Darryl Hondorp is a Research Fisheries Biologist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Darryl Hondorp is a research fisheries biologist with U.S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His main research interests include Great Lakes fish ecology, fish population dynamics, and behavioral ecology. Darryl leads and directs USGS monitoring of Lake Huron’s demersal prey fish, which feed the sport fish that support a multimillion-dollar fishery. Information generated by his team on the status of prey fish populations informs critical management decisions concerning harvest and stocking rates of sport fish and other predators. His recent research on fish behavior has focused on the use of acoustic telemetry to improve understanding of migration, reproductive ecology, and demographics of native Great Lakes fish. He is an expert in application of acoustic telemetry to basic and applied problems in fishery science and serves on the leadership team of the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS), the world’s largest freshwater acoustic telemetry network. Based on a long-term study that employed acoustic transmitters with a ten-year battery life, Darryl and his team showed that Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) populations in Lakes Huron and Erie express multiple, distinct migration behaviors that potentially enable these prehistoric fish to adapt to unpredictable changes in their environment. His research portfolio also includes studies focused on relationships between body form and ecological niche in native fish species, fish trophic ecology and ecological energetics, and mechanisms facilitating species coexistence in native fish communities. Darryl’s research is multi-collaborative with a recent focus on projects that facilitate partnerships between USGS and tribal fishery biologists.
Professional Experience
2014-present: Research Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center
2011-2013: Supervisory Fishery Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center
2006-2010: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Smithsonian Environmental Research Laboratory
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. (Resource Ecology and Management), University of Michigan, 2006
M.S. (Fish Ecology), State University of New York-College at Buffalo, 1998
B.S. (Fisheries Management), Michigan State University, 1995
Science and Products
Data releases by this scientist
Acoustic detection performance of gliding robotic fish in Higgins Lake, Michigan, USA, 2016-2018
Acoustic telemetry detection data for acoustic-tagged lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Lake Huron-to-Lake Erie corridor
Multimedia related to this scientist
Publications by this scientist
Lake sturgeon population trends in the St. Clair–Detroit River System, 2001–2019
Intra-specific variation in responses to habitat restoration: Could artificial reefs increase spatiotemporal segregation between migratory phenotypes of lake sturgeon?
Spatiotemporal segregation by migratory phenotype indicates potential for assortative mating in lake sturgeon
Status and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2021
Subindicator: Native Prey Fish Diversity
Local diversity in phenological responses of migratory lake sturgeon to warm winters
Status and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2019
Status and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2020
Slimy sculpin depth shifts and habitat squeeze following the round goby invasion in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Seasonal movements of muskellunge in the St. Clair – Detroit River System: Implications for multi-jurisdictional fisheries management
Characterization of acoustic detection efficiency using a gliding robotic fish as a mobile receiver platform
A synthesis of the biology and ecology of sculpin species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and implications for the adaptive capacity of the benthic ecosystem
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.
News about this scientist
Science and Products
- Data
Data releases by this scientist
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 provide eAcoustic telemetry detection data for acoustic-tagged lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Lake Huron-to-Lake Erie corridor
Acoustic telemetry is a popular tool for the study of fish spatial ecology. In acoustic telemetry, fish are captured, surgically implanted with an acoustic transmitter or "tag", and then released back into the environment. Networks of autonomous, stationary receivers then are used to track the movements of tagged individuals over long periods of time (greater than 1 year). Each acoustic receiver r - Multimedia
Multimedia related to this scientist
- Publications
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 29Lake sturgeon population trends in the St. Clair–Detroit River System, 2001–2019
Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens are listed as threatened or endangered in 15 states or provinces within their native range. Accordingly, investments in habitat and population restoration for this species have increased throughout the Great Lakes. To aide evaluation of restoration efficacy, robust population parameters are needed to inform management decisions. The St. Clair – Detroit River SystAuthorsJustin A. Chiotti, James C. Boase, Andrew S Briggs, Chris Davis, Richard Drouin, Darryl W. Hondorp, Lloyd Mohr, Edward F. Roseman, Michael V. Thomas, Todd C. WillsIntra-specific variation in responses to habitat restoration: Could artificial reefs increase spatiotemporal segregation between migratory phenotypes of lake sturgeon?
