Alaska Staff Member
Dr. Jeffrey Daniel Muehlbauer
Unit Leader
Phone: (907) 474 - 5773
Email: jmuehlbauer@usgs.gov
Faculty Email: jdmuehlbauer@alaska.edu
Faculty Website
Education
- Ph D University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2013
- MS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2010
- BS Northern Arizona University 2007
Biography
Dr. Muehlbauer received undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Northern Arizona University and masters and doctoral degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He spent several years at the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center prior to joining the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 2021. His research is focused on linking hydrological and geomorphic conditions in rivers to the structure of aquatic communities. Most of his work focuses on aquatic insects and macroinvertebrates, salmonid fisheries and feeding ecology, and freshwater and riparian food webs. He has been involved in basic and applied research in a variety of river ecosystems worldwide, including dam removal in Fossil Creek, Arizona, wetland mitigation in North Carolina, food web studies on the Danube River in Austria/Hungary/Serbia and glacially-fed rivers in Italy. Presently his research looks into the effects of large dam impacts on aquatic communities in the Colorado River, on stream restoration efforts related to freshwater fishes, and on the impacts of climate change, mining, and other stressors in Alaskan streams and rivers. Dr. Muehlbauer teaches courses in Aquatic Food Web Ecology and Research and Design at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Areas of Expertise
Adaptive Management, Anthropogenic Impacts, Aquatic Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ecological Flows, Ecological Services, Entomology, Fisheries Management, Habitat Management, Managed Flows/Hydrology, Policy, Population and Community Ecology, Statistics and Modelling, Stream Ecology, Water Quality
Taxon Groups Studied
Anadromous Fishes, Bats, Freshwater Fishes, Gamefish, Invertebrates/Insects, Nongame Fish/Wildlife, Salmonids
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Ward, N. K., A. J. Lynch, E. A. Beever, J. Booker, K. L. Bouska, H. Embke, et al. 2023. Reimagining large river management using the Resist–Accept–Direct (RAD) framework in the Upper Mississippi River. Ecological Processes 12:48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00460-x | Abstract | Publisher Website | October 2023 |
| Metcalfe, A.N., T.A. Kennedy, G.A. Mendez and J.D. and Muehlbauer. 2022. Applied citizen science in freshwater research. WIREs Water e1578:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1578 | Abstract | Publisher Website | January 2022 |
| Metcalfe, A. N., J. D. Muehlbauer, M. A. Ford, and T. A. Kennedy. 2023. Colorado River Basin. Pages 462-509 in M. D. Delong, T. D. Jardine, A. C. Benke and C. E. Cushing (editors). Rivers of North America. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA. | April 2023 |
| Metcalfe, A. N., C. A. Fritzinger, T. J. Weller, M. J. Dodrill, J. D. Muehlbauer, C. B. Yackulic, P. B. Holton, C. M. Szydlo, L. E. Durning, J. B. Sankey, and T. A. Kennedy. 2023. Insectivorous bat foraging tracks the availability of aquatic flies (Diptera). The Journal of Wildlife Management 87:e22414. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22414 | Abstract | May 2023 |
| Kennedy, T.A., A.N. Metcalfe, B.R. Deemer, M.A. Ford, C.M. Szydlo, C.B. Yackulic, and J.D. Muehlbauer. 2022. Little bugs, big data, and Colorado River adaptive management—Preliminary findings from the ongoing bug flow experiment at Glen Canyon Dam. Boatman's Quarterly Review. 35:26-31. | Publisher Website | October 2022 |
| Deemer, B.R., C.B. Yackulic, R.O. Hall, M.J. Dodrill, T.A. Kennedy, J.D. Muehlbauer, D.J. Topping, N. Voichick, and M.D. Yard. 2022. Experimental reductions in sub-daily flow fluctuations increased gross primary productivity for 425 river kilometers downstream. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nexus pgac094. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac094 | Abstract | Publisher Website | June 2022 |
| Abernethy, E.F., J.D. Muehlbauer, T.A. Kennedy, J.D. Tonkin, R. Van Driesche and D.A. Lytle. 2021. Hydropeaking intensity and dam proximity limit aquatic invertebrate diversity in the Colorado River Basin. Ecosphere 12: e03559, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3559 | Abstract | Publisher Website | June 2021 |
