Zoology

My research interests include applications of stable isotopes in fisheries and aquatic sciences, fish bioenergetics and trophic interactions, and fisheries management. Current and recent research projects in my lab include assessment and applications of otolith and fin ray/spine chemistry as indicators of fish environmental history. These studies are currently focused on fishes in large Midwestern rivers (Asian carp, sturgeon, catfishes, paddlefish), but also include smaller rivers and streams. Other current and recent projects include an assessment of ploidy status, age and growth, and environmental history of grass carp in the Great Lakes region and black carp in the Mississippi River, evaluation of stable isotopes as natural markers of freshwater macroinvertebrate sources and dispersal (in cooperation with Dr. Whiles' lab), stable H isotopes and fatty acids as food web tracers in rivers (in collaboration with Dr. Jesse Trushenski), field evaluation of Zequanox for zebra mussel control in Illinois lakes, and biological control of aquaculture pond snails. We are also conducting surveillance for viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in Illinois waters in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

For more information on my research program, please see my lab webpage.

Recent Publications

Phelps, Q.E., G.W. Whitledge, S.J. Tripp, K.T. Smith, J.E. Garvey, D.P. Herzog, D.E. Ostendorf, J.W. Ridings, J.W. Crites, R.A. Hrabik, W.J. Doyle, and T.D. Hill. In press. Identifying river of origin for age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeons in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers using fin ray microchemistry. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

Gahagan, B.I., J.C. Vokoun, G.W. Whitledge, and E.T. Schultz. In press. Evaluation of otolith microchemistry for identifying natal origin of anadromous river herring in Connecticut. Marine and Coastal Fisheries.

Myers, D.J., G.W. Whitledge, and M.R. Whiles. In press. Evaluation of dD and d18O as natural markers of invertebrate source environment and dispersal in the middle Mississippi River-floodplain ecosystem. River Research and Applications.

Rude, N.P., G.W. Whitledge, Q.E. Phelps, and S. Hirst. 2011. Long-term PIT and T-bar anchor tag retention rates in adult muskellunge. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 31:515-519.

Smith, K.T. and G.W. Whitledge. 2011. Trace element and stable isotopic signatures in otoliths and pectoral spines as potential indicators of catfish environmental history. Catfish 2010: Proceedings of the 2^nd International Catfish Symposium. American Fisheries Society Symposium 77:645-660.

Noatch, M.R. and G.W. Whitledge. 2011. An evaluation of hydrated lime and predator sunfish as a combined chemical-biological approach for controlling snails in aquaculture ponds. North American Journal of Aquaculture 73:53-59.

Smith, K.T. and G.W. Whitledge. 2011. Evaluation of a stable isotope labeling technique for mass-marking fin rays of age-0 lake sturgeon. Fisheries Management and Ecology 18:168-175.

Smith, K.T., N.P. Rude, M.R. Noatch, D.R. Sechler, Q.E. Phelps, and G.W. Whitledge. 2011. Contrasting population characteristics of yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) in two southern Illinois reservoirs. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 27:46-52.

Zeigler, J.M. and G.W. Whitledge. 2011. Otolith trace element and stable isotopic compositions differentiate fishes from the middle Mississippi River, its tributaries, and floodplain lakes. Hydrobiologia 661:289-302.

Whitledge, G.W., P.G. Bajer, and R.S. Hayward. 2010. Laboratory evaluation of two bioenergetics models for brown trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139:929-936.

Zeigler, J.M. and G.W. Whitledge. 2010. Assessment of otolith chemistry for identifying source environment of fishes in the lower Illinois River, Illinois. Hydrobiologia 638:109-119.

Phelps, Q.E., M.R. Noatch, H.A. Lewis, D.J. Myers, J.M. Zeigler, J.S. Eichelberger, M.J. Saltzgiver, and G.W. Whitledge. 2009. Otolith chemistry of prey fish consumed by a fish predator: does digestion hinder Russian doll techniques? Journal of Fish Biology 75:2606-2614.

Whitledge, G.W. 2009. Otolith microchemistry and isotopic composition as potential indicators of fish movement between the Illinois River drainage and Lake Michigan. Journal of Great Lakes Research 35:100-105.

Vandermyde, J.M. and G.W. Whitledge. 2008. Otolith d15N distinguishes fish from forested and agricultural streams in southern Illinois. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 23:333-336.

Whitledge, G.W., B.M. Johnson, P.J. Martinez, and A.M. Martinez. 2007. Sources of non-native centrarchids in the upper Colorado River revealed by stable isotope and microchemical analyses of otoliths. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136:1263-1275.

Whitledge, G.W., C.F. Rabeni, G. Annis, and S.P. Sowa. 2006. Riparian shading and groundwater enhance growth potential for smallmouth bass in Ozark streams. Ecological Applications 16:1461-1473.