World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
42
Citations
6234
World Ranking
5615
National Ranking
1917

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2016 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Overview

Carol A. Stepien is affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States. Their research spans multiple aspects of environmental science and molecular biology, with a particular focus on ecology and conservation.

Their work explores a range of specialized topics including:

  • Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
  • Identification and Quantification in Food
  • Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Fish Ecology and Management Studies
  • Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
  • Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
  • Marine and environmental studies

Stepien publishes predominantly in environmental and ecological venues. Frequent publication venues include:

  • Environmental DNA
  • Preprints.org
  • Ecological Processes
  • PLoS ONE
  • Management of Biological Invasions

Frequent coauthors in their scientific collaborations are:

  • Nathaniel T. Marshall
  • Sean M. McAllister
  • Emily Norton
  • Julie E. Keister
  • Megan D. Niner

Among Stepien's recent published papers are:

  • "Strategic considerations for invasive species managers in the utilization of environmental DNA (eDNA): steps for incorporating this powerful surveillance tool," 2021, Management of Biological Invasions
  • "Macroinvertebrate community diversity and habitat quality relationships along a large river from targeted eDNA metabarcode assays," 2020, Environmental DNA
  • "Detecting aquatic invasive species in bait and pond stores with targeted environmental (e)DNA high-throughput sequencing metabarcode assays: Angler, retailer, and manager implications," 2020, Biological Conservation
  • "Intra-Annual and Interannual Dynamics of Evaporation Over Western Lake Erie," 2020, Earth and Space Science
  • "Neocosmopolitan distributions of invertebrate aquatic invasive species due to euryhaline geographic history and human-mediated dispersal: Ponto-Caspian versus other geographic origins," 2023, Ecological Processes

The main fields of study for Stepien include Environmental Science and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology.

The subfields incorporate:

  • Ecology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation
  • Global and Planetary Change
  • Oceanography

Carol A. Stepien was recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2016.

Best Publications

  • Molecular systematics of fishes

    Thomas D. Kocher;Carol A. Stepien

  • Phylogeography of Ophioblennius: the role of ocean currents and geography in reef fish evolution.

    Andrew Muss;D. Ross Robertson;Carol A. Stepien;Peter Wirtz

  • Invasion genetics of Ponto-Caspian gobies in the Great Lakes: a 'cryptic' species, absence of founder effects, and comparative risk analysis.

    Carol A. Stepien;Carol A. Stepien;Mark A. Tumeo;Mark A. Tumeo

  • Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding assays to detect invasive invertebrate species in the Great Lakes.

    Katy E. Klymus;Nathaniel T. Marshall;Carol A. Stepien

  • Population genetic structure, phylogeography and spawning philopatry in walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) from mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

    Carol A. Stepien;Joseph E. Faber

  • Genetic diversity of invasive species in the Great Lakes versus their Eurasian source populations: insights for risk analysis

    Carol A. Stepien;Joshua E. Brown;Matthew E. Neilson;Mark A. Tumeo

  • Escape from the Ponto-Caspian: evolution and biogeography of an endemic goby species flock (Benthophilinae: Gobiidae: Teleostei).

    Matthew E. Neilson;Carol A. Stepien

  • PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF OPHIOBLENNIUS: THE ROLE OF OCEAN CURRENTS AND GEOGRAPHY IN REEF FISH EVOLUTION

    Unknown

  • Invasion genetics of the Eurasian round goby in North America: tracing sources and spread patterns

    Joshua E. Brown;Carol A. Stepien

  • CHAPTER 1 – Molecules and Morphology in Studies of Fish Evolution

    Carol A. Stepien;Thomas D. Kocher

  • Genetic variability and phylogeographical patterns of a nonindigenous species invasion: a comparison of exotic vs. native zebra and quagga mussel populations

    C. A. Stepien;C. D. Taylor;K. A. Dabrowska

  • Global Observational Needs and Resources for Marine Biodiversity

    Gabrielle Canonico;Pier Luigi Buttigieg;Enrique Montes;Frank E. Muller-Karger

  • Early detection monitoring for aquatic non-indigenous species: Optimizing surveillance, incorporating advanced technologies, and identifying research needs

    Anett S. Trebitz;Joel C. Hoffman;John A. Darling;Erik M. Pilgrim

  • Ancient divisions, recent expansions: phylogeography and population genetics of the round goby Apollonia melanostoma

    Joshua E. Brown;Carol A. Stepien

  • Evolution and phylogeography of the tubenose goby genus Proterorhinus (Gobiidae: Teleostei): evidence for new cryptic species

    Matthew E. Neilson;Carol A. Stepien

  • Signatures of vicariance, postglacial dispersal and spawning philopatry: population genetics of the walleye Sander vitreus

    C. A. Stepien;D. J. Murphy;R. N. Lohner;O. J. Sepulveda-Villet

  • Tandemly repeated sequences in the mitochondrial DNA control region and phylogeography of the pike-perches Stizostedion

    Joseph E. Faber;Carol A. Stepien

  • Diagnostic genetic markers and evolutionary relationships among invasive dreissenoid and corbiculoid bivalves in North America: phylogenetic signal from mitochondrial 16S rDNA.

    Carol A Stepien;Allyson N Hubers;Jennifer L Skidmore

  • Genetic divergence and connectivity among river and reef spawning groups of walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus) in Lake Erie

    Rex Meade Strange;Carol A. Stepien

  • Evolution and biogeography of an emerging quasispecies: Diversity patterns of the fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv)

    Lindsey R. Pierce;Carol A. Stepien

  • Genetic Divergence in Antitropical Pelagic Marine Fishes (Trachurus, Merluccius, and Scomber) between North and South America

    Carol A. Stepien;Richard H. Rosenblatt

Frequent Co-Authors

Changliang Shao
Changliang Shao Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jiquan Chen
Jiquan Chen Michigan State University
Ranjeet John
Ranjeet John University of South Dakota
Patricia Miloslavich
Patricia Miloslavich University of Tasmania
Thomas Kocher
Thomas Kocher University of Maryland, College Park
James C. Willey
James C. Willey University of Toledo
Kevin A. Feldheim
Kevin A. Feldheim Field Museum of Natural History
Vikram N. Vakharia
Vikram N. Vakharia University of Maryland, Baltimore County
David J. Jude
David J. Jude University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Jan Newton
Jan Newton University of Washington

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