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Karli Rogers

Karli is a Fish Biologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville, WV.

Science and Products

Stream temperature and fish community data upstream and downstream of an impoundment in Big Hunting Creek, Maryland

This Data Release provides stream temperature data (13 sites) and fish community data (3 sites) in Big Hunting Creek, Maryland. Data were collected during summer baseflow conditions in 2023. This product supports brook trout conservation and restoration research needs identified by Maryland Department of Natural Resources. We collected temperature data with Onset ProV2 water temperature...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Capture-recapture data for a restored population of Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) with environmental covariates

This dataset includes spatial capture-recapture data for a restored population of Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) with stream temperature and stream flow observations in Big Hunting Creek, Maryland.
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Stream temperature data for sites in the Potomac River headwaters during 2022

This Data Release contains stream temperature data for 12 sites within the headwaters of the Potomac River basin. Data were collected between June 1-August 31, 2022 (92 days) at 30-minute increments. We collected data using Onset ProV2 gages in perforated PVC cases mounted to stream substrates with rebar. This work was funded by the USGS Priority Ecosystem Science program for the...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Fish species abundance data for selected streams of the Potomac River basin

This Data Release contains data on fish species abundance for selected streams of the Potomac River basin in eastern North America. This dataset supports analysis of karst streams in the Chesapeake Bay headwaters region and was funded by USGS Chesapeake Bay studies.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center

USGS EcoDrought Stream Discharge, Gage Height, and Water Temperature in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area (WMA) - Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) EcoDrought project is comprised of interdisciplinary teams in five pilot regions across the country. The over-arching project goal is to measure streamflow in headwater streams and to relate flow variation to stream fish population dynamics. For the catchments located in Shenandoah National Park...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

USGS EcoDrought Stream Discharge, Gage Height and Water Temperature Data in Massachusetts (ver. 2.0, February 2025)

The USGS Water Mission Area (WMA) - Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) EcoDrought project is comprised of interdisciplinary teams in five pilot regions across the country. The over-arching project goal is to measure streamflow in headwater streams and to relate flow variation to stream fish population dynamics. In the northeast, the New England Water Science Center (NewEngWSC) partnered with...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

Stream temperature observations during summer 2021 for sites in the Sleepy Creek watershed, West Virginia

This Data Release contains stream temperature observations for 10 sites in the Sleepy Creek Watershed (West Virginia) during summer 2021. Data were collected using Onset ProV2 temperature gages within perforated PVC cases attached to stream substrates with rebar. Temperature gages were deployed and retrieved by volunteers with the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association. Temperature records...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Spatial patterns of dewatering within watersheds of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 2016 - 2021 (ver. 2.0, December 2021)

These data describe longitudinal (upstream to downstream) patterns of dewatering during summer baseflow (July-September) conditions in nine watersheds in Shenandoah National park. In July-August of 2016 all nine watersheds (Jeremy's Run, Hazel River, Piney River, Hughes River, Staunton River, Whiteoak Canyon Run, Paine Run, Meadow Run, and Big Run) were evaluated for dewatering. In...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Stream temperature and sculpin growth data collected from Catoctin Mountain Park in 2019

This Data Release includes records of stream temperature during summer months of 2019 (10 sites) and records of Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) weight for fish held in experimental enclosures for 45 days during the temperature sampling period (5 sites).
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Video data for trout abundance estimation

Rapid advances in video technology are enabling new strategies for species abundance estimation. Here we provide estimates of fish abundance derived from video data collected in a series of stream pools in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (n=41). Two 360-degree cameras were simultaneously used at each pool site where 15-minutes of underwater footage was collected. Environmental data...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Brook trout movement data related to cover and forage in an experimental stream system with associated water quality parameters

Brook trout is a species of conservation concern in the eastern US. In 2016, we evaluated brook trout movement patterns in response to food and cover treatments in an experimental stream system using RFID monitoring techniques at the USGS Leetown Science Center in Kearneysville, WV. Brook trout were tagged with 12mm HDX Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags and monitored with Multi...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Water and air temperature data from Shenandoah Valley streams, Virginia (2017)

This Data Release provides hourly records of air and water temperature within 5 watersheds (Beaver Creek, Dry River, Mossy Creek, Passage Creek & Spout Run) in the Shenandoah Valley, VA in the summer of 2017. Data loggers were deployed and retrieved by Trout Unlimited personnel and volunteers.
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center
A biologist is sitting in a small stream and holding a cylindrical case that holds a small water temperature logger.
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run
A biologist is sitting in a small stream and holding a cylindrical case that holds a small water temperature logger.

