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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.

Education:

  • 2008-2013 Degree: Honors BS, Biology-Ecological Science University: Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV
  • 2014-2017 Degree: MS Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Sciences University: Mississippi State University Starkville, MS
  • 2020-Current Degree: PhD, Fisheries Resource Management University: West Virginia University Morgantown, WV

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

Affiliations:

  • 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

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,
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
By
Cooperative Research Units

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
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, Fisheries 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
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
Two women in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
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

Science and Products

  • Publications

    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,
    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
    By
    Cooperative Research Units
  • 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
  • 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, Fisheries 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
  • Multimedia
    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
    Two women in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
    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