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Aquatic Ecology Group

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By California Water Science Center March 21, 2022

Scientists Continue Their Study of the Santa Ana Sucker

Santa Ana Sucker (Pantosteus santaanae) being measured in PIT tag study

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Tidal Wetlands

Loss of tidal wetland habitat in the San Francisco Estuary affects fish and other aquatic organisms.

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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.

Project Details

Sacramento Splittail

Spinal deformities in California native fish species, the Sacramento Splittail, are now attributed to exposure to the chemical element selenium.

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The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.

Media
USGS field crew pulls a SmeltCam from the waters of the Sacramento Deepwater Ship Channel
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Members of USGS Aquatic Ecology Group pull a "SmeltCam" from the waters of the Sacramento Deepwater Ship Channel. A SmeltCam is an underwater camera that indentifies fish passing through a net. This data is used to study the presence, population, and daily movement of fish. 

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
No Result Found

Below are publications associated with the Aquatic Ecology Group

Filter Total Items: 35

Correspondence of biological condition models of California streams at statewide and regional scales Correspondence of biological condition models of California streams at statewide and regional scales

We used boosted regression trees (BRT) to model stream biological condition as measured by benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic completeness, the ratio of observed to expected (O/E) taxa. Models were developed with and without exclusion of rare taxa at a site. BRT models are robust, requiring few assumptions compared with traditional modeling techniques such as multiple linear regression...
Authors
Jason T. May, Larry R. Brown, Andrew C. Rehn, Ian R. Waite, Peter R Ode, Raphael D Mazor, Kenneth C Schiff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Synthesis of studies in the fall low-salinity zone of the San Francisco Estuary, September-December 2011 Synthesis of studies in the fall low-salinity zone of the San Francisco Estuary, September-December 2011

In fall 2011, a large-scale investigation (fall low-salinity habitat investigation) was implemented by the Bureau of Reclamation in cooperation with the Interagency Ecological Program to explore hypotheses about the ecological role of low-salinity habitat in the San Francisco Estuary—specifically, hypotheses about the importance of fall low-salinity habitat to the biology of delta smelt...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Randall Baxter, Gonzalo Castillo, Louise Conrad, Steven Culberson, Gregg Erickson, Frederick Feyrer, Stephanie Fong, Karen Gehrts, Lenny Grimaldo, Bruce Herbold, Joseph Kirsch, Anke Mueller-Solger, Steven B. Slater, Ted Sommer, Kelly Souza, Erwin Van Nieuwenhuyse
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary

Upper Clear Creek watershed aquatic chemistry and biota surveys, 2004-5, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California Upper Clear Creek watershed aquatic chemistry and biota surveys, 2004-5, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, performed a comprehensive aquatic biota survey of the upper Clear Creek watershed, Shasta County, California, during 2004-5. Data collected in this study can provide resource managers with information regarding aquatic resources, watershed degradation, and regional...
Authors
Marissa L. Wulff, Jason T. May, Larry R. Brown
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Predicting biological condition in southern California streams Predicting biological condition in southern California streams

As understanding of the complex relations among environmental stressors and biological responses improves, a logical next step is predictive modeling of biological condition at unsampled sites. We developed a boosted regression tree (BRT) model of biological condition, as measured by a benthic macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity (BIBI), for streams in urbanized Southern Coastal...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Jason T. May, Andrew C. Rehn, Peter R. Ode, Ian R. Waite, Jonathan G. Kennen
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Associations of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages with environmental variables in the upper Clear Creek watershed, California Associations of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages with environmental variables in the upper Clear Creek watershed, California

Benthic macroinvertebrates are integral components of stream ecosystems and are often used to assess the ecological integrity of streams. We sampled streams in the upper Clear Creek drainage in the Klamath—Siskiyou Ecoregion of northwestern California in fall 2004 (17 sites) and 2005 (original 17 plus 4 new sites) with the objectives of documenting the benthic macroinvertebrate...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Jason T. May, Marissa Wulff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Santa Ana Sucker (Pantosteus santaanae)

Scientists Continue Their Study of the Santa Ana Sucker Scientists Continue Their Study of the Santa Ana Sucker

In the ongoing research of the Santa Ana Sucker (Pantosteus santaanae) USGS scientists try out different sampling methods. The Santa Ana Sucker (SAS) is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Act protects and aims to recover endangered species and their habitats.
By
California Water Science Center

The following list of partners have helped make the work of the Aquatic Ecology Group possible. 

