Robin L DeBruyne, PhD
Robin DeBruyne is an Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she has worked since 2012.
Robin received her Ph.D. in fisheries and aquatic sciences from Cornell University studying the population responses of walleye and yellow perch to the removal of double-crested cormorants on Oneida Lake. She received M.S. and B.S. degrees in conservation biology from Central Michigan University. Robin’s research focus at the Great Lakes Science Center focuses on fish early life history dynamics in the Great Lakes and connecting waters, evaluation of constructed spawning reefs in the St. Clair-Detroit River System, and food-web ecology of top predators in the Great Lakes. Her research is often conducted in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams with partners from federal, state, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. Robin is an active member of the American Fisheries Society at multiple unit levels.
Professional Experience
2012-Present; Post-doctoral researcher and ecologist at USGS Great Lakes Science Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Cornell University, 2014; Fisheries and Aquatic Science
M.S., Central Michigan University, 2006; Biology - Conservation Biology Concentration
B.S., Central Michigan University, 2004; Biology- Natural Resource Concentration
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society
International Association for Great Lakes Research
North American Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society
Science and Products
Data releases by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 17
Lake Huron Angler-Caught Predator Diets, 2017-2018 Lake Huron Angler-Caught Predator Diets, 2017-2018
This tabular data set contains information about the diets of angler-caught Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Walleye (Sander vitreus), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho Salmon (O. kisutch), Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Steelhead (O. mykiss), Pink Salmon (O. gorbuscha), and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) captured between April and October of 2017 and 2018 from U.S. waters of...
Fish eggs collected in the St. Clair, Detroit, and St. Marys rivers, 2005-2022 Fish eggs collected in the St. Clair, Detroit, and St. Marys rivers, 2005-2022
A long-term, multiseason, fish egg sampling program is conducted annually on the Detroit, Saint Clair, and Saint Marys rivers to identify where productive fish spawning habitat currently exists and evaluate habitat restoration projects. Egg mats were placed on the river bottom during the spring and fall at historic spawning areas, candidate fish spawning habitat restoration sites, and...
Historical Spawning Sites for Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Lake Ontario and Connecting Channels, 1860-1970 Historical Spawning Sites for Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Lake Ontario and Connecting Channels, 1860-1970
The following data release contains coordinates for suspected historical spawning locations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) across the Lake Ontario basin, including the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River. These data were gathered from published and unpublished sources cited in the Atlas of the Spawning and Nursery Areas of Great Lakes Fishes...
Fish Egg Retention on Egg Mats in Experimental Flumes and Targeted Field Gear Egg Collection in the Detroit River, 2015-2016 Fish Egg Retention on Egg Mats in Experimental Flumes and Targeted Field Gear Egg Collection in the Detroit River, 2015-2016
Egg mat retention trials were conducted with walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) eggs in an experimental flume tank, seeded directly on egg mats (test retention efficiency) and hand dispersed in flowing flume water to simulate spawning over egg mats (test capture efficiency) with and without alternate substrate. In the field study, we measured...
Pre-rehabilitation Biological Assessment of the Lower Maumee River, Ohio, 2019 Pre-rehabilitation Biological Assessment of the Lower Maumee River, Ohio, 2019
Data are from biological and physical environmental assessments conducted during 2019 in the Maumee River, Ohio. Sites were located from river kilometer 24 to 11. Water quality parameters, fishes, invertebrates, and river channel characteristics were assessed during 2019 from May-September. Previously established standardized sampling methods were used during all assessments.
Seine Collection Data Along the Michigan Shoreline of the St. Clair-Detroit River System Seine Collection Data Along the Michigan Shoreline of the St. Clair-Detroit River System
These data contain counts of fish species collected with a 1.83 m x 9.14 m bag seine constructed of 1.6 mm Delta nylon mesh. When permitted, five consecutive 15.25 m hauls were made parallel to the shoreline. Sites with smaller shorelines were sampled to the greatest extent possible and distance recorded. The seine was pulled in the upstream direction to allow the net to stay open during...
Multimedia related to this scientist
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 38
Broad scale community-level larval fish survey of southern Lake Erie Broad scale community-level larval fish survey of southern Lake Erie
The early-life history stages of fish are sensitive to environmental change and therefore can indicate habitat quality as well as help predict recruitment of resident and transient fishes. In 2019, as part of the Lake Erie Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative, we conducted a lake-wide assessment of the ichthyoplankton community in U.S. nearshore waters and international offshore...
