Dawn Dittman is a Research Ecologist based in Cortland, NY.
Professional Experience
1999-Present Research Ecologist, USGS - Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science
1992-1998 Research Specialist & Laboratory Manager, Marine Ecology
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Zoology
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. (Zoology, Aquatic Ecology), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998
M.S. (Marine Biology), California State University-Los Angeles, 1987
B.S. (Zoology), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society, Parent and New York Chapter
Society for Freshwater Science
International Association for Great Lakes Research
Science and Products
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 19
Summer Diet of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon Reintroduced into the Genesee and St. Regis Rivers, New York USA
The restoration of threatened species involves understanding multiple aspects of the life history and ecology of the target species. One important consideration in the restoration of threatened species is feeding ecology. We examined the summer diet of reintroduced juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Genesee (n = 119, ages 1 and 2) and the St. Regis rivers (n = 40, ages 1, 2, 5, 6
Authors
Dawn E. Dittman, Marc Chalupnicki
Nearshore fish community
Lake Ontario’s nearshore fish community consists of a diverse assemblage of warm- and cool-water species. The “nearshore zone,” loosely separated from the “offshore zones” by the 15-m depth contour, consists of complex habitats spanning a gamut from vast open-coastal areas to sheltered embayments and wetlands. Lake Ontario’s nearshore habitat has been affected to varying degrees by human activitie
Authors
James A. Hoyle, Michael J. Connerton, Dawn E. Dittman, Dimitry Gorsky, Jana R. Lantry, Alastair Mathers, Scott L. Schlueter, Maureen Walsh, Brian C. Weidel, Michael J. Yuille
Microhabitat and biology of Sphaerium striatinum in a central New York stream
In many lotic systems, drastic declines in freshwater bivalve populations, including fingernail clams (Sphaeriidae), have created concerns about biodiversity and future ecosystem services. We examined the local occurrence of the historically common fingernail clam, Sphaerium striatinum, in a central New York stream. We sampled the density of sphaeriids and measured the associated habitat variables
Authors
Dawn E. Dittman, James H. Johnson, Christopher C. Nack
Simulation of rapid ecological change in Lake Ontario
Lower trophic level processes are integral to proper functioning of large aquatic ecosystems and have been disturbed in Lake Ontario by various stressors including exotic species. The invasion of benthic habitats by dreissenid mussels has led to systemic changes and native faunal declines. Size-dependent physiological rates, spatial differences and connectivity, competition, and differential popul
Authors
James E. McKenna, Marc Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman, James M. Watkins
North American sturgeon otolith morphology
Accurate expedient species identification of deceased sturgeon (Acipenseridae) when external physical characteristic analysis is inconclusive has become a high priority due to the endangered or threatened status of sturgeon species around the world. Examination of otoliths has provided useful information to aid in population management, age and size-class analysis, understanding predator–prey inte
Authors
Marc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman
Alternative method of removing otoliths from sturgeon
Extracting the otoliths (ear bones) from fish that have very thick skulls can be difficult and very time consuming. The common practice of making a transverse vertical incision on the top of the skull with a hand or electrical saw may damage the otolith if not performed correctly. Sturgeons (Acipenseridae) are one family in particular that have a very large and thick skull. A new laboratory method
Authors
Marc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman
Reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) into the St. Regis River, NY: Post-release assessment of habitat use and growth
One of the depleted endemic fish species of the Great Lakes, Acipenser fulvescens (Lake Sturgeon), has been the target of extensive conservation efforts. One strategy is reintroduction into historically productive waters. The St. Regis River, NY, represents one such adaptive-management effort, with shared management between New York and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. Between 1998 and 2004, a total of
Authors
Dawn E. Dittman, Marc A. Chalupnicki, James H. Johnson, James Snyder
Efficacy of iodine for disinfection of Lake Sturgeon eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York
Optimal fish husbandry to reduce the risk of disease is particularly important when using wild fish as the source for gametes. The propagation and reestablishment of Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in New York waters to become a viable self-sustaining population is considered a high priority by managers. While standard hatchery egg disinfection practices have been used to prevent the transmissi
Authors
Marc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman, Clifford E. Starliper, Deborah D. Iwanowicz
An investigation of the bactericidal activity of selected essential oils to Aeromonas spp.
