Steve Chipps, PhD
Unit Leader - South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Research Interests
Steve's research focuses primarily on the feeding ecology and bioenergetics of fishes. He and his students use quantitative tools such as energy budgets, diet analysis, stable isotopes, and foraging models to help address fisheries management questions.
Teaching Interests
Steve teaches graduate-level courses in Aquatic Trophic Ecology and Ecology of Aquatic Invertebrates at South Dakota State University.
Professional Experience
Assistant Unit Leader, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 1999-2010
Unit Leader, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2010-
Education and Certifications
Ph D University of Idaho 1997
MS West Virginia University 1992
BS Davis & Elkins College 1989
Science and Products
Avoidance of strobe lights by zooplankton
Effects of littoral habitat complexity and sunfish composition on fish production
Vulnerability of age-0 pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus to fish predation
Spatiotemporal patterns of wetland occurrence in the prairie pothole region of eastern South Dakota
Composition and location of simulated lake-shore redds influence incubation success in kokanee, Oncorhynchus nerka
Predicting lesser scaup wetland use during spring migration in eastern South Dakota
Consumption estimates of walleye stocked as fry to suppress fathead minnow populations in west-central Minnesota wetlands
Influence of fluctuating water levels on mercury concentrations in adult walleye
Walleye consumption and long-term population trends following gizzard shad introduction into a Western South Dakota reservoir
Association between wetland disturbance and biological attributes in floodplain wetlands
Reticulate melanism in western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii): Exploring linkages with habitat and heating rates
Biotic and abiotic correlates with black bullhead population characteristics in Nebraska sandhill lakes
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 78
Avoidance of strobe lights by zooplankton
Underwater strobe lights can influence the behavior and distribution of fishes and are increasingly used as a technique to divert fish away from water intake structures on dams. However, few studies examine how strobe lights may affect organisms other than targeted species. To gain insight on strobe lighting effects on nontarget invertebrates, we investigated whether underwater strobe lights influAuthorsMartin J. Hamel, Nathan S. Richards, Michael L. Brown, Steven R. ChippsEffects of littoral habitat complexity and sunfish composition on fish production
Habitat complexity is a key driver of food web dynamics because physical structure dictates resource availability to a community. Changes in fish diversity can also alter trophic interactions and energy pathways in food webs. Few studies have examined the direct, indirect, and interactive effects of biodiversity and habitat complexity on fish production. We explored the effects of habitat complexiAuthorsMichael P. Carey, K.O. Maloney, S. R. Chipps, David H. WahlVulnerability of age-0 pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus to fish predation
Stocking is a commonly employed conservation strategy for endangered species such as the pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus. However, decisions about when, where and at what size pallid sturgeon should be stocked are hindered because vulnerability of pallid sturgeon to fish predation is not known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of age-0 pallid sturgeon to predatioAuthorsWilliam E. French, B. D. S. Graeb, S. R. Chipps, K.N. Bertrand, T.M. Selch, Robert A. KlumbSpatiotemporal patterns of wetland occurrence in the prairie pothole region of eastern South Dakota
We evaluated changes in wetland abundance, size, and classification between average (19791986) and above-average (19951999) precipitation periods for two physiographic regions in eastern South Dakota. Temporal shifts in wetland numbers, area, and class varied by topographic location. In high wetland density areas (> 8 wetlands/100 ha), our data suggests that larger, semipermanent wetlands expandedAuthorsS.N. Kahara, R.M. Mockler, K.F. Higgins, S. R. Chipps, R.R. JohnsonComposition and location of simulated lake-shore redds influence incubation success in kokanee, Oncorhynchus nerka
Methods for improving spawning habitat for lakeshore spawning kokanee, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), were explored by quantifying incubation success of embryos exposed to three substrate treatments in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, USA. Substrate treatments included no modification that used existing gravels in the lake (EXISTING), a cleaned substrate treatment where existing gravels were sifted in theAuthorsM.J. Fincel, S. R. Chipps, D.H. BennettPredicting lesser scaup wetland use during spring migration in eastern South Dakota
The relative influence of physical, chemical, and biotic wetland characteristics on wetland use by spring migrating lesser scaup (Aythya affinis [Eyton]; hereafter "scaup") is not well understood. We compared characteristics of used and unused wetlands in eastern South Dakota. Used wetlands were larger (>2 ha; P = 0.05), with higher amphipod densities (>500 individuals m-2; P = 0.01) and higher chAuthorsS.N. Kahara, S. R. ChippsConsumption estimates of walleye stocked as fry to suppress fathead minnow populations in west-central Minnesota wetlands
Fisheries managers throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota often use semi-permanent and permanent wetland basins to extensively culture walleye Sander vitreus fry. Waterfowl managers have expressed concern over this practice because of the potential influence that fish have on food resources used by waterfowl during development and migration. It is well known that native fathead minnowsAuthorsM.C. Ward, D.W. Willis, B.R. Herwig, S. R. Chipps, B.G. Parsons, J.R. Reed, M.A. HansonInfluence of fluctuating water levels on mercury concentrations in adult walleye
[No abstract available]AuthorsT.M. Selch, C.W. Hoagstrom, E.J. Weimer, J.P. Duehr, S. R. ChippsWalleye consumption and long-term population trends following gizzard shad introduction into a Western South Dakota reservoir
The gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) was introduced into 1,955-ha Angostura Reservoir, South Dakota to provide increased prey resources for walleye (Sander vitreus). Linear correlation analysis indicated that following gizzard shad introduction, walleye catch-per-unit-effort and mean length at age have increased over time (r = 0.68 to 0.85, P = 0.02 to 0.001). Walleye stomach contents were colleAuthorsM.J. Ward, D.W. Willis, B.H. Miller, S. R. ChippsAssociation between wetland disturbance and biological attributes in floodplain wetlands
We quantified the influence of agricultural activities on environmental and biological conditions of floodplain wetlands in the upper Missouri River basin. Seasonally-flooded wetlands were characterized as low impact (non-disturbed) or high impact (disturbed) based on local land use. Biological data collected from these wetlands were used to develop a wetland condition index (WCI). Fourteen additiAuthorsS. R. Chipps, D.E. Hubbard, K.B. Werlin, N.J. Haugerud, K.A. Powell, John Thompson, T. JohnsonReticulate melanism in western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii): Exploring linkages with habitat and heating rates
In western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii), males often exhibit one of two morphs: (1) a reticulated form, characterized by an intricate network of dark markings on the carapace or (2) a non-reticulated form. Although several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the adaptive significance of reticulate melanism (RM) on western painted turtles, no attempts have been made to document wheAuthorsW.K. Gronke, S. R. Chipps, S.J. Bandas, K.F. HigginsBiotic and abiotic correlates with black bullhead population characteristics in Nebraska sandhill lakes
We explored relationships among black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) population characteristics and physicochemical attributes in shallow lakes and quantified relationships between population characteristics of black bullhead and sport fishes. Lake characteristics and fisheries survey data were collected from the Sandhills region of northcentral Nebraska from May through June, 1998 and 1999. Relative aAuthorsQuinton E. Phelps, Matthew J. Ward, Craig P. Paukert, Steven R. Chipps, David W. Willis