An infographic highlighting a study finding that black carp, which are an invasive fish species in North America, are now known to be established in the wild in parts of the Mississippi River basin. The infographic was created by the USGS. The USGS was one of the study’s co-authors and the research was led by Southern Illinois University.
Patrick Kroboth
Patrick is a Research Fish Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Patrick has been a fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center since 2017 with research emphasis on invasive fish species, specifically Black Carp, Bighead Carp, Grass Carp, and Silver Carp. This research includes development of methods to improve capture, early detection, and control, and study of habitat use and movement. His prior experience ranges across lotic and lentic aquatic ecosystems studying recreational and commercial fisheries, invasive species, and threatened and endangered species.
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 2014
B.S. in Fisheries Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, 2010
Affiliations and Memberships*
2022: Mississippi River Basin Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species
2007-present: American Fisheries Society
Science and Products
Black Carp Photo Gallery
Invasive Carps Photo Gallery
Development of a Ploidy Distinction Application: A Machine Learning Approach for Discriminating Triploid and Diploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) in the Field
Laboratory Investigations with Fish Species to Assist with Implementing Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program’s Ecological Management Action Plans
Black Carp Biology, Assessment, and Control
Juvenile carp survival rates relative to season, habitat and predator species combinations in experimental pond exposures Juvenile carp survival rates relative to season, habitat and predator species combinations in experimental pond exposures
A machine learning approach for discriminating triploid and diploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by using microscopic images of hematologically stained blood cells A machine learning approach for discriminating triploid and diploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by using microscopic images of hematologically stained blood cells
Active relocations and tagging data for Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus; 2019-2023 Active relocations and tagging data for Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus; 2019-2023
Grass carp capture and life history traits in the Lake Erie watershed, 2017-2023, and in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lamine Rivers within the state of Missouri, 2022 Grass carp capture and life history traits in the Lake Erie watershed, 2017-2023, and in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lamine Rivers within the state of Missouri, 2022
Measurements of surface water quality and carbon concentrations (2022-2023) in canals of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana Measurements of surface water quality and carbon concentrations (2022-2023) in canals of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana
Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California
Mississippi River fishes collected by a suite of entanglement and entrapment gears; 2020-2023 Mississippi River fishes collected by a suite of entanglement and entrapment gears; 2020-2023
Evaluation of fish behaviors in response to driven and undriven entanglement nets with emphasis on invasive Silver Carp, Central Missouri, 2015-2016 Evaluation of fish behaviors in response to driven and undriven entanglement nets with emphasis on invasive Silver Carp, Central Missouri, 2015-2016
Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022 Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022
Data and rloadest models used to estimate sediment and nutrient loads in selected New York tributaries to eastern Lake Erie Data and rloadest models used to estimate sediment and nutrient loads in selected New York tributaries to eastern Lake Erie
Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey
Age estimates of captured Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) using four calcified structures, 2017-2019 Age estimates of captured Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) using four calcified structures, 2017-2019

An infographic highlighting a study finding that black carp, which are an invasive fish species in North America, are now known to be established in the wild in parts of the Mississippi River basin. The infographic was created by the USGS. The USGS was one of the study’s co-authors and the research was led by Southern Illinois University.

