Shannon White, Ph.D.
Shannon is a fisheries ecologist who combines molecular technologies, novel field methods, and advanced statistical modeling to provide decision-relevant information for species of conservation concern. Much of her research focuses on understanding and mitigating anthropogenic threats to coldwater and anadromous fishes.
Education and Certifications
2019, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, Ecology
2012, M.S., Virginia Tech, Fisheries and Wildlife
2010, B.S., Randolph-Macon College, Biology and Environmental Studies
Science and Products
Optimization of a suite of flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) microsatellite markers for understanding the population genetics of introduced populations in the northeast United States
Establishment of a microsatellite genetic baseline for North American Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser o. oxyrhinchus) and range-wide analysis of population genetics
Behavior at short temporal scales drives dispersal dynamics and survival in a metapopulation of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Improved understanding and prediction of freshwater fish communities through the use of joint species distribution models
A novel quantitative framework for riverscape genetics
Tissue distribution and immunomodulation in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) following dietary exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl Aroclors and food deprivation
Predicting fish species richness and habitat relationships using Bayesian hierarchical multispecies occupancy models
Individual behaviour and resource use of thermally stressed brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis portend the conservation potential of thermal refugia
Limited hatchery introgression into wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations despite reoccurring stocking
Can personality predict individual differences in brook trout spatial learning ability?
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 22
Optimization of a suite of flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) microsatellite markers for understanding the population genetics of introduced populations in the northeast United States
Flathead catfish are rapidly expanding into nonnative waterways throughout the United States. Once established, flathead catfish may cause disruptions to the local ecosystem through consumption and competition with native fishes, including species of conservation concern. Flathead catfish often become a popular sport fish in their introduced range, and so management strategies must frequently balaAuthorsShannon L. White, Michael S. Eackles, Tyler Wagner, Megan K. Schall, Geoffrey Smith, Julian Avery, David C. KazyakEstablishment of a microsatellite genetic baseline for North American Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser o. oxyrhinchus) and range-wide analysis of population genetics
Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is a long-lived, anadromous species that is broadly distributed along the Atlantic coast of North America. Historic overharvest and habitat degradation resulted in significant declines to Atlantic sturgeon populations and, following decades of limited recovery, the species was listed under the Endangered Species Act of the United States in 2012.AuthorsShannon L. White, David C. Kazyak, Tanya L Darden, Daniel J Farrae, Barbara A. Lubinski, Robin L. Johnson, Michael S. Eackles, M Balazik, Hal Brundage, Adam G Fox, Dewayne A. Fox, Chris H Hager, Jason E Kahn, Isaac I WirginBehavior at short temporal scales drives dispersal dynamics and survival in a metapopulation of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
1) Movement has been studied extensively in stream salmonids, and most data suggest that population-level behavior is best described by a leptokurtic distribution. This distribution emphasizes the large proportion of sedentary individuals in a population, which can implicitly lead to assumptions of low population connectivity and overlook the ecological significance of rare individuals with more mAuthorsTyler Wagner, Shannon WhiteImproved understanding and prediction of freshwater fish communities through the use of joint species distribution models
Two primary goals in fisheries research are to (i) understand how habitat and environmental conditions influence the distribution of fishes across the landscape and (ii) make predictions about how fish communities will respond to environmental and anthropogenic change. In inland, freshwater ecosystems, quantitative approaches traditionally used to accomplish these goals largely ignore the effectsAuthorsTyler Wagner, Gretchen J.A. Hansen, Erin Schliep, Bethany Bethke, Andrew Honsey, Peter Jacobson, Benjamen C. Kline, Shannon L. WhiteA novel quantitative framework for riverscape genetics
