Janice Albers is a Fish Biologist with interests in researching how humans impact fish species; positive impacts such as river restoration activities, as well as negative impacts such as with rare or invasive fish species.
In the past Janice has studied fish behavior, trends in threatened and endangered fish species, impacts from human activities on aquatic communities, and fish bioenergetics and population dynamics. Currently she is researching and understanding invasive carp movements in the Mississippi River Basin.
Professional Experience
2023 – Present, Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin
2018-2022 – Doctoral Research Student, Michigan State University, Fisheries and Wildlife Dept., East Lansing, Michigan
2001-2017 – Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Michigan State University, Fisheries and Wildlife/Environmental Toxicology, 2022
M.S. Fish and Wildlife, University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001
B.S. Biology and Water Resources, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, 1997
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society for Ecological Restoration
American Fisheries Society
Science and Products
Human use and activities at two urban riparian forest restoration sites in Indiana, USA, May-Sept, 2016
The data consists of date and time of use, activity and number of individuals visiting specific sites. This data was collected by using camera traps to monitor visitors of two mitigation areas that are being restored to riparian forests.
Data Release for Lock 19 Underwater Acoustic Deterrent System (UADS) Study: Interim Project Update
The Underwater Acoustic Deterrent System is an experimental deterrent that utilizes underwater sounds to deter invasive carps. An experimental deployment and evaluation of a UADS is currently being conducted at Lock 19 on the Mississippi River, near Keokuk, Iowa. This dataset includes information derived from two telemetry arrays (i.e., 307 kHz HTI and 69 kHz VEMCO) deployed at and around Lock 19
Missouri River juvenile sturgeon and adult chub fish weight and behavior
The study was designed to assess the strength of the innate linkage of substrate and food in foraging by early juvenile Pallid and Shovelnose Sturgeon and their hybrids and adult Sicklefin and Shoal Chub. The data include information on the fish weights throughout the duration of the experiment as well as observed fish behavior data. Wet weights from fish were recorded to monitor feeding consumpti
Terrestrial Invertebrate Diversity and Occurrence in Restored Hardwood Forest Floodplains, Indiana, United States, June – August 2016
To determine the progress of restoration, insect populations were sampled at four mitigation sites using walking butterfly transects and Malaise/pitfall insect traps. The data consists of date, time, type and placement of traps, as well as number and order of species found.
Brecchia pipe uranium mine bird survey data, Grand Canyon region, 2014-2015
Containment ponds at uranium mines in the Grand Canyon region have been suspected to pose an attractive nuisance to local wildlife in this arid landscape. To determine the presence of bird species at uranium mine openings, we surveyed the bird community in the area surrounding the mines repeatedly within one year and summarized species occurrence. We observed 35 species of birds directly using the
Mammalian biodiversity data for four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in Northeastern Indiana USA May 2015-August 2016
Mammalian biodiversity data for four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana utilizing various sampling methods and level of effort
NE Indiana bottomland restoration vegetation, soils and carbon data, 2015 and 2016
This data set includes tables providing location, environmental, vegetation, soils, and carbon sampling data collected in 2015 and 2016 at vegetation sampling units on restored areas and other habitats at sites in northeast Indiana, USA. "Sample_units.txt" provides location, environmental, soil physical and chemical properties for each sample location. "Subplot_ground_flora.txt" provides subplot e
Fecundity of Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Shoal Chub (M. hyostoma)
Estimates of total fecundity of two Macrhybopsis species typically found in the lower Missouri river.
