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Cayla Morningstar

Cayla Morningstar is a Biologist at the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in Gainesville, FL 

Cayla works with the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database group. She is interested in invasive species, conservation, and aquatic systems. Her research focuses on the biogeography of aquatic invasive invertebrates and other aquatic species, their pathways and impacts, and assessing risk. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in fisheries and aquatic sciences at the University of Florida.

Professional Experience

  • Cayla previously worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s freshwater mussel group.

Education and Certifications

  • B.A. Zoology, Miami University Oxford, OH

  • B.A. Philosophy, Miami University Oxford, OH

Science and Products

Zebra and Quagga mussels in the United States—Dreissenid mussel research by the U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) delivers high-quality data, technologies, and decision-support tools to help managers both reduce existing populations and control the spread of dreissenid mussels. The USGS researches ecology, biology, risk assessment, and early detection and rapid response methods; provides decision support; and develops and tests control measures.
Authors
Cayla R. Morningstar, Patrick M. Kočovský, Michael E. Colvin, Timothy D. Counihan, Wesley M. Daniel, Peter C. Esselman, Cathy A. Richter, Adam Sepulveda, Diane L. Waller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity

Managing invasive species with prevention and early-detection strategies can avert severe ecological and economic impacts. Horizon scanning, an evidence-based process combining risk screening and consensus building to identify threats, has become a valuable tool for prioritizing invasive species management and prevention. We assembled a working group of experts from academic, government, and nonpr
Authors
Deah Lieurance, Susan Canavan, Donald C. Behringer, Amy E. Kendig, Carey R. Minteer, Lindsey S. Reisinger, Christina M. Romagosa, S. Luke Flory, Julie L. Lockwood, Patti J. Anderson, Shirley M. Baker, Jamie Bojko, Kristen E. Bowers, Kim Canavan, Kelly Carruthers, Wesley M. Daniel, Doria R. Gordon, Jeffrey E. Hill, Jennifer G. Howeth, Basil V. Iannone, Lucas Jennings, Lyn A. Gettys, Eutychus M. Kariuki, John M. Kunzer, H. Dail Laughinghouse, Nicholas E. Mandrak, Sara McCann, Tolulope Morawo, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Tabitha Petri, Ian Pfingsten, Robert Reed, Linda J. Walters, Christian Wanamaker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

America's most wanted fishes: Cataloging risk assessments to prioritize invasive species for management action

Hundreds of fish species enter the United States through human intervention (e.g., importation) and some of these fishes pose a substantial risk to the nation’s assets and ecosystems. Prevention, early detection, and rapid response (EDRR) are vital to stop species invasions, but time and resources to manage the large suite of fish species that enter the nation are limited. Evaluating the risk of a
Authors
Emily M. Dean, Audrey Jordon, Aimee Christine Agnew, Nicole D Hernandez, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Sara Elizabeth Piccolomini, Brian Reichert, Amy Kristine Wray, Wesley M. Daniel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

The first occurrence of the Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) in the contiguous United States

The Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, is a popular aquaculture crayfish that has been introduced around the world. Here we report the first occurrence of the species in the United States in Lake Balboa, Los Angeles, California. The impacts of this species are largely unknown, and further research is needed to determine the species’ effects on native ecosystems. Sampling is neede
Authors
Cayla Morningstar, Wesley M. Daniel, Matthew Neilson, Ara K. Yazaryan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Morningstar CR, Inoue K, Lang BK, Berg DJ. A comprehensive status, phylogentic, and anatomical review of Stagnicola caperata (Say, 1829) in the south-west United States. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 2018; 1-8.

Morningstar CR, Inoue K, Sei M, Lang BK, Berg DJ. Quantifying morphological and genetic variation of sympatric populations to guide conservation of endangered, micro-endemic springsnails. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 2013; 24: 536–545.

