Steve Chipps, Ph.D.
Steve serves as the Unit Leader of the South Dakota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit. His research interests include feeding ecology and energetics of fishes, and he and his students are currently working on trout management in the Black Hills, and pallid sturgeon ecology in the Missouri River.
Biography
For more information about Steve, including a full publications list, visit his profile page on the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit web site.
Steve also can be reached at his South Dakota State University email address: steven.chipps@sdstate.edu
Education
- Ph D University of Idaho 1997
- MS West Virginia University 1992
- BS Davis & Elkins College 1989
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.
Science and Products
Comparison of aquatic invertebrate communities in near-shore areas with high or low boating activity
Lakeshore areas provide important habitat for aquatic invertebrates in shallow lakes. However, these zones are prone to anthropogenic disturbances that include shoreline development, urbanization, nutrient inputs, agricultural and(or) recreational use. Among recreational uses, public access sites are often developed to accommodate boaters and...
Smith, Bradley; Chipps, Steven R.; Grote, Jeff; Mecham, Jake; Stevens, Tanner M.; Rapp, Tobias Historical sediment mercury deposition for select South Dakota, USA, lakes: implications for watershed transport and flooding
PurposeSelect South Dakota, USA water bodies, including both natural lakes and man-made impoundments, were sampled and analyzed to assess mercury (Hg) dynamics and historical patterns of total Hg deposition.Materials and methodsSediment cores were collected from seven South Dakota lakes. Mercury concentrations and flux profiles were determined...
Squillace, Maria K.; Sieverding, Heidi L.; Betemariam, Hailemelekot H.; Urban, Noel R.; Penn, Michael R.; DeSutter, Thomas M.; Chipps, Steven R.; Stone, James J. Species‐ and habitat‐specific otolith chemistry patterns inform riverine fisheries management
Geology and hydrology are drivers of water chemistry and thus important considerations for fish otolith chemistry research. However, other factors such as species and habitat identity may have predictive ability, enabling selection of appropriate elemental signatures prior to costly, perhaps unnecessary water/age‐0 fish sampling. The goal of this...
Radigan, William; Carlson, Andrew K.; Kientz, Jeremy; Chipps, Steven R.; Fincel, Mark J.; Graeb, Brian D. S. Growth potential and habitat requirements of endangered age-0 pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River, USA, determined using a individual-based model framework
An individual-based model framework was used to evaluate growth potential of the federally endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River. The model, developed for age-0 sturgeon, combines information on functional feeding response, bioenergetics and swimming ability to regulate consumption and growth within a virtual...
Deslauriers, David; Heironimus, Laura B.; Rapp, Tobias; Graeb, Brian D. S.; Klumb, Robert A.; Chipps, Steven R. Fish Bioenergetics 4.0: An R-based modeling application
Bioenergetics modeling is a widely used tool in fisheries management and research. Although popular, currently available software (i.e., Fish Bioenergetics 3.0) has not been updated in over 20 years and is incompatible with newer operating systems (i.e., 64‐bit). Moreover, since the release of Fish Bioenergetics 3.0 in 1997, the number of...
Deslauriers, David; Chipps, Steven R.; Breck, James E.; Rice, James A.; Madenjian, Charles P. Development of a foraging model framework to reliably estimate daily food consumption by young fishes
We developed a foraging model for young fishes that incorporates handling and digestion rate to estimate daily food consumption. Feeding trials were used to quantify functional feeding response, satiation, and gut evacuation rate. Once parameterized, the foraging model was then applied to evaluate effects of prey type, prey density, water...
Deslauriers, David; Rosburg, Alex J.; Chipps, Steven R. Growth, food consumption, and energy status of juvenile pallid sturgeon fed natural or artificial diets
Stocking of hatchery-raised fish is an important part of the pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus recovery program. In the wild, juvenile pallid sturgeon consume primarily aquatic insects, although little is known about specific dietary needs. In hatchery settings, pallid sturgeon are fed commercial diets that are formulated for salmonids. To...
Meyer, Hilary A.; Chipps, Steven R.; Graeb, Brian D. S.; Klumb, Robert A. Test of a foraging-bioenergetics model to evaluate growth dynamics of endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus)
Factors affecting feeding and growth of early life stages of the federally endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) are not fully understood, owing to their scarcity in the wild. In this study was we evaluated the performance of a combined foraging-bioenergetics model as a tool for assessing growth of age-0 pallid sturgeon in the Missouri...
Deslauriers, David; Heironimus, Laura B.; Chipps, Steven R. Community fisheries in eastern South Dakota: Angler demographics, use, and factors influencing satisfaction
We surveyed anglers on five community fishing lakes near Brookings, South Dakota to assess angler use and satisfaction. The community lakes attracted younger anglers when compared to statewide and national averages. Overall, satisfaction was generally high (74%) among anglers fishing community lakes. Logistic regression analysis showed that...
Greiner, Michael J.; Lucchesi, David O.; Chipps, Steven R.; Gigliotti, Larry M. Diet breadth and variability in Sander spp. inferred from stable isotopes
We used stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to evaluate trophic similarity between sauger Sander canadensis and walleye S. vitreus in three Missouri River impoundments characterized by unique differences in riverine habitat. Mean δ15N was similar for sauger and walleye in each reservoir ranging from 15.7 to 17.8‰ for sauger and 15.2 to 17.7‰...
Fincel, M.J.; Chipps, Steven R.; Graeb, B.D.S.; Brown, M.L. Impacts of Northern Pike on stocked Rainbow Trout in Pactola Reservoir, South Dakota
Establishment of nonnative Northern Pike Esox lucius in Pactola Reservoir, South Dakota, has prompted concern among biologists about the influence of this species on the lake’s intensively managed salmonid fisheries. Ancedotal information suggests that catch rates of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have declined while...
Scheibel, Natalie C.; Dembkowski, Daniel J.; Davis, Jacob L.; Chipps, Steven R. Mink predation on brown trout in a Black Hills stream
In the early 2000’s, declines in the brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery in Rapid Creek, South Dakota, caused concern for anglers and fisheries managers. We conducted a radio telemetry study in 2010 and 2011 to identify predation mortality associated with mink, using hatchery-reared (2010) or wild (2011) brown trout. Estimated predation rates by...
Davis, Jacob L.; Wilhite, Jerry W.; Chipps, Steven R.