Reproductive strategy, spawning induction, spawning temperatures and early life history of captive sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki-Data
Macrhybopsis reproduction and propagule traits were studied in the laboratory using two temperature regimes and three hormone treatments and which methods produced the most spawns. Only sicklefin chub (M. meeki) spawned successfully although sturgeon chub (M. gelida) released unfertilized eggs. All temperature and hormone treatments produced M. meeki spawns, but two treatments had similar success
Filter Total Items: 27
Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022
Invasive carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Richardson, 1845; Bighead Carp], H. molitrix [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Silver Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Grass Carp], and Mylopharyngodon piceus [Richardson, 1846; Black Carp]) expansion threatens the Laurentian Great Lakes and other major waterways. Numerous tools and techniques ar
Authors
Marybeth K. Brey, Christa M. Woodley, Jessica C. Stanton, Andrea K. Fritts, Matthew Sholtis, Theodore Castro-Santos, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Janice L. Albers
Terrestrial invertebrate diversity and occurrence in restored hardwood forest floodplains, Indiana, United States, June–August 2016
This report provides a summary of terrestrial invertebrates collected at old field, mature, and restored hardwood forest floodplain sites in northeast Indiana. Invertebrate populations were sampled at selected sites using walking butterfly transects, pitfall-enhanced Malaise invertebrate traps (PEMITs), and sweep nets. We identified a total of 19 taxonomic groups of butterflies, with 1, 11, and 18
Authors
Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Matthew A. Struckhoff, Daniel J. Westrich, Nicholas S. Green, Barry C. Poulton, Michael J. Hooper
Efficient mammal biodiversity surveys for ecological restoration monitoring
Efficient biodiversity surveys are critical for successful restoration monitoring and management. We studied the effect of varying sampling effort on the observed species richness of surveys of small mammals (trapping transects), bats (passive acoustic detection), and medium to large mammals (trail cameras). Field studies provided mammalian biodiversity data for 4 bottomland hardwood restoration s
Authors
Nicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers, Thomas W. Pettit, Michael J. Hooper
Enumerating white-tailed deer using unmanned aerial vehicles
The white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is an ecologically important species in forests of North America. Effective management of forests requires accurate, precise estimates of deer population abundance to plan and justify management actions. Spotlight surveys in combination with distance sampling are a common method of estimating deer population abundance; however, spotlight surveys are k
Authors
Todd M. Preston, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Geoffrey P. Debenedetto
Effectiveness of a distance sampling from roads program for white-tailed deer in the National Capital Region parks
We evaluated the effectiveness of a distance sampling from roads program for estimating population sizes of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 2001 to 2015 in parks of the National Capital Region (NCR), National Parks Service. Distance sampling is a method for estimating the density of organisms using a distribution of distances to observed individuals. Re-analysis of survey data for
Authors
Nicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers
Population viability analyses for three Macrhybopsis spp. of the Lower Missouri River
Recent declines in three species of chubs that inhabit the lower Missouri River (shoal chub M. hyostoma, sicklefin chub M. meeki and sturgeon chub M. gelida) have become a concern in the management of their own populations and the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) that feeds on them. These chub populations encounter threats from fish predation and habitat loss. With the recent adva
Authors
Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green
Potential responses of the Lower Missouri River Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) population to a commercial fishing ban
We developed an age‐structured population matrix model to perform population viability analysis for Lower Missouri River (LMR) shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). We investigated potential effects of the commercial fishing moratorium put in place to help protect the similar‐appearing pallid sturgeon (S. albus). The model applies different components of total variance in life history
Authors
Nicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers
Use of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments
No abstract available.
Authors
Bethany K. Kunz, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Edward E. Little
Use of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments
Fugitive dust from unpaved roads creates human health hazards, degrades road surfaces, and increases the cost of road maintenance. As a result, many different chemical treatments are applied to unpaved roads in an attempt to control dust and stabilize the wearing course. However, investigations of the effectiveness of these treatments have often been poorly planned or executed. The objective of th
Authors
Bethany K. Kunz, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Edward E. Little
Reproductive strategy, spawning induction, spawning temperatures and early life history of captive sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki
Macrhybopsis reproduction and propagule traits were studied in the laboratory using two temperature regimes and three hormone treatments to determine which methods produced the most spawns. Only sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki spawned successfully although sturgeon chub Macrhybopsis gelida released unfertilized eggs. All temperature and hormone treatments produced M. meeki spawns, but two treatm
