A biologist installs a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag into a brook trout
Nathaniel (Than) Hitt, PhD (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
New studies reveal ecological importance of fine-scale groundwater connectivity for streams during drought
Stream ecosystems support vital resources that may be jeopardized by climate change and climate stressors such as drought.
Study reveals importance of groundwater for stability of freshwater fish populations and resilience to climate change
Issue: Climate change is warming streams and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and this is a critical concern for fisheries management and conservation. To address this issue, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) recently identified four actions: • address the threats of climate change in all aspects of the partnership’s work; • prioritize communities, working lands, and most vulnerable habitats...
Brook trout vulnerability to drought: eastern component of USGS national integrated ecohydrological research
There is a growing and urgent need to develop and implement innovative strategies to research, monitor, and manage freshwater resources as societal demands escalate simultaneously with climate-driven changes in water availability.
Study of stream fishes provides new framework to monitor climate change in the Chesapeake Bay headwaters
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) have identified four goals for actions toward change climate: • address the threats of climate change in all aspects of the partnership’s work; • prioritize communities, working lands, and most vulnerable habitats; • apply the best scientific, modeling, monitoring and planning capabilities; and • connect restoration outcomes with emerging opportunities. A...
Enabling AI for citizen science in fish biology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing ecology and conservation by enabling species recognition from photos and videos. Our project evaluates the capacity to expand AI for individual fish recognition for population assessment. The success of this effort would facilitate fisheries analysis at an unprecedented scale by engaging anglers and citizen scientists in imagery collection. This...
Effects of introduced species on native brook trout: a guide to the scientific literature
Issue: Native brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ) are of great ecological, cultural, and economic importance in eastern North America, and their restoration is a focus of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Introduced, non-native species can jeopardize native brook trout, and more information on these effects are needed.
Enabling AI for citizen science in fish ecology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing ecology and conservation by enabling species recognition from photos and videos. Our project evaluates the capacity to expand AI for individual fish recognition for population assessment. The success of this effort would facilitate fisheries analysis at an unprecedented scale by engaging anglers and citizen scientists in imagery collection.This proje
Changing Freshwater Flows Affect Fish Populations in the Potomac River
Issue: Millions of people rely on the Potomac River for drinking water and recreational opportunities. The Potomac is Maryland’s most popular freshwater fishing destination, and the second largest river that enters the Chesapeake Bay. Restoring fisheries is also an important goal for the Chesapeake Bay Partnership restoration efforts.
Brook Trout Population Responses to Climate Variation Across the Southeast USA
Brook trout are the only native fish from the salmon family in the southeastern United States. Despite their recreational and cultural significance, human activities, such as habitat degradation and introduction of non-native species, have led to serious declines of brook trout populations in the region. Stream temperature and flow alterations from climate change are projected to impact this cold-
Restoring a native fish to Catoctin Mountain Park
Native species conservation is a fundamental purpose of National Parks. Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) in Maryland supports a prized trout fishery and a healthy community of native fishes, with one exception: native Blue Ridge Sculpin ( Cottus caeruleomentum ) appear to have been extirpated from Big Hunting Creek above Cunningham Falls. Infection by a fungal-like protist Dermocystidium is...
Project eTrout—Linking Research and Education with Virtual Reality
In the Chesapeake Bay headwaters, native brook trout are economically and culturally important and require high-quality, cold-water habitats. Project eTrout, led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), explores the use of crowdsourcing and virtual reality (VR) to estimate the abundance of brook trout in headwater streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project eTrout engages students, anglers, and...
A hydrological framework to improve precision of Vital Signs metrics in the Appalachian highlands
Stream flow is a fundamental driver of ecological structure and function, but its influence on bioassessment measures is poorly understood. Although extreme flow conditions (e.g., floods and droughts) have long been known to play a central role in structuring stream communities, a mechanistic understanding of the linkages between flow variables, landscape and local physical characteristics, and...
Installing PIT tag in brook trout
A biologist installs a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag into a brook trout
Preparing brook trout for eDNA study
Biologist prepare brook trout for a study of environmental DNA (eDNA)
Biologist prepare brook trout for a study of environmental DNA (eDNA)
Photographing brook trout
Biologists photograph brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA)
Biologists photograph brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA)
Measuring brook trout length
A biologist measures the length of a brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA).
A biologist measures the length of a brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA).
Work station for fish species identification
Work station for fish species identification at the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville WV.
Work station for fish species identification at the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville WV.
Inspection of gills in Blue Ridge sculpin
A Blue Ridge sculpin is evaluated for Dermocystidium cysts on its gills
A Blue Ridge sculpin is evaluated for Dermocystidium cysts on its gills
Blue Ridge sculpin acclimation
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated to the water temperature and chemistry of the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in West Virginia. Fish from this study will be used to restore an extirpated population in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland.
