Aquatic Research Scientist, Native Cutthroat Trout

Contact Information
Aquatic Research Group
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
PO Box 775777
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Phone: (970) 846-7145
Email: kevin.rogers@state.co.us
Education
Ph.D., Fishery Science — Colorado State University, 1998
M.S., Fishery Science — Colorado State University, 1993
B.S., Biology — University of Colorado, 1988
B.S., Molecular Biology — University of Colorado, 1988
Current or Recent Positions
Aquatic Research Scientist — Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2003-Present
Aquatic Biologist — Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2000-2003
Aquatic Technician — Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 1996-2000
Research Associate — Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research, 1990-1996
Areas of Interest/Expertise
My primary research covers all aspects of cutthroat trout conservation and management but has been focused recently on developing the taxonomy of southern Rocky Mountain subspecies. In addition, I maintain ongoing projects dealing with hydroacoustics, mountain whitefish, northern pike, and tiger trout.
Current or Recent Research Projects
Cutthroat trout taxonomy – molecular and meristic investigations
Fitness in small populations - consequences of genetic bottlenecks
Adaptive capacity in cutthroat trout
Population viability
Mechanical removal of competing non-native salmonids
Cutthroat trout movement and habitat use in small streams
Methods to improve success of salmonid wild spawn operations
Hydroacoustic methods to estimate trout population and individual size
Software development
Select Publications
Zeigler, M. P., K. B. Rogers, J. J. Roberts, A. S. Todd, and K. D. Fausch. 2019. Predicting persistence of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout populations in an uncertain future. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 39:819-848.
Bestgen, K. R., K. B. Rogers, R. Granger. 2019. Distinct phenotypes of native Cutthroat Trout emerge under a molecular model of lineage distributions. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 148:442-463
Rogers, K. B., K. R. Bestgen, S. M. Love Stowell, and A. P. Martin. 2018. Cutthroat Trout diversity in the southern Rocky Mountains. Pages 323-341 in P. Trotter, P. Bisson, B. Roper, and L. Schultz, editors. Evolutionary biology and taxonomy of Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii), American Fisheries Society Special Publication 36, Bethesda, Maryland.
Rogers, K. B., K. R. Bestgen, and J. Epp. 2014. Using genetic diversity to inform conservation efforts for native Cutthroat Trout of the southern Rocky Mountains. Pages 218-228 in Carline, R.F., and C. LoSapio, editors. Proceedings of the Wild Trout XI symposium, Bozeman, Montana. Available online at www.wildtroutsymposium.com
Brinkman, S. F., H. J. Crockett, and K. B. Rogers. 2013. Upper thermal tolerance of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) eggs and fry. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142:824-831.
Metcalf, J. L., S. L. Stowell, C. M. Kennedy, K. B. Rogers, J. Epp, K. Keepers, A. Cooper, J. J. Austin, A. P. Martin. 2012. A comparison of 19th and 21st century DNA and historical stocking data reveals the extent of human-induced changes to native diversity and distribution of cutthroat trout. Molecular Ecology 21:5194-5207.
Underwood, Z. E., C. A. Myrick, and K. B. Rogers. 2012. Effect of acclimation temperature and the upper thermal tolerance of Colorado River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus. Journal of Fish Biology 80:2420-2433.
Rogers, K. B. 2010. Cutthroat trout taxonomy: exploring the heritage of Colorado's state fish. Carline, R. F., and C. LoSapio, editors. Conserving wild trout. Proceedings of the Wild Trout X Symposium, Bozeman, Montana. Available online at www.wildtroutsymposium.com
Rogers, K. B., and G. C. White. 2007. Analysis of movement and habitat use from telemetry data. M. Brown and C. Guy, editors. Analysis and interpretation of freshwater fisheries data. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.
Recent Reports
Rogers, K. B., J. White, and M. Japhet. 2018. Rediscovery of a lost Cutthroat Trout lineage in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife report, Steamboat Springs.
Rogers, K. B. 2015. User manual for WaTSS 3.0 (Water temperature summary software). Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Bestgen, K, R., K. B. Rogers, and R. Granger. 2013. Phenotype predicts genotype for lineages of native cutthroat trout in the southern Rocky Mountains. Final Report to U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Field Office, Denver Federal Center (MS 65412), Denver, CO. Larval Fish Laboratory Contribution 177.
Rogers, K. B. 2012. Piecing together the past: using DNA to resolve the heritage of our state fish. Colorado Outdoors 61(5):28-32