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Zachary Kelly installs a water temperature logger in Blue Blazes Run, a headwater stream in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD. 

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
A biologist is sitting in a small stream and holding a cylindrical case that holds a small water temperature logger.

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Zachary Kelly installs a water temperature logger in Blue Blazes Run, a headwater stream in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD. 

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Two biologists are installing a temperature logger in a mountain stream using a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer a
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park
Two biologists are installing a temperature logger in a mountain stream using a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer a

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Karmann Kessler and Zachary Kelly install a water temperature logger in Big Hunting Creek in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD.

By
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Two biologists are installing a temperature logger in a mountain stream using a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer a

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Karmann Kessler and Zachary Kelly install a water temperature logger in Big Hunting Creek in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD.

By
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

The study area within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. Open circles show sample site locations on streams within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Shaded areas show physiographic regions within Maryland from west to east as the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, and the stippled areas show regions of karst geology.

By
Chesapeake Bay Activities
Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

The study area within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. Open circles show sample site locations on streams within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Shaded areas show physiographic regions within Maryland from west to east as the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, and the stippled areas show regions of karst geology.

By
Chesapeake Bay Activities
A biologist is crouching in a stream and measuring the distance from the surface of the water to a marker above the water
Karli Rogers collecting gage height data
Karli Rogers collecting gage height data
A biologist is crouching in a stream and measuring the distance from the surface of the water to a marker above the water

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

This photo shows Karli Rogers gathering gage height data to support research on a headwater stream gage in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
A biologist is crouching in a stream and measuring the distance from the surface of the water to a marker above the water

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

This photo shows Karli Rogers gathering gage height data to support research on a headwater stream gage in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Declines in brook trout abundance linked to atmospheric warming in Maryland, USA

Salmonid fishes provide an important indicator of climate change given their reliance on cold water. We evaluated temporal changes in the density of stream-dwelling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from surveys conducted over a 36-year period (1988–2023) by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in Eastern North America. Nonparametric trend analyses revealed decreasing densities...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Zachary A. Kelly
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Utility of an instantaneous salt dilution method for measuring streamflow in headwater streams

Streamflow records are biased toward large streams and rivers, yet small headwater streams are often the focus of ecological research in response to climate change. Conventional flow measurement instruments such as acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) do not perform well during low-flow conditions in small streams, truncating the development of rating curves during critical baseflow...
Authors
Karli M Rogers, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karmann G. Kessler, Zachary A. Kelly, Martin Briggs
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Effects of episodic stream dewatering on brook trout spatial population structure

Stream dewatering is expected to become more prevalent due to climate change, and we explored the potential consequences for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) within a temperate forest ecosystem in eastern North America.We estimated fish density within stream pools (n = 386) from electrofishing surveys over 10 years (2012–2021) to compare a stream that exhibits episodic dewatering...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Karmann G. Kessler, Martin Briggs, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair, Andrew C. Dolloff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

Karst terrain promotes thermal resiliency in headwater streams

The response of stream ecosystems to climate change will depend in part on groundwater processes that reduce the sensitivity of streams to atmospheric conditions. We investigated the thermal sensitivity of streams across a gradient of groundwater inputs defined by karst terrain (carbonate parent materials) in the headwaters of the Potomac River basin in eastern North America. We...
Authors
Karmann G. Kessler, Karli M Rogers, Charles Marshak, Nathaniel P. Hitt
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Stabilising effects of karstic groundwater on stream fish communities

Although groundwater exchange processes are known to modulate atmospheric influences on stream temperature and flow, the implications for ecological stability are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated temporal change in stream fish communities across a gradient of groundwater influence defined by karst terrain (carbonate parent materials) within the Potomac River basin of eastern North...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Karmann G. Kessler, Martin Briggs, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams

In mountain headwater streams, the quality and resilience of summer cold-water habitat is generally regulated by stream discharge, longitudinal stream channel connectivity and groundwater exchange. These critical hydrologic processes are thought to be influenced by the stream corridor bedrock contact depth (sediment thickness), a parameter often inferred from sparse hillslope borehole...
Authors
Martin Briggs, Phillip J. Goodling, Zachary Johnson, Karli M. Rogers, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair, Craig D. Snyder
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center

