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
Comparison of American Fisheries Society (AFS) standard fish sampling techniques and environmental DNA for characterizing fish communities in a large reservoir
Standard methods for sampling freshwater fishes: Opportunities for international collaboration
Determination of habitat requirements for Apache Trout
How well are you teaching one of the most important biological concepts for humankind? A call to action
Spawning and hatching of endangered Gila Chub in captivity
Design and testing of a mesocosm-scale habitat for culturing the endangered Devils Hole Pupfish
Stock assessment in inland fisheries: a foundation for sustainable use and conservation
Biological and communication skills needed for introduced fish biologists
Assessment of inland fisheries: A vision for the future
Underwater videography outperforms above-water videography and in-person surveys for monitoring the spawning of Devils Hole Pupfish
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 48
Comparison of American Fisheries Society (AFS) standard fish sampling techniques and environmental DNA for characterizing fish communities in a large reservoir
Recently, methods involving examination of environmental DNA (eDNA) have shown promise for characterizing fish species presence and distribution in waterbodies. We evaluated the use of eDNA for standard fish monitoring surveys in a large reservoir. Specifically, we compared the presence, relative abundance, biomass, and relative percent composition of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and GizzAuthorsChristina R. Perez, Scott A. Bonar, Jon J. Amberg, Bridget Ladell, Christopher B. Rees, William T. Stewart, Curtis J. Gill, Chris Cantrell, Anthony RobinsonStandard methods for sampling freshwater fishes: Opportunities for international collaboration
With publication of Standard Methods for Sampling North American Freshwater Fishes in 2009, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) recommended standard procedures for North America. To explore interest in standardizing at intercontinental scales, a symposium attended by international specialists in freshwater fish sampling was convened at the 145th Annual AFS Meeting in Portland, Oregon, in August 2AuthorsScott A. Bonar, Norman Mercado-Silva, Wayne A. Hubert, T. Douglas Beard, Göran Dave, Jan Kubečka, Brian D. S. Graeb, Nigel P. Lester, Mark T. Porath, Ian J. WinfieldDetermination of habitat requirements for Apache Trout
The Apache Trout Oncorhynchus apache, a salmonid endemic to east-central Arizona, is currently listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Establishing and maintaining recovery streams for Apache Trout and other endemic species requires determination of their specific habitat requirements. We built upon previous studies of Apache Trout habitat by defining both stream-specific and gAuthorsSally J. Petre, Scott A. BonarHow well are you teaching one of the most important biological concepts for humankind? A call to action
We represent several generations of biology educators – with teaching experiences beginning in the 1940s and continuing to the present, from elementary school to graduate-level programs. We find the vast array of subjects that biology teachers can now cover both thrilling and mind-boggling. Depending on the grade level, units exist that focus on neurobiology, forensics, DNA analysis, biotechnologyAuthorsScott A. Bonar, Deanna A. Fife, John S. BonarSpawning and hatching of endangered Gila Chub in captivity
Information on reproductive characteristics of the endangered Gila Chub Gila intermedia is largely limited and qualitative, and culture techniques and requirements are virtually unknown. Here we provide the first published data on spawning and selected reproductive and developmental characteristics of Gila Chub. Fish were brought to the laboratory in March 2003 from Sabino Creek, Arizona (12.3°C).AuthorsAndrew A. Schultz, Scott A. BonarDesign and testing of a mesocosm-scale habitat for culturing the endangered Devils Hole Pupfish
aptive propagation of desert spring fishes, whether for conservation or research, is often difficult, given the unique and often challenging environments these fish utilize in nature. High temperatures, low dissolved oxygen, minimal water flow, and highly variable lighting are some conditions a researcher might need to recreate to simulate their natural environments. Here we describe a mesocosm-scAuthorsOlin Feuerbacher, Scott A. Bonar, Paul J. BarrettStock assessment in inland fisheries: a foundation for sustainable use and conservation
Fisheries stock assessments are essential for science-based fisheries management. Inland fisheries pose challenges, but also provide opportunities for biological assessments that differ from those encountered in large marine fisheries for which many of our assessment methods have been developed. These include the number and diversity of fisheries, high levels of ecological and environmental variatAuthorsKai Lorenzen, Ian G. Cowx, R. E. M. Entsua-Mensah, Nigel P. Lester, J.D. Koehn, R.G. Randall, N. So, Scott A. Bonar, David B. Bunnell, Paul A. Venturelli, Shannon D. Bower, Steven J. CookeBiological and communication skills needed for introduced fish biologists
What skills and knowledge will a new graduate seeking employment need to work with introduced fishes? Clearly, success in introduced species management—similar to other disciplines in fisheries—requires a mixture of scientific and communication skills. However, specific abilities especially important to a biologist who manages introduced fishes should be highlighted. Unlike most other management sAuthorsScott A. BonarAssessment of inland fisheries: A vision for the future
No abstract available.AuthorsSteven J. Cooke, Angela Arthington, Scott A. Bonar, Shannon D. Bower, David B. Bunnell, Rose Entsua-Mensah, Simon Funge-Smith, John Koehn, Nigel Lester, Kai Lorenzen, So Nam, Robert Randall, Paul A. Venturelli, Ian G. CowxUnderwater videography outperforms above-water videography and in-person surveys for monitoring the spawning of Devils Hole Pupfish
The monitoring of threatened and endangered fishes in remote environments continues to challenge fisheries biologists. The endangered Devils Hole Pupfish Cyprinodon diabolis, which is confined to a single warm spring in Death Valley National Park, California–Nevada, has recently experienced record declines, spurring renewed conservation and recovery efforts. In February–December 2010, we investigaAuthorsAmbre L. Chaudoin, Olin Feuerbacher, Scott A. Bonar, Paul J. Barrett