Lisa A. Wetzel
Lisa Wetzel is a career fisheries biologist with the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center in Seattle, Washington.
Having had a lifelong interest in fish and aquatic environments, Lisa studied to become a fish biologist at the University of Washington, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fisheries Science. As part of that training, she spent four summers doing field work and independent research at a UW-Fisheries field station in Alaska. Following an internship with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, she gained employment with the agency and has enjoyed working in her chosen field ever since (currently with the US Geological Survey). Working for the government has offered opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience throughout the years. Previous work includes experiments comparing differences in performance and survival of hatchery and wild steelhead and salmon. Her current research focuses on fish age, growth and life history reconstruction through the analysis of otoliths, scales and other fish hard structures (i.e., fin rays, opercles) that grow incrementally like the rings of trees. She uses specialized equipment to analyze the chemical make-up of the hard parts to detect habitat shifts indicating migration over the lifespan of the fish. Species studied include Chinook Salmon, Bull Trout, American Shad, Whitefish, and Sculpin. The goal of this work is to make a link between the fish and their habitat, showing which habitats are most critical for growth and survival. She is also currently serving in the WFRC Center Quality Management System Support role and helping to manage the Ecology Life History lab.
Professional Experience
1991-present: Fishery Biologist, US Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1989-1991: Research Assistant, University of Washington, School of Fisheries, Seattle, WA
1987-1988: Biological Technician, University of Washington, School of Fisheries, Seattle, WA
Education and Certifications
M.S. 1993 Fisheries Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
B.S. 1989 Fisheries Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
May 2024: USGS Motorboat Operator, MOCC
Affiliations and Memberships*
April 2017: American Fisheries Society
Abstracts and Presentations
2024 – World Fisheries Congress, Seattle WA. Natal origin assignment of adfluvial Bull Trout using a non-lethal sampling technique; Lisa Wetzel, Rachelle Johnson, Kim Larsen, Karl Stenberg, Jon McLean, Dave Beauchamp. Oral Presentation.
2022 – American Fisheries Society, Spokane, WA. Migration patterns of US Pacific coast American shad revealed through otolith microchemistry; Lisa Wetzel, Kim Larsen, Thomas Quinn, Dan Hasselman. Oral Presentation. Efforts to validate non-lethal methods for microchemistry and aging of Bull Trout. Lisa Wetzel, Kimberly Larsen, Roger Peters, Karl Stenberg, Jon McLean, Tessa Code. Poster Presentation
2015 - American Fisheries Society, Portland, OR. The development of a reference collection of bull trout otoliths, scales and fin rays as a training too for fish biologists; Lisa Wetzel, Karl Stenberg and David Hering (Crater Lake NPS). Poster Presentation.
2013 - Coastal and Estuarine Research Foundation, San Diego, CA. Spatio-temporal variability in movement, age, and growth of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in a river network based on PIT tagging and otolith microchemistry; Joe Benjamin, Lisa Wetzel, Kyle Martens, Kimberly Larsen, and Pat Connolly. Poster Presentation.
2011 - American Fisheries Society, Seattle, WA. American shad of the Pacific Coast: a benign introduction or harmful invasive species?); Dan Hasselman, Kimberly Larsen, and Lisa Wetzel, co-symposium leaders. Verification of a ‘Freshwater-type’ life history variant of juvenile American shad in the Columbia River; Lisa Wetzel, Kimberly Larsen, and Michael Parsley. Oral Presentation.
2010 - American Fisheries Society, Pittsburgh, PA. Investigating the Life History of a Non-native Species, the American Shad (Alosa sapidissima), in the Columbia River, using Otoliths and Scales; Lisa A. Wetzel, Kimberly Larsen, Michael Parsley, Bjorn van der Leeuw, Christian Zimmerman. Poster Presentation.
2009 - Coastal and Estuarine Research Foundation, Portland, OR. Otolith Microstructure Analysis Reveals Proportions of Life History Types for Ocean-Type Chinook Salmon of the Skagit River, WA; Kim Larsen, Eric Beamer, Karl Stenberg, Lisa Wetzel. Oral Presentation.
2009 - International Otolith Symposium, Monterrey, CA; Investigating the life history of a non-native species, the American shad (Alosa sapidissima), in the Columbia River, using otoliths and scales; Lisa Wetzel, Kimberly Larsen, Michael Parsley, Bjornn van der Leeuw, Christian Zimmerman. Poster Presentation.
Science and Products
PEPA-1* genotype affects return rate for hatchery steelhead PEPA-1* genotype affects return rate for hatchery steelhead
Performance of juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced from untreated and cryopreserved milt Performance of juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced from untreated and cryopreserved milt
Genetic differences between sea-ranched and wild steelhead in survival and growth in the hatchery and seaward migration Genetic differences between sea-ranched and wild steelhead in survival and growth in the hatchery and seaward migration
Natural selection after release from a hatchery leads to domestication in steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss Natural selection after release from a hatchery leads to domestication in steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss
Influence of breeding habitat on bear predation and age at maturity and sexual dimorphism of sockeye salmon populations Influence of breeding habitat on bear predation and age at maturity and sexual dimorphism of sockeye salmon populations
The influence of life history trade-offs and the size of the incubation gravels on egg size variation in sockeye salmon Onchorhynchus nerka The influence of life history trade-offs and the size of the incubation gravels on egg size variation in sockeye salmon Onchorhynchus nerka
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
PEPA-1* genotype affects return rate for hatchery steelhead PEPA-1* genotype affects return rate for hatchery steelhead
Performance of juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced from untreated and cryopreserved milt Performance of juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced from untreated and cryopreserved milt
Genetic differences between sea-ranched and wild steelhead in survival and growth in the hatchery and seaward migration Genetic differences between sea-ranched and wild steelhead in survival and growth in the hatchery and seaward migration
Natural selection after release from a hatchery leads to domestication in steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss Natural selection after release from a hatchery leads to domestication in steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss
Influence of breeding habitat on bear predation and age at maturity and sexual dimorphism of sockeye salmon populations Influence of breeding habitat on bear predation and age at maturity and sexual dimorphism of sockeye salmon populations
The influence of life history trade-offs and the size of the incubation gravels on egg size variation in sockeye salmon Onchorhynchus nerka The influence of life history trade-offs and the size of the incubation gravels on egg size variation in sockeye salmon Onchorhynchus nerka
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
*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