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Duane C Chapman

Duane Chapman is a Fish Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

From 2002 - 2021, Duane led a team have focused on the biology and control of bighead, silver, black, and grass carps and other invasive aquatic species. He is now working part time, completing writing projects, mentoring, and assisting in risk assessments and other partner collaborations. His research and that of his team has focused on improvement of capture, harvest, and early detection methodologies, use of eDNA to estimate abundance and detect spawning, the use of early life history and spawning behavior of carp for the development of control techniques, and risk assessments. His research is global in focus, and integrates information and research from around the world to address invasive species problems in the United States. As he moves toward anticipated full retirement in 2024, the team he led is now guided by Dr. Jesse Fischer. 

Professional Experience

  • 1996-present Research Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Science Center, Columbia, MO

  • 1993-1996 Research Fisheries Biologist, National Biological Survey/Service, Corpus Christi, TX and Columbia, MO

  • 1988-1993 Fish Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Corpus Christi, TX

  • 1985-1988 Fish Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood, CO.

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1985

  • B.S. Fish and Wildlife Biology, Fisheries emphasis, Iowa State University, 1980

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 2006-2022: Chair, Mississippi River Basin Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species, Research and Risk Assessment Committee

  • 1980- present: American Fisheries Society

Science and Products

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Black carp

Black Carp Biology, Assessment, and Control

Black Carp ( Mylopharyngodon piceus) is the largest of the four non-indigenous carp species, reaching sizes well in excess of 100 pounds. CERC scientists, in cooperation with federal and state partners, are studying the biology, ecology, and behavior of black carp and developing tools to monitor, assess, and control this non-indigenous species.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Black Carp Biology, Assessment, and Control

Black Carp ( Mylopharyngodon piceus) is the largest of the four non-indigenous carp species, reaching sizes well in excess of 100 pounds. CERC scientists, in cooperation with federal and state partners, are studying the biology, ecology, and behavior of black carp and developing tools to monitor, assess, and control this non-indigenous species.
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Embryonic grass carp

Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers and their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae also have a short period of developing in the drift, and then they must swim from the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not likely to...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers and their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae also have a short period of developing in the drift, and then they must swim from the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not likely to...
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Jumping Silver Carp

Invasive Carp Species Section

Bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and the closely related silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) (together, the bigheaded carps) and black carp ( Mylopharyngodon piceus) are rapidly expanding in numbers and distribution in the Mississippi and Missouri River basins.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Invasive Carp Species Section

Bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and the closely related silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) (together, the bigheaded carps) and black carp ( Mylopharyngodon piceus) are rapidly expanding in numbers and distribution in the Mississippi and Missouri River basins.
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USGS

Tracking radio-tagged Asian Carp with Unmanned Aircraft System

The ability to track fish such as invasive Asian carp is critical in characterizing their habitat, use and movement, spawning locations, feeding habitats, overwinter refugia, and general movement patterns. We anticipate that a UAS-based approach for tracking fish that are radio-tagged will prove effective and used widely.
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National Innovation Center
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Tracking radio-tagged Asian Carp with Unmanned Aircraft System

The ability to track fish such as invasive Asian carp is critical in characterizing their habitat, use and movement, spawning locations, feeding habitats, overwinter refugia, and general movement patterns. We anticipate that a UAS-based approach for tracking fish that are radio-tagged will prove effective and used widely.
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Filter Total Items: 26

Juvenile carp survival rates relative to season, habitat and predator species combinations in experimental pond exposures

Prey survival rates relative to season, habitat and species of predator from eighteen two-week experiments, from April-October in 2015 and 2016, that were conducted in experimental ponds with differing habitats of artificial structure, vegetation, or no habitat combinations.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Behavioral responses to different sensory stimuli in larval Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Sensory input and systems are critical for organisms to respond to their environment, allowing movement to suitable habitat and potential escape from predators. While many stages of grass carp ontogeny have been described, neurosensory development remains unclear. Using behavioral tests, we looked at phonotaxis and chemotaxis from initial gas bladder inflation to the development of the...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Intertidal biofilm presence, quantity, nutritional quality, and composition maps derived from AVIRIS-Next Generation 3.7-meter airborne imagery, South San Francisco Bay, California

