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Robin D Calfee

Robin Calfee is a Research Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

Since joining the USGS in 1991, Robin has devoted her career to investigating the impacts of contaminants to various aquatic organisms and developing methods for quantifying fish swimming behavior.  Currently, her research focuses on testing the effectiveness of different control strategies for Asian Carp such as auditory stimuli, food attractants and supplemental capture techniques.

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Aquatic Biology, Department of Biology, Missouri State University 1996

  • B.S. Biology, Department of Biology, Missouri State University 1991

Science and Products

sound mapping

Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps

Invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, hereafter referred to as bigheaded carps, have displayed a negative phonotactic response when presented with a broadband acoustic stimulus. Additional study is needed to identify effective acoustic stimuli for manipulating bigheaded carp behavior, and to test bigheaded carp responses to those stimuli in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps

Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps

Invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, hereafter referred to as bigheaded carps, have displayed a negative phonotactic response when presented with a broadband acoustic stimulus. Additional study is needed to identify effective acoustic stimuli for manipulating bigheaded carp behavior, and to test bigheaded carp responses to those stimuli in...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 18

Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Locations in Earthen Ponds Exposed to Three Acoustic Signals, June though August, 2018 Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Locations in Earthen Ponds Exposed to Three Acoustic Signals, June though August, 2018

This data set includes acoustic telemetry positions for silver carp ranging in total length from 251 to 359 mm (mean = 294 mm) and weight 131 – 427 g (mean = 231 g) tagged with 795-LD transmitters in four earthen ponds at the Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, USA. Positions were monitored using a 16-hydrophone array in each pond before and during a series of trials...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

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

From 2017-2023, a total of 934 Grass Carp were removed from the Lake Erie basin and tributaries, and 159 were captured in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lamine Rivers within the state of Missouri in 2022. For each captured fish we documented capture location, water temperature; we measured total length and total weight. Length data was used to assess the removal efforts in Lake Erie. A...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Grass Carp Movement and Capture Data from the Sandusky River, Lake Erie, Ohio, USA from 2020 to 2022 Grass Carp Movement and Capture Data from the Sandusky River, Lake Erie, Ohio, USA from 2020 to 2022

Data includes grass carp position and sampling data from 2020 to 2022. We used grass carp that were implanted with acoustic transmitters. The position data was generated in Fathom Position from receivers that composed several VEMCO Positioning Systems (VPS). We also queried the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation Network (GLATOS) to obtain non-VPS position detections from...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Fish Community and habitat assessment in the Sandusky River, OH, April 2021 through October 2021 Fish Community and habitat assessment in the Sandusky River, OH, April 2021 through October 2021

Data includes fish abundance and habitat data collected at ten sites in the Sandusky River, OH. Fish were collected using two 3.67 m long hoop nets with an initial hoop diameter of 0.91 m. Nets were set perpendicular to the current, opening toward the shoreline. Nets were set for approximately 24 hours and catch rates for each set were defined as the number of fish caught in the two hoop...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Telemetry evaluation of invasive carp herding in Jonathan Creek Embayment, Kentucky Lake, Kentucky Telemetry evaluation of invasive carp herding in Jonathan Creek Embayment, Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Data tables represents a telemetry study assessing the efficacy of sound and electricity used to herd Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The study occurred in Jonathan Creek Embayment of Kentucky Lake, Kentucky using 10 telemetered Silver Carp and 46 passive acoustic receivers. Two herding boats traveled at 2.22 meters per second along bank-to-bank transects through the study...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Starved Rock navigation lock fish clearing hydroacoustic data, Illinois River (2020) Starved Rock navigation lock fish clearing hydroacoustic data, Illinois River (2020)

These datasets (e.g., 'Starved Rock fish clearing_multi-beam imaging sonar fish data_Pre-clearing_Sonar-s1.csv') include exported information (e.g., fish detection counts) from processed fixed-location multi-beam imaging sonar and mobile side-scan sonar data. Fish abundance in the navigation lock was determined using mobile side-scan surveys, while multi-beam imaging sonars were used to...
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Filter Total Items: 42

Capturing potential: Leveraging grass carp behavior Ctenopharyngodon idella for enhanced removal Capturing potential: Leveraging grass carp behavior Ctenopharyngodon idella for enhanced removal

