Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.
Dorothy M. Chase
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples. Additionally, she chairs of the
Dorothy participated in research on BKD in Washington state and the Great Lakes while working in the bacteriology lab of the fish health section. Since 2014, the WFRC has been an OIE reference laboratory for BKD. As part of her role, she trained personnel from state, federal and international agencies on diagnostic tests for BKD including qPCR, PCR, ELISA and culture. Dorothy developed molecular based assays to detect and quantify Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causative agent of BKD, in fish tissues.
As a member of the Ecology section, Dorothy has used environmental DNA to identify and quantify invasive species, fish pathogens and aquatic species in sediment and water samples. She has enjoyed field work collecting environmental samples in the Lake Washington basin, Lake Sammamish basin, Puget Sound basin and her favorite the Elwha River in the Olympic National Park. As Chair of the IACUC committee, Dorothy is committed to improving the quality of care and use of animals in research at the WFRC.
Professional Experience
2024-Present: Chair of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1993-Present: Microbiologist, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
Education and Certifications
B.S. 1991 Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle. WA
B.S. 1991 Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle. WA
June 2024: American Fisheries Society, FHS Continuing Education Class: Newer Diagnostic Methods, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Honors and Awards
2024: Recognition of 30 years service in the government of the USA (2024)
12/2024: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2023: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2022: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2021: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
12/2020: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
6/1997: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
9/1994: Star Award U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California
ObjectiveDebris flows are among the most extreme disturbances to streams and are predicted to become more frequent under climate change. We assessed the response of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout)/Rainbow Trout (hereafter, collectively referred to as O. mykiss) and Coastrange Sculpin Cottus aleuticus populations to major postfire debris flows in two small coastal...
Authors
David E. Rundio, Brian C. Spence, Dorothy M. Chase, Carl Ostberg
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon environmental DNA (eDNA) in a Seattle urban creek
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has a history of conducting traditional fish surveys in urban streams of Seattle, Washington. Limited staff resources have reduced SPU's capacity to monitor fish, and environmental DNA (eDNA) was recognized as an alternative survey method that could potentially improve the efficiency and capacity of SPU-sponsored fish surveys. We performed spatiotemporal...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Christina Pier, Dorothy M. Chase, Russell Perry
Isothermal recombinant polymerase amplification and CRIPSR (CAS12A) assay detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum as an example for wildlife pathogen detection in environmental DNA samples
Improving rapid detection methods for pathogens is important for research as we collectively aim to improve the health of ecosystems globally. In the northern hemisphere, the success of salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations is vitally important to the larger marine, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems they inhabit. This has led to managers cultivating salmon in hatcheries and...
Authors
Erin D’Agnese, Dorothy M. Chase, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz-Allan
Ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Knowledge of the timing of major life history events in aquatic species is important for informing conservation and resource management planning. Accordingly, surveys of environmental DNA (eDNA) have been performed to determine the efficacy of eDNA for providing information on life history events, primarily focusing on the timing of events associated with spawning, and these studies have...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase
Environmental DNA is an effective tool to track recolonizing migratory fish following large‐scale dam removal
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a potentially powerful tool for use in conservation and resource management, including for tracking the recolonization dynamics of fish populations. We used eDNA to assess the effectiveness of dam removal to restore fish passage on the Elwha River in Washington State (USA). Using a suite of 11 species‐specific eDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)...
Authors
Jeffrey J. Duda, Marshal Hoy, Dorothy M. Chase, George R. Pess, Samuel J. Brenkman, Michael M McHenry, Carl Ostberg
Use of environmental DNA to detect the invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis offers a promising tool for rapid and early detection of aquatic plant invasive species, but currently suffers from substantial unknowns that limit its widespread use in monitoring programs. We conducted the first study to test the factors related to eDNA-based detectability of 2 invasive aquatic plants, Egeria densa and Myriophyllum spicatum, over...
Authors
Lauren M. Kuehne, Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Jeffrey J. Duda, Julian Olden
Development of a quantitative PCR assay for detecting Egeria densa in environmental DNA samples
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) is an invasive freshwater plant that demonstrates widespread ecological impacts in freshwater ecosystems and causes substantial economic damage. Here, we developed an environmental DNA assay for detection of E. densa to provide resource managers with a tool for early detection, identification, and monitoring of invasive populations.
