Jon Amberg, PhD
Jon Amberg is the Center Director for the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 14
Use of antimycin-microparticles and alfalfa to control Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
Since their introduction in the 1960’s, grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella) have spread across the North American continent as far north as the U.S./Canadian border in the Great Lakes. Grass carp are an herbivorous species and can significantly reduce the amount of macrophytes and other plant material in a body of water. Subsequently, this can lead to many detrimental effects for certain species...
Hunting Invasive Species with HTCondor: High Throughput Computing for Big Data and Next Generation Sequencing
Large amounts of data are being generated that require hours, days, or even weeks to analyze using traditional computing resources. Innovative solutions must be implemented to analyze the data in a reasonable timeframe. The program HTCondor (https://research.cs.wisc.edu/htcondor/) takes advantage of the processing capacity of individual desktop computers and dedicated computing resources...
Filter Total Items: 52
Environmental DNA as a tool to help inform zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, management in inland lakes
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an aquatic invasive species that plague much of North America and are difficult to impossible to eradicate once they become established. Therefore, prevention and monitoring are key elements in the control of these organisms. Traditional microscopy is commonly used in monitoring but requires the presence of larval veligers. This limits the times...
Authors
Jon Amberg, Christopher M. Merkes, Wendylee Stott, Christopher B. Rees, Richard A. Erickson
Correlating sea lamprey density with environmental DNA detections in the lab
Invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758) are currently managed by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in an effort to reduce pest populations below levels that cause ecological damage. One technique to improve stream population assessments could be molecular surveillance in the form of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring. We developed and validated four probe-based...
Authors
Nicholas A. Schloesser, Christopher M. Merkes, Christopher B. Rees, Jon Amberg, Todd B. Steeves, Margaret F. Docker
Field evaluation of carbon dioxide as a fish deterrent at a water management structure along the Illinois River
Construction of a water management structure (WMS) in the levee surrounding The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve (Havana, Illinois, USA) created a new hydrological connection and potential aquatic invasive species pathway between the Illinois River and a large conservation wetland complex. Site managers need a control tool that deters the upstream passage of non-native fishes into...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, John Tix, Susan M. Schleis, Kim T. Fredricks, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg, William S. Morrow, Carolyn M. Koebel, Elizabeth A. Murphy, Chad Vishy, K. Douglas Blodgett
The complete mitochondrial genome of Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana Williamson) via NGS sequencing
Here, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly (HED), Somatochlora hineana Williamson. Data were generated via next generation sequencing (NGS) and assembled using a mitochondrial baiting and iterative mapping approach. The full length circular genome is 15,705 bp with 26.6% GC content. It contains the typical metazoan set of 37 genes: 13...
Authors
Craig Jackson, S. Grace McCalla, Jon Amberg, Daniel Soluk, Hugh Britten
Ethanol and sodium acetate as a preservation method to delay degradation of environmental DNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples that are collected from remote locations depend on rapid stabilization of the DNA. The degradation of eDNA in water samples is minimized when samples are stored at ≤ 4 °C. Developing a preservation technique to maintain eDNA integrity at room temperature would allow a wider range of locations to be sampled. We evaluated an ethanol and sodium acetate...
Authors
Bridget A. Ladell, Liza R. Walleser, S. Grace McCalla, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg
Assessing the efficacy of corn-based bait containing antimycin-a to control common carp populations using laboratory and pond experiments
Strategic use of oral toxicants could allow for practical and sustainable control schemes for the invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio, or ‘carp’) if a toxicant selectively targeted carp and not native species. In this study, we incorporated antimycin-a (ANT-A), a known fish toxicant, into a corn-based bait and conducted a series of experiments to determine its toxicity, leaching rate...
Authors
Joshua R. Poole, Blake W. Sauey, Jon Amberg, Przemyslaw G. Bajer
Profiles of digestive enzymes of two competing planktivores, silver carp and gizzard shad, differ
Typically, studies in digestive physiology in fish focus on a few enzymes and provide insight into the specific processes of the enzyme in a targeted species. Comparative studies assessing a wide number of digestive enzymes on fishes that compete for food resources are lacking, especially in the context of an introduced species. It is generally thought that the invasive silver carp (SVC...
