Katy Klymus

Biography

I am a research biologist at Columbia Environmental Research Center with a background in evolutionary biology, animal behavior and genetics. Since joining the USGS in 2016, my research focus is on using genetic methods to inform wildlife species management. Currently I am studying environmental DNA methods and how they can be used to assess current levels of and changes in biodiversity.

Education

Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, The University of Missouri, 2011
B.S. Zoology, The University of Texas, 2000

Science and Products

Publications

Filter Total Items: 10

Year Published: 2019

Reporting the limits of detection and quantification for environmental DNA assays

BackgroundEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is increasingly being used to detect the presence and relative abundance of rare species, especially invasive or imperiled aquatic species. The rapid progress in the eDNA field has resulted in numerous studies impacting conservation and management actions. However, standardization of eDNA methods and...

Klymus, Katy E.; Merkes, Christopher M.; Allison, Michael J.; Goldberg, Caren S.; Helbing, Caren C.; Hunter, Margaret; Jackson, Craig; Lance, Richard F.; Mangan, Anna M.; Monroe, Emy M.; Piaggio, Antoinette J.; Stokdyk, Joel P.; Wilson, Chris C.; Richter, Catherine A.

Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems

Year Published: 2017

Metabarcoding of environmental DNA samples to explore the use of uranium mine containment ponds as a water source for wildlife

Understanding how anthropogenic impacts on the landscape affect wildlife requires a knowledge of community assemblages. Species surveys are the first step in assessing community structure, and recent molecular applications such as metabarcoding and environmental DNA analyses have been proposed as an additional and complementary wildlife survey...

Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Thompson, Nathan; Hinck, Jo Ellen

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Environmental Health, Contaminant Biology Program, Southeast, United States of America

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Klymus, K., Richter, C., Thompson, N., and Hinck, J., 2017, Metabarcoding of Environmental DNA Samples to Explore the Use of Uranium Mine Containment Ponds as a Water Source for Wildlife: Diversity, v. 9, no. 4, 54

Year Published: 2017

Experimental observations on the decay of environmental DNA from bighead and silver carps

Interest in the field of environmental DNA (eDNA) is growing rapidly and eDNA surveys are becoming an important consideration for aquatic resource managers dealing with invasive species. However, in order for eDNA monitoring to mature as a research and management tool, there are several critical knowledge gaps that must be filled. One such gap is...

Lance, Richard F.; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Guan, Xin; Farrington, Heather L.; Carr, Matthew R.; Thompson, Nathan; Chapman, Duane C.; Baerwaldt, Kelly L.

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Southeast

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Lance, R.F., Klymus, K.E., Richter, C.A., Guan, X., Farrington, H.L., Carr, M.R., Thompson, N., Chapman, D.C., and Baerwaldt, K.L., 2017, Experimental observations on the decay of environmental DNA from bighead and silver carps, Management of Biological Invasions 8(3): 343-359

Year Published: 2016

Critical considerations for the application of environmental DNA methods to detect aquatic species

Species detection using environmental DNA (eDNA) has tremendous potential for contributing to the understanding of the ecology and conservation of aquatic species. Detecting species using eDNA methods, rather than directly sampling the organisms, can reduce impacts on sensitive species and increase the power of field surveys for rare and elusive...

Goldberg, Caren S.; Turner, Cameron R.; Deiner, Kristy; Klymus, Katy E.; Thomsen, Philip Francis; Murphy, Melanie A.; Spear, Stephen F.; McKee, Anna; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Cornman, Robert S.; Laramie, Matthew B.; Mahon, Andrew R.; Lance, Richard F.; Pilliod, David S.; Strickler, Katherine M.; Waits, Lisette P.; Fremier, Alexander K.; Takahara, Teruhiko; Herder, Jelger E.; Taberlet, Pierre

Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Ecosystems

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Goldberg, C. S., C. Turner, K. Keiner, K. Klymus, P. Thomsen, M. A. Murphpy, S. F. Spear, A. McKee, S. J. Oyler-McCance, R. S. Cornman, M. Laramie, A. Mahon, R. Lance, D. Pilliod, K. M. Strickler, L. P. Waits, A. K. Fremier, T. Takahara, J. Herder, and P. Taberlet. 2016. Critical considerations for the application of environmental DNA methods to detect aquatic species. Methods in Ecology and Evolution doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.12595.

Year Published: 2015

Environmental DNA calibration study interim technical review report December 2014

The Environmental DNA Calibration Study (ECALS) is a multi-year study to improve the understanding and interpretation of the detection of Asian carp DNA in environmental samples (eDNA) used in early detection monitoring. eDNA surveillance programs seek to detect the presence of genetic material (DNA in cells sloughed off in slime, feces, urine,...

