Scott Bonar, PhD
Unit Leader - Arizona CRU. Scott's areas of expertise are desert fish management and biology, fisheries sampling methods, communications in natural resources, invasive species, habitat use and instream flow requirements for fishes. Scott served as President of the American Fisheries Society in 2019-2020; and is Past-President of the Western Division of the American Fisheries Society.
Research and Teaching Interests
- Desert fish management and biology
- Fisheries sampling methods
- Communication in natural resources
- Management of introduced species
- Fisheries Biology and Management
- Communication in Natural Resources
Scott is the lead editor and author on three books, one a North American standard fish sampling program for freshwater fishes involving hundreds of authors, data providers and sponsors from across North America and another that is the 2nd edition. Scott also authored a book on skills for working with people for natural resources professionals that the journal Ecology called a "must read." Scott presented and authored numerous presentations and publications. In 2022, he won the Award of Excellence from the Fish Management Section of the American Fisheries Society. Scott enjoys working with fish managers and administrators on practical problems in fisheries management or human dimensions.
Scott is originally from Mt. Vernon Indiana, attended University of Evansville in Indiana and University of Washington in Seattle. Scott managed the inland fish research program at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for almost 10 years before coming to the USGS Arizona CRU.
Professional Experience
Unit Leader, Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2000- current
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries program
Education and Certifications
Ph D University of Washington 1990
BS University of Evansville 1983
Honors and Awards
Award of Excellence, Fisheries Management Section, American Fisheries Society
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 56
Estimating age and growth of Largemouth Bass in southwestern reservoirs using otoliths and scales
Age and growth data are frequently used to monitor and manage important North American sport fishes such as Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Continental and regional growth standards have been developed for this species to assess fish growth over time and across space. However, Largemouth Bass age and growth data are infrequently collected in Arizona and the reliability of age...
Authors
Steven J. Ingram, Joshua D. Grant, Zachary S. Beard, Nathan Berg, Anna M. Ringelman, Scott A. Bonar
The effects of estradiol-17β on the sex reversal, survival, and growth of Red Shiner and its use in the development of YY individuals
ObjectiveThe Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis is one of the most prolific and ecologically destructive invasive fish species in the southwestern United States. The production and release of YY individuals as Trojan sex chromosome carriers can theoretically eradicate invasive fish populations by eventually eliminating phenotypic females.MethodsThe YY individuals are typically produced...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Javan Mathias Bauder, Susan B. Fogelson, Kevin Fitzsimmons, William T. Stewart, Melanie Culver, Scott A. Bonar
Native fish abundance and habitat selection changes in the presence of nonnative piscivores
We compared abundance patterns and developed resource selection models for imperilled native southwestern (USA) fishes in the presence and absence of Black Bass (Micropterus spp.) to evaluate how fishes alter their selection for habitats when sympatric with a nonnative piscivore. We collected data using snorkel surveys and in-stream habitat sampling in Fossil Creek (AZ), upstream (native...
Authors
Christopher J. Jenney, Javan Mathias Bauder, Scott A. Bonar
Influence of electrofishing boat operation and driving techniques on reservoir fish catches
We compared three methods of boat driving and pedal operation using 600-s transects: these were the parallel continuous (PC), parallel intermittent (PI), and arc-intermittent (AI) methods for surveying warmwater fishes in reservoirs. We tested differences in total time and distance per transect, CPUE (fish/h, fish/m), and length frequencies of captured fish among methods. The PC method...
Authors
Joshua D. Grant, Steven J. Ingram, Scott A. Bonar
The development of genetic sex identification markers and evidence of a male heterogametic sex determination system in Red Shiner
The Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis is of increasing management interest as an invasive species that negatively impacts many native fishes throughout North America. Trojan sex chromosome (TSC)-carrying individuals could theoretically control invasive fish populations by skewing the sex ratio to 100% male. The efficacy of TSC-based control programs requires an understanding of a...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, D. Katharine Coykendall, Matthew R. Campbell, Thomas A. Delomas, Daniel L. Eardley, John A. Erwin, Daniel J. Schill, Javan Mathias Bauder, Scott A. Bonar, Melanie Culver
The effects of estradiol-17β on the sex reversal, survival, and growth of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
The feminization of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus could expand their utility as a game fish or aquacultured species by preventing overcrowding and precocious reproduction in stocked systems. Feminization of green sunfish could also help elucidate information on their sex determination system. We report the feminization of green sunfish cohorts via oral administration of estradiol-17β...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Susan B. Fogelson, Colby M. Roberts, Kevin Fitzsimmons, Javan Mathias Bauder, William T. Stewart, Scott A. Bonar
Increased juvenile native fish abundance following a major flood in an Arizona river
Spring floods trigger spawning in many native fishes of the desert Southwest (USA), but less is known about fish community response when native fishes are rare. Here, we document change to native and nonnative fish captures and instream habitat features following a decade-high flooding event (2019) in the Verde River (AZ) where native fish captures were rare in the years pre-flood. Using...
