Elise Irwin, PhD
Biologist - Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Headquarters
Research Interests
Elise currently leads the CRU communications team. Previously, Elise led a broad research program at Auburn University in fisheries ecology with emphasis on reduction of uncertainty regarding how anthropomorphic changes in riverine and other aquatic environments affect biological processes of aquatic species. Thematically her research has primarily investigated how management, landscape patterns and disturbance regimes affect biological processes in aquatic systems, with two main areas of focus: 1) effects of spatial and temporal arrangement of riverine habitat on population parameters of fishes and, 2) definition and reduction of uncertainty regarding functional relations between hydrologic and chemical characteristics of riverine environments and fish distribution, abundance and/or growth of fish and invertebrates.
Teaching Interests
Before leading the CRU communications team, Elise taught courses on river systems, structured decision making, and adaptive management at Auburn University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in Sheperdstown, West Virginia.
Professional Experience
Biologist, Cooperative Research Units Program Headquarters, 2021-
Assistant Unit Leader, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 1995-2021
Education and Certifications
Ph D North Carolina State University 1994
MS Tennessee Technological University 1989
BS Delaware State College 1987
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 31
Toward improved prediction of streamflow effects on freshwater fishes Toward improved prediction of streamflow effects on freshwater fishes
Understanding the effects of hydrology on fish populations is essential to managing for native fish conservation. However, despite decades of research illustrating streamflow influences on fish habitat, reproduction and survival, biologists remain challenged when tasked with predicting how fish populations will respond to changes in flow regimes. This uncertainty stems from insufficient
Authors
Mary Freeman, Kevin R. Bestgen, Daren M. Carlisle, Emmanuel A. Frimpong, Nathan R. Franssen, Ketih B. Gido, Elise R. Irwin, Yoichiro Kanno, Charles H. Luce, S. Kyle McKay, Meryl C. Mims, Julian D. Olden, N. LeRoy Poff, David L. Propst, Laura Rack, Allison H. Roy, Edward S. Stowe, Annika W. Walters, Seth J. Wenger
Hydrologic effects on growth and hatching success of age-0 Channel Catfish in the Tallapoosa River basin: Implications for management in regulated systems Hydrologic effects on growth and hatching success of age-0 Channel Catfish in the Tallapoosa River basin: Implications for management in regulated systems
We assessed the effects of hydrology on growth and hatching success of age‐0 Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in regulated and unregulated reaches of the Tallapoosa River basin, Alabama. Age‐0 Channel Catfish (N = 91) were collected from sites in both the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions in fall 2003 and fall 2005. Lapillus otoliths were used to estimate the daily ages of age‐0...
Authors
Keith A. Erickson, Peter C. Sakaris, Hannah Conner, Elise R. Irwin
Estimating nitrogen removal services of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Mobile Bay, Alabama Estimating nitrogen removal services of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Mobile Bay, Alabama
Eastern oysters have been acknowledged for their important contribution to human well-being by providing goods and services including nitrogen removal from water bodies. In this study, we integrated daily environmental data (2008–2016) and filtration rate model parameter uncertainty to estimate nitrogen removal from denitrification and nitrogen burial services provided by the current...
Authors
Quan Lai, Elise R. Irwin, Yaoqi Zhang
Decision analysis of restoration actions for faunal conservation and other stakeholder values: Dauphin Island, Alabama Decision analysis of restoration actions for faunal conservation and other stakeholder values: Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island is a barrier island located in the northern Gulf of Mexico and serves as the only barrier island providing protection to much of the State of Alabama’s coastal natural resources. The ecosystem spans over 3,500 acres of barrier island habitat including, beach, dune, overwash fans, intertidal wetlands, maritime forest and freshwater ponds. In addition, Dauphin Island...
