of this gap, our objective was to assess diel water quality patterns in the nearshore zone of a reservoir and test whether diel patterns differed relative to the presence or absence of riparian shade. Light intensity,
Authors
Leandro E. Miranda, C.D. Raines
By
Cooperative Research Units

Role of riparian shade on the fish assemblage of a reservoir littoral

Research into the effects of shade on reservoir fish assemblages is lacking, with most investigations focused on streams. Unlike many streams, the canopy in a reservoir shades only a narrow fringe of water adjacent to the shoreline, and may not have the influential effect on the aquatic environment reported in streams. We compared fish assemblages between shaded and unshaded sites in a shallow res
Authors
C. D. Raines, Leandro E. Miranda
By
Cooperative Research Units

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Bass with spots held in hands

    Investigating blotchy bass syndrome in black basses

    Black basses (Micropterus spp) are enigmatic North American sportfishes that support the most economically valuable freshwater sport fishery in the United States and serve as keystone predators within aquatic ecosystems. Hyperpigmented melanistic lesions on the surface of black basses have been observed in a number of waterbodies across the country in increasing frequency. We have recently...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
    link

    Investigating blotchy bass syndrome in black basses

    Black basses (Micropterus spp) are enigmatic North American sportfishes that support the most economically valuable freshwater sport fishery in the United States and serve as keystone predators within aquatic ecosystems. Hyperpigmented melanistic lesions on the surface of black basses have been observed in a number of waterbodies across the country in increasing frequency. We have recently...
    Learn More
  • Data

    SARS-CoV-2 Data from National Wastewater Surveillance System Surge Capacity Sampling, September 2021

    Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is used to determine the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals or pathogens in human populations, and is conducted by collecting representative samples of untreated wastewater (influent) to quantify pathogens shed in the population served by the sampled wastewater system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health an
    By
    Eastern Ecological Science Center
  • Multimedia
    Powerpoint slide of title of seminar link
    Powerpoint slide of title of seminar
    link
    a USGS scientist wearing a black t-shirt and a facemask is swabbing the skin of a fish to collect a biological sample
    link
    Gloved hands and a discolored swab showing successful collection of hyperpigmented skin tissue to the swab.
    link
    Man in full protective gear working on a sample under the vacuum hood in a lab.
    link
    Man and woman in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
    link
    Man and two women in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
    link
    Two women in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
    link
  • Publications

    Evaluating brook trout egg and alevin survival at different temperatures in simulated karst environments with marl sedimentation

    Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) have been extirpated from many karst-geology streams in West Virginia; however, the causes are not fully understood. Specifically, the impact of calcareous precipitate (marl), which is common in hard-water environments, has not been evaluated as an im- pediment to juvenile survival. Accordingly, two lab-based studies were conducted to determine if brook trout eg
    Authors
    John. Davidson, Clayton D Raines, Curtis Crouse, CHristopher Goodchild, Brandon J. Keplinger

    Reservoir diel water quality patterns relative to riparian shade

    Investigations into the effects of riparian shade on water quality have focused on streams, with less emphasis on natural lakes, and almost no attention given to reservoirs. In view of this gap, our objective was to assess diel water quality patterns in the nearshore zone of a reservoir and test whether diel patterns differed relative to the presence or absence of riparian shade. Light intensity,
    Authors
    Leandro E. Miranda, C.D. Raines
    By
    Cooperative Research Units

    Role of riparian shade on the fish assemblage of a reservoir littoral

    Research into the effects of shade on reservoir fish assemblages is lacking, with most investigations focused on streams. Unlike many streams, the canopy in a reservoir shades only a narrow fringe of water adjacent to the shoreline, and may not have the influential effect on the aquatic environment reported in streams. We compared fish assemblages between shaded and unshaded sites in a shallow res
    Authors
    C. D. Raines, Leandro E. Miranda
    By
    Cooperative Research Units

*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