| Abernethy, E. F., J. D. Muehlbauer, T. A. Kennedy, K. E. Dziedzic, H. Elder, M. K. Burke, and D. A. Lytle. 2023. Population connectivity of aquatic insects in a dam‐regulated, desert river. River Research and Applications 39:364-374. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3972 | Abstract | Publisher Website | March 2023 |
| Project | Completion Date |
|---|---|
| Science Support for Coal Creek Restoration: Fish, Habitat, People | June 2026 |
| Ecological and fisheries impacts of “rusting rivers” in Northwest Alaska | September 2026 |
| Ectoparasites of salmon using eDNA | August 2023 |
| Juvenile salmon growth and heat stress | September 2025 |
| Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) decisionmaking | September 2023 |
| Aquatic food webs in Grand Canyon | September 2025 |
| Stream restoration effectiveness assessment | October 2025 |
| Wildfire effects on aquatic biodiversity measured using eDNA | September 2023 |
| Analysis of lake water quality data in Southwest Alaska National Parks | August 2025 |
| Salmon habitat and shoreline vulnerability to recreational boat wakes in Big Lake, Alaska | December 2025 |
| Central Alaska aquatic inventory & monitoring data synthesis | June 2027 |
| Woody debris export to large rivers following wildfire | September 2022 |
| Rio Chama aquatic insect monitoring | September 2021 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Dunkle, M.D., K.K. Bartz., S.M. Collins, P.W.C. Gabriel, J.D. Muehlbauer and S.R. Textor. 2024. Understanding climate change impacts on subarctic lakes: insights from long-term monitoring in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks, southwest Alaska. Associated Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Annual Meeting, Madison, Wisconsin, 02-07 June 2024. | June 2024 |
| Dunkle, M.D., K.K. Bartz., S.M. Collins, P.W.C. Gabriel, J.D. Muehlbauer and S.R. Textor. 2024. Understanding climate change impacts on subarctic lakes: insights from long-term monitoring in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks, southwest Alaska. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Wilson, E.E., J.D. Muehlbauer, F.J. Dekker, K.D. Keith, A.L. LaBarre, and M.G. Mazzacavallo. 2023. Effects of Watercraft Wakes on Shoreline Erosion, and Potential Impacts for Salmon at Big Lake, Alaska. Mat-Su Salmon Science & Conservation Symposium, Palmer, Alaska, 13-14 November 2023. | November 2023 |
| Wilson, E.E., J.D. Muehlbauer, F.J. Dekker, K.D. Keith, A.L. LaBarre and M.G. Mazzacavallo. 2024. Effects of watercraft wakes on shoreline erosion, and potential impacts for salmon at Big Lake, Alaska. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Wilson, E.E., J.D. Muehlbauer, F.J. Dekker, K.D. Keith, A.L. LaBarre and M.G. Mazzacavallo. 2024. Effects of Watercraft Wakes on Shoreline Erosion, and Potential Impacts for Salmon at Big Lake, Alaska. Alaska Section American Water Resources Association Annual Conference, Fairbanks, Alaska, 1-3 April 2024. | April 2024 |
| Wilson, E.E., J.D. Muehlbauer 2024. Effects of watercraft wakes on shoreline erosion, and potential impacts for salmon at Big Lake, Alaska. Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium, Palmer, Alaska, 18-19 November 2024. | November 2024 |
| Ward, N., A.J. Lynch, K. Bouska, H. Embke, J. Kocik, T. Krabbenhoft, D. Lawrence, M. Magee, B.M. Maitland, J. Morton, J.D. Muehlbauer, R. Newman, H.M. Rantala, G.G. Sass, A. Schulz and J. Wilkening. 2022. Using the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework to reimagine large river management. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, American Fisheries Society, Spokane, Washington, 21-25 August 2022. | August 2022 |
| Starbuck, M., A. Metcalfe, J. Muehlbauer, D. Lytle and T. Kennedy. 2023. A deep dive on net-spinning caddisflies (<i>Hydropsyche oslari</i>): measurements of adult body size and stable isotopes provides insights into growing conditions for aquatic insects during the Bug Flow Experiment. National Conference on Ecological Restoration, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 14-19 April 2024. | April 2024 |
| Robbins, C.J., T. Simmons and J.D. Muehlbauer. 2024. Spatial and decadal-scale temporal changes in water chemistry and macroinvertebrates in central Alaska. Annual Meeting, Society for Freshwater Science, 2-6 June 2024. | June 2024 |
