Theodore Castro-Santos
Research Ecologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center's S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center in Turners Falls, MA
Human activities have caused extensive fragmentation of riverine corridors. Dams, culverts, and other barriers prevent migratory and riverine fishes from accessing key habitats. This is particularly problematic for diadromous fishes like Atlantic salmon and American shad that must transition between fresh- and saltwater habitats in order to complete their life cycles. Swimming performance and behavioral responses to hydraulic conditions (turbulence, velocity, etc.) are major interests, as is development of quantitative methods for identifying and characterizing barriers. This work has broad relevance, not only to stewardship and management of aquatic resources, but also to understanding fundamental aspects of the ecology and evolution of fishes. Some current projects include:
- Sprint-swimming performance of migratory and riverine species
- Effects of turbulence on swimming performance, biomechanics, and behavior
- Modeling fish passage through culverts
- Bioenergetics models of anadromous fish migration
Professional Experience
US Geological Survey (1995-present)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1992-1995)
Education and Certifications
PhD Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; University of Massachusetts Amherst (2002)
MS Wildlife Biology Washington State University (1991)
BA Colgate University (1987)
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Science and Products
The S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center--a model for progress
Influencia de factores ambientales y biométricos en la capacidad de nado del barbo ibérico (Luciobarbus bocagei Steindachner, 1864), un ciprínido potamódromo endémico de la Península Ibérica
Effectiveness of a fish ladder for two Neotropical migratory species in the Paraná River
Influence of baffles on upstream passage of brook trout and brown trout in an experimental box culvert
The future of fish passage science, engineering, and practice
Environmental, anthropogenic, and dietary influences on fine-scale movement patterns of Atlantic salmon through challenging waters
Spatial mismatch between sea lamprey behaviour and trap location explains low success at trapping for control
Swimming behaviour and ascent paths of brook trout in a corrugated culvert
The effects of horizontally and vertically oriented baffles on flow structure andascent performance of upstream-migrating fish
Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts
Novel, continuous monitoring of fine‐scale movement using fixed‐position radiotelemetry arrays and random forest location fingerprinting
Is motivation important to brook trout passage through culverts?
Science and Products
The S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center--a model for progress
Influencia de factores ambientales y biométricos en la capacidad de nado del barbo ibérico (Luciobarbus bocagei Steindachner, 1864), un ciprínido potamódromo endémico de la Península Ibérica
Effectiveness of a fish ladder for two Neotropical migratory species in the Paraná River
Influence of baffles on upstream passage of brook trout and brown trout in an experimental box culvert
The future of fish passage science, engineering, and practice
Environmental, anthropogenic, and dietary influences on fine-scale movement patterns of Atlantic salmon through challenging waters
Spatial mismatch between sea lamprey behaviour and trap location explains low success at trapping for control
Swimming behaviour and ascent paths of brook trout in a corrugated culvert
The effects of horizontally and vertically oriented baffles on flow structure andascent performance of upstream-migrating fish
Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts
Novel, continuous monitoring of fine‐scale movement using fixed‐position radiotelemetry arrays and random forest location fingerprinting
Is motivation important to brook trout passage through culverts?
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government