Authors
Dorothy M. Chase, Lauren M. Kuehne, Julian Olden, Carl Ostberg
Evaluation of environmental DNA surveys for identifying occupancy and spatial distribution of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) and Lampetra spp. in a Washington coast watershed
Surveys of environmental DNA (eDNA) have become an important and multifaceted tool for monitoring and identifying distributions and occupancy of aquatic species. This tool is attractive because it is powerful, easy to apply, and provides an alternative to traditional field survey methods. However, validating eDNA survey methods against traditional field survey methods is warranted prior...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Marshal Hoy, Jeff Duda, Michael Hayes, Jeffrey C. Jolley, Gregory S Silver, Carrie Cook-Tabor
Distribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds
Lampreys have a worldwide distribution, are functionally important to ecological communities and serve significant roles in many cultures. In Pacific coast drainages of North America, lamprey populations have suffered large declines. However, lamprey population status and trends within many areas of this region are unknown and such information is needed for advancing conservation goals...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Michael Hayes, Jeffrey J. Duda
Hybridization between Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout alters the expression of muscle growth-related genes and their relationships with growth patterns
Hybridization creates novel gene combinations that may generate important evolutionary novelty, but may also reduce existing adaptation by interrupting inherent biological processes, such as genotype-environment interactions. Hybridization often causes substantial change in patterns of gene expression, which, in turn, may cause phenotypic change. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Lorenz Hauser
Testing of candidate non-lethal sampling methods for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum in juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Non-lethal pathogen testing can be a useful tool for fish disease research and management. Our research objectives were to determine if (1) fin clips, gill snips, surface mucus scrapings, blood draws, or kidney biopsies could be obtained non-lethally from 3 to 15 g Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, (2) non-lethal samples could accurately discriminate between fish exposed to the...
Authors
Diane Elliott, Constance L. McKibben, Carla M. Conway, Maureen Purcell, Dorothy M. Chase, Lynn M. Applegate
Distribution of Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus in watersheds of Puget Sound Based on smolt monitoring data
Lamprey populations are in decline worldwide and the status of Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) is a topic of current interest. They and other lamprey species cycle nutrients and serve as prey in riverine ecosystems. To determine the current distribution of Pacific lamprey in major watersheds flowing into Puget Sound, Washington, we sampled lamprey captured during salmonid smolt...
Authors
Michael Hayes, Richard Hays, Stephen P. Rubin, Dorothy M. Chase, Molly Hallock, Carrie Cook-Tabor, Christina W. Luzier, Mary L. Moser
Environmental DNA survey results for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022
The data support a study that surveyed the spatial distribution of Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus eDNA in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022 following post-fire debris flows. The metadata represent qPCR quantification cycle (Cq) values for O. mykiss and C. aleuticus assays performed on water samples collected during June and July of 2021 and 2022 from the...
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020
The data support a study that surveyed the spatial and temporal distribution of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020. The metadata represent qPCR quantification cycle (Cq) values for Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and coastal cutthroat trout assays performed on water samples collected on specific days at specific sites on Thornton Creek, Taylor Creek, and Mapes...
Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021
There is a fundamental knowledge gap on the distribution, prevalence, intensity, and ecology of salmonid myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington. To address this knowledge gap, we tested water samples for Ceratonova shasta, Parvicapsula minibicornis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae DNA from 84 sites distributed throughout the Lake Sammamish watershed in fall 2019...
The ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon
We conducted a lab study to explore eDNA shedding during early life history (from fertilized eggs until near yolk sac absorption) in Chinook Salmon at three biomasses: 10 eggs, 100 eggs, and 1,000 eggs, and each egg biomass was replicated (indicated as replicates 1 and 2). Water samples were collected at several time points before, during, and after hatch for detection of Chinook Salmon...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an Effective Tool to Track Recolonizing Migratory Fish Following Large-Scale Dam Removal, field data
We collected environmental DNA (eDNA) data from the Elwha River, home to the world?s largest dam removal project, to track the spatial and temporal patterns of species responses following dam removal. In total, we collected data for 11 different fish taxa, sampled at 25 sites ranging across 56 river kilometers in a wilderness river for 4 years following dam removal. We show that eDNA can...
Detection of invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes using eDNA, field and mesocosm data
We conducted a study to test the factors related to detectability of two invasive aquatic plants (Egeria densa and Myriophyllym spicatum) using environmental DNA (eDNA), over extended periods of time, and specifically examined how plant growth stage and abundance relates to eDNA detection in semi-natural and natural conditions. This dataset is from sampling performed in summer of 2018 in...
2015 environmental DNA surveys for lampreys in Chehalis River tributaries, Washington
Columns of data representing Chehalis River tributary, sample reach locations, dates of water sampling, quantitative PCR results, and whether lamprey were sampled by electrofishing in each sample reach. ***Please note that the title of this data release used to be "Environmental DNA surveys for lampreys in Chehalis River tributaries, Washington, from 2015 and 2017," but was updated for...
Distribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds, 2014 and 2015
These data contain all the raw results needed to support the conclusions for the final product. These data are water sampling locations (latitude and longitude), date of water sampling, quantitative PCR values for each water sample, and stream flow at USGS stream gauging stations on sampling day.
Dorothy M. Chase
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California
ObjectiveDebris flows are among the most extreme disturbances to streams and are predicted to become more frequent under climate change. We assessed the response of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout)/Rainbow Trout (hereafter, collectively referred to as O. mykiss) and Coastrange Sculpin Cottus aleuticus populations to major postfire debris flows in two small coastal...
Authors
David E. Rundio, Brian C. Spence, Dorothy M. Chase, Carl Ostberg
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon environmental DNA (eDNA) in a Seattle urban creek
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has a history of conducting traditional fish surveys in urban streams of Seattle, Washington. Limited staff resources have reduced SPU's capacity to monitor fish, and environmental DNA (eDNA) was recognized as an alternative survey method that could potentially improve the efficiency and capacity of SPU-sponsored fish surveys. We performed spatiotemporal...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Christina Pier, Dorothy M. Chase, Russell Perry
Isothermal recombinant polymerase amplification and CRIPSR (CAS12A) assay detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum as an example for wildlife pathogen detection in environmental DNA samples
Improving rapid detection methods for pathogens is important for research as we collectively aim to improve the health of ecosystems globally. In the northern hemisphere, the success of salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations is vitally important to the larger marine, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems they inhabit. This has led to managers cultivating salmon in hatcheries and...
Authors
Erin D’Agnese, Dorothy M. Chase, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz-Allan
Ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Knowledge of the timing of major life history events in aquatic species is important for informing conservation and resource management planning. Accordingly, surveys of environmental DNA (eDNA) have been performed to determine the efficacy of eDNA for providing information on life history events, primarily focusing on the timing of events associated with spawning, and these studies have...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase
Environmental DNA is an effective tool to track recolonizing migratory fish following large‐scale dam removal
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a potentially powerful tool for use in conservation and resource management, including for tracking the recolonization dynamics of fish populations. We used eDNA to assess the effectiveness of dam removal to restore fish passage on the Elwha River in Washington State (USA). Using a suite of 11 species‐specific eDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)...
Authors
Jeffrey J. Duda, Marshal Hoy, Dorothy M. Chase, George R. Pess, Samuel J. Brenkman, Michael M McHenry, Carl Ostberg
Use of environmental DNA to detect the invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis offers a promising tool for rapid and early detection of aquatic plant invasive species, but currently suffers from substantial unknowns that limit its widespread use in monitoring programs. We conducted the first study to test the factors related to eDNA-based detectability of 2 invasive aquatic plants, Egeria densa and Myriophyllum spicatum, over...
Authors
Lauren M. Kuehne, Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Jeffrey J. Duda, Julian Olden
Development of a quantitative PCR assay for detecting Egeria densa in environmental DNA samples
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) is an invasive freshwater plant that demonstrates widespread ecological impacts in freshwater ecosystems and causes substantial economic damage. Here, we developed an environmental DNA assay for detection of E. densa to provide resource managers with a tool for early detection, identification, and monitoring of invasive populations.
Authors
Dorothy M. Chase, Lauren M. Kuehne, Julian Olden, Carl Ostberg
Evaluation of environmental DNA surveys for identifying occupancy and spatial distribution of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) and Lampetra spp. in a Washington coast watershed
Surveys of environmental DNA (eDNA) have become an important and multifaceted tool for monitoring and identifying distributions and occupancy of aquatic species. This tool is attractive because it is powerful, easy to apply, and provides an alternative to traditional field survey methods. However, validating eDNA survey methods against traditional field survey methods is warranted prior...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Marshal Hoy, Jeff Duda, Michael Hayes, Jeffrey C. Jolley, Gregory S Silver, Carrie Cook-Tabor
Distribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds
Lampreys have a worldwide distribution, are functionally important to ecological communities and serve significant roles in many cultures. In Pacific coast drainages of North America, lamprey populations have suffered large declines. However, lamprey population status and trends within many areas of this region are unknown and such information is needed for advancing conservation goals...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Michael Hayes, Jeffrey J. Duda
Hybridization between Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout alters the expression of muscle growth-related genes and their relationships with growth patterns
Hybridization creates novel gene combinations that may generate important evolutionary novelty, but may also reduce existing adaptation by interrupting inherent biological processes, such as genotype-environment interactions. Hybridization often causes substantial change in patterns of gene expression, which, in turn, may cause phenotypic change. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and...
