Kellie Carim

Research Ecologist

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Email: kellie.carim@usda.gov
Phone: (406) 542-4191
Fax: (406) 542-4196

Address:
790 East Beckwith Avenue
Missoula, Montana 59801

Education

Ph.D., Fish and Wildlife Biology, 2013 -- University of Montana, Missoula, MT
B.A., Biology, 2006 -- Carleton College, Northfield, MN

Background

Kellie is an aquatic biologist with expertise in using genetic tools and information to address questions related to distribution, population structure and persistence of freshwater fish. Prior to joining the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in 2021, Kellie worked for 7 years as research biologist with the U.S. Forest Service National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation. Here, she focused on developing and applying environmental DNA methods in a stream setting. However, her research interests expand far beyond the world of environmental DNA, and include questions related to habitat suitability and connectivity, genetic diversity, and life history dynamics of both native and invasive fish species. Kellie takes a collaborative approach to production of knowledge, performing research with diverse partners to inform wilderness stewardship and the understand the benefits of wilderness to aquatic ecosystems. To learn more about Kellie's research, visit her Research Information Tracking Site on the USDA Forest Service website.

Publications and Selected Reports

Taylor J.J., T.N. Hollingsworth, C.A. Armatas, K.J. Carim, K.L. Hefty, O.H. Helmy, L.M. Holsinger, D. Paige, S.A. Parks, L.E. Redmore, J.R. Rushing, E.J. Taylor, K.A. Zeller. A 10-year wilderness science strategic plan for the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. International Journal of Wilderness. 29 (1): 50-71. https://ijw.org/the-future-of-wilderness-research/

Carim, K. J., D.C. Larson, J. M. Helstab, M. K. Young, M. F. Docker 2023. A revised taxonomy and estimate of species diversity for western North American Lampetra. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 106: 817- 836. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01397-y

Young, M. K., D. J. Isaak, D. Nagel, D. L. Horan, K. J. Carim, T. W. Franklin, V. A. Zeller, B. Roper, M. K. Schwartz. 2022. Broad-scale eDNA sampling for describing aquatic species distributions in running waters: Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus in the upper Snake River, USA. Journal of Fish Biology. 101 (5): 1312-1325. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15202

Carim, K. J., L.A. Eby, L. M. Miller, H. McLellan, M. K. Schwartz, V. Dupuis. 2022. Mechanism of northern pike invasion in the Columbia River basin. Management of Biological Invasions. 13: 168-190. https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2022.13.1.10

Carim, K. J., S. Relyea, C. Barfoot, L. E. Eby, J. Kronenberger, A. R. Whiteley, B. Larkin. 2021. Ultrasound imaging identifies variation in maturity of resident Cutthroat Trout. PLoS ONE 16(2):e0246365.

Homel, K., T. W. Franklin, K. J. Carim, K. S. McKelvey, J. C. Dysthe, M. K. Young. 2020. Detecting spawning of threatened chum salmon over a large spatial extent using eDNA sampling: opportunities and considerations for monitoring recovery. Environmental DNA 3: 631-642.

Carim, K. J., N. J.  Bean, J. M. Connor, W. P. Baker, M. Jaeger, M. P. Ruggles, K. S. McKelvey, T. W. Franklin, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2020 Informing fish eradication efforts with environmental DNA. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 40: 488-508.

Robinson, A. T., Y. M. Paroz, M. J. Clements, T. W. Franklin, J. C. Dysthe, M. K. Young, K. M. McKelvey, K. J. Carim. 2019. Environmental DNA sampling of small-bodied minnows: performance relative to location, species, and traditional sampling. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 39: 1073–1085.

Carim, K. J., J. C. Dysthe, H. McLellan, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Schwartz. 2019. Using environmental DNA sampling to monitor the invasion of nonnative Esox lucius (northern pike) in the Columbia River basin, USA. Environmental DNA 1:215-226.

Franklin, T. W., J. C., Dysthe, M. Golden, K. S. McKelvey, B. Hossack, K. J. Carim, C. Tait, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2018. Inferring habitat occupancy of the western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) species complex using environmental DNA. Global Ecology and Conservation 15: e00438.

Franklin, T. W., J. C., Dysthe, E. Rubenson, K. J. Carim, J. D. Olden, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2018. A non-invasive sampling method for detecting non-native smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu). Northwest Science 92: 149–157.

Wilcox, T. M., K. J. Carim, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, T.W. Franklin, M.K. Schwartz. 2018. Comment: The Importance of Sound Methodology in Environmental DNA Sampling. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 38: 592–596.

Dysthe, J, C., K. J. Carim, T. W. Franklin, D. Kikkert, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Schwartz. 2018. Molecular detection of northern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda copei) DNA in environmental samples. Western North American Naturalist 78: 92–99

Dysthe, J. C., T. Rodgers, T. Franklin, K. J. Carim, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, K. Mock, M. K. Schwartz. 2018. Repurposing environmental DNA samples: detecting the western pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata) as a proof of concept.  Ecology and Evolution 8: 2659-2670.