Authors
Elise R. Irwin, K. Ouellette Coffman, E. S. Godsey, Nicholas Enwright, M. Clint Lloyd, K. Joyner, Q. T. Lai
Quantifying harvestable fish and crustacean production and associated economic values provided by oyster reefs Quantifying harvestable fish and crustacean production and associated economic values provided by oyster reefs
Quantifying ecosystem services can provide information to justify conservation and restoration decisions so as to allocate limited resources effectively. Consequently, decision makers and public typically ask for simple and understandable information with confidence regarding the availability of the services and the probable economic value. Here, we compiled published information on...
Authors
QT Lai, Elise R. Irwin, Yawen Zhang
Adaptive management of flows from R.L. Harris Dam (Tallapoosa River, Alabama)—Stakeholder process and use of biological monitoring data for decision making Adaptive management of flows from R.L. Harris Dam (Tallapoosa River, Alabama)—Stakeholder process and use of biological monitoring data for decision making
Adaptive management has been applied to problems with multiple conflicting objectives in various natural resources settings to learn how management actions affect divergent values regarding system response. Hydropower applications have only recently begun to emerge in the field, yet in the specific example reported herein, stakeholders invested in determining the best management...
Authors
Elise R. Irwin, Mary Freeman, James Peterson, Kathryn D.M. Kennedy, M. Clint Lloyd, Kristie M. Ouellette Coffman, Ely Kosnicki, Tom Hess
Non-USGS Publications**
Irwin, E.R. and T.P. Goar. 2015. Spatial and temporal variation in recruitment and growth of Channel Catfish Alabama bass and Tallapoosa Bass in the Tallapoosa River and associated tributaries. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Cooperator Science Series FWS/CSS -116, Washington, D.C.
Irwin, E. R. Defining Ecological and Economical Hydropower Operations: a Framework for Managing Dam Releases to Meet Multiple Conflicting Objectives. Journal of Energy Challenges and Mechanics 1 (3): Article 5.
Mitchell, M. S., J. A. Gude, N. Anderson, J. Ramsey, M. Thompson, M. Sullivan, V. Edwards, C. Gower, J. F. Cochrane, E. Irwin, and T. Walshe. 2013. Using structured decision making to manage disease risk for Montana wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37:107-114.
Olive, J.A., H.L. Schramm, Jr., P.D. Gerard, E. Irwin. 2011. An evaluation of agreement between pectoral spines and otoliths for estimating ages of catfishes. American Fisheries Society Symposium 77:679-688.
Martin, B. M. and E. R. Irwin. 2011. A Digital Underwater Video Camera System for Aquatic Research. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30:1365-1369
Irwin, E. R. and K. D. M. Kennedy. 2009. Engaging stakeholders for adaptive management using structured decision analysis. Proceedings of the Third Conference on Research in the Watersheds.
Hayer, C-A., and E. R. Irwin. Influence of gravel mining and other factors on detection probabilities of Coastal Plain Fishes in the Mobile River Basin, Alabama. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.
Population Demographics of Hiodon tergisus (Mooneye) in the Lower Tallapoosa River. Southeastern Naturalist 6:461-470.
Peterson, J., C. Moore, S. Wenger, K. Kennedy, E. Irwin, and M. Freeman. 2007. Adaptive management applied to aquatic natural resources. Chapter 6.4 in Proceedings of the 2007 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 27-29, Athens.
Jeff Boxrucker & Elise Irwin (2002) Challenges of Crappie Management Continuing into the 21st Century, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 22:4, 1334-1339, DOI: 10.1577/1548-8675(2002)022<1334:COCMCI>2.0.CO;2
Buckmeier, D. L., E. R. Irwin, R. K. Betsill and J. A. Prentice. 2002. Validity of otoliths and pectoral spines for estimating ages of channel catfish. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 22:934-942.
Irwin, E. R., and M. C. Freeman. 2002. A proposal for adaptive maqnagement to conserve biotic integrity in a regulated segment of the Tallapoosa River, Alabama (U. S. A. ). Conservation Biology 16:1212-1222
Ferrara, A. M., and E. R. Irwin. 2001. A standardized procedure for internal sex identification in Lepisostidae. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 21:530-535.