Baerwaldt, Kelly; Bartron, Meredith L.; Schilling, Kurt; Lee, Debbie; Russo, Edmond; Estes, Trudy; Fischer, Richard; Fleming, Beth; Guilfoyle, Michael P.; Killgore, Jack; Lance, Richard; Perkins, Edward; Schultz, Martin; Smith, David; Amberg, Jon J.; Chapman, Duane C.; Gaikowski, Mark P.; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.

Attribution: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Ecosystems

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey. 2015. Environmental DNA Calibration Study Interim Technical Review Report December 2014. A program report submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee. December 2014. 234 pages including Appendixes A, B, C. http://www.asiancarp.us/documents/IP-057663_ECALS_Interim_Report_FINAL.pdf.

Year Published: 2015

A reply to Iversen et al.'s comment “Monitoring of animal abundance by environmental DNA - An increasingly obscure perspective”

We appreciate the conversation put forward by Iversen et al. (2015) in their response to our article “Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix” in the 2015 environmental DNA special issue of Biological Conservation.We agree with Iversen et al.'s concern...

Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig P.

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Southeast

Year Published: 2015

Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Wildlife managers can more easily mitigate the effects of invasive species if action takes place before a population becomes established. Such early detection requires sensitive survey tools that can detect low numbers of individuals. Due to their high sensitivity, environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys hold promise as an early detection method for...

Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig P.

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Southeast

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Klymus, K.E., Richter, C.A., Chapman, D.C., and Paukert, C., 2015, Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix: Biological Conservation 183: 77–84

Year Published: 2014

Environmental DNA calibration study. Interim technical review report

Invasive aquatic nuisance species pose a major threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Invasive Asian carps, including bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) have been steadily dispersing upstream through the Mississippi, Illinois, and Des Plaines Rivers since the 1990s. To prevent further movement up the Illinois...

Baerwaldt, K.; Bartron, Meredith L.; Schilling, K.; Lee, Debbie; Russo, Edmond; Estes, Trudy; Fischer, Richard; Fleming, Beth; Guilfoyle, Michael P.; Kilgore, K. Jack; Lance, Richard; Perkins, Edward; Schultz, Martin; Smith, David; Amberg, Jon J.; Chapman, Duane C.; Gaikowski, Mark P.; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Southeast

Year Published: 2013

ECALS: loading studies interim report October 2013

Here we follow up the loading studies interim report from July 2013 and include results from laboratory studies assessing the effects of diet on eDNA shedding rates by bigheaded carps(silver and bighead carp). In order to understand how eDNA behavesin the environment, we must understand how it enters the system. In our July interim report, we...

Klymus, Katy; Richter, Cathy; Chapman, Duane; Paukert, Craig P.

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Southeast

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ECALS: loading studies interim report October 2013; 2013; Other Government Series; Klymus, Katy; Richter, Cathy; Chapman, Duane; Paukert, Craig

Year Published: 2013

ECALS: loading studies interim report July 2013

Since the initial detection of Asian carp moving up the Mississippi Basin, the potential for invasion of the Great Lakes by Silver Carp and Bighead Carp has been a major concern to stakeholders. To combat this problem, sampling for environmental DNA (eDNA) is used to monitor the waterways near Lake Michigan. This monitoring area includes the...

Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig P.

Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Southeast

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ECALS: loading studies interim report July 2013; 2013; Other Government Series; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Cathy A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig

Pre-USGS Publications

Effects of three diets on development of Mantidactylus betsileanus larvae in captivity

Soamiarimampionona, J., Sam, S.S., Dolch, R., Klymus, K., Rabemananjara, F., Robsomanitrandrasana, E., Rakotoarisoa, J.C., and Edmonds, D., 2015, Effects of three diets on development of Mantidactylus betsileanus larvae in captivity: Alytes, v. 32, p. 7-15

AFLP markers resolve intra-specific relationships and infer genetic structure among lineages of the canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor

Klymus, K.E., and Carl Gerhardt, H., 2012, AFLP markers resolve intra-specific relationships and infer genetic structure among lineages of the canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 65, no. 2, p. 654-667

Geographical variation in male advertisement calls and female preference of the wide-ranging canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor

Klymus, K.E., Humfeld, S.C., and Gerhardt, H.C., 2012, Geographical variation in male advertisement calls and female preference of the wide-ranging canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 107, no. 1, p. 219-232

Molecular patterns of differentiation in canyon treefrogs (Hyla arenicolor): evidence for introgressive hybridization with the Arizona treefrog (H. wrightorum) and correlations with advertisement call differences

Klymus, K.E., Humfeld, S.C., Marshall, V.T., Cannatella, D., and Gerhardt, H.C., 2010, Molecular patterns of differentiation in canyon treefrogs (Hyla arenicolor): evidence for introgressive hybridization with the Arizona treefrog (H. wrightorum) and correlations with advertisement call differences: Journal of Evolutionary Biology, v. 23, no. 7, p. 1425-1435