Grote, A.B. and K. J. Carim. 2017 Using eDNA sampling to detect Pacific Lamprey in a large river: 2016 Wenatchee River Pilot Study. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Leavenworth WA.

Carim, K. J., J. C. Dysthe, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Schwartz. 2017. A noninvasive tool to assess the distribution of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Columbia River basin. PLoS ONE 12: e0169334

Carim, K. J., Y. Vindenes, L.A. Eby, C. Barfoot, L.A. Vøllestad. 2017. Demography, population viability, and the potential for local adaptation in isolated trout populations. Global Ecology and Conservation 10: 93-102.

Dysthe, J. C., K. J. Carim, M. Ruggles, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2017. Environmental DNA assays for the sister taxa sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (Sander vitreus). PLoS ONE 12: e0176459

Young, M. K., D. J. Isaak, K. S. McKelvey, T. M. Wilcox, K. L. Pilgrim, K. J. Carim, M. R. Campbell, M. P. Corsi, D. L. Horan, D. E. Nagel, M. K. Schwartz. 2016. Climate, Demography, and Zoogeography Predict Introgression Thresholds in Salmonid Hybrid Zones in Rocky Mountain Streams. PLoS ONE 11: e0163563

Kovach, R. P., B. K. Hand, P. A. Hohenlohe, T. F. Cosart, M. C. Boyer, H. H. Neville, C. C. Muhlfeld, S. J. Amish, K. J. Carim, S. R. Narum, W. H. Lowe, F. W. Allendorf, G. Luikart. 2016. Vive la résistance: genome-wide selection against introduced alleles in invasive hybrid zones. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283.

Dysthe, J. C., K. J. Carim, Y. M. Paroz, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2016. Quantitative PCR Assays for Detecting Loach Minnow (Rhinichthys cobitis) and Spikedace (Meda fulgida) in the Southwestern United States. PLoS ONE 11: e0162200.

Carim, K. J., K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Young, T. M. Wilcox, M. K. Schwartz. 2016. A protocol for collecting environmental DNA samples from streams. Page 18. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO.

Carim, K. J., L. A. Eby, C. A. Barfoot, M. C. Boyer. 2016. Consistent loss of genetic diversity in isolated cutthroat trout populations independent of habitat size and quality. Conservation Genetics 17: 1363–1376.

Carim, K. J., K. R. Christianson, K. M. McKelvey, W. M. Pate, D. B. Silver, B. M. Johnson, B. T. Galloway, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2016. Environmental DNA Marker Development with Sparse Biological Information: A Case Study on Opossum Shrimp (Mysis diluviana). PLoS ONE 11: e0161664.

Carim, K. J., J. C. S. Dysthe, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Schwartz. 2016b. An environmental DNA assay for detecting Arctic grayling in the upper Missouri River basin, North America. Conservation Genetics Resources 3: 197–199.

Carim, K. J., T. M. Wilcox, M. Anderson, D. J. Lawrence, M. K. Young, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Schwartz. 2016a. An environmental DNA marker for detecting nonnative brown trout (Salmo trutta). Conservation Genetics Resources 3: 259–261.

McKelvey, K. S., M. K. Young, W. L. Knotek, K. J. Carim, T. M. Wilcox, T. M. Padgett-Stewart, M. K. Schwartz. 2016. Sampling large geographic areas for rare species using environmental DNA: a study of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus occupancy in western Montana. Journal of Fish Biology 88: 1215–1222.

Padgett-Stewart, T. M., T. M. Wilcox, K. J. Carim, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2016. An eDNA assay for river otter detection: a tool for surveying a semi-aquatic mammal. Conservation Genetics Resources 8: 5–7.

Wilcox, T.M., K. J. Carim, K. S. McKelvey, M. K. Young, M. K. Schwartz. 2015. The dual challenges of generality and specificity when developing environmental DNA markers for species and subspecies of Oncorhynchus. PLoS ONE 10:e0142008.

Carim, K. J., L.A. Eby, R. Pierce. 2015. Does whirling disease mediate hybridization between a native and nonnative trout? North American Journal of Fisheries Management 35: 337–351.

Eby, L., R. Pierce, M. Sparks, K. J. Carim, C. Podner. 2015. Multiscale Prediction of Whirling Disease Risk in the Blackfoot River Basin, Montana: a Useful Consideration for Restoration Prioritization? Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 144: 753–766.

Pierce, R., C. Podner, T. Wendt, R. Shields, K. J. Carim. 2014. Westslope cutthroat trout movements through restored habitat and Coanda diversions in the Nevada Spring Creek complex, Blackfoot River Basin, Montana. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 143: 230–239.

Pierce, R., C. Podner, and K. J. Carim. 2013. Response of wild trout to stream restoration over two decades in the Blackfoot River Basin, Montana. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142: 68–81.