Mark Wildhaber, PhD
Dr. Mark Wildhaber is a Research Ecologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Mark has worked at USGS, Columbia Environment Research Center since 1991. His major responsibilities include research in all areas of aquatic ecology, fish biology, behavioral ecology, ecological modeling, and climate change in understanding for and support of conservation and recovery efforts. His expertise includes: at-risk, threatened, and endangered fishes, reproductive ecology, bioenergetics and population, community, and ecosystem modeling and forecasting, population monitoring and experiment designs, and Bayesian and non-Bayesian approaches to analyzing fisheries data. Mark's research includes reproductive behavior and physiology and abiotic and biotic requirements for reproductive success of commercially valuable and/or federally-listed as threatened or endangered fishes; effects of heavy metals and acidic contamination on riverine ecosystems; effects of water management on the benthic fish community of riverine ecosystems; effects of organic and inorganic contamination on aquatic benthic invertebrate communities; and spatial and temporal hierarchical fish population modeling using spatially-explicit individual-based models that incorporate bioenergetics, foraging theory, and other models of habitat choice under varying environmental conditions in the context of global climate to guide conservation and recovery efforts.
Professional Experience
1997-present Research Ecologist/Quantitative Ecology Section Leader, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
1991-1997 Statistician, USFWS/NBS National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center
1989-1991 Research Associate and Tutor, Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University
1983-1989 Research and Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University
1981-1983 Teaching Assistant, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Texas A&M University
1979 Laboratory Assistant, Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Zoology and Biomathematics, Southeast Missouri State University 1989
M.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Southeast Missouri State University 1985
B.S. Zoology and Mathematics, Minor in Chemistry, Southeast Missouri State University 1981
Affiliations and Memberships*
2017-presesent, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sturgeon Specialty Group Commission Member
2009-present Member, World Sturgeon Conservation Society
2002-present Fellow, American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists
1993-present Member, North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society
1993-1994 Continuing Education Coordinator, North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society
1993-present Member, Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
1993-1995 Continuing Education Coordinator, Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
1990-present Member, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
1988-present Member, Animal Behavior Society
2004-present Member, Conservation Committee, Animal Behavior Society
1984-present, Member, American Fisheries Society
1994-1995 Member Publications Award Committee, American Fisheries Society
1994-1998 Associate Editor, The Progressive Fish Culturist, American Fisheries Society
Science and Products
Projecting Future Impacts to River Systems and Large River Fish: Missouri River Sturgeon Example
In collaboration with the University of Missouri and Iowa State University, this project advanced efforts to understand and accommodate uncertainty by applying to Missouri River sturgeon population dynamics the tools of multi-scale climate models and hierarchical Bayesian modeling frameworks, linking models for system components together by formal rules of probability. While a complete climate pre
Filter Total Items: 17
Data on the behavior of grass carp, silver carp, and bighead carp during laboratory exposures to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and L-glutamic acid
These data pertain to behavior trials conducted on three different species of invasive carp in a laboratory setting between the dates of 29 April 2021 to 14 December 2021. The three species tested were grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix). The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and L‑glutamic acid were select
Bird detections from multi-species point surveys at lowland forest restoration sites, Indiana, United States, April – June 2016, with resampling code
These data pertain to bird point surveys collected from 30 April 2016 to 12 May 2016 and 23 May 2016 to 25 June 2016 at four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. The data are a single monitoring occasion with the purpose of documenting bird communities across these sites. During the time of collection, sites contained areas of hardwood planting ranging in age from 2 to 22
Chronic toxicity of metals in two water hardness to three sizes of the crayfish Faxonius quadruncus Missouri, USA 2017-2018
Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the effect of water hardness and age of crayfish on the toxicity of environment-based metals mixture. Additionally, the effects of chronic exposure to a metals mixture to egg development in adult F. quadruncus were assessed. Mortality and growth of F. quadruncus were assessed. These data consist of attributes of water quality from toxicity tests and att
Effects of metals from historical mining on crayfish in Madison County Missouri USA, 2015
Deposits of lead (Pb) and other metals in southeastern Missouri, USA have been exploited since the 1700s. Metal contamination of fish and other aquatic biota, alteration of fish and invertebrate communities, and public health advisories against human consumption of Pb-contaminated fish have resulted. The Little Saint Francis River (LFSR) and its tributaries, which drain the mining-affected areas o
Captures and habitat classification of benthic fishes along the Missouri and Lower Yellowstone Rivers, 1996-1998
In 1995, the Missouri River Benthic Fishes Study was initiated to provide improved information on Missouri River fish populations and how alterations might affect them. Missouri River Benthic Fishes Study (MRBFS) documented annual patterns, habitat, and water quality associations of 21 Missouri River benthic fish species based on relative abundance, including sicklefin and sturgeon chub from 1996
Occupancy model coefficients and observed co-occurrence simulations for sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, and associated fishes in the Missouri River
Extant population monitoring and habitat assessment data sets of benthic species were used as inputs for occupancy models focused on Sicklefin and Sturgeon chub with the goals of describing temporal, spatial, and environmental factors associated with occupancy patterns of each chub species, assessing co-occurrence of the two species, and determining relationships between co-occurrence and environm
Crayfish morphometric measurements, burrow attributes and occupancy in response to physical burrow barriers
Data were collected in association with the application of two physical barrier treatments, bentonite clay (a sealing agent) and expanding foam (an insulation sealant), in natural pond-burrows to suppress or kill the invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Data include burrow diameter and depth, crayfish sex and size, and determination of the treatment reaching the burrow chamber.
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.
Survival, behavior, reproduction, morphometric measurements, and tissue analyses of crayfish, mussels, and fish from acute pesticide toxicity tests
Survival, behavior, reproduction, morphometric measurements, and tissue analyses of crayfish, mussels, and fish from acute toxicity tests with pyrethroid pesticides. Exposure and recovery water quality data are also included for quality assurance purposes.
Electro-olfactory responses of Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, and Silver Carp to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid
Using juvenile individuals of 3 species of carp (Family: Cyprinidae), we tested the potential for six amino acids to elicit an extracellular electro-olfactory response within the naris using gelatin-based electrodes. The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid were tested on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmic
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.
Filter Total Items: 92
Comparative behavioral responses of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (H. molitrix) to free amino acids in water
Control and elimination of invasive fishes, like carps (Order Cypriniformes), may be possible by using chemical stimuli to congregate them for removal. To this end, we tested behavioral responses of grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (H. molitrix) to L-alanine, L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, and L-aspartic acid. In grass carp, the first three amino
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Zachary D Beaman, Karlie K Ditter, Benjamin M West
Survey effort and targeted landbird community metrics at Indiana lowland forest restoration sites
Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource-limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data, we used b
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, John P. Isanhart, M. Victoria McDonald, Michael J. Hooper
Chronic effects of metal releases from historical mining on threatened crayfish in Madison County Missouri, USA
The Little St. Francis River and its tributaries drain metals-contaminated areas of the Madison County Mines National Priority List Superfund site (MCM) which was designated in 2003 to facilitate remediation of metals contamination within the MCM. One concern for natural resource trustees in the MCM is the potential effects of elevated metals concentrations on the federally threatened St. Francis
Authors
Ann Allert, Danielle M. Cleveland, Robert J. DiStefano, Mark L. Wildhaber, Leslie K. Lueckenhoff
Sicklefin Chub (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Sturgeon Chub (M. gelida) temporal and spatial patterns from extant population monitoring and habitat data spanning 23 Years
Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis meeki) and sturgeon chub (M. gelida) historically occurred throughout the Missouri River (MR), in some tributaries, and Mississippi River downstream of the MR. They have been species of U.S. state-level conservation concern and U.S. Endangered Species Act listing candidates since the 1990s. We applied analytical approaches from occupancy modeling to correlation to monitorin
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Kendell Ray Bennett, Jack Howard May, Janice L. Albers, Nicholas S. Green
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
Visitor use and activities detected using trail cameras at forest restoration sites
We used trail cameras to monitor human visits and activities at two sites in northeast Indiana being restored to bottomland hardwood forests. These sites, managed as nature preserves, are close to cities, where trails and parking lots have been added for ease of access. In this study, trail cameras were successfully used to capture visitation rates and activity types. The two sites had median visi
Authors
Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, Matthew Struckhoff, Michael J. Hooper
A review of grass carp and related species literature on diet, behavior, toxicology, and physiology focused on informing development of controls for invasive grass carp populations in North America
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are globally important in aquaculture and aquatic vegetation control. However, escaped grass carp have established invasive populations. A targeted keyword search was performed on a carp (order: Cypriniformes) literature database maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify literature relevant to grass carp. Additional sources cited in reviewed document
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Adrian Parr Moore, Alex S. Peterson
Use of physical blockers to control invasive red swamp crayfish in burrows
The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southeast United States
but has successfully invaded nearly every continent around the world. Although physical,
biological, and chemical controls are employed to reduce or eliminate populations
in open-water systems, terrestrial burrows provide a potential refuge from aquatic
control treatments. We conducted burrow trials to test whether
Authors
Benjamin Lee Bates, Ann Allert, Mark L. Wildhaber, Jim Stoeckel
Incorporating metapopulation dynamics to inform invasive species management: Evaluating bighead and silver carp control strategies in the Illinois River
1. Invasive species management can benefit from predictive models that incorporate spatially explicit demographics and dispersal to guide resource allocation decisions. 2. We used invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) in the Illinois River, USA as a case study to create a spatially explicit model to evaluate the allocation of future management efforts. Specifically, we compared additi
Authors
Jahn Kallis, Richard A. Erickson, David P. Coulter, Alison A. Coulter, Marybeth K. Brey, Matt Catalano, John M. Dettmers, James E. Garvey, Kevin Irons, Elizabeth A. Marschall, Kenneth A Rose, Mark L. Wildhaber, David C. Glover
Herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exhibit greater olfactory response to amino acids than filter-feeding bighead (Hypophthalmichthysnobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Due to their invasiveness in North America, grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are management priorities. Comparing electrophysiological responses to olfactory cues, such as amino acids, could help identify stimuli to facilitate management efforts (i.e., repellants or baits). We assessed olfactory response magnitude
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Alex S. Peterson, Robin D. Calfee, Zachary D Beaman
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
Laboratory studies of potential competition for food and substrate among early juvenile Missouri River sturgeon and sympatric chub species
Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus predominantly consume midges (family Chironomidae) and other macroinvertebrates, while Shovelnose Sturgeon S. platorynchus, Sicklefin Chub Macrhybopsis meeki, and Shoal Chub M. hyostoma feed on those same macroinvertebrates throughout life. The primary objective of this study was to assess the substrate component of habitat selection, specifically sele
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers
Non-USGS Publications**
Wildhaber, M.L., and Neill, W.H., 1992, Activity and distribution of northern and Florida largemouth bass in a Texas impound: Journal of Freshwater Ecology, v. 7, no. 3, p. 293-302
Wildhaber, M.L., and Crowder, L.B., 1991, Mechanisms of patch choice by bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) foraging in a variable environment: Copeia, v. 1991, no. 2, p. 445-460
Wildhaber, M.L., Green, R.F., and Crowder, L.B., 1994, Bluegills continuously update patch giving-up times based on foraging experience: Animal Behaviour, v. 47, no. 3, p. 501-513.
W. Westerman, P., M. Losordo, T., and L. Wildhaber, M., 1996, Evaluation of Various Biofilters in an Intensive Recirculating Fish Production Facility: Transactions of the ASAE, v. 39, no. 2, p. 723-727.
