Christopher Guy, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
Chris conducts research within the broad context of fish ecology and fisheries management. A consistent research theme of his has been on native fish assemblage restoration, a prominent ecological and societal issue within the USA and globally. Within that theme, his research has two areas of emphasis— conservation of large-river fishes and suppression of invasive species (for conservation of native fishes). These areas encompass a broad diversity in ecosystem types and fish assemblages—from large warm-water rivers to alpine lakes. Given the mission of the Cooperative Research Units program, he willingly assists natural resource agencies with their research needs. As a faculty member at Montana State University, he serves on university committees, teaches graduate courses (Fisheries Science and Communications in Ecological Sciences) and seminars, and guest lectures in a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses.
Chris received his Ph.D. from South Dakota State University in Fisheries Science before joining the Unit program in 1994.
Professional Experience
Assistant Unit Leader, Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, 1994-
Education and Certifications
Ph D South Dakota State University 1993
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 55
Reproductive ecology and movement of pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River, Montana
Successful recruitment of endangered pallid sturgeon has not been documented in the upper Missouri River basin for decades, and research on the reproductive ecology of pallid sturgeon has been hindered by low sample size. A conservation propagation program was initiated in the 1990s, and the oldest age class of hatchery‐origin pallid sturgeon are becoming sexually mature increasing the number of r
Authors
Luke M. Holmquist, Christopher S. Guy, Anne Tews, David J. Trimpe, Molly A. H. Webb
In situ evaluation of benthic suffocation methods for suppression of invasive Lake Trout embryos in Yellowstone Lake
Suppression of invasive Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush is an important management tool to use in native fish and ecosystem conservation throughout the U.S. Intermountain West. Lake Trout suppression, primarily by gill netting, has been ongoing in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, since 1995. Additional methods that cause mortality of Lake Trout embryos could be used simultaneo
Authors
Nathan A. Thomas, Christopher S. Guy, Todd M. Koel, Alexander V. Zale
First maturity and spawning periodicity of hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana.
The pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus conservation propagation program has augmented declining wild populations since the 1990s and the older age classes of hatchery-origin fish are beginning to reach sexual maturity in the wild. Currently, the majority of the information available on the age and size at first maturity and spawning periodicity for pallid sturgeon in the upper basin is from capt
Authors
Luke Mathew Holmquist, Christopher S. Guy, Anne Tews, Molly A. H. Webb
A comparison of two mobile electrode arrays for increasing mortality of Lake Trout embryos
Conservation of sport fisheries and populations of several native fishes in the western United States is dependent on sustained success of removal programs targeting invasive Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush. Gill-netting of spawning adults is one strategy used to decrease spawning success; however, additional complementary methods are needed to disrupt Lake Trout reproduction where bycatch in gill
Authors
Peter J. Brown, Christopher S. Guy, Michael H. Meeuwig
Empirical estimation of recreational exploitation of burbot, Lota lota, in the Wind River drainage of Wyoming using a multistate capture–recapture model
Burbot, Lota lota (Linnaeus), is a regionally popular sportfish in the Wind River drainage of Wyoming, USA, at the southern boundary of the range of the species. Recent declines in burbot abundances were hypothesised to be caused by overexploitation, entrainment in irrigation canals and habitat loss. This study addressed the overexploitation hypothesis using tagging data to generate reliable explo
Authors
S. A. Lewandoski, Christopher S. Guy, Alexander V. Zale, Paul C. Gerrity, J. W. Deromedi, K. M. Johnson, D. L. Skates
Reproductive ecology, spawning behavior, and juvenile distribution of Mountain Whitefish in the Madison River, Montana
Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni were historically common throughout much of the U.S. Intermountain West. However, within the last decade Mountain Whitefish have exhibited population-level declines in some rivers. In the Madison River, Montana, anecdotal evidence indicates Mountain Whitefish abundance has declined and the population is skewed toward larger individuals, which is typically s
Authors
Jan K. Boyer, Christopher S. Guy, Molly A. H. Webb, Travis B. Horton, Thomas E. McMahon
Suppression of invasive lake trout in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park
