This individual was collected from tjhe Elk River from Kanawha County, WV in 2008
Stuart Welsh, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Research Interests
- Systematics
- Ecology
- Conservation of freshwater fishes
Teaching Interests
- Ichthyology
- Zoogeography
- Systematics
Professional Experience
Assistant Unit Leader, West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2000-
Education and Certifications
Ph D West Virginia University 1997
MS Frostburg State University 1994
BS West Virginia University 1990
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 65
Epigean crayfish of the Potomac River Basin in West Virginia: Zoogeography, natural history and conservation
Crayfish are an aquatic fauna of conservation concern, yet regional studies are lacking on zoogeography and life history. We compared recent and historical species distribution data and assessed conservation standings of native and nonindigenous crayfish of the Potomac River Basin in West Virginia. From 2007–2011, a total of 1764 crayfish were collected from 159 sites. Data collection included spe
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Audrey M. Sykes, Matthew I. McKinney, Stuart A. Welsh
Population characteristics of Yellow Perch in a central Appalachia hydropower reservoir
Estimates of population characteristics of sport fishes inform fisheries management decisions and provide feedback on management strategies. Cheat Lake provides an unusual fishery in West Virginia because the hydropower reservoir supports a Yellow Perch Perca flavescens population. We estimated age structure, size structure, condition, total instantaneous mortality, growth, and summer diet for Che
Authors
Corbin D. Hilling, Nate D. Taylor, Stuart A. Welsh, Dustin M. Smith
Effects of an extreme flood event on federally endangered Diamond Darter abundances
Extreme flood events can substantially affect riverine systems, modifying instream habitat and influencing fish assemblages and densities. Rare species are especially vulnerable to these disturbance events because of their small population size and often reduced phenotypic heterogeneity. In June 2016 the lower Elk River in West Virginia experienced severe flooding, resulting in a peak discharge th
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh
Spatial extent of analysis influences observed patterns of population genetic structure in a widespread darter species (Percidae)
Connectivity among stream fish populations allows for exchange of genetic material and helps maintain genetic diversity, adaptive potential and population stability over time. Changes in species demographics and population connectivity have the potential to permanently alter the genetic patterns of stream fish, although these changes through space and time are variable and understudied in small‐bo
Authors
Jane E. Argentina, Paul L. Angermeier, Eric M. Hallerman, Stuart A. Welsh
Cambarus loughmani, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) endemic to the pre-glacial Teays River Valley in West Virginia, USA
A new species of crayfish, Cambarus loughmani sp. nov., is described from the preglacial Teays River Valley of Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, and Putnam counties, West Virginia. The species was previously considered to be part of the Cambarus dubius complex. Loughman et al. restricted C. dubius to an orange colour morph found in central and northern portions of the Allegheny Mountains and Appala
Authors
David A. Foltz, Nichole Sadecky, Greg Myers, Jr. Fetzner, Stuart A. Welsh, Whitney Stockner, Mael Glon, Roger F. Thoma
A multiscale investigation of habitat use and within-river distribution of sympatric sand darter species
The western sand darter Ammocrypta clara, and eastern sand darter Ammocrypta pellucida, are sand-dwelling fishes of conservation concern. Past research has emphasized the importance of studying individual populations of conservation concern, while recent research has revealed the importance of incorporating landscape scale processes that structure habitat mosaics and local populations. We examined
Authors
Patricia A. Thompson, Stuart A. Welsh, Michael P. Strager, Austin A. Rizzo
Optimization of decision rules for hydroelectric operation to reduce both eel mortality and unnecessary turbine shutdown: A search for a win-win solution
Worldwide populations of freshwater eels have declined with one of the contributing causes related to mortality during passage through hydropower turbines. An inherent trade‐off underlies turbine management where the competing demand for more hydropower comes at the expense of eel survival. A win–win solution exists when an option performs better on all competing demands compared to other options.
