Aquatic Research Scientist, Eastern Plains Native Fishes
Contact Information
Aquatic Research Group
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
317 West Prospect Road
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Phone: (970) 472-4336
Email:
ryan.fitzpatrick@state.co.us
Education
Ph.D. Candidate, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology – Colorado State University, Present
M.S., Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology – Colorado State University, 2008
B.S., Finance and Management – Iowa State University, 2000
Areas of Interest/Expertise
My primary research examines plains fish ecology, native species conservation, anthropogenic impacts to streams, fish movement, and otolith microchemistry. However, I am also involved in projects dealing with optimal sampling protocols, endocrine disrupting compounds, irrigation recharge, and fish passage.
Current or Recent Positions
Aquatic Research Scientist, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2011-Present
Aquatic Conservation Biologist, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2007-2011
Aquatic Technician, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2006
Research Associate, Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2004-2008
Aquatic Technician, Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2003-2004
Current or Recent Research Projects
Anthropogenic impacts affect probability of persistence for eastern plains native fishes in Colorado
Flathead chub (Platygobio gracilis) movement in Fountain Creek, Colorado
Spatial and optimal monitoring for plains fishes in Colorado
Endocrine disrupting compounds impact on Colorado’s eastern plains native fishes
Improving rock ramp fishways for small-bodies plains fishes
Training of hatchery reared fish to enhance antipredator behavior and increase survival
Selected Publications
Bestgen, K. R., H. J. Crockett, M. Haworth, and R. M. Fitzpatrick. 2016. Production of non-adhesive eggs by flathead chub and implications for downstream transport and conservation. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management.
Broms, K. M., M. B. Hooten, and R. M. Fitzpatrick. 2016. Model selection and assessment for multi-species occupancy models. Ecology.
Gibson-Reinemer, D. K., F. J. Rahel, S. E. Albeke and R. M. Fitzpatrick. Submitted. Natural and anthropogenic barriers to climate tracking in river fishes along a mountain-plains transition zone. Diversity and Distributions.
Broms, K. M., M. B. Hooten, and R. M. Fitzpatrick. 2015. Accounting for imperfect detection in Hill numbers for biodiversity studies. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 6:99-108.
Walters, D. M., R. E. Zuellig, H. C. Crockett, J. F. Bruce, P. M. Lukacs, and R. M. Fitzpatrick. 2014. Barriers impede upstream spawning migration of flathead chub. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 143:17-25.
Fitzpatrick, R. M. 2008. Use of otolith elemental signatures in estimating sources of northern pike recruitment in the Yampa River, Colorado. Master’s thesis. Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University. Fort Collins, Colorado.