Freeman, M. C., Z. Bowen, K. Bovee and E. Irwin. 2001. Flow and habitat effects on juvenile fish abundance in natural and altered flow regimes. Ecological Applications 2001:179-190.
Henry, T. B., E. R. Irwin, J. M. Grizzle, W. G. Brumbaugh and M. L. Wildhaber. 2001. Gill lesions and death of bluegill in an acid mine drainage mixing zone. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:1304-1311.
Buckmeier, D. L., and E. R. Irwin. 2000. An evaluation of soft visual implant tag retention and anchor tag retention in channel catfish. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 20:296-299.
**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.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 31
Toward improved prediction of streamflow effects on freshwater fishes Toward improved prediction of streamflow effects on freshwater fishes
Understanding the effects of hydrology on fish populations is essential to managing for native fish conservation. However, despite decades of research illustrating streamflow influences on fish habitat, reproduction and survival, biologists remain challenged when tasked with predicting how fish populations will respond to changes in flow regimes. This uncertainty stems from insufficient
Authors
Mary Freeman, Kevin R. Bestgen, Daren M. Carlisle, Emmanuel A. Frimpong, Nathan R. Franssen, Ketih B. Gido, Elise R. Irwin, Yoichiro Kanno, Charles H. Luce, S. Kyle McKay, Meryl C. Mims, Julian D. Olden, N. LeRoy Poff, David L. Propst, Laura Rack, Allison H. Roy, Edward S. Stowe, Annika W. Walters, Seth J. Wenger
Hydrologic effects on growth and hatching success of age-0 Channel Catfish in the Tallapoosa River basin: Implications for management in regulated systems Hydrologic effects on growth and hatching success of age-0 Channel Catfish in the Tallapoosa River basin: Implications for management in regulated systems
We assessed the effects of hydrology on growth and hatching success of age‐0 Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in regulated and unregulated reaches of the Tallapoosa River basin, Alabama. Age‐0 Channel Catfish (N = 91) were collected from sites in both the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions in fall 2003 and fall 2005. Lapillus otoliths were used to estimate the daily ages of age‐0...
Authors
Keith A. Erickson, Peter C. Sakaris, Hannah Conner, Elise R. Irwin
Estimating nitrogen removal services of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Mobile Bay, Alabama Estimating nitrogen removal services of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Mobile Bay, Alabama
Eastern oysters have been acknowledged for their important contribution to human well-being by providing goods and services including nitrogen removal from water bodies. In this study, we integrated daily environmental data (2008–2016) and filtration rate model parameter uncertainty to estimate nitrogen removal from denitrification and nitrogen burial services provided by the current...
Authors
Quan Lai, Elise R. Irwin, Yaoqi Zhang
Decision analysis of restoration actions for faunal conservation and other stakeholder values: Dauphin Island, Alabama Decision analysis of restoration actions for faunal conservation and other stakeholder values: Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island is a barrier island located in the northern Gulf of Mexico and serves as the only barrier island providing protection to much of the State of Alabama’s coastal natural resources. The ecosystem spans over 3,500 acres of barrier island habitat including, beach, dune, overwash fans, intertidal wetlands, maritime forest and freshwater ponds. In addition, Dauphin Island...
Authors
Elise R. Irwin, K. Ouellette Coffman, E. S. Godsey, Nicholas Enwright, M. Clint Lloyd, K. Joyner, Q. T. Lai
Quantifying harvestable fish and crustacean production and associated economic values provided by oyster reefs Quantifying harvestable fish and crustacean production and associated economic values provided by oyster reefs
Quantifying ecosystem services can provide information to justify conservation and restoration decisions so as to allocate limited resources effectively. Consequently, decision makers and public typically ask for simple and understandable information with confidence regarding the availability of the services and the probable economic value. Here, we compiled published information on...