Microbial biofilm communities are composed of fungi, bacteria, and phytoplankton taxonomic groups (e.g., cyanobacteria, diatoms, and chlorophytes), which inhabit the surface of intertidal mudflats. Such biofilms have critical roles in shorebird diets, mudflat stabilization, primary productivity, and carbon storage. These raster datasets represent the presence, nutritional quality...
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Western Geographic Science Center

Evaluation of fish behaviors in response to driven and undriven entanglement nets with emphasis on invasive Silver Carp, Central Missouri, 2015-2016

We used Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS), which is based on Dual-Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON) technology to observe net encounter behaviors of bigheaded carps. Gill nets with four different mesh types (8.9 cm bar mesh) and trammel nets with five different mesh sizes (range 5.1-8.9 cm bar mesh) were evaluated. Net sets were undisturbed, or fish were driven with the...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022

Black Carp collections (n=534) by commercial fishers, biologists, and recreational anglers from the Mississippi River basin recorded from 2018 to 2022 are reported here. Geographic coordinates, total length (TL), weight, girth, date of capture, sex, and gear were recorded. Total length was measured from the tip of the snout to the longest caudal fin ray with the caudal fin lobes pinched...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Data and rloadest models used to estimate sediment and nutrient loads in selected New York tributaries to eastern Lake Erie

This data release contains data and rloadest models used to estimate sediment and nutrient loads in selected New York tributaries to eastern Lake Erie. Load estimates for suspended sediment and nutrients were calculated using rloadest (Lorenz and others, 2013; Runkel and De Cicco, 2017) models. Included are a zip file with input and output files for selected rloadest models for 13 U.S...
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Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center

Light trap and larval trawl collection of bigheaded carp in the Missouri River Basin, 2016

In the Lamine, Moreau, and Little Chariton rivers, light traps were used to capture larval bigheaded carps moving into tributaries. Traps were set on a weekly basis in each river, at roughly 1-kilometer intervals up to 7 km upstream. Ichthyoplankton tows were done in locations near the confluence of each tributary with the Missouri River, and within the Missouri River itself. Data...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey

These data represent the measurements of length and mouth gape from large juvenile and adult wild-caught and small juvenile hatchery origin black carp, and the results of laboratory size preference trials with bivalve prey, specifically Corbicula clams. Wild-caught black carp ranged from 429-1580 mm total length, a larger range than measured in previous studies. Corbicula feeding trial...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Size, attachment material and efficacy of piscicide delivery vials and baits for control of black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus

A piscicide delivery method was designed to selectively target black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, an invasive species in North America which possesses specially adapted pharyngeal teeth for crushing mollusk prey. Bait was prepared by attaching a glass vial containing toxicant (antimycin A) to the exterior of Corbicula fluminea clam valve. The vial was designed to break by the force...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Grass Carp detections via stationary receivers and manual tracking on Truman Reservoir, MO, January 2017 to October 2019

Diploid and triploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) tagged with acoustic transmitters were observed in Truman Reservoir, Missouri from January 2017 to October 2019 to determine longitudinal movements potentially associated with spawning. Passive acoustic receivers were deployed throughout the reservoir and its tributaries to monitor fish movements as they traversed up and...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Capture method, habitat, length, and diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River Basin, 2017-2019

An inventory (enumeration and taxonomic identification) of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp, based on the examination of gut contents from fish that were collected in the lower Mississippi River drainage of the U.S.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

Survival of grass carp and black carp gavaged with an oral dose of antimycin A in two carriers, corn oil and ethanol

The data consists of survival, length and weight of grass carp and black carp gavaged with an oral dose of antimycin A in two carriers, corn oil and ethanol.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
Filter Total Items: 89