Effective management of invasive species benefits from a comprehensive understanding of the species’ behavior and interactions with the invaded system. We investigated temporal dynamics of telemetry detections and the potential utility of a traitor approach for informing response efforts to the invasive grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) population in the Sandusky River, a major...
Authors
Matthew Acre, Tyler Hessler, Sophia Bonjour, James Roberts, Scott Colborne, Travis O. Brenden, Lucas Nathan, Dustin Broaddus, Christopher Vandergoot, Christine Mayer, Song Qian, Robert D. Hunter, Ryan Brown, Robin Calfee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Sound and sturgeon: Bioacoustics and anthropogenic sound Sound and sturgeon: Bioacoustics and anthropogenic sound

Sturgeons are basal bony fishes, most species of which are considered threatened and/or endangered. Like all fishes, sturgeons use hearing to learn about their environment and perhaps communicate with conspecifics, as in mating. Thus, anything that impacts the ability of sturgeon to hear biologically important sounds could impact fitness and survival of individuals and populations. There...
Authors
Arthur Popper, Robin Calfee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Silver carp herding: A telemetry evaluation of efficacy and implications for design and application Silver carp herding: A telemetry evaluation of efficacy and implications for design and application

Removal of invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix is a primary control action in North America. Strong avoidance responses to underwater sound and electricity have been shown to facilitate herding and mass removal of these fish. We conducted a telemetry study on a closed population of Silver Carp (i.e., 10 telemetered fish) to assess fine-scale movement responses to herding...
Authors
Josey Ridgway, Matthew Acre, Tyler Hessler, Dustin Broaddus, Jessica Morris, Robin Calfee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Amino acid variation at the mitochondrial binding site of Antimycin A is proposed to reflect sensitivity and toxicity differences among fish species Amino acid variation at the mitochondrial binding site of Antimycin A is proposed to reflect sensitivity and toxicity differences among fish species

To better understand differential sensitivities among fish species to the piscicidal compound Antimycin-A (ANT-A), we hypothesized that variations in amino acids at the ANT-A binding site may reflect toxicity differences. Protein sequences for six motifs comprising the ANT-A binding site were obtained and compared for invasive carp species (N = 515) and seven non-target species (N = 277)...
Authors
Brooke A. Baudoin, Bonnie Brown, Robin Calfee, Jill Jenkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exhibit greater olfactory response to amino acids than filter-feeding bighead (Hypophthalmichthysnobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) 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...
Authors
Mark Wildhaber, Benjamin West, Karlie Ditter, Alex Peterson, Robin Calfee, Zachary Beaman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Controlling invasive grass carp in Lake Erie Controlling invasive grass carp in Lake Erie

No abstract available.
Authors
James Wamboldt, Matthew Acre, Andrew Mueller, Lucas Nathan, Eric Weimer, Robin Calfee, Ryan Young
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Science and Products

sound mapping

Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps

Invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, hereafter referred to as bigheaded carps, have displayed a negative phonotactic response when presented with a broadband acoustic stimulus. Additional study is needed to identify effective acoustic stimuli for manipulating bigheaded carp behavior, and to test bigheaded carp responses to those stimuli in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps

Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps

Invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, hereafter referred to as bigheaded carps, have displayed a negative phonotactic response when presented with a broadband acoustic stimulus. Additional study is needed to identify effective acoustic stimuli for manipulating bigheaded carp behavior, and to test bigheaded carp responses to those stimuli in...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 18

Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Locations in Earthen Ponds Exposed to Three Acoustic Signals, June though August, 2018 Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Locations in Earthen Ponds Exposed to Three Acoustic Signals, June though August, 2018

This data set includes acoustic telemetry positions for silver carp ranging in total length from 251 to 359 mm (mean = 294 mm) and weight 131 – 427 g (mean = 231 g) tagged with 795-LD transmitters in four earthen ponds at the Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, USA. Positions were monitored using a 16-hydrophone array in each pond before and during a series of trials...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

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

From 2017-2023, a total of 934 Grass Carp were removed from the Lake Erie basin and tributaries, and 159 were captured in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lamine Rivers within the state of Missouri in 2022. For each captured fish we documented capture location, water temperature; we measured total length and total weight. Length data was used to assess the removal efforts in Lake Erie. A...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Grass Carp Movement and Capture Data from the Sandusky River, Lake Erie, Ohio, USA from 2020 to 2022 Grass Carp Movement and Capture Data from the Sandusky River, Lake Erie, Ohio, USA from 2020 to 2022

Data includes grass carp position and sampling data from 2020 to 2022. We used grass carp that were implanted with acoustic transmitters. The position data was generated in Fathom Position from receivers that composed several VEMCO Positioning Systems (VPS). We also queried the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation Network (GLATOS) to obtain non-VPS position detections from...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Fish Community and habitat assessment in the Sandusky River, OH, April 2021 through October 2021 Fish Community and habitat assessment in the Sandusky River, OH, April 2021 through October 2021