Authors
QT Lai, Elise R. Irwin, Yawen Zhang
Adaptive management of flows from R.L. Harris Dam (Tallapoosa River, Alabama)—Stakeholder process and use of biological monitoring data for decision making Adaptive management of flows from R.L. Harris Dam (Tallapoosa River, Alabama)—Stakeholder process and use of biological monitoring data for decision making
Adaptive management has been applied to problems with multiple conflicting objectives in various natural resources settings to learn how management actions affect divergent values regarding system response. Hydropower applications have only recently begun to emerge in the field, yet in the specific example reported herein, stakeholders invested in determining the best management...
Authors
Elise R. Irwin, Mary Freeman, James Peterson, Kathryn D.M. Kennedy, M. Clint Lloyd, Kristie M. Ouellette Coffman, Ely Kosnicki, Tom Hess
Non-USGS Publications**
Irwin, E.R. and T.P. Goar. 2015. Spatial and temporal variation in recruitment and growth of Channel Catfish Alabama bass and Tallapoosa Bass in the Tallapoosa River and associated tributaries. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Cooperator Science Series FWS/CSS -116, Washington, D.C.
Irwin, E. R. Defining Ecological and Economical Hydropower Operations: a Framework for Managing Dam Releases to Meet Multiple Conflicting Objectives. Journal of Energy Challenges and Mechanics 1 (3): Article 5.
Mitchell, M. S., J. A. Gude, N. Anderson, J. Ramsey, M. Thompson, M. Sullivan, V. Edwards, C. Gower, J. F. Cochrane, E. Irwin, and T. Walshe. 2013. Using structured decision making to manage disease risk for Montana wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37:107-114.
Olive, J.A., H.L. Schramm, Jr., P.D. Gerard, E. Irwin. 2011. An evaluation of agreement between pectoral spines and otoliths for estimating ages of catfishes. American Fisheries Society Symposium 77:679-688.
Martin, B. M. and E. R. Irwin. 2011. A Digital Underwater Video Camera System for Aquatic Research. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30:1365-1369
Irwin, E. R. and K. D. M. Kennedy. 2009. Engaging stakeholders for adaptive management using structured decision analysis. Proceedings of the Third Conference on Research in the Watersheds.
Hayer, C-A., and E. R. Irwin. Influence of gravel mining and other factors on detection probabilities of Coastal Plain Fishes in the Mobile River Basin, Alabama. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.
Population Demographics of Hiodon tergisus (Mooneye) in the Lower Tallapoosa River. Southeastern Naturalist 6:461-470.
Peterson, J., C. Moore, S. Wenger, K. Kennedy, E. Irwin, and M. Freeman. 2007. Adaptive management applied to aquatic natural resources. Chapter 6.4 in Proceedings of the 2007 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 27-29, Athens.
Jeff Boxrucker & Elise Irwin (2002) Challenges of Crappie Management Continuing into the 21st Century, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 22:4, 1334-1339, DOI: 10.1577/1548-8675(2002)022<1334:COCMCI>2.0.CO;2
Buckmeier, D. L., E. R. Irwin, R. K. Betsill and J. A. Prentice. 2002. Validity of otoliths and pectoral spines for estimating ages of channel catfish. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 22:934-942.
Irwin, E. R., and M. C. Freeman. 2002. A proposal for adaptive maqnagement to conserve biotic integrity in a regulated segment of the Tallapoosa River, Alabama (U. S. A. ). Conservation Biology 16:1212-1222
Ferrara, A. M., and E. R. Irwin. 2001. A standardized procedure for internal sex identification in Lepisostidae. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 21:530-535.
Freeman, M. C., Z. Bowen, K. Bovee and E. Irwin. 2001. Flow and habitat effects on juvenile fish abundance in natural and altered flow regimes. Ecological Applications 2001:179-190.
Henry, T. B., E. R. Irwin, J. M. Grizzle, W. G. Brumbaugh and M. L. Wildhaber. 2001. Gill lesions and death of bluegill in an acid mine drainage mixing zone. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:1304-1311.
Buckmeier, D. L., and E. R. Irwin. 2000. An evaluation of soft visual implant tag retention and anchor tag retention in channel catfish. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 20:296-299.
**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.