Authors
Carl Ostberg, Dorothy M. Chase, Lorenz Hauser
Testing of candidate non-lethal sampling methods for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum in juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Non-lethal pathogen testing can be a useful tool for fish disease research and management. Our research objectives were to determine if (1) fin clips, gill snips, surface mucus scrapings, blood draws, or kidney biopsies could be obtained non-lethally from 3 to 15 g Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, (2) non-lethal samples could accurately discriminate between fish exposed to the...
Authors
Diane Elliott, Constance L. McKibben, Carla M. Conway, Maureen Purcell, Dorothy M. Chase, Lynn M. Applegate
Distribution of Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus in watersheds of Puget Sound Based on smolt monitoring data
Lamprey populations are in decline worldwide and the status of Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) is a topic of current interest. They and other lamprey species cycle nutrients and serve as prey in riverine ecosystems. To determine the current distribution of Pacific lamprey in major watersheds flowing into Puget Sound, Washington, we sampled lamprey captured during salmonid smolt...
Authors
Michael Hayes, Richard Hays, Stephen P. Rubin, Dorothy M. Chase, Molly Hallock, Carrie Cook-Tabor, Christina W. Luzier, Mary L. Moser
Environmental DNA survey results for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022
The data support a study that surveyed the spatial distribution of Oncorhynchus mykiss and Cottus aleuticus eDNA in coastal streams of Big Sur, California, 2021-2022 following post-fire debris flows. The metadata represent qPCR quantification cycle (Cq) values for O. mykiss and C. aleuticus assays performed on water samples collected during June and July of 2021 and 2022 from the...
Spatial and temporal surveys of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020
The data support a study that surveyed the spatial and temporal distribution of salmon eDNA in Seattle urban creeks, Washington, 2018 - 2020. The metadata represent qPCR quantification cycle (Cq) values for Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and coastal cutthroat trout assays performed on water samples collected on specific days at specific sites on Thornton Creek, Taylor Creek, and Mapes...
Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021
There is a fundamental knowledge gap on the distribution, prevalence, intensity, and ecology of salmonid myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington. To address this knowledge gap, we tested water samples for Ceratonova shasta, Parvicapsula minibicornis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae DNA from 84 sites distributed throughout the Lake Sammamish watershed in fall 2019...
The ontogeny of eDNA shedding during early development in Chinook Salmon
We conducted a lab study to explore eDNA shedding during early life history (from fertilized eggs until near yolk sac absorption) in Chinook Salmon at three biomasses: 10 eggs, 100 eggs, and 1,000 eggs, and each egg biomass was replicated (indicated as replicates 1 and 2). Water samples were collected at several time points before, during, and after hatch for detection of Chinook Salmon...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an Effective Tool to Track Recolonizing Migratory Fish Following Large-Scale Dam Removal, field data
We collected environmental DNA (eDNA) data from the Elwha River, home to the world?s largest dam removal project, to track the spatial and temporal patterns of species responses following dam removal. In total, we collected data for 11 different fish taxa, sampled at 25 sites ranging across 56 river kilometers in a wilderness river for 4 years following dam removal. We show that eDNA can...
Detection of invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes using eDNA, field and mesocosm data
We conducted a study to test the factors related to detectability of two invasive aquatic plants (Egeria densa and Myriophyllym spicatum) using environmental DNA (eDNA), over extended periods of time, and specifically examined how plant growth stage and abundance relates to eDNA detection in semi-natural and natural conditions. This dataset is from sampling performed in summer of 2018 in...
2015 environmental DNA surveys for lampreys in Chehalis River tributaries, Washington
Columns of data representing Chehalis River tributary, sample reach locations, dates of water sampling, quantitative PCR results, and whether lamprey were sampled by electrofishing in each sample reach. ***Please note that the title of this data release used to be "Environmental DNA surveys for lampreys in Chehalis River tributaries, Washington, from 2015 and 2017," but was updated for...
Distribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds, 2014 and 2015
These data contain all the raw results needed to support the conclusions for the final product. These data are water sampling locations (latitude and longitude), date of water sampling, quantitative PCR values for each water sample, and stream flow at USGS stream gauging stations on sampling day.
Dorothy M. Chase
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.
Dorothy Chase began her career at Western Fisheries Research Center in the Fish Health section where her research focused on Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) in salmonids. She is now a part of the Ecology section, focusing on research that uses environmental DNA to detect and quantify fish species, fish pathogens and invasive aquatic species in environmental samples.