Diseases of fishes caused by Aeromonas spp. are common, have broad host ranges and may cause high mortality. Treatments of captive-reared populations using antimicrobials are limited with concerns for bacterial resistance development and environmental dissemination. This study was done to determine whether selected plant-derived essential oils were bactericidal to Aeromonas spp. Initially, twelve
Authors
Clifford E. Starliper, H. George Ketola, Andrew D. Noyes, William B. Schill, Fred G. Henson, Marc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman
Interactions between invasive round gobies (Neogobius melanostomous) and fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare) in a tributary of the St. Lawrence River, New York, USA
The initial, rapid expansion of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) throughout the Great Lakes drainage was largely confined to lentic systems. We recently observed round gobies ascending two tributaries of the St. Lawrence River. The expansion of gobies into small lotic environments may place ecologically similar species at risk. Fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare) is one of the s
Authors
Ross Abbett, Emily M. Waldt, James H. Johnson, James E. McKenna, Dawn E. Dittman
Fall diel diet composition of American eel (Anguilla rostrata) in a tributary of the Hudson River, New York, USA
American eel (Anguilla rostrata), a once common species, is now in decline throughout much of its native range in North America. There is little information on the role of American eel in river food webs. A better understanding of the diet and ecological role of American eel will help in the conservation of this important species. During autumn 2009, eel and aquatic invertebrate samples were colle
Authors
Emily M. Waldt, Ross Abbett, James H. Johnson, Dawn E. Dittman, James E. McKenna
Comparison of select hematology and serum chemistry analtyes between wild-caught and aquarium-housed lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Hematology and serum chemistry analytes were compared between wild-caught and aquarium-housed lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) to potentially improve understanding of medical issues in lake sturgeon. Blood samples were taken from 30 lake sturgeon exhibited in 11 institutions in the United States and from 23 experimentally stocked lake sturgeon caught in gill nets in the lower Genesee River in
Authors
Louis DiVincenti, Heather Priest, Kyle J. Walker, Jeffrey D. Wyatt, Dawn Dittman
Non-USGS Publications**
Dittman, D. E., S.E. Ford and H.H. Haskin (1998) Growth differences in oysters, Crassostrea virginica, from different estuaries. Marine Biology 132: 461-469.
Dittman, D.E. and C.D. Robles (1991) Effect of algal epiphytes on the mussel Mytilus californianus (Conrad). Ecology. 72:286-296.
**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.
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Science and Products
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Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 19Summer Diet of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon Reintroduced into the Genesee and St. Regis Rivers, New York USA
The restoration of threatened species involves understanding multiple aspects of the life history and ecology of the target species. One important consideration in the restoration of threatened species is feeding ecology. We examined the summer diet of reintroduced juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Genesee (n = 119, ages 1 and 2) and the St. Regis rivers (n = 40, ages 1, 2, 5, 6AuthorsDawn E. Dittman, Marc ChalupnickiNearshore fish community
Lake Ontario’s nearshore fish community consists of a diverse assemblage of warm- and cool-water species. The “nearshore zone,” loosely separated from the “offshore zones” by the 15-m depth contour, consists of complex habitats spanning a gamut from vast open-coastal areas to sheltered embayments and wetlands. Lake Ontario’s nearshore habitat has been affected to varying degrees by human activitieAuthorsJames A. Hoyle, Michael J. Connerton, Dawn E. Dittman, Dimitry Gorsky, Jana R. Lantry, Alastair Mathers, Scott L. Schlueter, Maureen Walsh, Brian C. Weidel, Michael J. YuilleMicrohabitat and biology of Sphaerium striatinum in a central New York stream
In many lotic systems, drastic declines in freshwater bivalve populations, including fingernail clams (Sphaeriidae), have created concerns about biodiversity and future ecosystem services. We examined the local occurrence of the historically common fingernail clam, Sphaerium striatinum, in a central New York stream. We sampled the density of sphaeriids and measured the associated habitat variablesAuthorsDawn E. Dittman, James H. Johnson, Christopher C. NackSimulation of rapid ecological change in Lake Ontario
Lower trophic level processes are integral to proper functioning of large aquatic ecosystems and have been disturbed in Lake Ontario by various stressors including exotic species. The invasion of benthic habitats by dreissenid mussels has led to systemic changes and native faunal declines. Size-dependent physiological rates, spatial differences and connectivity, competition, and differential populAuthorsJames E. McKenna, Marc Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman, James M. WatkinsNorth American sturgeon otolith morphology