Habitat restoration is an important tool used to conserve biodiversity and restore species, but its effects are notoriously difficult to predict. Although outcomes of restoration projects are usually assessed using indices of species abundance and diversity, phenotypic differences among individuals within species are likely associated with differing responses to restored habitats. Here, we use lakAuthorsTyler J. Buchinger, Darryl W. Hondorp, Charles C. KruegerSpatiotemporal segregation by migratory phenotype indicates potential for assortative mating in lake sturgeon
Migratory diversity can promote population differentiation if sympatric phenotypes become temporally, spatially, or behaviorally segregated during breeding. In this study, the potential for spatiotemporal segregation was tested among three migratory phenotypes of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) that spawn in the St. Clair River of North America’s Laurentian Great Lakes but differ in how oftenAuthorsTyler J. Buchinger, Darryl W. Hondorp, Charles C. KruegerStatus and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2021
The U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center has assessed annual changes in the offshore prey fish community of Lake Huron since 1973. Assessments are based on a bottom trawl survey conducted in October of each year and an acoustics-midwater trawl survey, which began in 2004 and is conducted in September-October. Due to weather delays and continued travel restrictions during 2021, thereAuthorsTimothy P. O'Brien, Darryl W. Hondorp, Peter Esselman, Edward F. RosemanSubindicator: Native Prey Fish Diversity
No abstract available.AuthorsBrian C. Weidel, Mark Vinson, Darryl W. Hondorp, Ralph W. Tingley, Joseph SchmittLocal diversity in phenological responses of migratory lake sturgeon to warm winters
Rich intraspecific diversity in traits that shape responses to environmental conditions implies that effects of climate change will differ within species or even populations. Nevertheless, few studies investigate how different groups within species respond to climatic fluctuations, and most risk assessments rely upon species-wide generalizations. We studied effects of among-year variation in air tAuthorsTyler J. Buchinger, Darryl W. Hondorp, Charles C. KruegerStatus and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2019
The USGS Great Lakes Science Center has assessed annual changes in the offshore prey fish community of Lake Huron since 1973. Assessments are based on a bottom trawl survey conducted in October of each year and an acoustics-midwater trawl survey, which began in 2004 and is conducted in September-October. Both surveys were completed in their entirety in 2019. Prey fish biomass in Lake Huron in 2019AuthorsDarryl W. Hondorp, Timothy P. O'Brien, Peter Esselman, Edward F. RosemanStatus and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2020
The USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) has assessed annual changes in the offshore prey fish community of Lake Huron since 1973. Assessments are based on a bottom trawl survey conducted in October and an acoustics-midwater trawl survey conducted in September-October. In 2020, USGS-GLSC vessels were not permitted to cross into Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so prey fish surveys sampledAuthorsDarryl W. Hondorp, Timothy P. O'Brien, Peter Esselman, Edward F. RosemanSlimy sculpin depth shifts and habitat squeeze following the round goby invasion in the Laurentian Great Lakes
The collapse of Diporeia spp. and invasions of dreissenid mussels (zebra, Dreissena polymorpha; quagga, D. bugensis) and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) have been associated with declines in abundance of native benthic fishes in the Great Lakes, including historically abundant slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). We hypothesized that as round goby colonized deeper habitat, slimy sculpin avoided haAuthorsShea L. Volkel, Kelly F. Robinson, David Bunnell, Michael J. Connerton, Jeremy P. Holden, Darryl W. Hondorp, Brian C. WeidelSeasonal movements of muskellunge in the St. Clair – Detroit River System: Implications for multi-jurisdictional fisheries management
The St. Clair-Detroit River System contains a world-class Great Lakes muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) fishery that has avoided the declines observed in many Great Lakes muskellunge populations. Muskellunge are an upper trophic level predator, and therefore a naturally low-density species. Limited fishery-independent data exist on which to base management decisions. To remedy this, we initiated an aAuthorsJan-Michael Hessenauer, Cleyo Harris, Stephen Marklevitz, Matthew D. Faust, Michael W. Thorn, Brad Utrup, Darryl W. HondorpCharacterization of acoustic detection efficiency using a gliding robotic fish as a mobile receiver platform
BackgroundAutonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and animal telemetry have become important tools for understanding the relationships between aquatic organisms and their environment, but more information is needed to guide the development and use of AUVs as effective animal tracking platforms. A forward-facing acoustic telemetry receiver (VR2Tx 69 kHz; VEMCO, Bedford, Nova Scotia) attached to a novAuthorsOsama Ennasr, Christopher Holbrook, Darryl W. Hondorp, Charles C. Krueger, Demetris Coleman, Pratap Solanki, John Thon, Xiaobo TanA synthesis of the biology and ecology of sculpin species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and implications for the adaptive capacity of the benthic ecosystem
The Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced recent ecosystem changes that could lead to reductions in adaptive capacity and ultimately a loss of biodiversity and production throughout the food web. Observed changes in Great Lakes benthic communities include declines of native species and widespread success of invasive species like dreissenid mussels in all but Lake Superior. Understanding the ecolAuthorsKelly F. Robinson, Charles R. Bronte, David Bunnell, Peter T. Euclide, Darryl W. Hondorp, John J. Janssen, Matthew S. Kornis, Derek H. Ogle, Will Otte, Stephen Riley, Mark Vinson, Shea L. Volkel, Brian C. WeidelNon-USGS Publications**
Hondorp, D.W., S.A. Pothoven and S.B. Brandt. 2011. Feeding selectivity of slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus and deepwater sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsonii in southeast Lake Michigan: Implications for species coexistence. Journal of Great Lakes Research 37:165-172.Hondorp, D.W., D.L. Breitburg and L.A. Davias. 2010. Eutrophication and fisheries: Separating the effects of nitrogen loads and hypoxia on the pelagic-to-demersal ratio and other measures of landings composition. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science 2:339-361.Breitburg, D.L., D.W. Hondorp, L.A. Davias and R.J. Diaz. 2009. Hypoxia, nitrogen, and fisheries: Integrating effects across global and local landscapes. Annual Reviews of Marine Science. 1:329-350.Hondorp, D.W., S.A. Pothoven, and S.B. Brandt. 2005. Influence of Diporeia density on the diet composition, relative abundance, and energy density of planktivorous fishes in southeast Lake Michigan. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 134:588-601.**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.
- News
News about this scientist