A map of black carp observations in the Mississippi River basin reported to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database as of November 30, 2022. This map is not a complete representation of species abundance or distribution. These data include incidental captures by the public and reports from federal and state agencies.
A map of black carp observations in the Mississippi River basin reported to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database as of November 30, 2022. This map is not a complete representation of species abundance or distribution. These data include incidental captures by the public and reports from federal and state agencies.
Fisheries dependent and independent data inform a capture technique for an emerging invasive fish species in the mainstem Mississippi River; Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus Fisheries dependent and independent data inform a capture technique for an emerging invasive fish species in the mainstem Mississippi River; Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus
Exploration of a piscicide delivery method for invasive Black Carp Exploration of a piscicide delivery method for invasive Black Carp
Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey
Precision of four calcified structures for age estimation of Black Carp Precision of four calcified structures for age estimation of Black Carp
Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers
Establishment of invasive Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River basin: Identifying sources and year classes contributing to recruitment Establishment of invasive Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River basin: Identifying sources and year classes contributing to recruitment
Invasive black carp as a reservoir host for the freshwater mollusk parasite Aspidogaster conchicola: Further evidence of mollusk consumption and implications for parasite dispersal Invasive black carp as a reservoir host for the freshwater mollusk parasite Aspidogaster conchicola: Further evidence of mollusk consumption and implications for parasite dispersal
Pallid sturgeon seasonal habitat selection in a large free-flowing river, the lower Mississippi River Pallid sturgeon seasonal habitat selection in a large free-flowing river, the lower Mississippi River
Characteristics for the external identification of Black Carp from Grass Carp Characteristics for the external identification of Black Carp from Grass Carp
Black Carp in North America: A description of range, habitats, time of year, and methods of reported captures Black Carp in North America: A description of range, habitats, time of year, and methods of reported captures
First examination of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the U.S. First examination of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the U.S.
Habitat use and selection by adult pallid sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River Habitat use and selection by adult pallid sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River
Science and Products
Black Carp Photo Gallery
Invasive Carps Photo Gallery
Development of a Ploidy Distinction Application: A Machine Learning Approach for Discriminating Triploid and Diploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) in the Field
Laboratory Investigations with Fish Species to Assist with Implementing Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program’s Ecological Management Action Plans
Black Carp Biology, Assessment, and Control
Juvenile carp survival rates relative to season, habitat and predator species combinations in experimental pond exposures Juvenile carp survival rates relative to season, habitat and predator species combinations in experimental pond exposures
A machine learning approach for discriminating triploid and diploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by using microscopic images of hematologically stained blood cells A machine learning approach for discriminating triploid and diploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by using microscopic images of hematologically stained blood cells
Active relocations and tagging data for Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus; 2019-2023 Active relocations and tagging data for Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus; 2019-2023
Grass carp capture and life history traits in the Lake Erie watershed, 2017-2023, and in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lamine Rivers within the state of Missouri, 2022 Grass carp capture and life history traits in the Lake Erie watershed, 2017-2023, and in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lamine Rivers within the state of Missouri, 2022
Measurements of surface water quality and carbon concentrations (2022-2023) in canals of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana Measurements of surface water quality and carbon concentrations (2022-2023) in canals of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana
Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California
Mississippi River fishes collected by a suite of entanglement and entrapment gears; 2020-2023 Mississippi River fishes collected by a suite of entanglement and entrapment gears; 2020-2023
Evaluation of fish behaviors in response to driven and undriven entanglement nets with emphasis on invasive Silver Carp, Central Missouri, 2015-2016 Evaluation of fish behaviors in response to driven and undriven entanglement nets with emphasis on invasive Silver Carp, Central Missouri, 2015-2016
Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022 Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022
Data and rloadest models used to estimate sediment and nutrient loads in selected New York tributaries to eastern Lake Erie Data and rloadest models used to estimate sediment and nutrient loads in selected New York tributaries to eastern Lake Erie
Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey
Age estimates of captured Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) using four calcified structures, 2017-2019 Age estimates of captured Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) using four calcified structures, 2017-2019

An infographic highlighting a study finding that black carp, which are an invasive fish species in North America, are now known to be established in the wild in parts of the Mississippi River basin. The infographic was created by the USGS. The USGS was one of the study’s co-authors and the research was led by Southern Illinois University.
An infographic highlighting a study finding that black carp, which are an invasive fish species in North America, are now known to be established in the wild in parts of the Mississippi River basin. The infographic was created by the USGS. The USGS was one of the study’s co-authors and the research was led by Southern Illinois University.

A map of black carp observations in the Mississippi River basin reported to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database as of November 30, 2022. This map is not a complete representation of species abundance or distribution. These data include incidental captures by the public and reports from federal and state agencies.
A map of black carp observations in the Mississippi River basin reported to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database as of November 30, 2022. This map is not a complete representation of species abundance or distribution. These data include incidental captures by the public and reports from federal and state agencies.
Fisheries dependent and independent data inform a capture technique for an emerging invasive fish species in the mainstem Mississippi River; Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus Fisheries dependent and independent data inform a capture technique for an emerging invasive fish species in the mainstem Mississippi River; Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus
Exploration of a piscicide delivery method for invasive Black Carp Exploration of a piscicide delivery method for invasive Black Carp
Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey
Precision of four calcified structures for age estimation of Black Carp Precision of four calcified structures for age estimation of Black Carp
Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers
Establishment of invasive Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River basin: Identifying sources and year classes contributing to recruitment Establishment of invasive Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River basin: Identifying sources and year classes contributing to recruitment
Invasive black carp as a reservoir host for the freshwater mollusk parasite Aspidogaster conchicola: Further evidence of mollusk consumption and implications for parasite dispersal Invasive black carp as a reservoir host for the freshwater mollusk parasite Aspidogaster conchicola: Further evidence of mollusk consumption and implications for parasite dispersal
Pallid sturgeon seasonal habitat selection in a large free-flowing river, the lower Mississippi River Pallid sturgeon seasonal habitat selection in a large free-flowing river, the lower Mississippi River
Characteristics for the external identification of Black Carp from Grass Carp Characteristics for the external identification of Black Carp from Grass Carp
Black Carp in North America: A description of range, habitats, time of year, and methods of reported captures Black Carp in North America: A description of range, habitats, time of year, and methods of reported captures
First examination of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the U.S. First examination of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the U.S.
Habitat use and selection by adult pallid sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River Habitat use and selection by adult pallid sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River
*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