Landscape and stocking effects on population genetics of Tennessee Brook Trout

Throughout their range, Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) occupy thousands of disjunct drainages with varying levels of disturbance, which presents substantial challenges for conservation. Within the southern Appalachian Mountains, fragmentation and genetic drift have been identified as key threats to the genetic diversity of the Brook Trout populations. In addition, extensive historic...
Authors
John S. Hargrove, David C. Kazyak, Barbara A. Lubinski, Karli M. Rogers, Olivia K. Bowers, Kurt A. Fesenmyer, Jim W. Habera, Jason Henegar
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Comparative morphology of freshwater sculpin inhabiting different environmental conditions in the Chesapeake Bay headwaters

We compared body morphology of two freshwater sculpin taxa that inhabit distinct environmental conditions in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of eastern North America: Potomac sculpin (C. girardi, Robins; PS) and checkered sculpin (C. sp. cf. girardi; CS). Both taxa are endemic to the study area, but PS are more broadly distributed than CS which are limited to karst groundwater-dominated...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karmann G. Kessler, Hannah Eisemann Macmillan, Karli M Rogers, Richard L. Raesly
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Assessing native fish restoration potential in Catoctin Mountain Park

Biological conservation is a fundamental purpose of the National Park system, and Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) supports high-quality habitat for native fishes in the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in eastern North America. However, native Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) have been extirpated in Big Hunting Creek above Cunningham Falls in CATO. Prior research...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karmann G. Kessler, Zachary A. Kelly, Karli M. Rogers, Hannah Eisemann Macmillan, Heather L. Walsh
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Modeling occupancy of rare stream fish species in the upper Cumberland and Kentucky River Basins

Biological conservation often requires an understanding of how environmental conditions affect species occurrence and detection probabilities. We used a hierarchical framework to evaluate these effects for several Appalachian stream fish species of conservation concern: Chrosomus cumberlandensis (BSD; blackside dace), Etheostoma sagitta (CAD; Cumberland arrow darter), and Etheostoma...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M. Rogers, Karmann G. Kessler, Hannah Eisemann Macmillan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Comparison of underwater video with electrofishing and dive‐counts for stream fish abundance estimation

Advances in video technology enable new strategies for stream fish research. We compared juvenile (age‐0) and adult (age 1+) Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis abundance estimates from underwater video with backpack electrofishing and dive‐count methods across a series of stream pools in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (n = 41). Video methods estimated greater mean abundance of adult...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Craig D. Snyder, C. Andrew Dolloff
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Science and Products

Stream temperature and fish community data upstream and downstream of an impoundment in Big Hunting Creek, Maryland

This Data Release provides stream temperature data (13 sites) and fish community data (3 sites) in Big Hunting Creek, Maryland. Data were collected during summer baseflow conditions in 2023. This product supports brook trout conservation and restoration research needs identified by Maryland Department of Natural Resources. We collected temperature data with Onset ProV2 water temperature...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Capture-recapture data for a restored population of Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) with environmental covariates

This dataset includes spatial capture-recapture data for a restored population of Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) with stream temperature and stream flow observations in Big Hunting Creek, Maryland.
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Stream temperature data for sites in the Potomac River headwaters during 2022

This Data Release contains stream temperature data for 12 sites within the headwaters of the Potomac River basin. Data were collected between June 1-August 31, 2022 (92 days) at 30-minute increments. We collected data using Onset ProV2 gages in perforated PVC cases mounted to stream substrates with rebar. This work was funded by the USGS Priority Ecosystem Science program for the...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Fish species abundance data for selected streams of the Potomac River basin

This Data Release contains data on fish species abundance for selected streams of the Potomac River basin in eastern North America. This dataset supports analysis of karst streams in the Chesapeake Bay headwaters region and was funded by USGS Chesapeake Bay studies.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center

USGS EcoDrought Stream Discharge, Gage Height, and Water Temperature in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area (WMA) - Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) EcoDrought project is comprised of interdisciplinary teams in five pilot regions across the country. The over-arching project goal is to measure streamflow in headwater streams and to relate flow variation to stream fish population dynamics. For the catchments located in Shenandoah National Park...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

USGS EcoDrought Stream Discharge, Gage Height and Water Temperature Data in Massachusetts (ver. 2.0, February 2025)

The USGS Water Mission Area (WMA) - Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) EcoDrought project is comprised of interdisciplinary teams in five pilot regions across the country. The over-arching project goal is to measure streamflow in headwater streams and to relate flow variation to stream fish population dynamics. In the northeast, the New England Water Science Center (NewEngWSC) partnered with...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

Stream temperature observations during summer 2021 for sites in the Sleepy Creek watershed, West Virginia