**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
Projecting Future Impacts to River Systems and Large River Fish: Missouri River Sturgeon Example
In collaboration with the University of Missouri and Iowa State University, this project advanced efforts to understand and accommodate uncertainty by applying to Missouri River sturgeon population dynamics the tools of multi-scale climate models and hierarchical Bayesian modeling frameworks, linking models for system components together by formal rules of probability. While a complete climate pre
Filter Total Items: 17
Data on the behavior of grass carp, silver carp, and bighead carp during laboratory exposures to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and L-glutamic acid
These data pertain to behavior trials conducted on three different species of invasive carp in a laboratory setting between the dates of 29 April 2021 to 14 December 2021. The three species tested were grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix). The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and L‑glutamic acid were select
Bird detections from multi-species point surveys at lowland forest restoration sites, Indiana, United States, April – June 2016, with resampling code
These data pertain to bird point surveys collected from 30 April 2016 to 12 May 2016 and 23 May 2016 to 25 June 2016 at four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. The data are a single monitoring occasion with the purpose of documenting bird communities across these sites. During the time of collection, sites contained areas of hardwood planting ranging in age from 2 to 22
Chronic toxicity of metals in two water hardness to three sizes of the crayfish Faxonius quadruncus Missouri, USA 2017-2018
Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the effect of water hardness and age of crayfish on the toxicity of environment-based metals mixture. Additionally, the effects of chronic exposure to a metals mixture to egg development in adult F. quadruncus were assessed. Mortality and growth of F. quadruncus were assessed. These data consist of attributes of water quality from toxicity tests and att
Effects of metals from historical mining on crayfish in Madison County Missouri USA, 2015
Deposits of lead (Pb) and other metals in southeastern Missouri, USA have been exploited since the 1700s. Metal contamination of fish and other aquatic biota, alteration of fish and invertebrate communities, and public health advisories against human consumption of Pb-contaminated fish have resulted. The Little Saint Francis River (LFSR) and its tributaries, which drain the mining-affected areas o
Captures and habitat classification of benthic fishes along the Missouri and Lower Yellowstone Rivers, 1996-1998
In 1995, the Missouri River Benthic Fishes Study was initiated to provide improved information on Missouri River fish populations and how alterations might affect them. Missouri River Benthic Fishes Study (MRBFS) documented annual patterns, habitat, and water quality associations of 21 Missouri River benthic fish species based on relative abundance, including sicklefin and sturgeon chub from 1996
Occupancy model coefficients and observed co-occurrence simulations for sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, and associated fishes in the Missouri River
Extant population monitoring and habitat assessment data sets of benthic species were used as inputs for occupancy models focused on Sicklefin and Sturgeon chub with the goals of describing temporal, spatial, and environmental factors associated with occupancy patterns of each chub species, assessing co-occurrence of the two species, and determining relationships between co-occurrence and environm
Crayfish morphometric measurements, burrow attributes and occupancy in response to physical burrow barriers
Data were collected in association with the application of two physical barrier treatments, bentonite clay (a sealing agent) and expanding foam (an insulation sealant), in natural pond-burrows to suppress or kill the invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Data include burrow diameter and depth, crayfish sex and size, and determination of the treatment reaching the burrow chamber.
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.
Survival, behavior, reproduction, morphometric measurements, and tissue analyses of crayfish, mussels, and fish from acute pesticide toxicity tests
Survival, behavior, reproduction, morphometric measurements, and tissue analyses of crayfish, mussels, and fish from acute toxicity tests with pyrethroid pesticides. Exposure and recovery water quality data are also included for quality assurance purposes.
Electro-olfactory responses of Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, and Silver Carp to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid
Using juvenile individuals of 3 species of carp (Family: Cyprinidae), we tested the potential for six amino acids to elicit an extracellular electro-olfactory response within the naris using gelatin-based electrodes. The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid were tested on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmic
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.
Filter Total Items: 92
Comparative behavioral responses of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (H. molitrix) to free amino acids in water
Control and elimination of invasive fishes, like carps (Order Cypriniformes), may be possible by using chemical stimuli to congregate them for removal. To this end, we tested behavioral responses of grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (H. molitrix) to L-alanine, L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, and L-aspartic acid. In grass carp, the first three amino
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Zachary D Beaman, Karlie K Ditter, Benjamin M West
Survey effort and targeted landbird community metrics at Indiana lowland forest restoration sites
Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource-limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data, we used b
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, John P. Isanhart, M. Victoria McDonald, Michael J. Hooper
