Kimberly Larsen
(She/her)Kim is a Fish Biologist at the Western Fisheries Research Center.
Research Interests:
Otolith Research Coordinator: In this position I oversee all research projects regarding scale analysis and analysis of otolith microstructure and microchemistry focusing on the population ecology of fishes within the Pacific NW. Otoliths and scales have been used as research tools for understanding various life histories and habitat importance as they relate to the protection, preservation, and restoration of those habitats. Research techniques include: collection and preservation of specimens from both natural habitats and culture based environments, otolith preparation and analysis of age, thermal marks, daily increment patterns and microchemistry, and scale preparation and analysis of age and spawning all aided by computerized imaging. These techniques have been employed on several projects: thermal marking for stock identification of steelhead trout as part of a hatchery supplementation study in Idaho streams, identification of unique microstructural patterns related to life history events and estuarine residence and growth in wild Chinook salmon of the Skagit, Nisqually, Snohomish, and Elwha rivers, WA state, the pioneering of in depth microstructural pattern analysis related to developmental events in larval salmonids, migration and rearing histories of salmonids determined by ion microprobe and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectometry (ICPMS), and the life history investigation of whitefish and non-native west coast American Shad of the Columbia River, WA.
Ecological Researcher: I work as a member of a team of multi-disciplined personnel investigating the population ecology of Pacific NW fishes. We conduct field and laboratory experiments concerned with population genetics, hatchery supplementation, habitat utilization, and life history documentation.
Professional Experience
1990 to Present - Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
Education and Certifications
M.S. 1989. Marine Invertebrate Larval Development. Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
B.S. 1986. Marine Science. University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC
Science and Products
Extended abstracts from the Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound (CHIPS) 2006 Workshop
Pre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis: An Additional Year
Characterization of estuary use by Nisqually Hatchery Chinook based on Otolith analysis
Otolith research for Puget Sound
Pre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis
Analysis of otolith microstructure for Cedar River Chinook salmon
Migration and rearing histories of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) determined by ion microprobe Sr isotope and Sr/Ca transects of otoliths
Strontium isotope and Sr/Ca ratios measured in situ by ion microprobe along radial transects of otoliths of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) vary between watersheds with contrasting geology. Otoliths from ocean-type chinook from Skagit River estuary, Washington, had prehatch regions with 87Sr/86Sr ratios of ~0.709, suggesting a maternally inherited marine signature, extensive fre
Science and Products
Extended abstracts from the Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound (CHIPS) 2006 Workshop
Pre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis: An Additional Year
Characterization of estuary use by Nisqually Hatchery Chinook based on Otolith analysis
Otolith research for Puget Sound
Pre-Restoration Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon in the Nisqually Estuary Using Otolith Analysis
Analysis of otolith microstructure for Cedar River Chinook salmon
Migration and rearing histories of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) determined by ion microprobe Sr isotope and Sr/Ca transects of otoliths
Strontium isotope and Sr/Ca ratios measured in situ by ion microprobe along radial transects of otoliths of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) vary between watersheds with contrasting geology. Otoliths from ocean-type chinook from Skagit River estuary, Washington, had prehatch regions with 87Sr/86Sr ratios of ~0.709, suggesting a maternally inherited marine signature, extensive fre