Authors
Robin L. DeBruyne, Zachary A. Amidon, Matthew Joseph Angelosanto, Emily Ann Eberly, Dimitry Gorsky, Stacey Ireland, Christine Mayer, Stacy Provo, Haley VanScoyoc, James M. Watkins, Edward F. Roseman
Larval Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) zooplankton consumption remains constant despite variation in prey densities in western Lake Erie Larval Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) zooplankton consumption remains constant despite variation in prey densities in western Lake Erie
Larval fish growth and survival could be limited or reduced due to patchiness of zooplankton densities, even in productive aquatic systems. Recent declines in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) populations prompted research to identify underlying mechanisms controlling survival at early life stages. In Lake Erie, the bottleneck window controlling year-class strength of Lake...
Authors
Zachary J Amidon, Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Christine Mayer, Alexis Sakas
Ecology of Lake Erie - Chemistry, plankton & planktivory: A synthesis Ecology of Lake Erie - Chemistry, plankton & planktivory: A synthesis
As with other large lake ecosystems worldwide, Lake Erie can be considered a moving target for management, owing to physicochemical and biological changes brought on by anthropogenic change, both planned (e.g. nutrient and fisheries management) and unplanned (e.g. climate change, invasive species, modified land-use activities). These changes have challenged efforts to conserve...
Authors
Stuart A. Ludsin, Mohiuddin Munawar, Robin L. DeBruyne, E. Todd Howell, Jeffrey Tyson, James M. Watkins
Food web changes reflected in age-0 piscivore diets and growth Food web changes reflected in age-0 piscivore diets and growth
Lake Erie walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) recruitment fluctuates annually and depends partially on their diet and growth during their first year of life. In recent decades, age-0 walleye diet and growth may be responding to food web changes in western Lake Erie. To determine how age-0 walleye have responded to changes in prey species and abundance, we compared diet between 2019, 2014 and...
Authors
T. Yang, Christine M Mayer, Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Mark Richard Dufour, Eric J. Weimer
Indicators of fish population responses to avian predation with focus on double-crested cormorants Indicators of fish population responses to avian predation with focus on double-crested cormorants
Double-crested cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) have been implicated as causes of fish population declines in many locations across their breeding range. Two challenges facing managers are identifying fisheries population metrics indicative of cormorant impacts and determining when this evidence becomes actionable. Building upon existing studies, we conducted a meta-analysis of eight...
Authors
Douglas W Schultz, Brian S. Dorr, David G. Fielder, James R. Jackson, Robin L. DeBruyne
Predicting physical and geomorphic habitat associated with historical lake whitefish and cisco spawning locations in Lakes Erie and Ontario Predicting physical and geomorphic habitat associated with historical lake whitefish and cisco spawning locations in Lakes Erie and Ontario
The Great Lakes basin was historically populated by multiple, coevolved coregonine species, but much of that diversity has been lost. In Lakes Erie and Ontario, both lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) occurred in high numbers before habitat degradation, overfishing, invasive species, and other factors caused significant declines. There is growing...
Authors
Hannah M Schaefer, Andrew Edgar Honsey, David Bunnell, Brian Weidel, Robin DeBruyne, James S. Diana, Dimitry Gorsky, Edward F. Roseman
News about this scientist
Science and Products
Data releases by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 17
Lake Huron Angler-Caught Predator Diets, 2017-2018 Lake Huron Angler-Caught Predator Diets, 2017-2018
This tabular data set contains information about the diets of angler-caught Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Walleye (Sander vitreus), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho Salmon (O. kisutch), Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Steelhead (O. mykiss), Pink Salmon (O. gorbuscha), and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) captured between April and October of 2017 and 2018 from U.S. waters of...
Fish eggs collected in the St. Clair, Detroit, and St. Marys rivers, 2005-2022 Fish eggs collected in the St. Clair, Detroit, and St. Marys rivers, 2005-2022
A long-term, multiseason, fish egg sampling program is conducted annually on the Detroit, Saint Clair, and Saint Marys rivers to identify where productive fish spawning habitat currently exists and evaluate habitat restoration projects. Egg mats were placed on the river bottom during the spring and fall at historic spawning areas, candidate fish spawning habitat restoration sites, and...
Historical Spawning Sites for Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Lake Ontario and Connecting Channels, 1860-1970 Historical Spawning Sites for Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Lake Ontario and Connecting Channels, 1860-1970
The following data release contains coordinates for suspected historical spawning locations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) across the Lake Ontario basin, including the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River. These data were gathered from published and unpublished sources cited in the Atlas of the Spawning and Nursery Areas of Great Lakes Fishes...
Fish Egg Retention on Egg Mats in Experimental Flumes and Targeted Field Gear Egg Collection in the Detroit River, 2015-2016 Fish Egg Retention on Egg Mats in Experimental Flumes and Targeted Field Gear Egg Collection in the Detroit River, 2015-2016
Egg mat retention trials were conducted with walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) eggs in an experimental flume tank, seeded directly on egg mats (test retention efficiency) and hand dispersed in flowing flume water to simulate spawning over egg mats (test capture efficiency) with and without alternate substrate. In the field study, we measured...
