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
Habitat use by a Midwestern U.S.A. riverine fish assemblage: effects of season, water temperature and river discharge
Influence of water flow on Neosho madtom (Noturus placidus) reproductive behavior
Examining Neosho madtom reproductive biology using ultrasound and artificial photothermal cycles
Spatiotemporal patterns of fish assemblage structure in a river impounded by low-head dams
Effects of lowhead dams on the ephemeropterans, plecopterans, and trichopterans group in a north American River
Gender identification of shovelnose sturgeon using ultrasonic and endoscopic imagery and the application of the method to the pallid sturgeon
Importance of the habitat choice behavior assumed when modeling the effects of food and temperature on fish populations
Age estimation for shovelnose sturgeon: A cautionary note based on annulus formation in pectoral fin rays
Effects of lowhead dams on riffle-dwelling fishes and macroinvertebrates in a Midwestern river
Correlations among densities of stream fishes in the upper Neosho River, with focus on the federally threatened Neosho madtom Noturus placidus
Threatened fishes of the world: Noturus placidus Taylor, 1969 (Ictaluridae)
A longitudinal assessment of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in the channelized lower Missouri River
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
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Habitat use by a Midwestern U.S.A. riverine fish assemblage: effects of season, water temperature and river discharge
The hypothesis that temperate stream fishes alter habitat use in response to changing water temperature and stream discharge was evaluated over a 1 year period in the Neosho River, Kansas, U.S.A. at two spatial scales. Winter patterns differed from those of all other seasons, with shallower water used less frequently, and low-flow habitat more frequently, than at other times. Non-random habitat usAuthorsD.P. Gillette, J.S. Tiemann, D.R. Edds, M. L. WildhaberInfluence of water flow on Neosho madtom (Noturus placidus) reproductive behavior
The Neosho madtom is a small, short-lived catfish species endemic to gravel bars of the Neosho River in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, U.S.A. It spawns during summer in nesting cavities excavated in gravel. Although the species has survived dam construction within the Neosho River basin, its declining numbers resulted in it being added to the federal threatened species list in 1991. To test how waAuthorsJ.L. Bryan, M. L. Wildhaber, Douglas B. NoltieExamining Neosho madtom reproductive biology using ultrasound and artificial photothermal cycles
We examined whether extended laboratory simulation of natural photothermal conditions could stimulate reproduction in the Neosho madtom Noturus placidus, a federally threatened species. For 3 years, a captive population of Neosho madtoms was maintained under simulated natural conditions and monitored routinely with ultrasound for reproductive condition. Female Neosho madtoms cycled in and out of sAuthorsJ.L. Bryan, M. L. Wildhaber, Douglas B. NoltieSpatiotemporal patterns of fish assemblage structure in a river impounded by low-head dams
We studied spatiotemporal patterns of fish assemblage structure in the Neosho River, Kansas, a system impounded by low-head dams. Spatial variation in the fish assemblage was related to the location of dams that created alternating lotic and lentic stream reaches with differing fish assemblages. At upstream sites close to dams, assemblages were characterized by species associated with deeper, slowAuthorsDavid P. Gillette, Jeremy S. Tiemann, David R. Edds, Mark L. WildhaberEffects of lowhead dams on the ephemeropterans, plecopterans, and trichopterans group in a north American River
We assessed the effects of lowhead dams on the EPT group (ephemeropterans, plecopterans, and trichopterans) by sampling habitat and macroinvertebiates monthly from November 2000 to October 2001 at eight gravel bars centered around two lowhead dams on the Neosho River, Lyon County, Kansas. Sites included a reference and treatment site upstream and downstream from each dam. Percent EFT was greater aAuthorsJeremy S. Tiemann, David P. Gillette, Mark L. Wildhaber, David R. EddsGender identification of shovelnose sturgeon using ultrasonic and endoscopic imagery and the application of the method to the pallid sturgeon
Monthly sampling of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, a biological surrogate for the endangered pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus, was conducted to develop a multiseasonal profile of reproductive stages. Data collected included histological characteristics of gonads from wild caught fish and laboratory and field ultrasonic and endoscopic images. These data were used to compare efAuthorsM. L. Wildhaber, D. M. Papoulias, A. J. DeLonay, D. E. Tillitt, J.L. Bryan, M.L. Annis, J.A. AllertImportance of the habitat choice behavior assumed when modeling the effects of food and temperature on fish populations
Various mechanisms of habitat choice in fishes based on food and/or temperature have been proposed: optimal foraging for food alone; behavioral thermoregulation for temperature alone; and behavioral energetics and discounted matching for food and temperature combined. Along with development of habitat choice mechanisms, there has been a major push to develop and apply to fish populations individuaAuthorsMark L. Wildhaber, Peter J. LambersonAge estimation for shovelnose sturgeon: A cautionary note based on annulus formation in pectoral fin rays
Numerous studies have examined the age and growth of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, but only one study attempted to validate age estimation techniques. Therefore, our objective was to use marginal increment analysis to validate annulus formation in pectoral fin rays of shovelnose sturgeon collected from the Missouri River. We also compared the precision of age estimates between tAuthorsK.W. Whiteman, V.H. Travnichek, M. L. Wildhaber, A. DeLonay, D. Papoulias, D. TillettEffects of lowhead dams on riffle-dwelling fishes and macroinvertebrates in a Midwestern river
Many studies have assessed the effects of large dams on fishes and macroinvertebrates, but few have examined the effects of lowhead dams. We sampled fishes, macroinvertebrates, habitat, and physicochemistry monthly from November 2000 to October 2001 at eight gravel bar sites centered around two lowhead dams on the Neosho River, Kansas. Sites included a reference site and a treatment site both upstAuthorsJ.S. Tiemann, D.P. Gillette, M. L. Wildhaber, D.R. EddsCorrelations among densities of stream fishes in the upper Neosho River, with focus on the federally threatened Neosho madtom Noturus placidus
We sampled fishes monthly from November 2000 to October 2001 at four gravel bar sites along a 34-km stretch of the upper Neosho River in Lyon County, Kansas. We assessed the potential for interspecific competition among stream fishes, with focus on the federally threatened Neosho madtom, Noturus placidus, by using Pearson's correlation analysis with sequential Bonferroni correction of alpha to exaAuthorsJeremy S. Tiemann, David P. Gillette, Mark L. Wildhaber, David R. EddsThreatened fishes of the world: Noturus placidus Taylor, 1969 (Ictaluridae)
No abstract available.AuthorsJanice L. Bryan, Mark L. Wildhaber, Douglas B. NoltieA longitudinal assessment of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in the channelized lower Missouri River
We conducted an aquatic macroinvertebrate assessment in the channelized reach of the lower Missouri River, and used statistical analysis of individual metrics and multimetric scores to identify community response patterns and evaluate relative biological condition. We examined longitudinal site differences that are potentially associated with water qualityrelated factors originating from the KansaAuthorsBarry C. Poulton, Mark L. Wildhaber, Collette S. Charbonneau, James F. Fairchild, Brad G. Mueller, Christopher J. SchmittNon-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. 445-460Wildhaber, 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