Tidal Wetlands
Loss of tidal wetland habitat in the San Francisco Estuary affects fish and other aquatic organisms.
Loss of tidal wetland habitat in the San Francisco Estuary affects fish and other aquatic organisms.
Longfin Smelt
Longfin Smelt is a threatened species found in waters along the Pacific coast. Its complex life cycle makes it vulnerable in both freshwater and at sea.
Longfin Smelt is a threatened species found in waters along the Pacific coast. Its complex life cycle makes it vulnerable in both freshwater and at sea.
Sacramento Splittail
Spinal deformities in California native fish species, the Sacramento Splittail, are now attributed to exposure to the chemical element selenium.
Spinal deformities in California native fish species, the Sacramento Splittail, are now attributed to exposure to the chemical element selenium.
The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The Aquatic Ecology Group at the US Geological Survey’s California Water Science Center is a team of scientists working to solve important natural science challenges facing society.
Our research covers all aspects of aquatic ecology with a focus on freshwater, estuarine and marine fishes and environments. Particular topics include:
- Water resources
- Threatened and endangered species
- Fish habitat
- Food web dynamics
- Climate change
- Drought
We work closely with scientists in other disciplines at USGS to tackle challenges with comprehensive, interdisciplinary research. A particular strength of our group is the ability to use new technology to generate novel solutions to natural resource problems. We also maintain active collaborations with many federal, state, and local agencies, and universities.
We pursue innovative solutions to a diverse array of natural resource problems through applied research. A large portion of our research is field-based and incorporates elements of behavioral, population, and community ecology. Individual projects range from the biology and ecology of individual species to the effects of climate change on ecosystems.
Filter Total Items: 22
Bay-Delta Catchability Study
Addressing Catchability Bias in Fish Surveys San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta collectively make up the "Bay-Delta." In the scientific study of fish, "catchability" refers to the probability that a fish will be captured by a particular fishing gear or method. Catchability is a measure of how effectively a fishing gear or method can capture fish. "Catch data" refer to...
Santa Ana River Native Fish Study
Native Fish Population and Habitat Study, Santa Ana River, California The Santa Ana River, the largest river in southern California, flows through diverse landscapes, from the high desert to urban and suburban areas in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, stretching approximately 96 miles (154 kilometers) from its headwaters in the San Bernardino Mountains to its mouth at the Pacific...
Hydrologic and Aquatic Ecology Studies at Clear Lake, California
The USGS California Water Science Center conducts a variety of research activities at Clear Lake, California, including surface-water monitoring and water quality and aquatic habitat studies.
Studying Threatened Fish Species in Clear Lake, CA
The Clear Lake Hitch ( Lavinia exilicauda chi ) population, which once flourished in great abundance, has been decimated by loss of spawning habitat, nursery areas, and the encroachment of non-native species. In order to make an informed decision, the California Water Science Center has been asked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct studies into the fish’s habitat, specifically...
Longfin Smelt Distribution in the Coastal Pacific Ocean
Longfin Smelt ( Spirinchus thaleichthys ) is a pelagic fish species found in waters along the Pacific coast, from Alaska to central California. Its complex life cycle makes it vulnerable to threats in both freshwater and at sea. Longfin Smelt is listed as a threatened species by the state of California.
Development of a spatially explicit ecosystem model to explore physiochemical drivers of step changes in POD species abundance and distribution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay
Prior to 2000, the four most abundant resident pelagic fishes in the study area included two native species, delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) a federal listed endangered species, and longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleicthys) a state listed endangered species, and two introduced species, threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) and age-0 striped bass (Morone saxatilis).
Mapping Sturgeon Spawning Habitat in the Lower San Joaquin River
The spawning of adult white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus ) in the lower San Joaquin River was documented recently by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (Gruber and others, 2012; Jackson and Eenennaam, 2013). Streamflow on the San Joaquin River has been modified by State and Federal water project operations, and there are a variety of questions regarding the effects on fish...
Delta sediment measurements to support numerical modeling of turbidity
The purpose of the proposed work is to collect data that will support the development, calibration, and validation of numerical models of sediment transport and turbidity in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Modeling in support of development of biocriteria for wadeable California streams and rivers
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) of California has initiated a process to develop biological objectives for wadeable freshwater streams and rivers for the entire state.
The role of the alien clam Corbicula fluminea in the regulation of organic carbon in the San Joaquin River watershed
Sources and fate of various forms of organic carbon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and San Joaquin River watershed are of concern because of the importance of identifying the sources of carbon contributing to the oxygen depletion zone on the San Joaquin River near the city of Stockton, the need to understand the causes of the low primary and secondary production in the Delta, and the...
