Matthew O'Donnell
Biography
Education:
M.S. Fisheries Conservation, UMASS-Amherst, 2000.
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management, Fisheries option, UMASS-Amherst, 1995.
Professional Experience:
2018-present: Research Ecologist, USGS, Leetown Science Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab, Turners Falls, Massachusetts
2002-2018: Ecologist, USGS, Leetown Science Center, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab, Turners Falls, Massachusetts
2000-2002: Marine Resource Scientist I, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Hallowell, Maine
1999-2000: Biologist I, MassWildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts
Science and Products
Survival and density of a dominant fish species across a gradient of urbanization in North Carolina tidal creeks
Development in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain generates the need for a better understanding of how demographics (survival and abundance) of estuarine nekton respond to urbanization. Apparent survival and density of the dominant Atlantic coast salt marsh fish, Fundulus heteroclitus, were estimated in four North Carolina tidal creeks using a...
Rudershausen, Paul J; Hightower, Joseph E; Buckel, Jeffery A; O'Donnell, Matthew J.; Dubreuil, Todd; Letcher, Benjamin H. Implanting 8-mm passive integrated transponder tags into small Brook Trout: Effects on growth and survival in the laboratory
Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are commonly used to investigate relationships between individual fish and their environment. The recent availability of smaller tags has provided the opportunity to tag smaller fish. In this study, we implanted 8-mm PIT tags into small Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis (35–50 mm FL; 0.35–1.266 g) and...
O'Donnell, Matthew J.; Letcher, Benjamin H. Estimating movement and survival rates of a small saltwater fish using autonomous antenna receiver arrays and passive integrated transponder tags
We evaluated the performance of small (12.5 mm long) passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and custom detection antennas for obtaining fine-scale movement and demographic data of mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus in a salt marsh creek. Apparent survival and detection probability were estimated using a Cormack Jolly Seber (CJS) model fitted to...
Rudershausen, Paul J.; Buckel, Jeffery A.; Dubreuil, Todd; O'Donnell, Matthew J.; Hightower, Joseph E.; Poland, Steven J.; Letcher, Benjamin H. Use of portable antennas to estimate abundance of PIT-tagged fish in small streams: Factors affecting detection probability
Portable passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antenna systems can be valuable in providing reliable estimates of the abundance of tagged Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in small streams under a wide range of conditions. We developed and employed PIT tag antenna wand techniques in two controlled experiments and an additional case study to examine...
O'Donnell, Matthew J.; Horton, Gregg E.; Letcher, Benjamin H.