Stuart Welsh, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Research Interests
- Systematics
- Ecology
- Conservation of freshwater fishes
Teaching Interests
- Ichthyology
- Zoogeography
- Systematics
Professional Experience
Assistant Unit Leader, West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2000-
Education and Certifications
Ph D West Virginia University 1997
MS Frostburg State University 1994
BS West Virginia University 1990
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 66
Cambarus (C.) appalachiensis, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the New River Basin of Virginia and West Virginia, USA
Cambarus (Cambarus) appalachiensis is a stream-dwelling crayfish endemic to the greater New River basins of Virginia and West Virginia. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus sciotensis. Cambarus appalachiensis can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by its more elongated chelae which possess a single mesial row of tubercles, reduced to no tuberculation on the dorsal-longitud
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Roger F. Thoma
Factors influencing detection of the federally endangered Diamond Darter Crystallaria cincotta: Implications for long-term monitoring strategies
Population monitoring is an essential component of endangered species recovery programs. The federally endangered Diamond Darter Crystallaria cincotta is in need of an effective monitoring design to improve our understanding of its distribution and track population trends. Because of their small size, cryptic coloration, and nocturnal behavior, along with limitations associated with current sampli
Authors
Austin A. Rizzo, Donald J. Brown, Stuart A. Welsh, Patricia A. Thompson
Environmental covariates associated with Cambarus veteranus (Decapoda: Cambaridae), an imperiled Appalachian crayfish endemic to West Virginia, USA
Cambarus veteranus Faxon, 1914, a narrow endemic crayfish native to the Upper Guyandotte River Basin (UGB) in West Virginia, USA, was petitioned in 2014 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to be listed as endangered, but a status survey was recommended to determine if listing was warranted. During May and June 2015, surveys were undertaken across the UGB to determine the current distrib
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Nicole M. Sadecky, Zachary W. Dillard, R. Katie Scott
Evaluation of physicochemical and physical habitat associations for Cambarus callainus (Big Sandy crayfish), an imperilled crayfish endemic to the Central Appalachians
1. Crayfish represent one of the most imperilled animal groups on the planet. Habitat degradation, destruction and fragmentation, introduction of invasive crayfishes, and a lack of applied biological information have all been identified as agents thwarting crayfish conservation.2. Cambarus callainus was warranted federal protection by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in April, 2
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Nicole M. Sadecky, Zachary W. Dillard, R. Katie Scott
Captive propagation, reproductive biology, and early life history of Etheostoma wapiti (Boulder Darter), E. vulneratum (Wounded Darter), and E. maculatum (Spotted Darter)
Reproductive biology and early life-history data are important for understanding the ecology of fishes. In 2008, we conducted captive propagation studies on 3 species of darters of the subgenus Nothonotus: Etheostoma wapiti (Boulder Darter), E. vulneratum (Wounded Darter), and E. maculatum (Spotted Darter). The length of spawning period and associated range of water temperatures for the Wounded Da
Authors
Crystal L. Ruble, Patrick L. Rakes, John R. Shute, Stuart A. Welsh
Downstream passage and impact of turbine shutdowns on survival of silver American Eels at five hydroelectric dams on the Shenandoah River
Hydroelectric dams impact the downstream migrations of silver American Eels Anguilla rostrata via migratory delays and turbine mortality. A radiotelemetry study of American Eels was conducted to determine the impacts of five run-of-the-river hydroelectric dams located over a 195-km stretch of the Shenandoah River, Virginia–West Virginia, during fall 2007–summer 2010. Overall, 96 radio-tagged indiv
Authors
Sheila Eyler, Stuart A. Welsh, David R. Smith, Mary Rockey
First record of the bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) from West Virginia
We report a population of Bigeye Shiner Notropis boops in the South Fork Hughes River drainage of the Little Kanawha River, West Virginia. A total of 27 individuals of N. boops were collected during five sampling efforts from 1999 to 2005. These specimens represent an addition to the state fauna, a distributional record for the Little Kanawha River, and an eastern range extension for this species
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Daniel A. Cincotta, Richard L. Raesly
Conservation of imperiled crayfish species - Cambarus veteranus (Decapoda: Cambaridae)
No abstract available.
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Zachary J. Loughman, Roger F. Thoma, James W. Fetzner
Age, growth and fall diet of channel catfish in Cheat Lake, West Virginia
Acidification has historically impaired Cheat Lake's fish community, but recent mitigation efforts within the Cheat River watershed have improved water quality and species richness. Presently, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus are abundant and attain desirable sizes for anglers. We evaluated the age, growth, and fall diet of the population. We collected a sample of 155 channel catfish from Cheat
Authors
Corbin D. Hilling, Stuart A. Welsh, Dustin M. Smith
Upstream dam passage and use of an eel ladder by the common watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
No abstract available.