Implementing New Acoustic Monitoring Techniques in the Trinity River
Accurate river-sediment data is fundamental to planning and managing river restoration efforts on the Trinity River, and throughout the world’s waterways. The USGS has developed a “hydrophone” that enables scientists to listen to sediment particles as they move along the riverbed in order to inexpensively and reliably record near-continuous sediment-bedload-transport data. For this study...
Role Nutrients Play in Fish Death Rates at Rodeo Lagoon
Scientists investigate excessive nutients levels in Rodeo Lagoon that are believed to be cause of dying fish
The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The Aquatic Ecology Group at the US Geological Survey’s California Water Science Center is a team of scientists working to solve important natural science challenges facing society.
Our research covers all aspects of aquatic ecology with a focus on freshwater, estuarine and marine fishes and environments. Particular topics include:
- Water resources
- Threatened and endangered species
- Fish habitat
- Food web dynamics
- Climate change
- Drought
We work closely with scientists in other disciplines at USGS to tackle challenges with comprehensive, interdisciplinary research. A particular strength of our group is the ability to use new technology to generate novel solutions to natural resource problems. We also maintain active collaborations with many federal, state, and local agencies, and universities.
We pursue innovative solutions to a diverse array of natural resource problems through applied research. A large portion of our research is field-based and incorporates elements of behavioral, population, and community ecology. Individual projects range from the biology and ecology of individual species to the effects of climate change on ecosystems.
Filter Total Items: 22
Bay-Delta Catchability Study
Addressing Catchability Bias in Fish Surveys San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta collectively make up the "Bay-Delta." In the scientific study of fish, "catchability" refers to the probability that a fish will be captured by a particular fishing gear or method. Catchability is a measure of how effectively a fishing gear or method can capture fish. "Catch data" refer to...
Santa Ana River Native Fish Study
Native Fish Population and Habitat Study, Santa Ana River, California The Santa Ana River, the largest river in southern California, flows through diverse landscapes, from the high desert to urban and suburban areas in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, stretching approximately 96 miles (154 kilometers) from its headwaters in the San Bernardino Mountains to its mouth at the Pacific...
Hydrologic and Aquatic Ecology Studies at Clear Lake, California
The USGS California Water Science Center conducts a variety of research activities at Clear Lake, California, including surface-water monitoring and water quality and aquatic habitat studies.
Studying Threatened Fish Species in Clear Lake, CA
The Clear Lake Hitch ( Lavinia exilicauda chi ) population, which once flourished in great abundance, has been decimated by loss of spawning habitat, nursery areas, and the encroachment of non-native species. In order to make an informed decision, the California Water Science Center has been asked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct studies into the fish’s habitat, specifically...
Longfin Smelt Distribution in the Coastal Pacific Ocean
Longfin Smelt ( Spirinchus thaleichthys ) is a pelagic fish species found in waters along the Pacific coast, from Alaska to central California. Its complex life cycle makes it vulnerable to threats in both freshwater and at sea. Longfin Smelt is listed as a threatened species by the state of California.
Development of a spatially explicit ecosystem model to explore physiochemical drivers of step changes in POD species abundance and distribution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay
Prior to 2000, the four most abundant resident pelagic fishes in the study area included two native species, delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) a federal listed endangered species, and longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleicthys) a state listed endangered species, and two introduced species, threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) and age-0 striped bass (Morone saxatilis).
Mapping Sturgeon Spawning Habitat in the Lower San Joaquin River
The spawning of adult white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus ) in the lower San Joaquin River was documented recently by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (Gruber and others, 2012; Jackson and Eenennaam, 2013). Streamflow on the San Joaquin River has been modified by State and Federal water project operations, and there are a variety of questions regarding the effects on fish...
Delta sediment measurements to support numerical modeling of turbidity
The purpose of the proposed work is to collect data that will support the development, calibration, and validation of numerical models of sediment transport and turbidity in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Modeling in support of development of biocriteria for wadeable California streams and rivers
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) of California has initiated a process to develop biological objectives for wadeable freshwater streams and rivers for the entire state.
The role of the alien clam Corbicula fluminea in the regulation of organic carbon in the San Joaquin River watershed
Sources and fate of various forms of organic carbon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and San Joaquin River watershed are of concern because of the importance of identifying the sources of carbon contributing to the oxygen depletion zone on the San Joaquin River near the city of Stockton, the need to understand the causes of the low primary and secondary production in the Delta, and the...
Implementing New Acoustic Monitoring Techniques in the Trinity River
Accurate river-sediment data is fundamental to planning and managing river restoration efforts on the Trinity River, and throughout the world’s waterways. The USGS has developed a “hydrophone” that enables scientists to listen to sediment particles as they move along the riverbed in order to inexpensively and reliably record near-continuous sediment-bedload-transport data. For this study...
Role Nutrients Play in Fish Death Rates at Rodeo Lagoon
Scientists investigate excessive nutients levels in Rodeo Lagoon that are believed to be cause of dying fish