This Data Release contains stream temperature observations for 10 sites in the Sleepy Creek Watershed (West Virginia) during summer 2021. Data were collected using Onset ProV2 temperature gages within perforated PVC cases attached to stream substrates with rebar. Temperature gages were deployed and retrieved by volunteers with the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association. Temperature records...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Spatial patterns of dewatering within watersheds of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 2016 - 2021 (ver. 2.0, December 2021)

These data describe longitudinal (upstream to downstream) patterns of dewatering during summer baseflow (July-September) conditions in nine watersheds in Shenandoah National park. In July-August of 2016 all nine watersheds (Jeremy's Run, Hazel River, Piney River, Hughes River, Staunton River, Whiteoak Canyon Run, Paine Run, Meadow Run, and Big Run) were evaluated for dewatering. In...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Stream temperature and sculpin growth data collected from Catoctin Mountain Park in 2019

This Data Release includes records of stream temperature during summer months of 2019 (10 sites) and records of Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) weight for fish held in experimental enclosures for 45 days during the temperature sampling period (5 sites).
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Video data for trout abundance estimation

Rapid advances in video technology are enabling new strategies for species abundance estimation. Here we provide estimates of fish abundance derived from video data collected in a series of stream pools in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (n=41). Two 360-degree cameras were simultaneously used at each pool site where 15-minutes of underwater footage was collected. Environmental data...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Brook trout movement data related to cover and forage in an experimental stream system with associated water quality parameters

Brook trout is a species of conservation concern in the eastern US. In 2016, we evaluated brook trout movement patterns in response to food and cover treatments in an experimental stream system using RFID monitoring techniques at the USGS Leetown Science Center in Kearneysville, WV. Brook trout were tagged with 12mm HDX Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags and monitored with Multi...
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Water and air temperature data from Shenandoah Valley streams, Virginia (2017)

This Data Release provides hourly records of air and water temperature within 5 watersheds (Beaver Creek, Dry River, Mossy Creek, Passage Creek & Spout Run) in the Shenandoah Valley, VA in the summer of 2017. Data loggers were deployed and retrieved by Trout Unlimited personnel and volunteers.
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center
A biologist is sitting in a small stream and holding a cylindrical case that holds a small water temperature logger.
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run
A biologist is sitting in a small stream and holding a cylindrical case that holds a small water temperature logger.

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Zachary Kelly installs a water temperature logger in Blue Blazes Run, a headwater stream in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD. 

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
A biologist is sitting in a small stream and holding a cylindrical case that holds a small water temperature logger.

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Blue Blazes Run

Zachary Kelly installs a water temperature logger in Blue Blazes Run, a headwater stream in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD. 

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Two biologists are installing a temperature logger in a mountain stream using a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer a
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park
Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park
Two biologists are installing a temperature logger in a mountain stream using a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer a

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Karmann Kessler and Zachary Kelly install a water temperature logger in Big Hunting Creek in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD.

By
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Two biologists are installing a temperature logger in a mountain stream using a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer a

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Installation of a Water Temperature Logger in Catoctin Mountain Park

Karmann Kessler and Zachary Kelly install a water temperature logger in Big Hunting Creek in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD.

By
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin
Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

The study area within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. Open circles show sample site locations on streams within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Shaded areas show physiographic regions within Maryland from west to east as the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, and the stippled areas show regions of karst geology.

By
Chesapeake Bay Activities
Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

Map of Potomac River basin

The study area within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. Open circles show sample site locations on streams within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Shaded areas show physiographic regions within Maryland from west to east as the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, and the stippled areas show regions of karst geology.

By
Chesapeake Bay Activities
A biologist is crouching in a stream and measuring the distance from the surface of the water to a marker above the water
Karli Rogers collecting gage height data
Karli Rogers collecting gage height data
A biologist is crouching in a stream and measuring the distance from the surface of the water to a marker above the water

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

This photo shows Karli Rogers gathering gage height data to support research on a headwater stream gage in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
A biologist is crouching in a stream and measuring the distance from the surface of the water to a marker above the water

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

Karli Rogers collecting gage height data

This photo shows Karli Rogers gathering gage height data to support research on a headwater stream gage in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Declines in brook trout abundance linked to atmospheric warming in Maryland, USA

Salmonid fishes provide an important indicator of climate change given their reliance on cold water. We evaluated temporal changes in the density of stream-dwelling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from surveys conducted over a 36-year period (1988–2023) by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in Eastern North America. Nonparametric trend analyses revealed decreasing densities...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Zachary A. Kelly
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Utility of an instantaneous salt dilution method for measuring streamflow in headwater streams

