Senior Geneticist

B.S. Biological Sciences; Ph.D. Genetics

Phone: (916) 231-1683

 

West Sacramento, California

Scott has over 19 years of experience applying genetic data to population monitoring and fisheries science, including extensive technical experience combining the newest tools of molecular biology and genetics theory with field observations of fish populations and their habitat. He is a recognized expert on the standardization of genetic data and sampling methodology for salmon and has collaborated on the design and implementation of species reintroduction programs, conservation hatchery programs, habitat restoration performance, regional genetic databases, innovative monitoring techniques, and the integration of genetic and geospatial information.

Selected Publications

 

Blankenship, S., G. Schumer, J. Van Eenennaam, and Z. Jackson. 2017. Estimating number of white sturgeon adults from egg relatedness. Fisheries Management and Ecology 24(2):163-172.

 

Finger, A., G. Schumer, A. Benjamin, A. Schreier, and S. Blankenship. 2017. Effective population size of delta smelt. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Sciences.

 

Bergman, P., G. Schumer, S. Blankenship, and E. Campbell. 2016. Detection of adult green sturgeon using environmental DNA analysis. PLoS One 11:e0153500. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153500.

 

Rawding, D. J., C. S. Sharpe, and S. M. Blankenship. 2014. Genetic-based estimates of adult Chinook salmon spawner abundance from carcass surveys and juvenile out-migrant traps. Transactions of American Fisheries Society 143:55-67.

 

Moran, P., D. J. Teel, M. A. Banks, T. D. Beacham, M. R. Bellinger, S. M. Blankenship, J. R. Candy, J. C. Garza, J. E. Hess, S. R. Narum, L. W. Seeb, W. D. Templin, C. G. Wallace, and C. T. Smith. 2013. Divergent life-history races do not represent Chinook salmon coast-wide: the importance of scale in quaternary biogeography. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 70:415-43.  DOI:10.1139/cjfas-2012-0135.

 

Limborg, M. T., S. M. Blankenship, S. F. Young, F. M. Utter, L. W. Seeb, M. H. H. Hansen, and J. E. Seeb. 2012. Signatures of natural selection among lineages and habitats in Oncorhynchus mykiss. Ecology and Evolution 2(1):1-18. DOI:10.1002/ece3.59.

 

Blankenship, S .M., M. R. Campbell, J. E. Hess, M. A. Hess, T. W. Kassler, C. C. Kozfkay, A. P. Matala, S. R. Narum, M. M. Paquin, M. P. Small, J. J. Stephenson, K. I. Warheit, and P. Moran. 2011. Major lineages and metapopulations in Columbia River Oncorhynchus mykiss are structured by dynamic landscape features and environments. Transactions of American Fisheries Society 140:665–684.

 

Blankenship, S. M., B. May, and D. Hedgecock. 2002. Evolution of a perfect simple-sequence-repeat locus in the context of its flanking sequence. Molecular Biology and Evolution 19(11):1943-1951.

 

Hedgecock, D., M. Banks, V. Rashbrook, C. Dean, and S. Blankenship. 2001 Applications of population genetics to conservation of Chinook salmon diversity in the Central Valley. Pages 45-70 in R. L. Brown, R.L., editor. Fish Bulletin 179: Contributions to the biology of Central Valley Salmonids. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

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