Riverscape genetics, which applies concepts in landscape genetics to riverine ecosystems, lack appropriate quantitative methods that address the spatial autocorrelation structure of linear stream networks and account for bidirectional geneflow. To address these challenges, we present a general framework for the design and analysis of riverscape genetic studies. Our framework starts with the estimaAuthorsShannon L. White, Ephraim M. Hanks, Tyler WagnerTissue distribution and immunomodulation in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) following dietary exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl Aroclors and food deprivation
Although most countries banned manufacturing of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) over 40 years ago, PCBs remain a global concern for wildlife and human health due to high bioaccumulation and biopersistance. PCB uptake mechanisms have been well studied in many taxa; however, less is known about depuration rates and how post-exposure diet can influence PCB concentrations and immune response in fishAuthorsSahnnon L White, Devin A DeMario, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer, Tyler WagnerPredicting fish species richness and habitat relationships using Bayesian hierarchical multispecies occupancy models
Understanding how stream fishes respond to changes in habitat availability is complicated by low occurrence rates of many species, which in turn reduces the ability to quantify species–habitat relationships and account for imperfect detection in estimates of species richness. Multispecies occupancy models have been used sparingly in the analysis of fisheries data, but address the aforementioned deAuthorsShannon White, Evan Faulk, Caleb Tzilkowski, Andrew Weber, Matt Marshall, Tyler WagnerIndividual behaviour and resource use of thermally stressed brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis portend the conservation potential of thermal refugia
Individual aggression and thermal refuge use were monitored in brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in a controlled laboratory to determine how fish size and personality influence time spent in forage and thermal habitat patches during periods of thermal stress. On average, larger and more exploratory fish initiated more aggressive interactions and across all fish there was decreased aggression at waAuthorsShannon L. White, B.C. Kline, Nathaniel Hitt, Tyler WagnerLimited hatchery introgression into wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations despite reoccurring stocking
Due to increased anthropogenic pressures on many fish populations, supplementing wild populations with captive‐raised individuals has become an increasingly common management practice. Stocking programs can be controversial due to uncertainty about the long‐term fitness effects of genetic introgression on wild populations. In particular, introgression between hatchery and wild individuals can causAuthorsShannon L. White, William L. Miller, Stephanie A. Dowell, Meredith L. Bartron, Tyler WagnerCan personality predict individual differences in brook trout spatial learning ability?
While differences in individual personality are common in animal populations, understanding the ecological significance of variation has not yet been resolved. Evidence suggests that personality may influence learning and memory; a finding that could improve our understanding of the evolutionary processes that produce and maintain intraspecific behavioural heterogeneity. Here, we tested whether boAuthorsS.L. White, Tyler Wagner, C. Gowan, V.A. BraithwaiteNon-USGS Publications**
White, S.L. 2017. In brook trout, sometimes the risk is worth the reward. Fisheries 42: 629. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03632415.2017.1396050Carlson, A.K., K.M. Dunmall, R.E. Boucek, N.W. Cole, J.A. Kerns, R.M. Krogman, M.C. Lloyd, V.M. Nguyen, T.R. Wendt, S.L. White, K.L. Wilson. 2015. How to navigate fisheries education and employment. Fisheries 40: 196-197. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03632415.2015.1025952White, S.L., and D.J. Orth. 2014. Reproductive biology of Clinch dace (Chrosomus sp. cf. saylori). Southeastern Naturalist 13: 735-743. https://doi.org/10.1656/058.013.0404White, S.L., and D.J. Orth. 2014. Distribution and habitat correlations of Clinch dace (Chrosomus sp. cf. saylori). American Midland Naturalist 171: 311-320. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43822735White, S.L., and C. Gowan. 2014. Social learning enhances search image acquisition in foraging brook trout. Environmental Biology of Fishes 97: 523-528. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-013-0171-1White, S.L., and D.J. Orth. 2013. Ontogenetic and comparative morphology of Clinch dace (Chrosomus sp. cf. saylori). Copeia 2013: 750-756. https://doi.org/10.1643/CG-13-038White, S.L., and C. Gowan. 2013. Brook trout use individual recognition and transitive inference to determine social rank. Behavioral Ecology 24: 63-69. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars136White, S.L., C. Gowan, K.D. Fausch, J.G. Harris, and W.C. Saunders. 2011. Response of trout populations in five Colorado streams two decades after habitat manipulation. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 68: 2057-2063. https://doi.org/10.1139/f2011-125**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.