Data includes fish abundance and habitat data collected at ten sites in the Sandusky River, OH. Fish were collected using two 3.67 m long hoop nets with an initial hoop diameter of 0.91 m. Nets were set perpendicular to the current, opening toward the shoreline. Nets were set for approximately 24 hours and catch rates for each set were defined as the number of fish caught in the two hoop...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Telemetry evaluation of invasive carp herding in Jonathan Creek Embayment, Kentucky Lake, Kentucky Telemetry evaluation of invasive carp herding in Jonathan Creek Embayment, Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Data tables represents a telemetry study assessing the efficacy of sound and electricity used to herd Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The study occurred in Jonathan Creek Embayment of Kentucky Lake, Kentucky using 10 telemetered Silver Carp and 46 passive acoustic receivers. Two herding boats traveled at 2.22 meters per second along bank-to-bank transects through the study...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Starved Rock navigation lock fish clearing hydroacoustic data, Illinois River (2020) Starved Rock navigation lock fish clearing hydroacoustic data, Illinois River (2020)

These datasets (e.g., 'Starved Rock fish clearing_multi-beam imaging sonar fish data_Pre-clearing_Sonar-s1.csv') include exported information (e.g., fish detection counts) from processed fixed-location multi-beam imaging sonar and mobile side-scan sonar data. Fish abundance in the navigation lock was determined using mobile side-scan surveys, while multi-beam imaging sonars were used to...
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Filter Total Items: 42

Capturing potential: Leveraging grass carp behavior Ctenopharyngodon idella for enhanced removal Capturing potential: Leveraging grass carp behavior Ctenopharyngodon idella for enhanced removal

Effective management of invasive species benefits from a comprehensive understanding of the species’ behavior and interactions with the invaded system. We investigated temporal dynamics of telemetry detections and the potential utility of a traitor approach for informing response efforts to the invasive grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) population in the Sandusky River, a major...
Authors
Matthew Acre, Tyler Hessler, Sophia Bonjour, James Roberts, Scott Colborne, Travis O. Brenden, Lucas Nathan, Dustin Broaddus, Christopher Vandergoot, Christine Mayer, Song Qian, Robert D. Hunter, Ryan Brown, Robin Calfee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Sound and sturgeon: Bioacoustics and anthropogenic sound Sound and sturgeon: Bioacoustics and anthropogenic sound

Sturgeons are basal bony fishes, most species of which are considered threatened and/or endangered. Like all fishes, sturgeons use hearing to learn about their environment and perhaps communicate with conspecifics, as in mating. Thus, anything that impacts the ability of sturgeon to hear biologically important sounds could impact fitness and survival of individuals and populations. There...
Authors
Arthur Popper, Robin Calfee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Silver carp herding: A telemetry evaluation of efficacy and implications for design and application Silver carp herding: A telemetry evaluation of efficacy and implications for design and application

Removal of invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix is a primary control action in North America. Strong avoidance responses to underwater sound and electricity have been shown to facilitate herding and mass removal of these fish. We conducted a telemetry study on a closed population of Silver Carp (i.e., 10 telemetered fish) to assess fine-scale movement responses to herding...
Authors
Josey Ridgway, Matthew Acre, Tyler Hessler, Dustin Broaddus, Jessica Morris, Robin Calfee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Amino acid variation at the mitochondrial binding site of Antimycin A is proposed to reflect sensitivity and toxicity differences among fish species Amino acid variation at the mitochondrial binding site of Antimycin A is proposed to reflect sensitivity and toxicity differences among fish species

To better understand differential sensitivities among fish species to the piscicidal compound Antimycin-A (ANT-A), we hypothesized that variations in amino acids at the ANT-A binding site may reflect toxicity differences. Protein sequences for six motifs comprising the ANT-A binding site were obtained and compared for invasive carp species (N = 515) and seven non-target species (N = 277)...
Authors
Brooke A. Baudoin, Bonnie Brown, Robin Calfee, Jill Jenkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exhibit greater olfactory response to amino acids than filter-feeding bighead (Hypophthalmichthysnobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) 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...
Authors
Mark Wildhaber, Benjamin West, Karlie Ditter, Alex Peterson, Robin Calfee, Zachary Beaman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Controlling invasive grass carp in Lake Erie Controlling invasive grass carp in Lake Erie

No abstract available.
Authors
James Wamboldt, Matthew Acre, Andrew Mueller, Lucas Nathan, Eric Weimer, Robin Calfee, Ryan Young
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
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