Staff Member
Megan Kepler
Post Doc
Email: mvk10@psu.edu
Biography
My interest in the field of fisheries biology began at a very young age. As I began thinking about my career goals, I wanted to explore the broader field of biology to really get a feeling of how encompassing biology truly was. I attended Lock Haven University and pursued a biology degree with concentrations in cellular and environmental biology. During that time, I was able to complete internships that strengthened my fisheries knowledge, one with the Clinton County Conservation District and a second with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. After this point, I knew I wanted to continue my education and also gain more work experience. I began working as a research technician for Dr. Tyler Wagner of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit where I was able to assist in a wide variety of research projects. Currently I am a pursuing a master's degree with Dr. Tyler Wagner as my advisor. My thesis work will focus on Comparative Lake Trout Bioenergetics. Additionally, I enjoy spending most of my spare time outside. Whether it is hunting, fishing or just taking a walk with my dogs, my love for the outdoors has always been a large part of my life and has helped develop my career path. . Currently, my research interests pertain to bioenergetics modeling. My thesis research focuses on comparative lake trout bioenergetics where I will be comparing two lake trout morphotypes in terms of consumption and metabolism across a range of sizes and tempera...
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Schall, M.K., V.S. Blazer, R.M. Lorantas, G.D. Smith, J.E. Mullican, B.J. Keplinger, T. Wagner. In press. Quantifying Temporal Trends in Fisheries Abundance using Bayesian Dynamic Linear Models: A Case-Study of Riverine Smallmouth Bass Populations. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. | April 2018 |
| Schall, M.K., V.S. Blazer, H.L. Walsh, G.D. Smith, T. Wertz, and T. Wagner. Spatial and temporal variability of myxozoan parasite prevalence in young of the year smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania | August 2018 |
| Schall, M.K., T. Wertz, G.D. Smith, V.S. Blazer, and T. Wagner. 2019. Movement dynamics of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in a large river-tributary system. Fisheries Management and Ecology 26:590-599. | July 2019 |
| Schall, M.K., M.L. Bartron, T. Wertz, J. Niles, V.S. Blazer, and T. Wagner. 2017. Evaluation of genetic population structure of Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River Basin, PA. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 37:729-740. | May 2017 |
| Mollenhauer, R., T. Wagner, M.V. Kepler, J.A. Sweka. 2013. Fall and early winter movement and habitat use of wild brook trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142:1167-1178. | Download | July 2013 |
| Kepler, M.V., T. Wagner, and J.A. Sweka. 2014. Comparative bioenergetics modeling of two Lake Trout morphotypes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 143:1592–1604. | Download | October 2014 |
| Irwin, B.J., T. Wagner, J.R. Bence, M.V. Kepler, W. Liu, and D.B. Hayes. 2013. Estimating spatial and temporal components of variation for fisheries count data using negative binomial mixed models. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142:171-183. | Download | January 2013 |
| Project | Completion Date |
|---|---|
| Linking fish health, contaminants, and population dynamics of smallmouth bass populations in the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania | April 2017 |
| Comparative Energetics of Lake Trout Morphotypes | June 2013 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Thompson, T., M. Schall, T. Wagner, V. Blazer, A. Sperry and J. Niles. An investigation into the role of groundwater as a point source of emerging contaminants to smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River basin. 2016 Chesapeake Bay Workshop, Aug 30-Sept 1. | August 2016 |
| Thompson, T., M. Schall, T. Wagner, V. Blazer, A. Sperry and J. Niles. 2016. An investigation into the role of groundwater as a point source of emerging contaminants to smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River basin. Joint meeting between the West Virginia and Pennsylvania Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, California State University of Pennsylvania. | February 2017 |
| Schall, MK., M.L. Bartron, T. Wertz, J. Niles, V.S. Blazer, T. Wagner. Investigating movement dynamics and population genetics of smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River Basin. 2016 Chesapeake Bay Workshop, Aug 30-Sept 1. | August 2016 |
| Schall, M.K., V.S. Blazer, T. Wagner, T. Wertz, and G. Smith. 2015. Investigation of contaminants and disease characteristics of young of the year Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River basin, PA. AFS-Fish Health Section Annual Meeting, Ithaca, NY. July 13-15. | July 2015 |
| Schall, M.K., V.S. Blazer, H.L. Walsh, G. Smith, T. Wertz, and T. Wagner. 2017. EVALUATING DIFFERENCES IN FIELD OBSERVATIONS AND HISTOLOGICAL PREVALENCE OF MYXOZOAN PARASITES IN YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR SMALLMOUTH BASS (MICROPTERUS DOLOMIEU) IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN, PA. AFS FHS Annual Meeting. | April 2017 |
| Schall, M.K., V.S. Blazer, H. Walsh, T. Wertz, G. Smith, and T. Wagner. 2017. Investigating myxozoan parasite prevalence in young of the year smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River basin, 2013-2016. U.S. Geological Survey Chesapeake Bay Meeting, Aug 23-25. | August 2017 |
| Schall, M.K., T. Wagner, V. Blazer, and T. Wertz. Movement dynamics of Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River basin. Pennsylvania-Ohio 2015 Joint American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, 25–27 February 2015. | February 2015 |
| Schall, M.K., T. Wagner, R.M. Lorantas, G.D. Smith, and V.S Blazer. Investigating trends in riverine smallmouth bass catch per effort data in Pennsylvania. Joint meeting between the West Virginia and Pennsylvania Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, California State University of Pennsylvania. | February 2017 |
| Schall, M., T. Wagner, M. Bartron, V.S. Blazer and J. Niles. 2016. Movement dynamics and population genetics of smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River Basin. Susquehanna River Symposium, Bucknell University. | November 2016 |
| Megan K. Schall, Vicki S. Blazer, Heather L. Walsh, Geoffrey Smith, Robert Lorantas, Timothy Wertz, and Tyler Wagner. 2018. Investigating occurrence of disease characteristics and trends in smallmouth bass abundance in rivers within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Chesapeake Research & Modeling Symposium, June 12 - 14, Annapolis, MD. | June 2018 |
| Kepler, M.V., V. Blazer, T. Wagner, H. Walsh, G. Smith. 2014. Evaluation of potential disease causing agents in young of the year smallmouth bass in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health. Portland, OR. August 31 – 5 September. | September 2014 |
| Kepler, M.V., T. Wagner, J. A. Sweka. 2013. Comparative bioenergetics modeling of two representative strains of lean and humper lake trout (Salvenlinus namaycush) morphotypes. 69th Annual Northeast Fish & Wildlife Conference, April 7-9, Saratoga Springs, New York. | April 2013 |
| Technical Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Irwin, B. J., T. Wagner, M. V. Kepler, W. Liu, J. R. Bence, D. B. Hayes, and N. Lester. 2011. Spatial and temporal components of variation in Great Lake percid populations: implications for conservation and management. Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, Project Completion Report. | June 2011 |