**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.

link
Great Lakes highlighted map

Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System

The Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System (GLANSIS) was developed by the NOAA Great Lakes Science Center to monitor nonindigenous aquatic species introductions into the Great Lakes region.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System

The Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System (GLANSIS) was developed by the NOAA Great Lakes Science Center to monitor nonindigenous aquatic species introductions into the Great Lakes region.
Learn More
link
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program

Welcome to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource for the United States Geological Survey. Located at Gainesville, Florida, this site has been established as a central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. The program provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, distribution maps, and general...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program

Welcome to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource for the United States Geological Survey. Located at Gainesville, Florida, this site has been established as a central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. The program provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, distribution maps, and general...
Learn More
link
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous - non-native - species threaten biodiversity, but the distribution of these species is not well-known. The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database tracks occurrence data on non-native aquatic plant and animal species throughout the United States, and provides the public with species profiles, distribution maps, and online/real-time queries for state/hydrologic basin- specific...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous - non-native - species threaten biodiversity, but the distribution of these species is not well-known. The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database tracks occurrence data on non-native aquatic plant and animal species throughout the United States, and provides the public with species profiles, distribution maps, and online/real-time queries for state/hydrologic basin- specific...
Learn More

Data for leaf photosynthesis and net ecosystem exchange of CO2 and CH4 from wetland forest, marsh, and mudflats under simulated ambient and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (2013-2014)

This study evaluated the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 and CH4 from experimental wetland mesocosms established in elevated CO2 and ambient CO2 glasshouses at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (Lafayette, Louisiana). The study duration was approximately two years, and these data represent measured and calculated data from four time points, which the investigators asso
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Waterfalls and Rapids in the Conterminous United States Linked to the National Hydrography Datasets V2.0

This GeoJSON dataset contains information about 10780 waterfall and 1080 rapid locations (referred to as falls throughout the metadata) and characteristics (e.g. type and height) for the conterminous United States. This dataset centralizes known information about falls while providing basic quality control (i.e. resolving duplicate records and spatial accuracy checks) and linkages to stream networ
By
Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program

Brazoria NWR Prairie Resilience Data

In 1996, 400 tree-centered plots were established by first randomly choosing x- and y- coordinates from an imaginary grid overlaying the study area. Each random point was also randomly assigned a tree-size category from a pre-determined sampling scheme. The scheme was to include 20 trees from each of 5 size categories. Size/height categories were: less than 0.1m, 0.1-1m, 1-2m, 2-3m, and greater th
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

National Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Framework

A geonarrative detailing the National Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Framework, a structure for interagency coordination to support early detection biosurveillance and rapid response to invasive species.

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Science and Products

Zebra and Quagga mussels in the United States—Dreissenid mussel research by the U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) delivers high-quality data, technologies, and decision-support tools to help managers both reduce existing populations and control the spread of dreissenid mussels. The USGS researches ecology, biology, risk assessment, and early detection and rapid response methods; provides decision support; and develops and tests control measures.
Authors
Cayla R. Morningstar, Patrick M. Kočovský, Michael E. Colvin, Timothy D. Counihan, Wesley M. Daniel, Peter C. Esselman, Cathy A. Richter, Adam Sepulveda, Diane L. Waller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity

Managing invasive species with prevention and early-detection strategies can avert severe ecological and economic impacts. Horizon scanning, an evidence-based process combining risk screening and consensus building to identify threats, has become a valuable tool for prioritizing invasive species management and prevention. We assembled a working group of experts from academic, government, and nonpr
Authors
Deah Lieurance, Susan Canavan, Donald C. Behringer, Amy E. Kendig, Carey R. Minteer, Lindsey S. Reisinger, Christina M. Romagosa, S. Luke Flory, Julie L. Lockwood, Patti J. Anderson, Shirley M. Baker, Jamie Bojko, Kristen E. Bowers, Kim Canavan, Kelly Carruthers, Wesley M. Daniel, Doria R. Gordon, Jeffrey E. Hill, Jennifer G. Howeth, Basil V. Iannone, Lucas Jennings, Lyn A. Gettys, Eutychus M. Kariuki, John M. Kunzer, H. Dail Laughinghouse, Nicholas E. Mandrak, Sara McCann, Tolulope Morawo, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Tabitha Petri, Ian Pfingsten, Robert Reed, Linda J. Walters, Christian Wanamaker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

America's most wanted fishes: Cataloging risk assessments to prioritize invasive species for management action