Authors
Jon Amberg, Nathan Jensen, Richard A. Erickson, Blake W. Sauey, Craig Jackson
Assessment of carbon dioxide piscicide treatments
Few chemicals are approved to control or eradicate nuisance fish populations in the United States. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is currently being developed and studied as a new piscicide option for nonselective population control. This study evaluated dry ice (solid state CO2) as a simple CO2 delivery method during winter piscicide applications. Nonnative Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, John Tix, Jose Rivera, Stacie A. Kageyama, Christopher M. Merkes, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg, Mark P. Gaikowski
Using dissolved carbon dioxide to alter the behavior of invasive round goby
Fisheries managers need effective methods to limit the spread of invasive round goby Neogobius melanostomus in North America. Elevating carbon dioxide (CO2) in water at pinch points of rivers (e.g., inside locks) is one approach showing potential to deter the passage of invasive fishes, such as bigheaded carps Hypophthalmichthys spp., but the effectiveness of this method to alter round...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, John Tix, Justin Smerud, Richard A. Erickson, Kim T. Fredricks, Jon Amberg, C.D. Suski, Robert Wakeman
Comparing efficiency of American Fisheries Society standard snorkeling techniques to environmental DNA sampling techniques
Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging technique used to detect aquatic species through water sampling and the extraction of biological material for amplification. Our study compared the efficacy of eDNA methodology to American Fisheries Society (AFS) standard snorkeling surveys with regard to detecting the presence of rare fish species. Knowing which method is more...
Authors
Roy M. Ulibarri, Scott A. Bonar, Christopher B. Rees, Jon Amberg, Bridget A. Ladell, Craig Jackson
Seasonal trends in eDNA detection and occupancy of bigheaded carps
Bigheaded carps, which include silver and bighead carp, are threatening to invade the Great Lakes. These species vary seasonally in distribution and abundance due to environmental conditions such as precipitation and temperature. Monitoring this seasonal movement is important for management to control the population size and spread of the species. We examined if environmental DNA (eDNA)...
Authors
Richard A. Erickson, Christopher M. Merkes, Craig Jackson, Reuben R. Goforth, Jon Amberg
Evidence of Asian carp spawning upstream of a key choke point in the Mississippi River
Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Silver Carp H. molitrix, and Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella(collectively termed “Asian carp”) were introduced into North America during the 1960s and 1970s and have become established in the lower Mississippi River basin. Previously published evidence for spawning of these species in the upper Mississippi River has been limited to an area just...
Authors
James H. Larson, Brent C. Knights, S. Grace McCalla, Emy M. Monroe, Maren T. Tuttle-Lau, Duane Chapman, Amy E. George, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Jon Amberg
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 14
Use of antimycin-microparticles and alfalfa to control Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
Since their introduction in the 1960’s, grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella) have spread across the North American continent as far north as the U.S./Canadian border in the Great Lakes. Grass carp are an herbivorous species and can significantly reduce the amount of macrophytes and other plant material in a body of water. Subsequently, this can lead to many detrimental effects for certain species...
Hunting Invasive Species with HTCondor: High Throughput Computing for Big Data and Next Generation Sequencing
Large amounts of data are being generated that require hours, days, or even weeks to analyze using traditional computing resources. Innovative solutions must be implemented to analyze the data in a reasonable timeframe. The program HTCondor (https://research.cs.wisc.edu/htcondor/) takes advantage of the processing capacity of individual desktop computers and dedicated computing resources...
Filter Total Items: 52
Environmental DNA as a tool to help inform zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, management in inland lakes
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an aquatic invasive species that plague much of North America and are difficult to impossible to eradicate once they become established. Therefore, prevention and monitoring are key elements in the control of these organisms. Traditional microscopy is commonly used in monitoring but requires the presence of larval veligers. This limits the times...
Authors
Jon Amberg, Christopher M. Merkes, Wendylee Stott, Christopher B. Rees, Richard A. Erickson
Correlating sea lamprey density with environmental DNA detections in the lab
Invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758) are currently managed by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in an effort to reduce pest populations below levels that cause ecological damage. One technique to improve stream population assessments could be molecular surveillance in the form of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring. We developed and validated four probe-based...
Authors
Nicholas A. Schloesser, Christopher M. Merkes, Christopher B. Rees, Jon Amberg, Todd B. Steeves, Margaret F. Docker
Field evaluation of carbon dioxide as a fish deterrent at a water management structure along the Illinois River
Construction of a water management structure (WMS) in the levee surrounding The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve (Havana, Illinois, USA) created a new hydrological connection and potential aquatic invasive species pathway between the Illinois River and a large conservation wetland complex. Site managers need a control tool that deters the upstream passage of non-native fishes into...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, John Tix, Susan M. Schleis, Kim T. Fredricks, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg, William S. Morrow, Carolyn M. Koebel, Elizabeth A. Murphy, Chad Vishy, K. Douglas Blodgett
The complete mitochondrial genome of Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana Williamson) via NGS sequencing
Here, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly (HED), Somatochlora hineana Williamson. Data were generated via next generation sequencing (NGS) and assembled using a mitochondrial baiting and iterative mapping approach. The full length circular genome is 15,705 bp with 26.6% GC content. It contains the typical metazoan set of 37 genes: 13...