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated to the water temperature and chemistry of the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in West Virginia. Fish from this study will be used to restore an extirpated population in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland.
A sculpin receives a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag
USGS technician Zach Kelly inserts a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag into an anesthetized Blue Ridge sculpin at the EESC Experimental Stream Laboratory. The PIT tag will enable researchers to monitor fish growth, survival, and movement after their release.
USGS technician Zach Kelly inserts a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag into an anesthetized Blue Ridge sculpin at the EESC Experimental Stream Laboratory. The PIT tag will enable researchers to monitor fish growth, survival, and movement after their release.
Brook trout observed in Owens Creek, Maryland
This brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was observed in Owens Creek, Maryland.
This brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was observed in Owens Creek, Maryland.
Sculpin acclimation in the Experimental Stream Laboratory
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated for introduction into the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (Leetown campus).
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated for introduction into the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (Leetown campus).
USGS researchers identifying sculpin species
USGS researchers are identifying sculpin species during fieldwork in Owens Creek, Maryland
USGS researchers are identifying sculpin species during fieldwork in Owens Creek, Maryland
Measuring relative elevation at a headwater stream gaging station for fish habitat assessment
This photo shows USGS researchers Kyle Fronte and Karli Rogers measuring relative elevation at a headwater stream gaging station in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
This photo shows USGS researchers Kyle Fronte and Karli Rogers measuring relative elevation at a headwater stream gaging station in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
Stream gages in Bullskin Run, West Virginia
Conductivity, water temperature, and water level gages in Bullskin Run, West Virginia. These gages are part of a regional study to understand how groundwater-surface water interactions affect fish habitat and thermal resiliency to climate change.
Conductivity, water temperature, and water level gages in Bullskin Run, West Virginia. These gages are part of a regional study to understand how groundwater-surface water interactions affect fish habitat and thermal resiliency to climate change.
EESC-WV campus
USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Kearneysville, WV campus
USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Kearneysville, WV campus
Experimental Stream Laboratory
USGS Experimental Stream Laboratory (ESL) in Kearneysville WV. This laboratory consists of 4 recirculating streams with pool and riffle habitat features. ESL research investigates fish population and community ecology to support conservation and restoration planning by state, federal, and NGO partners.
USGS Experimental Stream Laboratory (ESL) in Kearneysville WV. This laboratory consists of 4 recirculating streams with pool and riffle habitat features. ESL research investigates fish population and community ecology to support conservation and restoration planning by state, federal, and NGO partners.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
New studies reveal ecological importance of fine-scale groundwater connectivity for streams during drought
Stream ecosystems support vital resources that may be jeopardized by climate change and climate stressors such as drought.
Study reveals importance of groundwater for stability of freshwater fish populations and resilience to climate change
Issue: Climate change is warming streams and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and this is a critical concern for fisheries management and conservation. To address this issue, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) recently identified four actions: • address the threats of climate change in all aspects of the partnership’s work; • prioritize communities, working lands, and most vulnerable habitats...
Brook trout vulnerability to drought: eastern component of USGS national integrated ecohydrological research
There is a growing and urgent need to develop and implement innovative strategies to research, monitor, and manage freshwater resources as societal demands escalate simultaneously with climate-driven changes in water availability.
Study of stream fishes provides new framework to monitor climate change in the Chesapeake Bay headwaters
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) have identified four goals for actions toward change climate: • address the threats of climate change in all aspects of the partnership’s work; • prioritize communities, working lands, and most vulnerable habitats; • apply the best scientific, modeling, monitoring and planning capabilities; and • connect restoration outcomes with emerging opportunities. A...
Enabling AI for citizen science in fish biology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing ecology and conservation by enabling species recognition from photos and videos. Our project evaluates the capacity to expand AI for individual fish recognition for population assessment. The success of this effort would facilitate fisheries analysis at an unprecedented scale by engaging anglers and citizen scientists in imagery collection. This...
Effects of introduced species on native brook trout: a guide to the scientific literature
Issue: Native brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ) are of great ecological, cultural, and economic importance in eastern North America, and their restoration is a focus of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Introduced, non-native species can jeopardize native brook trout, and more information on these effects are needed.
Enabling AI for citizen science in fish ecology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing ecology and conservation by enabling species recognition from photos and videos. Our project evaluates the capacity to expand AI for individual fish recognition for population assessment. The success of this effort would facilitate fisheries analysis at an unprecedented scale by engaging anglers and citizen scientists in imagery collection.This proje
Changing Freshwater Flows Affect Fish Populations in the Potomac River
Issue: Millions of people rely on the Potomac River for drinking water and recreational opportunities. The Potomac is Maryland’s most popular freshwater fishing destination, and the second largest river that enters the Chesapeake Bay. Restoring fisheries is also an important goal for the Chesapeake Bay Partnership restoration efforts.