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Zachary J. Loughman
Upstream dispersal of an invasive crayfish aided by a fish passage facility
Fish passage facilities for reservoir dams have been used to restore habitat connectivity within riverine networks by allowing upstream passage for native species. These facilities may also support the spread of invasive species, an unintended consequence and potential downside of upstream passage structures. We documented dam passage of the invasive virile crayfish, Orconectes virilis (Hagen,
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Zachary J. Loughman
Synergistic and singular effects of river discharge and lunar illumination on dam passage of upstream migrant yellow-phase American eels
Monitoring of dam passage can be useful for management and conservation assessments of American eel, particularly if passage counts can be examined over multiple years. During a 7-year study (2007–2013) of upstream migration of American eels within the lower Shenandoah River (Potomac River drainage), we counted and measured American eels at the Millville Dam eel pass, where annual study periods we
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Joni L. Aldinger, Melissa A. Braham, Jennifer L. Zimmerman
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 66
Cambarus (C.) appalachiensis, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the New River Basin of Virginia and West Virginia, USA
Cambarus (Cambarus) appalachiensis is a stream-dwelling crayfish endemic to the greater New River basins of Virginia and West Virginia. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus sciotensis. Cambarus appalachiensis can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by its more elongated chelae which possess a single mesial row of tubercles, reduced to no tuberculation on the dorsal-longitud
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Roger F. Thoma
Factors influencing detection of the federally endangered Diamond Darter Crystallaria cincotta: Implications for long-term monitoring strategies
Population monitoring is an essential component of endangered species recovery programs. The federally endangered Diamond Darter Crystallaria cincotta is in need of an effective monitoring design to improve our understanding of its distribution and track population trends. Because of their small size, cryptic coloration, and nocturnal behavior, along with limitations associated with current sampli
Authors
Austin A. Rizzo, Donald J. Brown, Stuart A. Welsh, Patricia A. Thompson
Environmental covariates associated with Cambarus veteranus (Decapoda: Cambaridae), an imperiled Appalachian crayfish endemic to West Virginia, USA
Cambarus veteranus Faxon, 1914, a narrow endemic crayfish native to the Upper Guyandotte River Basin (UGB) in West Virginia, USA, was petitioned in 2014 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to be listed as endangered, but a status survey was recommended to determine if listing was warranted. During May and June 2015, surveys were undertaken across the UGB to determine the current distrib
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Nicole M. Sadecky, Zachary W. Dillard, R. Katie Scott
Evaluation of physicochemical and physical habitat associations for Cambarus callainus (Big Sandy crayfish), an imperilled crayfish endemic to the Central Appalachians
1. Crayfish represent one of the most imperilled animal groups on the planet. Habitat degradation, destruction and fragmentation, introduction of invasive crayfishes, and a lack of applied biological information have all been identified as agents thwarting crayfish conservation.2. Cambarus callainus was warranted federal protection by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in April, 2
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Nicole M. Sadecky, Zachary W. Dillard, R. Katie Scott
Captive propagation, reproductive biology, and early life history of Etheostoma wapiti (Boulder Darter), E. vulneratum (Wounded Darter), and E. maculatum (Spotted Darter)
Reproductive biology and early life-history data are important for understanding the ecology of fishes. In 2008, we conducted captive propagation studies on 3 species of darters of the subgenus Nothonotus: Etheostoma wapiti (Boulder Darter), E. vulneratum (Wounded Darter), and E. maculatum (Spotted Darter). The length of spawning period and associated range of water temperatures for the Wounded Da
Authors
Crystal L. Ruble, Patrick L. Rakes, John R. Shute, Stuart A. Welsh
Downstream passage and impact of turbine shutdowns on survival of silver American Eels at five hydroelectric dams on the Shenandoah River
Hydroelectric dams impact the downstream migrations of silver American Eels Anguilla rostrata via migratory delays and turbine mortality. A radiotelemetry study of American Eels was conducted to determine the impacts of five run-of-the-river hydroelectric dams located over a 195-km stretch of the Shenandoah River, Virginia–West Virginia, during fall 2007–summer 2010. Overall, 96 radio-tagged indiv
Authors
Sheila Eyler, Stuart A. Welsh, David R. Smith, Mary Rockey
First record of the bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) from West Virginia
We report a population of Bigeye Shiner Notropis boops in the South Fork Hughes River drainage of the Little Kanawha River, West Virginia. A total of 27 individuals of N. boops were collected during five sampling efforts from 1999 to 2005. These specimens represent an addition to the state fauna, a distributional record for the Little Kanawha River, and an eastern range extension for this species
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Daniel A. Cincotta, Richard L. Raesly
Conservation of imperiled crayfish species - Cambarus veteranus (Decapoda: Cambaridae)
No abstract available.
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Zachary J. Loughman, Roger F. Thoma, James W. Fetzner
Age, growth and fall diet of channel catfish in Cheat Lake, West Virginia
Acidification has historically impaired Cheat Lake's fish community, but recent mitigation efforts within the Cheat River watershed have improved water quality and species richness. Presently, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus are abundant and attain desirable sizes for anglers. We evaluated the age, growth, and fall diet of the population. We collected a sample of 155 channel catfish from Cheat
Authors
Corbin D. Hilling, Stuart A. Welsh, Dustin M. Smith
Upstream dam passage and use of an eel ladder by the common watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
No abstract available.
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Zachary J. Loughman
Upstream dispersal of an invasive crayfish aided by a fish passage facility
Fish passage facilities for reservoir dams have been used to restore habitat connectivity within riverine networks by allowing upstream passage for native species. These facilities may also support the spread of invasive species, an unintended consequence and potential downside of upstream passage structures. We documented dam passage of the invasive virile crayfish, Orconectes virilis (Hagen,
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Zachary J. Loughman
Synergistic and singular effects of river discharge and lunar illumination on dam passage of upstream migrant yellow-phase American eels
Monitoring of dam passage can be useful for management and conservation assessments of American eel, particularly if passage counts can be examined over multiple years. During a 7-year study (2007–2013) of upstream migration of American eels within the lower Shenandoah River (Potomac River drainage), we counted and measured American eels at the Millville Dam eel pass, where annual study periods we
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Joni L. Aldinger, Melissa A. Braham, Jennifer L. Zimmerman