Hundreds of fish species enter the United States through human intervention (e.g., importation) and some of these fishes pose a substantial risk to the nation’s assets and ecosystems. Prevention, early detection, and rapid response (EDRR) are vital to stop species invasions, but time and resources to manage the large suite of fish species that enter the nation are limited. Evaluating the risk of a
Authors
Emily M. Dean, Audrey Jordon, Aimee Christine Agnew, Nicole D Hernandez, Cayla R. Morningstar, Matthew Neilson, Sara Elizabeth Piccolomini, Brian Reichert, Amy Kristine Wray, Wesley M. Daniel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

The first occurrence of the Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) in the contiguous United States

The Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, is a popular aquaculture crayfish that has been introduced around the world. Here we report the first occurrence of the species in the United States in Lake Balboa, Los Angeles, California. The impacts of this species are largely unknown, and further research is needed to determine the species’ effects on native ecosystems. Sampling is neede
Authors
Cayla Morningstar, Wesley M. Daniel, Matthew Neilson, Ara K. Yazaryan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Morningstar CR, Inoue K, Lang BK, Berg DJ. A comprehensive status, phylogentic, and anatomical review of Stagnicola caperata (Say, 1829) in the south-west United States. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 2018; 1-8.

Morningstar CR, Inoue K, Sei M, Lang BK, Berg DJ. Quantifying morphological and genetic variation of sympatric populations to guide conservation of endangered, micro-endemic springsnails. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 2013; 24: 536–545.

**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.

link
Great Lakes highlighted map

Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System

The Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System (GLANSIS) was developed by the NOAA Great Lakes Science Center to monitor nonindigenous aquatic species introductions into the Great Lakes region.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System

The Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Information System (GLANSIS) was developed by the NOAA Great Lakes Science Center to monitor nonindigenous aquatic species introductions into the Great Lakes region.
Learn More
link
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program

Welcome to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource for the United States Geological Survey. Located at Gainesville, Florida, this site has been established as a central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. The program provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, distribution maps, and general...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program

Welcome to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource for the United States Geological Survey. Located at Gainesville, Florida, this site has been established as a central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. The program provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, distribution maps, and general...
Learn More
link
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous - non-native - species threaten biodiversity, but the distribution of these species is not well-known. The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database tracks occurrence data on non-native aquatic plant and animal species throughout the United States, and provides the public with species profiles, distribution maps, and online/real-time queries for state/hydrologic basin- specific...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and Website (NAS)

Nonindigenous - non-native - species threaten biodiversity, but the distribution of these species is not well-known. The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database tracks occurrence data on non-native aquatic plant and animal species throughout the United States, and provides the public with species profiles, distribution maps, and online/real-time queries for state/hydrologic basin- specific...
Learn More

Data for leaf photosynthesis and net ecosystem exchange of CO2 and CH4 from wetland forest, marsh, and mudflats under simulated ambient and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (2013-2014)

This study evaluated the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 and CH4 from experimental wetland mesocosms established in elevated CO2 and ambient CO2 glasshouses at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (Lafayette, Louisiana). The study duration was approximately two years, and these data represent measured and calculated data from four time points, which the investigators asso
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Waterfalls and Rapids in the Conterminous United States Linked to the National Hydrography Datasets V2.0

This GeoJSON dataset contains information about 10780 waterfall and 1080 rapid locations (referred to as falls throughout the metadata) and characteristics (e.g. type and height) for the conterminous United States. This dataset centralizes known information about falls while providing basic quality control (i.e. resolving duplicate records and spatial accuracy checks) and linkages to stream networ
By
Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program

Brazoria NWR Prairie Resilience Data

In 1996, 400 tree-centered plots were established by first randomly choosing x- and y- coordinates from an imaginary grid overlaying the study area. Each random point was also randomly assigned a tree-size category from a pre-determined sampling scheme. The scheme was to include 20 trees from each of 5 size categories. Size/height categories were: less than 0.1m, 0.1-1m, 1-2m, 2-3m, and greater th
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

National Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Framework

A geonarrative detailing the National Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Framework, a structure for interagency coordination to support early detection biosurveillance and rapid response to invasive species.

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center