David A. Beauchamp, Ph.D.
Dave Beauchamp is an aquatic ecologist. His primary areas of research include tactical food web ecology, development and application of bioenergetics and visual foraging models, designed to identify, quantify, and address factors limiting salmonid populations in freshwater and marine environments in response to climate change, dams, urbanization, invasive species, and artificial light at night.
Dave has been chief of the Ecology Section at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center in Seattle since 2016. He was previously a professor for 23 years in the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit programs at Utah State University (6 years) and the University of Washington (17 years). His research program focuses on a mechanistic, empirically-based balance of field observations and measurements, experimentation, analysis, and modeling with an emphasis on sampling or experimenting with the appropriate life stages of species from relevant habitats and seasons that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the research question.
Recent research topics included:
- Diagnosing processes that affect marine survival and size-selective mortality of steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon
- Climate impacts on salmonids in watersheds, especially lake and reservoir food webs
- Feasibility of reintroducing salmon above dams based on food web processes, climate & environmental variability
- Impacts of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on salmon behavior and predation mortality
- Development and application of bioenergetics models to address problems related to climate impacts, other environmental stressors (hypoxia, salinity, disease, contaminants, pH, etc.), quantitative food web interactions, invasive species, feasibility of species introductions, management of regulated rivers
- Development and application of visual foraging models to address problems related to impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN), the role of the visual environment on the structure and function of aquatic food webs
Professional Experience
Chief, Ecology Section (May 2016-present), U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, 6505, NE 65th St., Seattle, WA 98115. Affiliate Professor, University of Washington, School of Aquatic & Fisheries Sciences.
Professor (June 2008-March 2017); Associate Professor (June 2002 to June 2008); Assistant Professor (August 1999 to May 2002); and Acting Unit Leader (June 2014-2016), Assistant LeaderFisheries, USGS-Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Washington, School of Aquatic & Fisheries Sciences, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195-5020.
Assistant Professor (September 1994 to August 1999). Assistant LeaderFisheries, Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Research Associate, Tahoe Research Group, Division of Environmental Studies, UC Davis.
Research Assistant Professor (October 1992 to September 1994). Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Research Associate, Tahoe Research Group, Division of Environmental Studies, UC Davis.
Postdoctoral Research Associate (June 1990 to September 1992). Utah State University. Logan, Utah.
Senior Fish Biologist (halftime: February 1987 to May 1990) University of Washington. Seattle, Washington.
Fisheries Consultant (1986 to 1995). D.A. Beauchamp, Fisheries Scientist: Bothell, WA; Tahoe City, CA; Logan, UT.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Fisheries 1987, University of Washington, Seattle. Dissertation: Ecological relationships of hatchery origin rainbow trout in Lake Washington. (Dr. Richard R.Whitney, advisor)
M.S. Fisheries 1982, University of Washington, Seattle Thesis: The life history, spawning behavior, and interspecific interactions of the Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Upper Granite Lake.
B.S. Fisheries 1980, University of Washington, Seattle
Honors and Awards
Fulbright Scholar Grant. Research-Lecture position in Patagonia, Argentina March-May 2009
Worthington Endowed Professorship, UW School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, July 2008-2013
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 65
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) suppression for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) recovery in Flathead Lake, Montana, North America Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) suppression for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) recovery in Flathead Lake, Montana, North America
Non-native lake trout Salvelinus namaycush displaced native bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in Flathead Lake, Montana, USA, after 1984, when Mysis diluviana became abundant following its introduction in upstream lakes in 1968–1976. We developed a simulation model to determine the fishing mortality rate on lake trout that would enable bull trout recovery. Model simulations indicated...
Authors
Michael Hansen, Barry Hansen, David Beauchamp
Development of a bioenergetics model for the threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Development of a bioenergetics model for the threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
The Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus is widely distributed across northern hemisphere ecosystems, has ecological influence as an abundant planktivore, and is commonly used as a model organism, but the species lacks a comprehensive model to describe bioenergetic performance in response to varying environmental or ecological conditions. This study parameterized a bioenergetics...
Authors
Rachel Hovel, David Beauchamp, Adam G. Hansen, Mark Sorel
Extensive feeding on sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts by bull trout Salvelinus confluentus during initial outmigration into a small, unregulated and inland British Columbia river Extensive feeding on sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts by bull trout Salvelinus confluentus during initial outmigration into a small, unregulated and inland British Columbia river
Stomach contents were collected and analysed from 22 bull trout Salvelinus confluentus at the edge of the Chilko Lake and Chilko River in British Columbia, Canada, during spring outmigration of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts. Twenty of the 22 (>90%) stomachs contained prey items, virtually all identifiable prey items were outmigrant O. nerka smolts and stomach contents...