Vertebrates in trade that pose high invasion risk to the United States

The United States imports thousands of live vertebrate species annually as part of legal trade. Escapes and releases from captivity are major pathways of invasion, however, the risk posed by the thousands of imported vertebrate species has not been systematically assessed. We conducted a horizon scan that used a data-driven climate match to filter a list of nearly 15,000 taxa drawn from...
Authors
Wesley Daniel, Helen Sofaer, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Richard A. Erickson, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Peder Scott Engelstad, Jonathan A. Freedman, Susan Canavan, Emily M. Dean, Michael J Adams, Charmayne L. Anderson, Mindy Barnett, Marybeth K. Brey, Kyle J. Brumm, Matthew S. Bunting, Emily Caffrey, Laura Cardador, Jacoby Carter, Phillip Cassey, Duane Chapman, Natalie M. Claunch, Timothy D. Counihan, Kristin P. Davis, Anant Deshwal, Andrew K. Douglas, Corey Garland Dunn, Chase A. Ehlo, Katie Everett, Jason M. Gleditsch, Andrew Grosse, Zoey Hendrickson, Steven C. Hess, Jeffrey E. Hill, Nick D. Holmes, Ana V. Longo, Julie L. Lockwood, Doran M. Mason, Ashley McDonald, Matthew Neilson, Kristen M. Reaver, Robert Reed, Caleb Powell Roberts, Jane Rogosch, Christina Romagosa, James C. Russell, Annie Simpson, Scott A. Smith, Jinelle Sperry, Quenton M. Tuckett, Kurt VerCauteren, Hardin Waddle, Christian Wanamaker, John D. Willson, Arden Williams, Deah Lieurance
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Themed social networking groups as effective sources of data: A country-wide survey on invasive bigheaded carp (Hipophthalmichthys molitrix and H. nobilis) detection and distribution

Citizen science commonly uses social networking platforms because they provide the easiest way to contact people. Social networking platforms can also be especially effective in that they gather people by interest and region. By sharing questionnaires and collecting photographs in angling-themed Facebook groups, we assessed the applicability of social networking groups in citizen science...
Authors
Zoltán Vitál, Duane Chapman, Béla Halasi-Kovács, Attila Mozsár
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey

Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) have been widely used as biological control of snails in aquaculture and were imported to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s for this purpose. Prior research emphasizes the species’ propensity to control gastropods, but since subsequent escape and establishment of black carp in portions of the Mississippi River Basin, concerns...
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Patrick Kroboth, Benjamin H. Stahlschmidt, Duane Chapman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Ecological inferences on invasive carp survival using hydrodynamics and egg drift models

Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), silver carp (H. molitrix), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), are invasive species in North America. However, they hold significant economic importance as food sources in China. The drifting stage of carp eggs has received great attention because egg survival rate is strongly affected by river...
Authors
Ruichen Xu, Duane Chapman, Caroline M. Elliott, Bruce Call, Robert B. Jacobson, Binbin Yang
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Limiting downstream dispersal of invasive carp egg surrogates using a laboratory-scale oblique bubble screen

We conceptualize and test a non-intrusive barrier, comprised of an oblique bubble screen (OBS) oriented at an angle to the mean flow, to prevent the downstream dispersal of invasive carp egg surrogates. Three surrogates of different densities and diameters were tested. Secondary flows created by the OBS were tuned to redirect surrogate eggs to facilitate their capture. Surface particle...
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Vindhyawasani Prasad, C.D. Suski, P. Ryan Jackson, Amy E. George, Duane Chapman, Jesse Robert Fischer, Rafael O. Tinoco
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Application of electricity and underwater acoustics to clear fish from a navigation lock during maintenance

The presence of fish within navigation locks can introduce an environmental challenge for construction crews when maintenance is required. This study examined the effectiveness of a dual-deterrent fish herding technique using electricity and acoustic stimuli to reduce the abundance of fish within a navigation lock before a scheduled dewatering for maintenance. Fixed-location multi-beam...
Authors
Jose Rivera, Aaron R. Cupp, Josey Lee Ridgway, Duane Chapman, Bethany E Hoster, Matthew Ross Acre, Robin D. Calfee, Jesse Robert Fischer, James J. Duncker
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey invasive carp strategic framework, 2023–27