Pre-rehabilitation Biological Assessment of the Lower Maumee River, Ohio, 2019 Pre-rehabilitation Biological Assessment of the Lower Maumee River, Ohio, 2019
Data are from biological and physical environmental assessments conducted during 2019 in the Maumee River, Ohio. Sites were located from river kilometer 24 to 11. Water quality parameters, fishes, invertebrates, and river channel characteristics were assessed during 2019 from May-September. Previously established standardized sampling methods were used during all assessments.
Seine Collection Data Along the Michigan Shoreline of the St. Clair-Detroit River System Seine Collection Data Along the Michigan Shoreline of the St. Clair-Detroit River System
These data contain counts of fish species collected with a 1.83 m x 9.14 m bag seine constructed of 1.6 mm Delta nylon mesh. When permitted, five consecutive 15.25 m hauls were made parallel to the shoreline. Sites with smaller shorelines were sampled to the greatest extent possible and distance recorded. The seine was pulled in the upstream direction to allow the net to stay open during...
Multimedia related to this scientist
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 38
Broad scale community-level larval fish survey of southern Lake Erie Broad scale community-level larval fish survey of southern Lake Erie
The early-life history stages of fish are sensitive to environmental change and therefore can indicate habitat quality as well as help predict recruitment of resident and transient fishes. In 2019, as part of the Lake Erie Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative, we conducted a lake-wide assessment of the ichthyoplankton community in U.S. nearshore waters and international offshore...
Authors
Robin L. DeBruyne, Zachary A. Amidon, Matthew Joseph Angelosanto, Emily Ann Eberly, Dimitry Gorsky, Stacey Ireland, Christine Mayer, Stacy Provo, Haley VanScoyoc, James M. Watkins, Edward F. Roseman
Larval Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) zooplankton consumption remains constant despite variation in prey densities in western Lake Erie Larval Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) zooplankton consumption remains constant despite variation in prey densities in western Lake Erie
Larval fish growth and survival could be limited or reduced due to patchiness of zooplankton densities, even in productive aquatic systems. Recent declines in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) populations prompted research to identify underlying mechanisms controlling survival at early life stages. In Lake Erie, the bottleneck window controlling year-class strength of Lake...
Authors
Zachary J Amidon, Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Christine Mayer, Alexis Sakas
Ecology of Lake Erie - Chemistry, plankton & planktivory: A synthesis Ecology of Lake Erie - Chemistry, plankton & planktivory: A synthesis
As with other large lake ecosystems worldwide, Lake Erie can be considered a moving target for management, owing to physicochemical and biological changes brought on by anthropogenic change, both planned (e.g. nutrient and fisheries management) and unplanned (e.g. climate change, invasive species, modified land-use activities). These changes have challenged efforts to conserve...
Authors
Stuart A. Ludsin, Mohiuddin Munawar, Robin L. DeBruyne, E. Todd Howell, Jeffrey Tyson, James M. Watkins
Food web changes reflected in age-0 piscivore diets and growth Food web changes reflected in age-0 piscivore diets and growth
Lake Erie walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) recruitment fluctuates annually and depends partially on their diet and growth during their first year of life. In recent decades, age-0 walleye diet and growth may be responding to food web changes in western Lake Erie. To determine how age-0 walleye have responded to changes in prey species and abundance, we compared diet between 2019, 2014 and...
Authors
T. Yang, Christine M Mayer, Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Mark Richard Dufour, Eric J. Weimer
Indicators of fish population responses to avian predation with focus on double-crested cormorants Indicators of fish population responses to avian predation with focus on double-crested cormorants
Double-crested cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) have been implicated as causes of fish population declines in many locations across their breeding range. Two challenges facing managers are identifying fisheries population metrics indicative of cormorant impacts and determining when this evidence becomes actionable. Building upon existing studies, we conducted a meta-analysis of eight...
Authors
Douglas W Schultz, Brian S. Dorr, David G. Fielder, James R. Jackson, Robin L. DeBruyne
Predicting physical and geomorphic habitat associated with historical lake whitefish and cisco spawning locations in Lakes Erie and Ontario Predicting physical and geomorphic habitat associated with historical lake whitefish and cisco spawning locations in Lakes Erie and Ontario
The Great Lakes basin was historically populated by multiple, coevolved coregonine species, but much of that diversity has been lost. In Lakes Erie and Ontario, both lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) occurred in high numbers before habitat degradation, overfishing, invasive species, and other factors caused significant declines. There is growing...
Authors
Hannah M Schaefer, Andrew Edgar Honsey, David Bunnell, Brian Weidel, Robin DeBruyne, James S. Diana, Dimitry Gorsky, Edward F. Roseman
News about this scientist
*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