Brian C Weidel, PhD
Brian Weidel is a research fishery biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center where he leads collaborative research on prey fishes and native fish restoration ecology.
Brian works with state and provincial agencies in Lake Ontario to annually assess prey fish stocks, like Alewife, which informs the decisions that sustain that lake’s world class trout and salmon fisheries. Brian’s research also addresses prey fish conservation for species like Deepwater Sculpin, a bottom-dwelling fish that inhabits depths from 80 – 240 meters (165-792 feet) and is prey for native predators including Burbot and Lake Trout. This species was likely extirpated from Lake Ontario for decades, but the research done by Brian and colleagues has documented the remarkable natural recovery of the species. Most recently Brian joined a multi-agency international effort to study and restore Great Lakes fishes from the genus Coregonus. Populations of Cisco, Lake Whitefish, and Bloater were among the Great Lakes’ most abundant fishes prior to European colonization and supported critical fisheries; but human driven changes have caused extirpations and population declines. Brian’s research is among the to quantify how habitats and conditions influence incubation success for these species that spawn in late fall and winter and emerge from the lake bottom substrates just after ice out. Research teams are evaluating the efficacy of rehabilitating lake spawning habitat substrates for improving reproduction and evaluating these actions as potential tools for coregonine restoration and conservation.
Professional Experience
Research Fishery Biologist, United States Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Ontario Biological Station, 2010 – present
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin, Madison 2009 - 2010
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin, Madison 2005 - 2008
Graduate Research Assistant, Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources, 2000 - 2003
Research Assistant, Cornell University, Adirondack Fishery Research Program, 1998 - 2000
Research Assistant, Cornell University, Cornell Biological Field Station, 1997 - 1998
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Limnology and Marine Science, Center for Limnology, Univerisity of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
M.S. in Natural Resources, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, 2003
B.S. in Natural Resources, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, 1997
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Data releases by this scientist
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Publications by this scientist
Social-ecological outcomes in recreational fisheries: The interaction of lakeshore development and stocking
Sub-indicator: Prey fish
Nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macrobenthos
Acoustic assessment of pelagic planktivores, 2016
Lake Ontario benthic prey fish assessment, 2016
Divergent life histories of invasive round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in Lake Michigan and its tributaries
Experimental whole-lake increase of dissolved organic carbon concentration produces unexpected increase in crustacean zooplankton density
Developing fish trophic interaction indicators of climate change for the Great Lakes
Developing recreational harvest regulations for an unexploited lake trout population
Research needs to better understand Lake Ontario ecosystem function: A workshop summary
Lake Ontario benthic prey fish assessment, 2015
Status of alewife and rainbow smelt in U.S. waters of Lake Ontario, 2015
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
News about this scientist
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Data releases by this scientist
Multimedia related to this scientist
Publications by this scientist
Social-ecological outcomes in recreational fisheries: The interaction of lakeshore development and stocking
Sub-indicator: Prey fish
Nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macrobenthos
Acoustic assessment of pelagic planktivores, 2016
Lake Ontario benthic prey fish assessment, 2016
Divergent life histories of invasive round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in Lake Michigan and its tributaries
Experimental whole-lake increase of dissolved organic carbon concentration produces unexpected increase in crustacean zooplankton density
Developing fish trophic interaction indicators of climate change for the Great Lakes
Developing recreational harvest regulations for an unexploited lake trout population
Research needs to better understand Lake Ontario ecosystem function: A workshop summary
Lake Ontario benthic prey fish assessment, 2015
Status of alewife and rainbow smelt in U.S. waters of Lake Ontario, 2015
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
News about this scientist