| Robbins, C.J., T. Simmons and J.D. Muehlbauer. 2024. Spatial and decadal-scale temporal changes in water chemistry and macroinvertebrates in central Alaska. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D., W.T. Samuel and V.S. Zavoico. 2024. Alaskan stream macroinvertebrate diversity between burned and unburned catchments measured using eDNA. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D., T.A. Kennedy, A.N. Metcalfe, B.R. Deemer and C.B. Yackulic. 2023. Effects of experimental “Bug Flows” on aquatic insect populations downstream of a large hydropower dam. Annual Meeting, Society for Freshwater Science, 3-7 June 2023. | June 2023 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. and W.T. Samuel 2023. Comparison of eDNA primers for aquatic invertebrate diversity in Interior Alaska streams. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska, 27-31 March 2023. | March 2023 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. and Gosselin, M.D. 2022. Wildfire effects on large wood in rivers: perspectives from Interior Alaska. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, American Fisheries Society, Spokane, Washington, 21-25 August 2022. | August 2022 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. 2024. “Bug Flows” to Benefit Aquatic Food Webs in Grand Canyon. Fisheries Seminar Series, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 5 December 2024. | December 2024 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. 2024. Environmental flows for food webs and fishes in Grand Canyon. School of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Seminar Series, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 17 October 2024. | October 2024 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. 2023. Woody debris export to large rivers following wildfire. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska, 27-31 March 2023. | March 2023 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. 2023. Woody debris export to large rivers following wildfire, Alaska EPSCoR All-Hands Meeting, Girdwood, Alaska, 7-8 February 2023. | February 2023 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. 2022. Wildfire effects on large wood export to rivers: a synthesis. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 14-20 May 2022. | May 2022 |
| Muehlbauer, J.D. 2022. Piloting the quantification of large woody debris inputs to large rivers following wildfire. Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Virtual, 28 February-3 March 2022. | February 2022 |
| Muehlbauer, J. D. and D. E. Keller. 2025. Aquatic resource recovery for salmonids following stream restoration in Interior Alaska. American Water Resources Association Spring Meeting. Anchorage, AK, 28-30 April 2025. | April 2025 |
| Metcalfe, A.N., T.A. Kennedy, C.A. Fritzinger, M.J. Dodrill, C.M. Szydlo, J.D. Muehlbauer, C.B. Yackulic, B.P. Holton, L.E. Durning, J.B. Sankey and T.J. Weller. 2022. Insectivorous bat foraging along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon is determined by the availability of aquatic flies (Diptera). 16th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region, Flagstaff, Arizona, 12-15 September 2022. | September 2022 |
| Metcalfe, A.N., T.A. Kennedy and J.D. Muehlbauer. 2024 Sticky situation: Insights from 12 years of monitoring emergent aquatic insects along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Society for Freshwater Science Annual Meeting. 2-6 June 2024. | June 2024 |
| Metcalfe, A., T. Kennedy, J. Muehlbauer, M. Dodrill, T. Weller, J. Sankey, L. Durning and C. Fritzinger. 2022. The role of insect abundance and riparian vegetation in driving bat foraging activity in Grand Canyon: insights from a community science project. Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Annual Reporting Meeting, Virtual, 11-12 January 2022. | January 2022 |
| Kwit, I.A., J.D. Muehlbauer and J. Hagelin. 2024. An exploration of phenological mismatch between aquatic prey and a terrestrial consumer. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Kennedy, T.A., J.D. Muehlbauer, B.R. Deemer, C.B. Yackulic, M.A. Ford, C. Szydlo and A.N. Metcalfe. 2022. Experimental ‘Bug Flows’ increased algae production and insect diversity in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon. 16th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region, Flagstaff, Arizona, 12-15 September 2022. | September 2022 |
