Downstream blocknet as part of an electrofishing survey of the fish community in Sevenmile Creek, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
James J Roberts, PhD
James J Roberts is a Research Fisheries Biologist based in Huron, OH.
James has broad research expertise and investigates the ecological consequences of stressors like invasive species, climate change, and eutrophication for aquatic systems and specifically fish populations. There are three overall themes his research is split between (Invasive species, native fish ecology/conservation, and climate changes effects) which are all related to the conservation and management of aquatic species and systems.
Currently, he is investigating the movement, behavior, and habitat use of Grass Carp, an invasive species in the Great Lakes. He has also conducted research in the Laurentian Great Lakes examining the ecological consequences of seasonal hypolimnetic hypoxia, dead zones, in Lake Erie. Specifically, he studied the effects (behavioral, physiological, and inter-specific) of hypoxia on the benthic fish assemblage of Lake Erie, while focusing on yellow perch. Previously, James has explored the potential effects climate change may have on the persistence of Cutthroat Trout in stream and lake habitats throughout the Southern Rocky Mountain region."
Professional Experience
Research Fisheries Biologist, USGS 2020-present; Great Lakes Science Center
Fish Biologist, USGS 2015-2020; Colorado Water Science Center
Research Ecologist-Mendenhall Fellow, USGS 2012-2015; Fort Collins Science Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. University of Michigan
M.S. University of Wyoming
B.S. University of Michigan
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Aquatic Ecology and Contaminants
Ecological Responses to Fish Reclamation Treatments
Climate Change and Trout
Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed
The Past as a Prelude to the Future: Assessing Climate Effects on Native Trout in the U.S.
Data releases by this scientist
Hydroacoustic data from uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) overtakes in Lake Superior, 2022
Grass Carp Movement and Capture Data from the Sandusky River, Lake Erie, Ohio, USA from 2020 to 2022
Hydroacoustic data from uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) overtakes in Lakes Huron and Michigan, 2021
Fish assemblage data collected within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Dataset for temporal influences on selenium partitioning, trophic transfer, and exposure in a major U.S. river
Invertebrate community data from native trout lakes and streams in the Southern Rocky Mountains
Fish tissue mercury and selenium concentrations in Upper Colorado River Basin: 1962-2011
Multimetric Index macroinvertebrate values from the Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado 2005 to 2016.
Datasets of ecological communities (invertebrates and fish), streamflow, habitat, and water quality to examine the presence of trends in ecological communities from the Fountain Creek basin, Colorado, USA, 2003-2016.
Multimedia related to this scientist
Downstream blocknet as part of an electrofishing survey of the fish community in Sevenmile Creek, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Fish in a holding net waiting to be measured following an electrofishing survey of Sevenmile Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Fish in a holding net waiting to be measured following an electrofishing survey of Sevenmile Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
A slimy sculpin from Miners Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
A slimy sculpin from Miners Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Publications by this scientist
Capturing potential: Leveraging grass carp behavior Ctenopharyngodon idella for enhanced removal
First documentation of grass carp spawning in Lake Erie’s Central Basin
U.S. Geological Survey invasive carp strategic framework, 2023–27
Stream size, temperature, and density explain body sizes of freshwater salmonids across a range of climate conditions
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2022
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2020
Temporal influences on selenium partitioning, trophic transfer, and exposure in a major U.S. river
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2021
Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment
Predicting persistence of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout populations in an uncertain future
Estimating lake–climate responses from sparse data: An application to high elevation lakes
Comparability among four invertebrate sampling methods and two multimetric indexes, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, 2010–2012
Non-USGS Publications**
zooplankton growth in a large eutrophic lake. Aquatic Biology 16: 217-227.
**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.
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Aquatic Ecology and Contaminants
Ecological Responses to Fish Reclamation Treatments
Climate Change and Trout
Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed
The Past as a Prelude to the Future: Assessing Climate Effects on Native Trout in the U.S.
Data releases by this scientist
Hydroacoustic data from uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) overtakes in Lake Superior, 2022
Grass Carp Movement and Capture Data from the Sandusky River, Lake Erie, Ohio, USA from 2020 to 2022
Hydroacoustic data from uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) overtakes in Lakes Huron and Michigan, 2021
Fish assemblage data collected within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Dataset for temporal influences on selenium partitioning, trophic transfer, and exposure in a major U.S. river
Invertebrate community data from native trout lakes and streams in the Southern Rocky Mountains
Fish tissue mercury and selenium concentrations in Upper Colorado River Basin: 1962-2011
Multimetric Index macroinvertebrate values from the Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado 2005 to 2016.
Datasets of ecological communities (invertebrates and fish), streamflow, habitat, and water quality to examine the presence of trends in ecological communities from the Fountain Creek basin, Colorado, USA, 2003-2016.
Multimedia related to this scientist
Downstream blocknet as part of an electrofishing survey of the fish community in Sevenmile Creek, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Downstream blocknet as part of an electrofishing survey of the fish community in Sevenmile Creek, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Fish in a holding net waiting to be measured following an electrofishing survey of Sevenmile Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Fish in a holding net waiting to be measured following an electrofishing survey of Sevenmile Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
A slimy sculpin from Miners Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
A slimy sculpin from Miners Creek in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Photo credit: James Roberts, USGS.
Publications by this scientist
Capturing potential: Leveraging grass carp behavior Ctenopharyngodon idella for enhanced removal
First documentation of grass carp spawning in Lake Erie’s Central Basin
U.S. Geological Survey invasive carp strategic framework, 2023–27
Stream size, temperature, and density explain body sizes of freshwater salmonids across a range of climate conditions
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2022
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2020
Temporal influences on selenium partitioning, trophic transfer, and exposure in a major U.S. river
Fisheries research and monitoring activities of the Lake Erie Biological Station, 2021
Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment
Predicting persistence of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout populations in an uncertain future
Estimating lake–climate responses from sparse data: An application to high elevation lakes
Comparability among four invertebrate sampling methods and two multimetric indexes, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, 2010–2012
Non-USGS Publications**
zooplankton growth in a large eutrophic lake. Aquatic Biology 16: 217-227.
**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.