Authors
David R. Smith, Paul L. Fackler, Sheila M. Eyler, Laura Villegas, Stuart A. Welsh
Diel periodicity and chronology of upstream migration in yellow-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata)
Yellow-phase American eel (Anguilla rostrata) upstream migration is temporally punctuated, yet migration chronology within diel time periods is not well-understood. This study examined diel periodicity, chronology, and total length (TL) of six multi-day, high-count (285–1,868 eels) passage events of upstream migrant yellow-phase American eels at the Millville Dam eel ladder, lower Shenandoah River
Authors
Joni L. Aldinger, Stuart A. Welsh
A new species of freshwater eel-tailed catfish of the genus Tandanus (Teleostei: Plotosidae) from coastal rivers of mid-northern New South Wales, Australia
Tandanus bellingerensis, new species, is described based on specimens from four river drainages (Bellinger, Macleay, Hastings, and Manning rivers) of the mid-northern coast of New South Wales, Australia. Previously, three species were recognized in the genus Tandanus: T. tropicanus of the wet tropics region of northeast Queensland, T. tandanus of the Murray-Darling drainage and coastal streams of
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Dean R. Jerry, Damien Burrows, Meaghan L. Rourke
Effect of substrate size on sympatric sand darter benthic habitat preferences
The western sand darter, Ammocrypta clara, and the eastern sand darter, A. pellucida, are sand-dwelling fishes that have undergone range-wide population declines, presumably owing to habitat loss. Habitat use studies have been conducted for the eastern sand darter, but literature on the western sand darter remains sparse. To evaluate substrate selection and preference, western and eastern sand dar
Authors
Patricia A. Thompson, Stuart A. Welsh, Austin A. Rizzo, Dustin M. Smith
A paired-laser photogrammetric method for in situ length measurement of benthic fishes
Photogrammetry, a technique to obtain measurements from photographs, may be a valid method for measuring lengths of rare, threatened, or endangered species. Photogrammetric methods of measurement are nonintrusive and reduce the possibility of physical damage or physiological stress associated with the capture and handling of individuals. We evaluated precision and accuracy of photogrammetric lengt
Authors
Austin A. Rizzo, Stuart A. Welsh, Patricia A. Thompson
Cambarus (C.) appalachiensis, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the New River Basin of Virginia and West Virginia, USA
Cambarus (Cambarus) appalachiensis is a stream-dwelling crayfish endemic to the greater New River basins of Virginia and West Virginia. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus sciotensis. Cambarus appalachiensis can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by its more elongated chelae which possess a single mesial row of tubercles, reduced to no tuberculation on the dorsal-longitud
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Roger F. Thoma
This individual was collected from tjhe Elk River from Kanawha County, WV in 2008
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 65
Epigean crayfish of the Potomac River Basin in West Virginia: Zoogeography, natural history and conservation
Crayfish are an aquatic fauna of conservation concern, yet regional studies are lacking on zoogeography and life history. We compared recent and historical species distribution data and assessed conservation standings of native and nonindigenous crayfish of the Potomac River Basin in West Virginia. From 2007–2011, a total of 1764 crayfish were collected from 159 sites. Data collection included spe
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Audrey M. Sykes, Matthew I. McKinney, Stuart A. Welsh
Population characteristics of Yellow Perch in a central Appalachia hydropower reservoir
Estimates of population characteristics of sport fishes inform fisheries management decisions and provide feedback on management strategies. Cheat Lake provides an unusual fishery in West Virginia because the hydropower reservoir supports a Yellow Perch Perca flavescens population. We estimated age structure, size structure, condition, total instantaneous mortality, growth, and summer diet for Che
Authors
Corbin D. Hilling, Nate D. Taylor, Stuart A. Welsh, Dustin M. Smith
Effects of an extreme flood event on federally endangered Diamond Darter abundances
Extreme flood events can substantially affect riverine systems, modifying instream habitat and influencing fish assemblages and densities. Rare species are especially vulnerable to these disturbance events because of their small population size and often reduced phenotypic heterogeneity. In June 2016 the lower Elk River in West Virginia experienced severe flooding, resulting in a peak discharge th
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh
Spatial extent of analysis influences observed patterns of population genetic structure in a widespread darter species (Percidae)
Connectivity among stream fish populations allows for exchange of genetic material and helps maintain genetic diversity, adaptive potential and population stability over time. Changes in species demographics and population connectivity have the potential to permanently alter the genetic patterns of stream fish, although these changes through space and time are variable and understudied in small‐bo
