Aquatic Ecology Group Active
Tidal Wetlands
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.
Sacramento Splittail
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.
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.
Estimating Natural Flows for Hydrologic Reference Streams
Application of the SmeltCam to Describe Processes Influencing Delta Smelt Distribution and Movements
Understanding Influences on Habitat Quality for Delta Smelt and Other Imperiled Fish Populations
Technical Support and Synthesis of Data Collected on the Health and Status of Delta Smelt
Rearing Habitats of Longfin Smelt in the Low Salinity Zone of the San Francisco Estuary
Physical and Biological Drivers of Longfin Smelt Vertical Distribution
Abiotic and Biotic Effects on Delta Smelt Abundance and Distribution
Native Fish Population and Habitat Study - Santa Ana River
Exploring Drivers of Pelagic Fish Population Decline in Bay-Delta
Ecology of Selected Tidal Wetlands of the San Francisco Estuary
Below are publications associated with the Aquatic Ecology Group
Estuarine habitat use by White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
Resistance and resilience of pelagic and littoral fishes to drought in the San Francisco Estuary
Hydrodynamics drive pelagic communities and food web structure in a tidal environment
Sacramento pikeminnow migration record
Characterizing benthic macroinvertebrate and algal biological condition gradient models for California wadeable Streams, USA
Cryptic lives of conspicuous animals: Otolith chemistry chronicles life histories of coastal lagoon fishes
First record of pughead deformity in the threatened Clear Lake Hitch
Resolving selenium exposure risk: Spatial, temporal, and tissue-specific variability of an endemic fish in a large, dynamic estuary
Dissolved oxygen controls summer habitat of Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi), an imperilled potamodromous cyprinid
Strontium isotopes reveal ephemeral streams used for spawning and rearing by an imperiled potamodromous cyprinid--Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi
Using the Distinct Population Segment concept to protect fishes with low levels of genomic differentiation: conservation of an endemic minnow (Hitch, Lavinia exilicauda)
Fish-habitat relationships along the estuarine gradient of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California: Implications for habitat restoration
Below are news stories associated with this project.
The following list of partners have helped make the work of the Aquatic Ecology Group possible.
- Overview
The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.
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.
- Science
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: 22Estimating Natural Flows for Hydrologic Reference Streams
Scientists develop metrics of expected hydrological conditions at ungaged sites throughout CalliforniaApplication of the SmeltCam to Describe Processes Influencing Delta Smelt Distribution and Movements
The California Water Science Center's "SmeltCam" helps describe processes influencing Delta Smelt distribution and movement.Understanding Influences on Habitat Quality for Delta Smelt and Other Imperiled Fish Populations
USGS scientists work to provide information needed to evaluate the efficacy of ongoing U.S. Burueau of Reclamation water management efforts in Bay-Delta.Technical Support and Synthesis of Data Collected on the Health and Status of Delta Smelt
USGS scientists work to provide data to UC Davis researchers on health and growth of smelt population in Bay-Delta.Rearing Habitats of Longfin Smelt in the Low Salinity Zone of the San Francisco Estuary
Scientists study habitats occupied by longfin smelt larvae to better understand their ecology and to inform water management operations, species management, and habitat restoration efforts.Physical and Biological Drivers of Longfin Smelt Vertical Distribution
Research scientists study conditions that affect abundance and distributions Longfin Smelt fish population.Abiotic and Biotic Effects on Delta Smelt Abundance and Distribution
Scientists research the importance of abiotic versus biotic (food supply) habitat features as drivers of delta smelt abundance and distribution.Native Fish Population and Habitat Study - Santa Ana River
California Water Science Center scientists further research on two native fish species.Exploring Drivers of Pelagic Fish Population Decline in Bay-Delta
USGS scientists develop spatially explicit ecosystem model to explore changes pelagic fish species population and distribution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay.Ecology of Selected Tidal Wetlands of the San Francisco Estuary
Researachers study differences of tidal marsh restoration efforts throughout Bay-Delta ecosystem. - Data
- Publications
Below are publications associated with the Aquatic Ecology Group
Filter Total Items: 35Estuarine habitat use by White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), a species of concern in the San Francisco Estuary, is in relatively low abundance due to a variety of factors. The purpose of our study was to identify the estuarine habitat used by White Sturgeon to aid in the conservation and management of the species locally and across its range. We seasonally sampled sub-adult and adult White Sturgeon in the central eAuthorsOliver Patton, Veronica Larwood, Matthew J. Young, Frederick V. FeyrerResistance and resilience of pelagic and littoral fishes to drought in the San Francisco Estuary
Many estuarine ecosystems and the fish communities that inhabit them have undergone substantial changes in the past several decades, largely due to multiple interacting stressors that are often of anthropogenic origin. Few are more impactful than droughts, which are predicted to increase in both frequency and severity with climate change. In this study, we examined over five decades of fish monitoAuthorsBrian Mahardja, Vanessa Tobias, Shruti Khanna, Lara Mitchell, Peggy W. Lehman, Ted Sommer, Larry R. Brown, Steven Culberson, Louise ConradHydrodynamics drive pelagic communities and food web structure in a tidal environment