Authors
Christopher J. Jenney, Zach C. Nemec, Larissa N. Lee, Scott A. Bonar
The impact of COVID-19 on freshwater fisheries fieldwork and data collection
COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of society including freshwater fisheries fieldwork. Our study quantified the effects of the pandemic on fisheries fieldwork in the United States. We administered a survey to fisheries chiefs in all 50 states to assess the pandemic’s impact on fisheries fieldwork. Of the 37 participants, 91% reported the pandemic affected their fieldwork and 92%...
Authors
E. E Tracy, Chad N. Teal, Steven J. Ingram, Christopher J. Jenney, Joshua D. Grant, Scott A. Bonar
Development of aquaculture protocols and gonadal differentiation of green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
We provide detailed rearing methods and describe green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) gonadal development and histological differentiation for both sexes. Developing in-depth aquaculture protocols and describing the gonadal differentiation of green sunfish could facilitate strategies to control nuisance populations, enhance stocking programs, and provide information for this species' use in...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Susan B. Fogelson, Colby M. Roberts, Kevin Fitzsimmons, Scott A. Bonar
Development of aquaculture protocols and gonadal differentiation of red shiner
Developing detailed rearing methods and describing the onset of gonadal differentiation in Red Shiners Cyprinella lutrensis could facilitate the development of novel techniques to control or enhance populations, enable toxicology studies, and help construct bioassays. In this study, we develop and report aquaculture practices for Red Shiner that ensure consistent year-round production in...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Susan B. Fogelson, Scott A. Bonar
Southwestern fish and aquatic systems: The climate challenge
No abstract available.
Authors
Jonathan T. Overpeck, Scott A. Bonar
Development and evaluation of habitat suitability criteria for native fishes in three Arizona streams
Habitat loss is a main contributor to fish fauna declines in the southwestern USA. Several studies have defined stream-specific habitat conditions that support the growth and survival of native fish in Arizona to inform stream restoration efforts, yet general habitat use of most individual species across the region is not established. Therefore, we evaluated habitat use of four native...
Authors
Zach C. Nemec, Larissa N. Lee, Scott A. Bonar
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 56
Estimating age and growth of Largemouth Bass in southwestern reservoirs using otoliths and scales
Age and growth data are frequently used to monitor and manage important North American sport fishes such as Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Continental and regional growth standards have been developed for this species to assess fish growth over time and across space. However, Largemouth Bass age and growth data are infrequently collected in Arizona and the reliability of age...
Authors
Steven J. Ingram, Joshua D. Grant, Zachary S. Beard, Nathan Berg, Anna M. Ringelman, Scott A. Bonar
The effects of estradiol-17β on the sex reversal, survival, and growth of Red Shiner and its use in the development of YY individuals
ObjectiveThe Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis is one of the most prolific and ecologically destructive invasive fish species in the southwestern United States. The production and release of YY individuals as Trojan sex chromosome carriers can theoretically eradicate invasive fish populations by eventually eliminating phenotypic females.MethodsThe YY individuals are typically produced...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Javan Mathias Bauder, Susan B. Fogelson, Kevin Fitzsimmons, William T. Stewart, Melanie Culver, Scott A. Bonar
Native fish abundance and habitat selection changes in the presence of nonnative piscivores
We compared abundance patterns and developed resource selection models for imperilled native southwestern (USA) fishes in the presence and absence of Black Bass (Micropterus spp.) to evaluate how fishes alter their selection for habitats when sympatric with a nonnative piscivore. We collected data using snorkel surveys and in-stream habitat sampling in Fossil Creek (AZ), upstream (native...