Authors
Jane E. Argentina, Paul L. Angermeier, Eric M. Hallerman, Stuart A. Welsh
Cambarus loughmani, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) endemic to the pre-glacial Teays River Valley in West Virginia, USA
A new species of crayfish, Cambarus loughmani sp. nov., is described from the preglacial Teays River Valley of Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, and Putnam counties, West Virginia. The species was previously considered to be part of the Cambarus dubius complex. Loughman et al. restricted C. dubius to an orange colour morph found in central and northern portions of the Allegheny Mountains and Appala
Authors
David A. Foltz, Nichole Sadecky, Greg Myers, Jr. Fetzner, Stuart A. Welsh, Whitney Stockner, Mael Glon, Roger F. Thoma
A multiscale investigation of habitat use and within-river distribution of sympatric sand darter species
The western sand darter Ammocrypta clara, and eastern sand darter Ammocrypta pellucida, are sand-dwelling fishes of conservation concern. Past research has emphasized the importance of studying individual populations of conservation concern, while recent research has revealed the importance of incorporating landscape scale processes that structure habitat mosaics and local populations. We examined
Authors
Patricia A. Thompson, Stuart A. Welsh, Michael P. Strager, Austin A. Rizzo
Optimization of decision rules for hydroelectric operation to reduce both eel mortality and unnecessary turbine shutdown: A search for a win-win solution
Worldwide populations of freshwater eels have declined with one of the contributing causes related to mortality during passage through hydropower turbines. An inherent trade‐off underlies turbine management where the competing demand for more hydropower comes at the expense of eel survival. A win–win solution exists when an option performs better on all competing demands compared to other options.
Authors
David R. Smith, Paul L. Fackler, Sheila M. Eyler, Laura Villegas, Stuart A. Welsh
Diel periodicity and chronology of upstream migration in yellow-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata)
Yellow-phase American eel (Anguilla rostrata) upstream migration is temporally punctuated, yet migration chronology within diel time periods is not well-understood. This study examined diel periodicity, chronology, and total length (TL) of six multi-day, high-count (285–1,868 eels) passage events of upstream migrant yellow-phase American eels at the Millville Dam eel ladder, lower Shenandoah River
Authors
Joni L. Aldinger, Stuart A. Welsh
A new species of freshwater eel-tailed catfish of the genus Tandanus (Teleostei: Plotosidae) from coastal rivers of mid-northern New South Wales, Australia
Tandanus bellingerensis, new species, is described based on specimens from four river drainages (Bellinger, Macleay, Hastings, and Manning rivers) of the mid-northern coast of New South Wales, Australia. Previously, three species were recognized in the genus Tandanus: T. tropicanus of the wet tropics region of northeast Queensland, T. tandanus of the Murray-Darling drainage and coastal streams of
Authors
Stuart A. Welsh, Dean R. Jerry, Damien Burrows, Meaghan L. Rourke
Effect of substrate size on sympatric sand darter benthic habitat preferences
The western sand darter, Ammocrypta clara, and the eastern sand darter, A. pellucida, are sand-dwelling fishes that have undergone range-wide population declines, presumably owing to habitat loss. Habitat use studies have been conducted for the eastern sand darter, but literature on the western sand darter remains sparse. To evaluate substrate selection and preference, western and eastern sand dar
Authors
Patricia A. Thompson, Stuart A. Welsh, Austin A. Rizzo, Dustin M. Smith
A paired-laser photogrammetric method for in situ length measurement of benthic fishes
Photogrammetry, a technique to obtain measurements from photographs, may be a valid method for measuring lengths of rare, threatened, or endangered species. Photogrammetric methods of measurement are nonintrusive and reduce the possibility of physical damage or physiological stress associated with the capture and handling of individuals. We evaluated precision and accuracy of photogrammetric lengt
Authors
Austin A. Rizzo, Stuart A. Welsh, Patricia A. Thompson
Cambarus (C.) appalachiensis, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the New River Basin of Virginia and West Virginia, USA
Cambarus (Cambarus) appalachiensis is a stream-dwelling crayfish endemic to the greater New River basins of Virginia and West Virginia. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus sciotensis. Cambarus appalachiensis can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by its more elongated chelae which possess a single mesial row of tubercles, reduced to no tuberculation on the dorsal-longitud
Authors
Zachary J. Loughman, Stuart A. Welsh, Roger F. Thoma
Diamond darter
This individual was collected from tjhe Elk River from Kanawha County, WV in 2008
This individual was collected from tjhe Elk River from Kanawha County, WV in 2008