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.

Media
USGS field crew pulls a SmeltCam from the waters of the Sacramento Deepwater Ship Channel
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Members of USGS Aquatic Ecology Group pull a "SmeltCam" from the waters of the Sacramento Deepwater Ship Channel. A SmeltCam is an underwater camera that indentifies fish passing through a net. This data is used to study the presence, population, and daily movement of fish. 

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
No Result Found

Below are publications associated with the Aquatic Ecology Group

Filter Total Items: 35

Correspondence of biological condition models of California streams at statewide and regional scales Correspondence of biological condition models of California streams at statewide and regional scales

We used boosted regression trees (BRT) to model stream biological condition as measured by benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic completeness, the ratio of observed to expected (O/E) taxa. Models were developed with and without exclusion of rare taxa at a site. BRT models are robust, requiring few assumptions compared with traditional modeling techniques such as multiple linear regression...
Authors
Jason T. May, Larry R. Brown, Andrew C. Rehn, Ian R. Waite, Peter R Ode, Raphael D Mazor, Kenneth C Schiff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Synthesis of studies in the fall low-salinity zone of the San Francisco Estuary, September-December 2011 Synthesis of studies in the fall low-salinity zone of the San Francisco Estuary, September-December 2011

In fall 2011, a large-scale investigation (fall low-salinity habitat investigation) was implemented by the Bureau of Reclamation in cooperation with the Interagency Ecological Program to explore hypotheses about the ecological role of low-salinity habitat in the San Francisco Estuary—specifically, hypotheses about the importance of fall low-salinity habitat to the biology of delta smelt...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Randall Baxter, Gonzalo Castillo, Louise Conrad, Steven Culberson, Gregg Erickson, Frederick Feyrer, Stephanie Fong, Karen Gehrts, Lenny Grimaldo, Bruce Herbold, Joseph Kirsch, Anke Mueller-Solger, Steven B. Slater, Ted Sommer, Kelly Souza, Erwin Van Nieuwenhuyse
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary

Upper Clear Creek watershed aquatic chemistry and biota surveys, 2004-5, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California Upper Clear Creek watershed aquatic chemistry and biota surveys, 2004-5, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, performed a comprehensive aquatic biota survey of the upper Clear Creek watershed, Shasta County, California, during 2004-5. Data collected in this study can provide resource managers with information regarding aquatic resources, watershed degradation, and regional...
Authors
Marissa L. Wulff, Jason T. May, Larry R. Brown
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Predicting biological condition in southern California streams Predicting biological condition in southern California streams

As understanding of the complex relations among environmental stressors and biological responses improves, a logical next step is predictive modeling of biological condition at unsampled sites. We developed a boosted regression tree (BRT) model of biological condition, as measured by a benthic macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity (BIBI), for streams in urbanized Southern Coastal...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Jason T. May, Andrew C. Rehn, Peter R. Ode, Ian R. Waite, Jonathan G. Kennen
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Associations of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages with environmental variables in the upper Clear Creek watershed, California Associations of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages with environmental variables in the upper Clear Creek watershed, California

Benthic macroinvertebrates are integral components of stream ecosystems and are often used to assess the ecological integrity of streams. We sampled streams in the upper Clear Creek drainage in the Klamath—Siskiyou Ecoregion of northwestern California in fall 2004 (17 sites) and 2005 (original 17 plus 4 new sites) with the objectives of documenting the benthic macroinvertebrate...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Jason T. May, Marissa Wulff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Santa Ana Sucker (Pantosteus santaanae)

Scientists Continue Their Study of the Santa Ana Sucker Scientists Continue Their Study of the Santa Ana Sucker

In the ongoing research of the Santa Ana Sucker (Pantosteus santaanae) USGS scientists try out different sampling methods. The Santa Ana Sucker (SAS) is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Act protects and aims to recover endangered species and their habitats.
By
California Water Science Center

The following list of partners have helped make the work of the Aquatic Ecology Group possible. 

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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