Chronic effects of metal releases from historical mining on threatened crayfish in Madison County Missouri, USA
The Little St. Francis River and its tributaries drain metals-contaminated areas of the Madison County Mines National Priority List Superfund site (MCM) which was designated in 2003 to facilitate remediation of metals contamination within the MCM. One concern for natural resource trustees in the MCM is the potential effects of elevated metals concentrations on the federally threatened St. Francis
Authors
Ann Allert, Danielle M. Cleveland, Robert J. DiStefano, Mark L. Wildhaber, Leslie K. Lueckenhoff
Sicklefin Chub (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Sturgeon Chub (M. gelida) temporal and spatial patterns from extant population monitoring and habitat data spanning 23 Years
Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis meeki) and sturgeon chub (M. gelida) historically occurred throughout the Missouri River (MR), in some tributaries, and Mississippi River downstream of the MR. They have been species of U.S. state-level conservation concern and U.S. Endangered Species Act listing candidates since the 1990s. We applied analytical approaches from occupancy modeling to correlation to monitorin
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Kendell Ray Bennett, Jack Howard May, Janice L. Albers, Nicholas S. Green
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
Visitor use and activities detected using trail cameras at forest restoration sites
We used trail cameras to monitor human visits and activities at two sites in northeast Indiana being restored to bottomland hardwood forests. These sites, managed as nature preserves, are close to cities, where trails and parking lots have been added for ease of access. In this study, trail cameras were successfully used to capture visitation rates and activity types. The two sites had median visi
Authors
Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, Matthew Struckhoff, Michael J. Hooper
A review of grass carp and related species literature on diet, behavior, toxicology, and physiology focused on informing development of controls for invasive grass carp populations in North America
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are globally important in aquaculture and aquatic vegetation control. However, escaped grass carp have established invasive populations. A targeted keyword search was performed on a carp (order: Cypriniformes) literature database maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify literature relevant to grass carp. Additional sources cited in reviewed document
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Adrian Parr Moore, Alex S. Peterson
Use of physical blockers to control invasive red swamp crayfish in burrows
The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southeast United States
but has successfully invaded nearly every continent around the world. Although physical,
biological, and chemical controls are employed to reduce or eliminate populations
in open-water systems, terrestrial burrows provide a potential refuge from aquatic
control treatments. We conducted burrow trials to test whether
Authors
Benjamin Lee Bates, Ann Allert, Mark L. Wildhaber, Jim Stoeckel
Incorporating metapopulation dynamics to inform invasive species management: Evaluating bighead and silver carp control strategies in the Illinois River
1. Invasive species management can benefit from predictive models that incorporate spatially explicit demographics and dispersal to guide resource allocation decisions. 2. We used invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) in the Illinois River, USA as a case study to create a spatially explicit model to evaluate the allocation of future management efforts. Specifically, we compared additi
Authors
Jahn Kallis, Richard A. Erickson, David P. Coulter, Alison A. Coulter, Marybeth K. Brey, Matt Catalano, John M. Dettmers, James E. Garvey, Kevin Irons, Elizabeth A. Marschall, Kenneth A Rose, Mark L. Wildhaber, David C. Glover
Herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exhibit greater olfactory response to amino acids than filter-feeding bighead (Hypophthalmichthysnobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Due to their invasiveness in North America, grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are management priorities. Comparing electrophysiological responses to olfactory cues, such as amino acids, could help identify stimuli to facilitate management efforts (i.e., repellants or baits). We assessed olfactory response magnitude
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Alex S. Peterson, Robin D. Calfee, Zachary D Beaman
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
Laboratory studies of potential competition for food and substrate among early juvenile Missouri River sturgeon and sympatric chub species
Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus predominantly consume midges (family Chironomidae) and other macroinvertebrates, while Shovelnose Sturgeon S. platorynchus, Sicklefin Chub Macrhybopsis meeki, and Shoal Chub M. hyostoma feed on those same macroinvertebrates throughout life. The primary objective of this study was to assess the substrate component of habitat selection, specifically sele
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers
Non-USGS Publications**
Wildhaber, M.L., and Neill, W.H., 1992, Activity and distribution of northern and Florida largemouth bass in a Texas impound: Journal of Freshwater Ecology, v. 7, no. 3, p. 293-302
Wildhaber, M.L., and Crowder, L.B., 1991, Mechanisms of patch choice by bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) foraging in a variable environment: Copeia, v. 1991, no. 2, p. 445-460
Wildhaber, M.L., Green, R.F., and Crowder, L.B., 1994, Bluegills continuously update patch giving-up times based on foraging experience: Animal Behaviour, v. 47, no. 3, p. 501-513.
W. Westerman, P., M. Losordo, T., and L. Wildhaber, M., 1996, Evaluation of Various Biofilters in an Intensive Recirculating Fish Production Facility: Transactions of the ASAE, v. 39, no. 2, p. 723-727.
**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