Hydrodynamic processes can lead to the accumulation and/or dispersal of water column constituents, including sediment, phytoplankton, and particulate detritus. Using a combination of field observations and stable isotope tracing tools, we identified how hydrodynamic processes influenced physical habitat, pelagic communities, and food web structure in a freshwater tidal system. The pelagic habitatAuthorsMatthew J. Young, Frederick V. Feyrer, Paul Stumpner, Veronica Larwood, Oliver Patton, Larry R. BrownSacramento pikeminnow migration record
Sacramento Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus grandis is a potamodromous species endemic to mid- and low-elevation streams and rivers of Central and Northern California. Adults are known to undertake substantial migrations, typically associated with spawning, though few data exist on the extent of these migrations. Six Sacramento Pikeminnow implanted with passive integrated transponder tags in the SacramentAuthorsDennis A. Valentine, Matthew J. Young, Frederick V. FeyrerCharacterizing benthic macroinvertebrate and algal biological condition gradient models for California wadeable Streams, USA
The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) is a conceptual model that describes changes in aquatic communities under increasing levels of anthropogenic stress. The BCG helps decision-makers connect narrative water quality goals (e.g., maintenance of natural structure and function) to quantitative measures of ecological condition by linking index thresholds based on statistical distributions (e.g., peAuthorsMichael J. Paul, Ben Jessup, Larry R. Brown, James Carter, Marco Cantonati, Donald F. Charles, Jeroen Gerritsen, Dave Herbst, Rosalina Stancheva, Jeanette K. Howard, Bill Isham, Rex Lowe, Raphael D Mazor, Patina K. Mendez, Peter R Ode, Alison O'Dowd, Yangdong Pan, Andrew C. Rehn, Sarah A. Spaulding, Martha Sutula, Susanna TherouxCryptic lives of conspicuous animals: Otolith chemistry chronicles life histories of coastal lagoon fishes
Bar-built coastal lagoons are dynamic ecosystems at the land-sea interface that are important habitats for a variety of species. This study examined the habitat ecology of two lagoon species, the endangered Tidewater Goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) and the Prickly Sculpin (Cottus asper) by reconstructing individual life histories from patterns in the concentration of the element Sr (as ratioed to CAuthorsFrederick V. Feyrer, Matthew J. Young, Darren Fong, Karin Limburg, Rachel JohnsonFirst record of pughead deformity in the threatened Clear Lake Hitch
No abstract available.AuthorsJessica Catherine Kathan, Matthew J. Young, Frederick V. FeyrerResolving selenium exposure risk: Spatial, temporal, and tissue-specific variability of an endemic fish in a large, dynamic estuary
Estuaries provide critical habitat for a vast array of fish and wildlife but are also a nexus for core economic activities that mobilize and concentrate contaminants that can threaten aquatic species. Selenium (Se), an essential element and potent reproductive toxin, is enriched in parts of the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) to levels known to cause toxicity, yet the risk of Se to species that inhabiAuthorsA. Robin Stewart, Frederick V. Feyrer, Rachel C. JohnsonDissolved oxygen controls summer habitat of Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi), an imperilled potamodromous cyprinid
The Clear Lake Hitch is an imperiled minnow endemic to Clear Lake, Lake County, California, USA that is listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is a candidate for listing under the United States ESA. It exhibits a potamodromous life cycle whereby adults, which reach up to 6+ years in age and over 350 mm in length, migrate into Clear Lake’s ephemeral tributariesAuthorsFrederick V. Feyrer, Matthew Young, Oliver Patton, David E. AyersStrontium isotopes reveal ephemeral streams used for spawning and rearing by an imperiled potamodromous cyprinid--Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi
Identification of habitats responsible for the successful production and recruitment of rare migratory species is a challenge in conservation biology. Here, a tool was developed to assess life stage linkages for the threatened potamodromous cyprinid Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi. Clear Lake hitch undertake migrations from Clear Lake (Lake County, CA, USA) into ephemeral tributary streamsAuthorsFrederick V. Feyrer, George Whitman, Matthew J. Young, Rachel C. JohnsonUsing the Distinct Population Segment concept to protect fishes with low levels of genomic differentiation: conservation of an endemic minnow (Hitch, Lavinia exilicauda)
In the United States, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 was enacted to conserve species which are endangered or threatened throughout all or a portion of their range. The definition of ‘species’ includes subspecies and distinct population segments (DPSs). In freshwater fishes, use of DPS designations has largely been restricted to salmonid fishes (Salmonidae), although the DPS concept is inAuthorsJason Baumsteiger, Matthew J. Young, Peter B. MoyleFish-habitat relationships along the estuarine gradient of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California: Implications for habitat restoration
Estuaries are highly variable environments where fish are subjected to a diverse suite of habitat features (e.g., water quality gradients, physical structure) that filter local assemblages from a broader, regional species pool. Tidal, climatological, and oceanographic phenomena drive water quality gradients and, ultimately, expose individuals to other habitat features (e.g., stationary physical orAuthorsMatthew J. Young, Frederick V. Feyrer, Denise D. Colombano, J. Louise Conrad, Andrew Sih - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Partners
The following list of partners have helped make the work of the Aquatic Ecology Group possible.