Authors
Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber
A fully-stochasticized, age-structured population model for population viability analysis of fish: Lower Missouri River endangered pallid sturgeon example
We develop a fully-stochasticized, age-structured population model suitable for population viability analysis (PVA) of fish and demonstrate its use with the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) of the Lower Missouri River as an example. The model incorporates three levels of variance: parameter variance (uncertainty about the value of a parameter itself) applied at the iteration level
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers, Nicholas S. Green, Edward H. Moran
Visual Basic, Excel-based fish population modeling tool - The pallid sturgeon example
The model presented in this report is a spreadsheet-based model using Visual Basic for Applications within Microsoft Excel (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7057D0Z) prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It uses the same model structure and, initially, parameters as used by Wildhaber and others (2015) for pallid sturgeon. The difference between
Authors
Edward H. Moran, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers
Science and Products
- Data
Human use and activities at two urban riparian forest restoration sites in Indiana, USA, May-Sept, 2016
The data consists of date and time of use, activity and number of individuals visiting specific sites. This data was collected by using camera traps to monitor visitors of two mitigation areas that are being restored to riparian forests.Data Release for Lock 19 Underwater Acoustic Deterrent System (UADS) Study: Interim Project Update
The Underwater Acoustic Deterrent System is an experimental deterrent that utilizes underwater sounds to deter invasive carps. An experimental deployment and evaluation of a UADS is currently being conducted at Lock 19 on the Mississippi River, near Keokuk, Iowa. This dataset includes information derived from two telemetry arrays (i.e., 307 kHz HTI and 69 kHz VEMCO) deployed at and around Lock 19Missouri River juvenile sturgeon and adult chub fish weight and behavior
The study was designed to assess the strength of the innate linkage of substrate and food in foraging by early juvenile Pallid and Shovelnose Sturgeon and their hybrids and adult Sicklefin and Shoal Chub. The data include information on the fish weights throughout the duration of the experiment as well as observed fish behavior data. Wet weights from fish were recorded to monitor feeding consumptiTerrestrial Invertebrate Diversity and Occurrence in Restored Hardwood Forest Floodplains, Indiana, United States, June – August 2016
To determine the progress of restoration, insect populations were sampled at four mitigation sites using walking butterfly transects and Malaise/pitfall insect traps. The data consists of date, time, type and placement of traps, as well as number and order of species found.Brecchia pipe uranium mine bird survey data, Grand Canyon region, 2014-2015
Containment ponds at uranium mines in the Grand Canyon region have been suspected to pose an attractive nuisance to local wildlife in this arid landscape. To determine the presence of bird species at uranium mine openings, we surveyed the bird community in the area surrounding the mines repeatedly within one year and summarized species occurrence. We observed 35 species of birds directly using theMammalian biodiversity data for four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in Northeastern Indiana USA May 2015-August 2016
Mammalian biodiversity data for four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana utilizing various sampling methods and level of effortNE Indiana bottomland restoration vegetation, soils and carbon data, 2015 and 2016
This data set includes tables providing location, environmental, vegetation, soils, and carbon sampling data collected in 2015 and 2016 at vegetation sampling units on restored areas and other habitats at sites in northeast Indiana, USA. "Sample_units.txt" provides location, environmental, soil physical and chemical properties for each sample location. "Subplot_ground_flora.txt" provides subplot eFecundity of Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Shoal Chub (M. hyostoma)
Estimates of total fecundity of two Macrhybopsis species typically found in the lower Missouri river.Reproductive strategy, spawning induction, spawning temperatures and early life history of captive sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki-Data
Macrhybopsis reproduction and propagule traits were studied in the laboratory using two temperature regimes and three hormone treatments and which methods produced the most spawns. Only sicklefin chub (M. meeki) spawned successfully although sturgeon chub (M. gelida) released unfertilized eggs. All temperature and hormone treatments produced M. meeki spawns, but two treatments had similar success - Publications
Filter Total Items: 27
Lock 19 underwater acoustic deterrent system study—Interim project update, through 2022
Invasive carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [Richardson, 1845; Bighead Carp], H. molitrix [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Silver Carp], Ctenopharyngodon idella [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844; Grass Carp], and Mylopharyngodon piceus [Richardson, 1846; Black Carp]) expansion threatens the Laurentian Great Lakes and other major waterways. Numerous tools and techniques arAuthorsMarybeth K. Brey, Christa M. Woodley, Jessica C. Stanton, Andrea K. Fritts, Matthew Sholtis, Theodore Castro-Santos, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Janice L. AlbersTerrestrial invertebrate diversity and occurrence in restored hardwood forest floodplains, Indiana, United States, June–August 2016