| Kennedy, T.A., A. Metcalfe, B.R. Deemer, M. Ford, C. Szydlo, C. Yackulic and J. Muehlbauer. 2022. Update on the Bug Flow Experiment: background, monitoring, and new analyses. Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Adaptive Management Working Group Meeting, Flagstaff, AZ, 17-18 August 2022. | August 2022 |
| Kennedy, T.A. and J.D. Muehlbauer. 2022. Project F: Aquatic ecology and food base monitoring. Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Annual Reporting Meeting, Virtual, 11-12 January 2022. | January 2022 |
| Keller, D.E., J.D. Muehlbauer, C. McGee and C. Buffington. 2024. Are we measuring the right things to inform stream restoration in Interior Alaska? Midnight Sun Science Symposium, Fairbanks, Alaska, 11-12 April 2024. | April 2024 |
| Keller, D.E., J.D. Muehlbauer, C. McGee and C. Buffington. 2024. Are we measuring the right things to inform stream restoration in Interior Alaska? Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Hermus, J.H., J.D. Muehlbauer, D.J. Rinella, V.R. von Biela, J.A. Falke. 2024. The effects of heat stress on juvenile Chinook and Coho Salmon growth in the Deshka River. Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium, Palmer, Alaska, 18-19 November 2024. | November 2024 |
| Hermus, J.H., J.D. Muehlbauer, D.J. Rinella, V.R. von Biela, J.A. Falke. 2023. The effects of water temperature and heat stress on juvenile Chinook <i>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</i>, and Coho Salmon <i>Oncorhynchus kisutch</i> growth in the Deshka River watershed. Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium, Palmer, Alaska, 13-14 November 2023. | November 2023 |
| Hermus, J.H., J.D. Muehlbauer, D.J. Rinella, V.R. von Biela and J.A. Falke. 2024. The effects of water temperature and heat stress on juvenile Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) growth in the Deshka River watershed. Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seward, Alaska, 25-29 March 2024. | March 2024 |
| Deemer, B.R., C.B. Yackulic, R.O. Hall, M.J. Dodrill, T.A. Kennedy, J. Muehlbauer, D. Topping, N. Voichick and M. Yard. 2021. An experimental flow increases gross primary production up to 400 kilometers downstream in a regulated river. Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Annual Meeting, Virtual, 22-27 June 2021. | June 2021 |
| Brown, P., E. Moody, J. Muehlbauer, B. Deemer, C. Yackulic, T. Kennedy and J. Corman. 2023. The role of calcium carbonate in gross primary production in the Little Colorado River, AZ, and implications for humpback chub growth rates. Desert Fishes Council Annual Meeting, Bluff, California, 14-19 November 2023. | November 2023 |
| Type | Citation | Publication Date |
|---|---|---|
| Data Release | Deemer, B.R., Yard, M.D., Voichick, N., Goodenough, D.C., Bennett, G.E., Hall Jr., R.O., Dodrill, M.J., Topping, D.J., Gushue, T., Muehlbauer, J.D, Kennedy, T.A., and Yackulic, C.B., 2022, Gross primary production estimates and associated light, sediment, and water quality data from the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZS6YLV. | March 2022 |
| Data Release | Abernethy, E.F., and Muehlbauer, J.D., 2022, Population genetic analysis of three aquatic macroinvertebrate species from samples in Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA) tributaries and nearby reference streams, 2016-2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9U429YG. | June 2021 |
| Role and Organization | Individual | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Society for Freshwater Science - Constitutional Revision Committee Chair 2017–2018; Co-Chair 2020–2021; Member 2014–2016, 2019–2020, 2021-Present | Muehlbauer | May 2017 | Present |
| Society for Freshwater Science - Active Member | Muehlbauer | May 2008 | Present |
| Ecological Society of America - English editing volunteer for authors for whom English is not a first language | Muehlbauer | May 2007 | Present |
| Ecological Society of America - Active Member | Muehlbauer | May 2008 | Present |
| American Fisheries Society - Member, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), Alaska Chapter | Muehlbauer | September 2023 | Present |
| American Fisheries Society - Alaska Chapter Annual Meeting Planning Committee | Muehlbauer | September 2022 | March 2023 |
| American Fisheries Society - Active Member, Alaska Chapter | Muehlbauer | September 2021 | Present |