Streamflow records are biased toward large streams and rivers, yet small headwater streams are often the focus of ecological research in response to climate change. Conventional flow measurement instruments such as acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) do not perform well during low-flow conditions in small streams, truncating the development of rating curves during critical baseflow...
Authors
Karli M Rogers, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karmann G. Kessler, Zachary A. Kelly, Martin Briggs
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Effects of episodic stream dewatering on brook trout spatial population structure

Stream dewatering is expected to become more prevalent due to climate change, and we explored the potential consequences for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) within a temperate forest ecosystem in eastern North America.We estimated fish density within stream pools (n = 386) from electrofishing surveys over 10 years (2012–2021) to compare a stream that exhibits episodic dewatering...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Karmann G. Kessler, Martin Briggs, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair, Andrew C. Dolloff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

Karst terrain promotes thermal resiliency in headwater streams

The response of stream ecosystems to climate change will depend in part on groundwater processes that reduce the sensitivity of streams to atmospheric conditions. We investigated the thermal sensitivity of streams across a gradient of groundwater inputs defined by karst terrain (carbonate parent materials) in the headwaters of the Potomac River basin in eastern North America. We...
Authors
Karmann G. Kessler, Karli M Rogers, Charles Marshak, Nathaniel P. Hitt
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Stabilising effects of karstic groundwater on stream fish communities

Although groundwater exchange processes are known to modulate atmospheric influences on stream temperature and flow, the implications for ecological stability are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated temporal change in stream fish communities across a gradient of groundwater influence defined by karst terrain (carbonate parent materials) within the Potomac River basin of eastern North...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Karmann G. Kessler, Martin Briggs, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center

Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams

In mountain headwater streams, the quality and resilience of summer cold-water habitat is generally regulated by stream discharge, longitudinal stream channel connectivity and groundwater exchange. These critical hydrologic processes are thought to be influenced by the stream corridor bedrock contact depth (sediment thickness), a parameter often inferred from sparse hillslope borehole...
Authors
Martin Briggs, Phillip J. Goodling, Zachary Johnson, Karli M. Rogers, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Jennifer Burlingame Hoyle Fair, Craig D. Snyder
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, New England Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center

Landscape and stocking effects on population genetics of Tennessee Brook Trout

Throughout their range, Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) occupy thousands of disjunct drainages with varying levels of disturbance, which presents substantial challenges for conservation. Within the southern Appalachian Mountains, fragmentation and genetic drift have been identified as key threats to the genetic diversity of the Brook Trout populations. In addition, extensive historic...
Authors
John S. Hargrove, David C. Kazyak, Barbara A. Lubinski, Karli M. Rogers, Olivia K. Bowers, Kurt A. Fesenmyer, Jim W. Habera, Jason Henegar
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Comparative morphology of freshwater sculpin inhabiting different environmental conditions in the Chesapeake Bay headwaters

We compared body morphology of two freshwater sculpin taxa that inhabit distinct environmental conditions in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of eastern North America: Potomac sculpin (C. girardi, Robins; PS) and checkered sculpin (C. sp. cf. girardi; CS). Both taxa are endemic to the study area, but PS are more broadly distributed than CS which are limited to karst groundwater-dominated...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karmann G. Kessler, Hannah Eisemann Macmillan, Karli M Rogers, Richard L. Raesly
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Assessing native fish restoration potential in Catoctin Mountain Park

Biological conservation is a fundamental purpose of the National Park system, and Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) supports high-quality habitat for native fishes in the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in eastern North America. However, native Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) have been extirpated in Big Hunting Creek above Cunningham Falls in CATO. Prior research...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karmann G. Kessler, Zachary A. Kelly, Karli M. Rogers, Hannah Eisemann Macmillan, Heather L. Walsh
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Modeling occupancy of rare stream fish species in the upper Cumberland and Kentucky River Basins

Biological conservation often requires an understanding of how environmental conditions affect species occurrence and detection probabilities. We used a hierarchical framework to evaluate these effects for several Appalachian stream fish species of conservation concern: Chrosomus cumberlandensis (BSD; blackside dace), Etheostoma sagitta (CAD; Cumberland arrow darter), and Etheostoma...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M. Rogers, Karmann G. Kessler, Hannah Eisemann Macmillan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Comparison of underwater video with electrofishing and dive‐counts for stream fish abundance estimation

Advances in video technology enable new strategies for stream fish research. We compared juvenile (age‐0) and adult (age 1+) Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis abundance estimates from underwater video with backpack electrofishing and dive‐count methods across a series of stream pools in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (n = 41). Video methods estimated greater mean abundance of adult...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Karli M Rogers, Craig D. Snyder, C. Andrew Dolloff
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities
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