This report provides a summary of terrestrial invertebrates collected at old field, mature, and restored hardwood forest floodplain sites in northeast Indiana. Invertebrate populations were sampled at selected sites using walking butterfly transects, pitfall-enhanced Malaise invertebrate traps (PEMITs), and sweep nets. We identified a total of 19 taxonomic groups of butterflies, with 1, 11, and 18AuthorsJanice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Matthew A. Struckhoff, Daniel J. Westrich, Nicholas S. Green, Barry C. Poulton, Michael J. HooperEfficient mammal biodiversity surveys for ecological restoration monitoring
Efficient biodiversity surveys are critical for successful restoration monitoring and management. We studied the effect of varying sampling effort on the observed species richness of surveys of small mammals (trapping transects), bats (passive acoustic detection), and medium to large mammals (trail cameras). Field studies provided mammalian biodiversity data for 4 bottomland hardwood restoration sAuthorsNicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers, Thomas W. Pettit, Michael J. HooperEnumerating white-tailed deer using unmanned aerial vehicles
The white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is an ecologically important species in forests of North America. Effective management of forests requires accurate, precise estimates of deer population abundance to plan and justify management actions. Spotlight surveys in combination with distance sampling are a common method of estimating deer population abundance; however, spotlight surveys are kAuthorsTodd M. Preston, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Geoffrey P. DebenedettoEffectiveness of a distance sampling from roads program for white-tailed deer in the National Capital Region parks
We evaluated the effectiveness of a distance sampling from roads program for estimating population sizes of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 2001 to 2015 in parks of the National Capital Region (NCR), National Parks Service. Distance sampling is a method for estimating the density of organisms using a distribution of distances to observed individuals. Re-analysis of survey data forAuthorsNicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. AlbersPopulation viability analyses for three Macrhybopsis spp. of the Lower Missouri River
Recent declines in three species of chubs that inhabit the lower Missouri River (shoal chub M. hyostoma, sicklefin chub M. meeki and sturgeon chub M. gelida) have become a concern in the management of their own populations and the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) that feeds on them. These chub populations encounter threats from fish predation and habitat loss. With the recent advaAuthorsJanice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. GreenPotential responses of the Lower Missouri River Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) population to a commercial fishing ban
We developed an age‐structured population matrix model to perform population viability analysis for Lower Missouri River (LMR) shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). We investigated potential effects of the commercial fishing moratorium put in place to help protect the similar‐appearing pallid sturgeon (S. albus). The model applies different components of total variance in life historyAuthorsNicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. AlbersUse of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments
No abstract available.AuthorsBethany K. Kunz, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Edward E. LittleUse of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments
Fugitive dust from unpaved roads creates human health hazards, degrades road surfaces, and increases the cost of road maintenance. As a result, many different chemical treatments are applied to unpaved roads in an attempt to control dust and stabilize the wearing course. However, investigations of the effectiveness of these treatments have often been poorly planned or executed. The objective of thAuthorsBethany K. Kunz, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Edward E. LittleReproductive strategy, spawning induction, spawning temperatures and early life history of captive sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki
Macrhybopsis reproduction and propagule traits were studied in the laboratory using two temperature regimes and three hormone treatments to determine which methods produced the most spawns. Only sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki spawned successfully although sturgeon chub Macrhybopsis gelida released unfertilized eggs. All temperature and hormone treatments produced M. meeki spawns, but two treatmAuthorsJanice L. Albers, Mark L. WildhaberA fully-stochasticized, age-structured population model for population viability analysis of fish: Lower Missouri River endangered pallid sturgeon example
We develop a fully-stochasticized, age-structured population model suitable for population viability analysis (PVA) of fish and demonstrate its use with the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) of the Lower Missouri River as an example. The model incorporates three levels of variance: parameter variance (uncertainty about the value of a parameter itself) applied at the iteration levelAuthorsMark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers, Nicholas S. Green, Edward H. MoranVisual Basic, Excel-based fish population modeling tool - The pallid sturgeon example
The model presented in this report is a spreadsheet-based model using Visual Basic for Applications within Microsoft Excel (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7057D0Z) prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It uses the same model structure and, initially, parameters as used by Wildhaber and others (2015) for pallid sturgeon. The difference betweenAuthorsEdward H. Moran, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers
*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