Authors
Christopher J. Jenney, Javan Mathias Bauder, Scott A. Bonar
Influence of electrofishing boat operation and driving techniques on reservoir fish catches
We compared three methods of boat driving and pedal operation using 600-s transects: these were the parallel continuous (PC), parallel intermittent (PI), and arc-intermittent (AI) methods for surveying warmwater fishes in reservoirs. We tested differences in total time and distance per transect, CPUE (fish/h, fish/m), and length frequencies of captured fish among methods. The PC method...
Authors
Joshua D. Grant, Steven J. Ingram, Scott A. Bonar
The development of genetic sex identification markers and evidence of a male heterogametic sex determination system in Red Shiner
The Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis is of increasing management interest as an invasive species that negatively impacts many native fishes throughout North America. Trojan sex chromosome (TSC)-carrying individuals could theoretically control invasive fish populations by skewing the sex ratio to 100% male. The efficacy of TSC-based control programs requires an understanding of a...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, D. Katharine Coykendall, Matthew R. Campbell, Thomas A. Delomas, Daniel L. Eardley, John A. Erwin, Daniel J. Schill, Javan Mathias Bauder, Scott A. Bonar, Melanie Culver
The effects of estradiol-17β on the sex reversal, survival, and growth of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
The feminization of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus could expand their utility as a game fish or aquacultured species by preventing overcrowding and precocious reproduction in stocked systems. Feminization of green sunfish could also help elucidate information on their sex determination system. We report the feminization of green sunfish cohorts via oral administration of estradiol-17β...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Susan B. Fogelson, Colby M. Roberts, Kevin Fitzsimmons, Javan Mathias Bauder, William T. Stewart, Scott A. Bonar
Increased juvenile native fish abundance following a major flood in an Arizona river
Spring floods trigger spawning in many native fishes of the desert Southwest (USA), but less is known about fish community response when native fishes are rare. Here, we document change to native and nonnative fish captures and instream habitat features following a decade-high flooding event (2019) in the Verde River (AZ) where native fish captures were rare in the years pre-flood. Using...
Authors
Christopher J. Jenney, Zach C. Nemec, Larissa N. Lee, Scott A. Bonar
The impact of COVID-19 on freshwater fisheries fieldwork and data collection
COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of society including freshwater fisheries fieldwork. Our study quantified the effects of the pandemic on fisheries fieldwork in the United States. We administered a survey to fisheries chiefs in all 50 states to assess the pandemic’s impact on fisheries fieldwork. Of the 37 participants, 91% reported the pandemic affected their fieldwork and 92%...
Authors
E. E Tracy, Chad N. Teal, Steven J. Ingram, Christopher J. Jenney, Joshua D. Grant, Scott A. Bonar
Development of aquaculture protocols and gonadal differentiation of green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
We provide detailed rearing methods and describe green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) gonadal development and histological differentiation for both sexes. Developing in-depth aquaculture protocols and describing the gonadal differentiation of green sunfish could facilitate strategies to control nuisance populations, enhance stocking programs, and provide information for this species' use in...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Susan B. Fogelson, Colby M. Roberts, Kevin Fitzsimmons, Scott A. Bonar
Development of aquaculture protocols and gonadal differentiation of red shiner
Developing detailed rearing methods and describing the onset of gonadal differentiation in Red Shiners Cyprinella lutrensis could facilitate the development of novel techniques to control or enhance populations, enable toxicology studies, and help construct bioassays. In this study, we develop and report aquaculture practices for Red Shiner that ensure consistent year-round production in...
Authors
Chad N. Teal, Daniel J. Schill, Susan B. Fogelson, Scott A. Bonar
Southwestern fish and aquatic systems: The climate challenge
No abstract available.
Authors
Jonathan T. Overpeck, Scott A. Bonar
Development and evaluation of habitat suitability criteria for native fishes in three Arizona streams
Habitat loss is a main contributor to fish fauna declines in the southwestern USA. Several studies have defined stream-specific habitat conditions that support the growth and survival of native fish in Arizona to inform stream restoration efforts, yet general habitat use of most individual species across the region is not established. Therefore, we evaluated habitat use of four native...
Authors
Zach C. Nemec, Larissa N. Lee, Scott A. Bonar