Authors
Craig Jackson, S. Grace McCalla, Jon Amberg, Daniel Soluk, Hugh Britten
Ethanol and sodium acetate as a preservation method to delay degradation of environmental DNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples that are collected from remote locations depend on rapid stabilization of the DNA. The degradation of eDNA in water samples is minimized when samples are stored at ≤ 4 °C. Developing a preservation technique to maintain eDNA integrity at room temperature would allow a wider range of locations to be sampled. We evaluated an ethanol and sodium acetate...
Authors
Bridget A. Ladell, Liza R. Walleser, S. Grace McCalla, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg
Assessing the efficacy of corn-based bait containing antimycin-a to control common carp populations using laboratory and pond experiments
Strategic use of oral toxicants could allow for practical and sustainable control schemes for the invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio, or ‘carp’) if a toxicant selectively targeted carp and not native species. In this study, we incorporated antimycin-a (ANT-A), a known fish toxicant, into a corn-based bait and conducted a series of experiments to determine its toxicity, leaching rate...
Authors
Joshua R. Poole, Blake W. Sauey, Jon Amberg, Przemyslaw G. Bajer
Profiles of digestive enzymes of two competing planktivores, silver carp and gizzard shad, differ
Typically, studies in digestive physiology in fish focus on a few enzymes and provide insight into the specific processes of the enzyme in a targeted species. Comparative studies assessing a wide number of digestive enzymes on fishes that compete for food resources are lacking, especially in the context of an introduced species. It is generally thought that the invasive silver carp (SVC...
Authors
Jon Amberg, Nathan Jensen, Richard A. Erickson, Blake W. Sauey, Craig Jackson
Assessment of carbon dioxide piscicide treatments
Few chemicals are approved to control or eradicate nuisance fish populations in the United States. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is currently being developed and studied as a new piscicide option for nonselective population control. This study evaluated dry ice (solid state CO2) as a simple CO2 delivery method during winter piscicide applications. Nonnative Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, John Tix, Jose Rivera, Stacie A. Kageyama, Christopher M. Merkes, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg, Mark P. Gaikowski
Using dissolved carbon dioxide to alter the behavior of invasive round goby
Fisheries managers need effective methods to limit the spread of invasive round goby Neogobius melanostomus in North America. Elevating carbon dioxide (CO2) in water at pinch points of rivers (e.g., inside locks) is one approach showing potential to deter the passage of invasive fishes, such as bigheaded carps Hypophthalmichthys spp., but the effectiveness of this method to alter round...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, John Tix, Justin Smerud, Richard A. Erickson, Kim T. Fredricks, Jon Amberg, C.D. Suski, Robert Wakeman
Comparing efficiency of American Fisheries Society standard snorkeling techniques to environmental DNA sampling techniques
Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging technique used to detect aquatic species through water sampling and the extraction of biological material for amplification. Our study compared the efficacy of eDNA methodology to American Fisheries Society (AFS) standard snorkeling surveys with regard to detecting the presence of rare fish species. Knowing which method is more...
Authors
Roy M. Ulibarri, Scott A. Bonar, Christopher B. Rees, Jon Amberg, Bridget A. Ladell, Craig Jackson
Seasonal trends in eDNA detection and occupancy of bigheaded carps
Bigheaded carps, which include silver and bighead carp, are threatening to invade the Great Lakes. These species vary seasonally in distribution and abundance due to environmental conditions such as precipitation and temperature. Monitoring this seasonal movement is important for management to control the population size and spread of the species. We examined if environmental DNA (eDNA)...
Authors
Richard A. Erickson, Christopher M. Merkes, Craig Jackson, Reuben R. Goforth, Jon Amberg
Evidence of Asian carp spawning upstream of a key choke point in the Mississippi River
Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Silver Carp H. molitrix, and Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella(collectively termed “Asian carp”) were introduced into North America during the 1960s and 1970s and have become established in the lower Mississippi River basin. Previously published evidence for spawning of these species in the upper Mississippi River has been limited to an area just...
Authors
James H. Larson, Brent C. Knights, S. Grace McCalla, Emy M. Monroe, Maren T. Tuttle-Lau, Duane Chapman, Amy E. George, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Jon Amberg