Brook Trout Population Responses to Climate Variation Across the Southeast USA
Brook trout are the only native fish from the salmon family in the southeastern United States. Despite their recreational and cultural significance, human activities, such as habitat degradation and introduction of non-native species, have led to serious declines of brook trout populations in the region. Stream temperature and flow alterations from climate change are projected to impact this cold-
Restoring a native fish to Catoctin Mountain Park
Native species conservation is a fundamental purpose of National Parks. Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) in Maryland supports a prized trout fishery and a healthy community of native fishes, with one exception: native Blue Ridge Sculpin ( Cottus caeruleomentum ) appear to have been extirpated from Big Hunting Creek above Cunningham Falls. Infection by a fungal-like protist Dermocystidium is...
Project eTrout—Linking Research and Education with Virtual Reality
In the Chesapeake Bay headwaters, native brook trout are economically and culturally important and require high-quality, cold-water habitats. Project eTrout, led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), explores the use of crowdsourcing and virtual reality (VR) to estimate the abundance of brook trout in headwater streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project eTrout engages students, anglers, and...
A hydrological framework to improve precision of Vital Signs metrics in the Appalachian highlands
Stream flow is a fundamental driver of ecological structure and function, but its influence on bioassessment measures is poorly understood. Although extreme flow conditions (e.g., floods and droughts) have long been known to play a central role in structuring stream communities, a mechanistic understanding of the linkages between flow variables, landscape and local physical characteristics, and...
Installing PIT tag in brook trout
A biologist installs a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag into a brook trout
A biologist installs a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag into a brook trout
Preparing brook trout for eDNA study
Biologist prepare brook trout for a study of environmental DNA (eDNA)
Biologist prepare brook trout for a study of environmental DNA (eDNA)
Photographing brook trout
Biologists photograph brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA)
Biologists photograph brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA)
Measuring brook trout length
A biologist measures the length of a brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA).
A biologist measures the length of a brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA).
Work station for fish species identification
Work station for fish species identification at the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville WV.
Work station for fish species identification at the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville WV.
Inspection of gills in Blue Ridge sculpin
A Blue Ridge sculpin is evaluated for Dermocystidium cysts on its gills
A Blue Ridge sculpin is evaluated for Dermocystidium cysts on its gills
Blue Ridge sculpin acclimation
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated to the water temperature and chemistry of the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in West Virginia. Fish from this study will be used to restore an extirpated population in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland.
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated to the water temperature and chemistry of the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in West Virginia. Fish from this study will be used to restore an extirpated population in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland.
A sculpin receives a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag
USGS technician Zach Kelly inserts a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag into an anesthetized Blue Ridge sculpin at the EESC Experimental Stream Laboratory. The PIT tag will enable researchers to monitor fish growth, survival, and movement after their release.
USGS technician Zach Kelly inserts a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag into an anesthetized Blue Ridge sculpin at the EESC Experimental Stream Laboratory. The PIT tag will enable researchers to monitor fish growth, survival, and movement after their release.
Brook trout observed in Owens Creek, Maryland
This brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was observed in Owens Creek, Maryland.
This brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was observed in Owens Creek, Maryland.
Sculpin acclimation in the Experimental Stream Laboratory
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated for introduction into the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (Leetown campus).
Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) are being acclimated for introduction into the Experimental Stream Laboratory at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (Leetown campus).
USGS researchers identifying sculpin species
USGS researchers are identifying sculpin species during fieldwork in Owens Creek, Maryland
USGS researchers are identifying sculpin species during fieldwork in Owens Creek, Maryland
Measuring relative elevation at a headwater stream gaging station for fish habitat assessment
This photo shows USGS researchers Kyle Fronte and Karli Rogers measuring relative elevation at a headwater stream gaging station in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
This photo shows USGS researchers Kyle Fronte and Karli Rogers measuring relative elevation at a headwater stream gaging station in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
Stream gages in Bullskin Run, West Virginia
Conductivity, water temperature, and water level gages in Bullskin Run, West Virginia. These gages are part of a regional study to understand how groundwater-surface water interactions affect fish habitat and thermal resiliency to climate change.
Conductivity, water temperature, and water level gages in Bullskin Run, West Virginia. These gages are part of a regional study to understand how groundwater-surface water interactions affect fish habitat and thermal resiliency to climate change.
EESC-WV campus
USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Kearneysville, WV campus
USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Kearneysville, WV campus
Experimental Stream Laboratory
USGS Experimental Stream Laboratory (ESL) in Kearneysville WV. This laboratory consists of 4 recirculating streams with pool and riffle habitat features. ESL research investigates fish population and community ecology to support conservation and restoration planning by state, federal, and NGO partners.
USGS Experimental Stream Laboratory (ESL) in Kearneysville WV. This laboratory consists of 4 recirculating streams with pool and riffle habitat features. ESL research investigates fish population and community ecology to support conservation and restoration planning by state, federal, and NGO partners.