Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.
Dorothy M. Chase
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples. Additionally, she chairs of the
Dorothy participated in research on BKD in Washington state and the Great Lakes while working in the bacteriology lab of the fish health section. Since 2014, the WFRC has been an OIE reference laboratory for BKD. As part of her role, she trained personnel from state, federal and international agencies on diagnostic tests for BKD including qPCR, PCR, ELISA and culture. Dorothy developed molecular based assays to detect and quantify Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causative agent of BKD, in fish tissues.
As a member of the Ecology section, Dorothy has used environmental DNA to identify and quantify invasive species, fish pathogens and aquatic species in sediment and water samples. She has enjoyed field work collecting environmental samples in the Lake Washington basin, Lake Sammamish basin, Puget Sound basin and her favorite the Elwha River in the Olympic National Park. As Chair of the IACUC committee, Dorothy is committed to improving the quality of care and use of animals in research at the WFRC.
Professional Experience
2024-Present: Chair of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1993-Present: Microbiologist, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
Education and Certifications
B.S. 1991 Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle. WA
B.S. 1991 Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle. WA
June 2024: American Fisheries Society, FHS Continuing Education Class: Newer Diagnostic Methods, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Honors and Awards
2024: Recognition of 30 years service in the government of the USA (2024)
12/2024: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2023: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2022: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2021: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2020: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
6/1997: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
9/1994: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
Science and Products
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
qPCR data from eDNA autosampler surveys for salmon migrating through the Lake Washington Ship Canal, June - September 2022 qPCR data from eDNA autosampler surveys for salmon migrating through the Lake Washington Ship Canal, June - September 2022
Data used to assess differences in shedding of environmental DNA between living fish and carcasses Data used to assess differences in shedding of environmental DNA between living fish and carcasses
Environmental DNA survey results for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022 Environmental DNA survey results for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020 Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020
Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021 Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021
The ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon The ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.
Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon environmental DNA (eDNA) in a Seattle urban creek Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon environmental DNA (eDNA) in a Seattle urban creek
Isothermal recombinant polymerase amplification and CRIPSR (CAS12A) assay detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum as an example for wildlife pathogen detection in environmental DNA samples Isothermal recombinant polymerase amplification and CRIPSR (CAS12A) assay detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum as an example for wildlife pathogen detection in environmental DNA samples
Ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Environmental DNA is an effective tool to track recolonizing migratory fish following large‐scale dam removal Environmental DNA is an effective tool to track recolonizing migratory fish following large‐scale dam removal
Use of environmental DNA to detect the invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes Use of environmental DNA to detect the invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes
Science and Products
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
qPCR data from eDNA autosampler surveys for salmon migrating through the Lake Washington Ship Canal, June - September 2022 qPCR data from eDNA autosampler surveys for salmon migrating through the Lake Washington Ship Canal, June - September 2022
Data used to assess differences in shedding of environmental DNA between living fish and carcasses Data used to assess differences in shedding of environmental DNA between living fish and carcasses
Environmental DNA survey results for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022 Environmental DNA survey results for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020 Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020
Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021 Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021
The ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon The ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.