Fisheries managers have implemented suppression programmes to control non-native lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), in several lakes throughout the western United States. This study determined the feasibility of experimentally suppressing lake trout using gillnets in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, for the conservation of threatened bull trout, Salveli
Authors
C. R. Fredenberg, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Christopher S. Guy, Vincent S. D'Angelo, Christopher C. Downs, John M. Syslo
Gear comparison for sampling age-0 Mountain Whitefish in the Madison River, Montana
The efficacy of various sampling gears for age-0 Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni is largely unknown, which makes it difficult to investigate recruitment and early life history dynamics for the species. We compared four gears: seine, backpack electrofisher, minnow trap, and lighted minnow trap. Gears were tested in backwaters, large channels, and small channels in the Madison River, Montan
Authors
Jan K. Boyer, Christopher S. Guy, Molly A. H. Webb, Travis B. Horton, Thomas E. McMahon
A framework for assessing the feasibility of native fish conservation translocations: Applications to threatened bull trout
There is an urgent need to consider more aggressive and direct interventions for the conservation of freshwater fishes that are threatened by invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change. Conservation introduction (moving a species outside its indigenous range to other areas where conditions are predicted to be more suitable) is one type of translocation strategy that fisheries managers can
Authors
Benjamin T. Galloway, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Christopher S. Guy, Christopher C. Downs, Wade A. Fredenberg
Feeding ecology of native and nonnative salmonids during the expansion of a nonnative apex predator in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park
The illegal introduction of Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush into Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, preceded the collapse of the native population of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri, producing a four-level trophic cascade. The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout population’s collapse and the coinciding increase in Lake Trout abundance provided a rare opportunity to eval
Authors
John M. Syslo, Christopher S. Guy, Todd M. Koel
Spawning and rearing behavior of bull trout in a headwater lake ecosystem
Numerous life histories have been documented for bull trout Salvelinus confluentus. Lacustrine-adfluvial bull trout populations that occupy small, headwater lake ecosystems and migrate short distances to natal tributaries to spawn are likely common; however, much of the research on potamodromous bull trout has focused on describing the spawning and rearing characteristics of bull trout populations
Authors
Lora B. Tennant, Robert E. Gresswell, Christopher S. Guy, Michael H. Meeuwig
Broadening the regulated-river management paradigm: A case study of the forgotten dead zone hindering Pallid Sturgeon recovery
The global proliferation of dams within the last half century has prompted ecologists to understand the effects of regulated rivers on large-river fishes. Currently, much of the effort to mitigate the influence of dams on large-river fishes has been focused on downriver effects, and little attention has been given to upriver effects. Through a combination of field observations and laboratory exper
Authors
Christopher S. Guy, Hilary B. Treanor, Kevin M. Kappenman, Eric A. Scholl, Jason E. Ilgen, Molly A. H. Webb
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 55
Reproductive ecology and movement of pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River, Montana
Successful recruitment of endangered pallid sturgeon has not been documented in the upper Missouri River basin for decades, and research on the reproductive ecology of pallid sturgeon has been hindered by low sample size. A conservation propagation program was initiated in the 1990s, and the oldest age class of hatchery‐origin pallid sturgeon are becoming sexually mature increasing the number of r
Authors
Luke M. Holmquist, Christopher S. Guy, Anne Tews, David J. Trimpe, Molly A. H. Webb
In situ evaluation of benthic suffocation methods for suppression of invasive Lake Trout embryos in Yellowstone Lake
Suppression of invasive Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush is an important management tool to use in native fish and ecosystem conservation throughout the U.S. Intermountain West. Lake Trout suppression, primarily by gill netting, has been ongoing in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, since 1995. Additional methods that cause mortality of Lake Trout embryos could be used simultaneo
Authors
Nathan A. Thomas, Christopher S. Guy, Todd M. Koel, Alexander V. Zale
First maturity and spawning periodicity of hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana.
The pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus conservation propagation program has augmented declining wild populations since the 1990s and the older age classes of hatchery-origin fish are beginning to reach sexual maturity in the wild. Currently, the majority of the information available on the age and size at first maturity and spawning periodicity for pallid sturgeon in the upper basin is from capt
Authors
Luke Mathew Holmquist, Christopher S. Guy, Anne Tews, Molly A. H. Webb
A comparison of two mobile electrode arrays for increasing mortality of Lake Trout embryos
Conservation of sport fisheries and populations of several native fishes in the western United States is dependent on sustained success of removal programs targeting invasive Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush. Gill-netting of spawning adults is one strategy used to decrease spawning success; however, additional complementary methods are needed to disrupt Lake Trout reproduction where bycatch in gill
Authors
Peter J. Brown, Christopher S. Guy, Michael H. Meeuwig
Empirical estimation of recreational exploitation of burbot, Lota lota, in the Wind River drainage of Wyoming using a multistate capture–recapture model
Burbot, Lota lota (Linnaeus), is a regionally popular sportfish in the Wind River drainage of Wyoming, USA, at the southern boundary of the range of the species. Recent declines in burbot abundances were hypothesised to be caused by overexploitation, entrainment in irrigation canals and habitat loss. This study addressed the overexploitation hypothesis using tagging data to generate reliable explo
Authors
S. A. Lewandoski, Christopher S. Guy, Alexander V. Zale, Paul C. Gerrity, J. W. Deromedi, K. M. Johnson, D. L. Skates
Reproductive ecology, spawning behavior, and juvenile distribution of Mountain Whitefish in the Madison River, Montana
Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni were historically common throughout much of the U.S. Intermountain West. However, within the last decade Mountain Whitefish have exhibited population-level declines in some rivers. In the Madison River, Montana, anecdotal evidence indicates Mountain Whitefish abundance has declined and the population is skewed toward larger individuals, which is typically s
Authors
Jan K. Boyer, Christopher S. Guy, Molly A. H. Webb, Travis B. Horton, Thomas E. McMahon
Suppression of invasive lake trout in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park
Fisheries managers have implemented suppression programmes to control non-native lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), in several lakes throughout the western United States. This study determined the feasibility of experimentally suppressing lake trout using gillnets in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, for the conservation of threatened bull trout, Salveli
Authors
C. R. Fredenberg, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Christopher S. Guy, Vincent S. D'Angelo, Christopher C. Downs, John M. Syslo
Gear comparison for sampling age-0 Mountain Whitefish in the Madison River, Montana
The efficacy of various sampling gears for age-0 Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni is largely unknown, which makes it difficult to investigate recruitment and early life history dynamics for the species. We compared four gears: seine, backpack electrofisher, minnow trap, and lighted minnow trap. Gears were tested in backwaters, large channels, and small channels in the Madison River, Montan
Authors
Jan K. Boyer, Christopher S. Guy, Molly A. H. Webb, Travis B. Horton, Thomas E. McMahon
A framework for assessing the feasibility of native fish conservation translocations: Applications to threatened bull trout
There is an urgent need to consider more aggressive and direct interventions for the conservation of freshwater fishes that are threatened by invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change. Conservation introduction (moving a species outside its indigenous range to other areas where conditions are predicted to be more suitable) is one type of translocation strategy that fisheries managers can
Authors
Benjamin T. Galloway, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Christopher S. Guy, Christopher C. Downs, Wade A. Fredenberg
Feeding ecology of native and nonnative salmonids during the expansion of a nonnative apex predator in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park
The illegal introduction of Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush into Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, preceded the collapse of the native population of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri, producing a four-level trophic cascade. The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout population’s collapse and the coinciding increase in Lake Trout abundance provided a rare opportunity to eval
Authors
John M. Syslo, Christopher S. Guy, Todd M. Koel
Spawning and rearing behavior of bull trout in a headwater lake ecosystem
Numerous life histories have been documented for bull trout Salvelinus confluentus. Lacustrine-adfluvial bull trout populations that occupy small, headwater lake ecosystems and migrate short distances to natal tributaries to spawn are likely common; however, much of the research on potamodromous bull trout has focused on describing the spawning and rearing characteristics of bull trout populations
Authors
Lora B. Tennant, Robert E. Gresswell, Christopher S. Guy, Michael H. Meeuwig
Broadening the regulated-river management paradigm: A case study of the forgotten dead zone hindering Pallid Sturgeon recovery
The global proliferation of dams within the last half century has prompted ecologists to understand the effects of regulated rivers on large-river fishes. Currently, much of the effort to mitigate the influence of dams on large-river fishes has been focused on downriver effects, and little attention has been given to upriver effects. Through a combination of field observations and laboratory exper
Authors
Christopher S. Guy, Hilary B. Treanor, Kevin M. Kappenman, Eric A. Scholl, Jason E. Ilgen, Molly A. H. Webb