Accurate expedient species identification of deceased sturgeon (Acipenseridae) when external physical characteristic analysis is inconclusive has become a high priority due to the endangered or threatened status of sturgeon species around the world. Examination of otoliths has provided useful information to aid in population management, age and size-class analysis, understanding predator–prey inteAuthorsMarc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. DittmanAlternative method of removing otoliths from sturgeon
Extracting the otoliths (ear bones) from fish that have very thick skulls can be difficult and very time consuming. The common practice of making a transverse vertical incision on the top of the skull with a hand or electrical saw may damage the otolith if not performed correctly. Sturgeons (Acipenseridae) are one family in particular that have a very large and thick skull. A new laboratory methodAuthorsMarc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. DittmanReintroduction of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) into the St. Regis River, NY: Post-release assessment of habitat use and growth
One of the depleted endemic fish species of the Great Lakes, Acipenser fulvescens (Lake Sturgeon), has been the target of extensive conservation efforts. One strategy is reintroduction into historically productive waters. The St. Regis River, NY, represents one such adaptive-management effort, with shared management between New York and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. Between 1998 and 2004, a total ofAuthorsDawn E. Dittman, Marc A. Chalupnicki, James H. Johnson, James SnyderEfficacy of iodine for disinfection of Lake Sturgeon eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York
Optimal fish husbandry to reduce the risk of disease is particularly important when using wild fish as the source for gametes. The propagation and reestablishment of Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in New York waters to become a viable self-sustaining population is considered a high priority by managers. While standard hatchery egg disinfection practices have been used to prevent the transmissiAuthorsMarc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. Dittman, Clifford E. Starliper, Deborah D. IwanowiczAn investigation of the bactericidal activity of selected essential oils to Aeromonas spp.
Diseases of fishes caused by Aeromonas spp. are common, have broad host ranges and may cause high mortality. Treatments of captive-reared populations using antimicrobials are limited with concerns for bacterial resistance development and environmental dissemination. This study was done to determine whether selected plant-derived essential oils were bactericidal to Aeromonas spp. Initially, twelveAuthorsClifford E. Starliper, H. George Ketola, Andrew D. Noyes, William B. Schill, Fred G. Henson, Marc A. Chalupnicki, Dawn E. DittmanInteractions between invasive round gobies (Neogobius melanostomous) and fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare) in a tributary of the St. Lawrence River, New York, USA
The initial, rapid expansion of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) throughout the Great Lakes drainage was largely confined to lentic systems. We recently observed round gobies ascending two tributaries of the St. Lawrence River. The expansion of gobies into small lotic environments may place ecologically similar species at risk. Fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare) is one of the sAuthorsRoss Abbett, Emily M. Waldt, James H. Johnson, James E. McKenna, Dawn E. DittmanFall diel diet composition of American eel (Anguilla rostrata) in a tributary of the Hudson River, New York, USA
American eel (Anguilla rostrata), a once common species, is now in decline throughout much of its native range in North America. There is little information on the role of American eel in river food webs. A better understanding of the diet and ecological role of American eel will help in the conservation of this important species. During autumn 2009, eel and aquatic invertebrate samples were colleAuthorsEmily M. Waldt, Ross Abbett, James H. Johnson, Dawn E. Dittman, James E. McKennaComparison of select hematology and serum chemistry analtyes between wild-caught and aquarium-housed lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Hematology and serum chemistry analytes were compared between wild-caught and aquarium-housed lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) to potentially improve understanding of medical issues in lake sturgeon. Blood samples were taken from 30 lake sturgeon exhibited in 11 institutions in the United States and from 23 experimentally stocked lake sturgeon caught in gill nets in the lower Genesee River inAuthorsLouis DiVincenti, Heather Priest, Kyle J. Walker, Jeffrey D. Wyatt, Dawn DittmanNon-USGS Publications**
Dittman, D. E., S.E. Ford and H.H. Haskin (1998) Growth differences in oysters, Crassostrea virginica, from different estuaries. Marine Biology 132: 461-469.Dittman, D.E. and C.D. Robles (1991) Effect of algal epiphytes on the mussel Mytilus californianus (Conrad). Ecology. 72:286-296.**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.
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*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