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research has supported management of Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp), Mylopharyngodon piceus (black carp), Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp), and H. molitrix (silver carp), hereafter referred to collectively as invasive carps, for over a decade. This strategic framework identifies thematic research areas to guide funding decisions for USGS...
Authors
Duane Chapman, Jon Amberg, Robin D. Calfee, Enrika Hlavacek, Jon Hortness, P. Ryan Jackson, David C. Kazyak, Brent Knights, James Roberts
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Ecosystems Mission Area

Movement ecology of diploid and triploid grass carp in a large reservoir and upstream tributaries

Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, is an herbivorous fish originally brought to North America from Asia in 1963 to control nuisance aquatic vegetation. Since their arrival, detrimental alterations to aquatic ecosystems have sometimes occurred in waterways where they were initially stocked and into which they have escaped. The movements of grass carp from lentic systems into tributaries...
Authors
Tyler Michael Hessler, Duane Chapman, Craig Paukert, Jeff C. Jolley, Michael E. Byrne
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Columbia Environmental Research Center

An assessment of fish herding techniques: Management implications for mass removal and control of silver carp

We assessed the effectiveness of herding techniques on adult Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in a tributary to the Missouri River. Sites (600 m) were contained using block nets and treated with one of five herding techniques: (1) a method commonly used by commercial fishers in the United States (commercial technique), (2) pulsed-DC electrofishing (electric technique), (3)...
Authors
Josey Lee Ridgway, Katelyn M. Lawson, Stephen August Shier, Robin D. Calfee, Duane Chapman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Grass carp reproduction in small tributaries of Truman Reservoir, Missouri: Implications for establishment in novel habitats

Substantial work has been conducted to estimate the river length required for recruitment of invasive Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and bigheaded carps (Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and Silver Carp H. molitrix); however, the distance upstream and size of stream required for spawning remain unclear. Adult Grass Carp are regularly captured in Harry S. Truman Reservoir...
Authors
Cari-Ann Hayer, Michael F. Bayless, Cathy A. Richter, Amy E. George, Duane Chapman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Assessing the efficacy of oblique bubble screens for control of aquatic invasive species

Non-physical barriers, such as bubble screens (or curtains), are promising low-impact strategies to deter the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in streams. Bubble screens have been successfully implemented to redirect and/or deter adult fish and to capture plastics in some rivers, but their efficacy on invasive fish at multiple life stages (eggs, larvae, and adult fish) is not yet...
Authors
Vindhyawasini Prasad, C.D. Suski, P. Ryan Jackson, Amy E. George, Duane Chapman, Jesse Robert Fischer, Rafael O. Tinoco
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Central Midwest Water Science Center

Ingested toxicity of antimycin A to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in two carriers

Toxic baits are a potential control mechanism for nuisance carps, but rotenone-based baits for grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been ineffective. Failures have been attributed to the palatability of rotenone because innocuous training pellets are readily consumed prior to provision of piscicide baits. Several studies suggest antimycin A, a common alternative piscicide, typically...
Authors
Patrick Kroboth, Duane Chapman, Jeffery Steevens, Curtis G. Byrd
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Chapman, D.C., Hubert, W.A., and Jackson, U.T., 1987, Phosphorus retention by grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus): Aquaculture, v. 65, no. 3-4, p. 221-225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0044-8486(87)90234-1.

**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.

Asian Carp Would Have Adequate Food to Survive in Lake Michigan

Asian Carp Would Have Adequate Food to Survive in Lake Michigan

If invasive bighead carp and silver carp spread into Lake Michigan, there would be enough food available for these particular species of Asian carp to...

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Asian Carp Would Have Adequate Food to Survive in Lake Erie

Asian Carp Would Have Adequate Food to Survive in Lake Erie

If invasive bighead carp and silver carp spread into Lake Erie, there would be enough food available for these species of Asian carp to survive...
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Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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