Authors
Nathan Furey, Scott Hinch, A.G. Lotto, David Beauchamp
Temperature and depth mediate resource competition and apparent competition between Mysis diluviana and kokanee Temperature and depth mediate resource competition and apparent competition between Mysis diluviana and kokanee
In many food webs, species in similar trophic positions can interact either by competing for resources or boosting shared predators (apparent competition), but little is known about how the relative strengths of these interactions vary across environmental gradients. Introduced Mysis diluviana shrimp interact with planktivorous fishes such as kokanee salmon (lacustrine Oncorhynchus nerka...
Authors
Erik Schoen, David Beauchamp, Anna Buettner, Nathanael Overman
Trophic ontogeny of fluvial Bull Trout and seasonal predation on Pacific Salmon in a riverine food web Trophic ontogeny of fluvial Bull Trout and seasonal predation on Pacific Salmon in a riverine food web
Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus are typically top predators in their host ecosystems. The Skagit River in northwestern Washington State contains Bull Trout and Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytschapopulations that are among the largest in the Puget Sound region and also contains a regionally large population of steelhead O. mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout). All three species are...
Authors
Erin Lowery, David Beauchamp
Life-stage-specific physiology defines invasion extent of a riverine fish Life-stage-specific physiology defines invasion extent of a riverine fish
Many ecologists have called for mechanism-based investigations to identify the underlying controls on species distributions. Understanding these controls can be especially useful to construct robust predictions of how a species range may change in response to climate change or the extent to which a non-native species may spread in novel environments.Here, we link spatially intensive...
Authors
David Lawrence, David Beauchamp, Julian D. Olden
Effects of prey abundance, distribution, visual contrast and morphology on selection by a pelagic piscivore Effects of prey abundance, distribution, visual contrast and morphology on selection by a pelagic piscivore
Most predators eat only a subset of possible prey. However, studies evaluating diet selection rarely measure prey availability in a manner that accounts for temporal–spatial overlap with predators, the sensory mechanisms employed to detect prey, and constraints on prey capture.We evaluated the diet selection of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) feeding on a diverse planktivore...
Authors
Adam G. Hansen, David Beauchamp
Latitudinal and photic effects on diel foraging and predation risk in freshwater pelagic ecosystems Latitudinal and photic effects on diel foraging and predation risk in freshwater pelagic ecosystems
1. Clark & Levy (American Naturalist, 131, 1988, 271–290) described an antipredation window for smaller planktivorous fish during crepuscular periods when light permits feeding on zooplankton, but limits visual detection by piscivores. Yet, how the window is influenced by the interaction between light regime, turbidity and cloud cover over a broad latitudinal gradi- ent remains...
Authors
Adam G. Hansen, David Beauchamp
Size-selective mortality of steelhead during freshwater and marine life stages related to freshwater growth in the Skagit River, Washington Size-selective mortality of steelhead during freshwater and marine life stages related to freshwater growth in the Skagit River, Washington
We evaluated freshwater growth and survival from juvenile (ages 0–3) to smolt (ages 1–5) and adult stages in wild steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss sampled in different precipitation zones of the Skagit River basin, Washington. Our objectives were to determine whether significant size-selective mortality (SSM) in steelhead could be detected between early and later freshwater stages and...
Authors
Jamie Thompson, David Beauchamp
Modeling prey consumption by native and non-native piscivorous fishes: implications for competition and impacts on shared prey in an ultraoligotrophic lake in Patagonia Modeling prey consumption by native and non-native piscivorous fishes: implications for competition and impacts on shared prey in an ultraoligotrophic lake in Patagonia
We examined trophic interactions of the nonnative salmonids Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, Brown Trout Salmo trutta, and Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalisand the main native predator Creole Perch Percichthys trucha in Lake Nahuel Huapi (Patagonia, Argentina) to determine the relative impact of each predator on their forage base and to evaluate the potential vulnerability of each...
Authors
Romina Juncos, David Beauchamp, Pablo Viglianoc
Development and evaluation of a bioenergetics model for bull trout Development and evaluation of a bioenergetics model for bull trout
We conducted laboratory experiments to parameterize a bioenergetics model for wild Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus, estimating the effects of body mass (12–1,117 g) and temperature (3–20°C) on maximum consumption (C max) and standard metabolic rates. The temperature associated with the highest C max was 16°C, and C max showed the characteristic dome-shaped temperature-dependent...
Authors
Matthew Mesa, Lisa Welland, Helena Christiansen, Sally Sauter, David Beauchamp
Low-level copper exposures increase visibility and vulnerability of juvenile coho salmon to cutthroat trout predators Low-level copper exposures increase visibility and vulnerability of juvenile coho salmon to cutthroat trout predators
Copper contamination in surface waters is common in watersheds with mining activities or agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential human land uses. This widespread pollutant is neurotoxic to the chemosensory systems of fish and other aquatic species. Among Pacific salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.), copper-induced olfactory impairment has previously been shown to disrupt behaviors...
Authors
Jenifer McIntyre, David H. Baldwin, David Beauchamp, Nathaniel Scholz
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 65
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) suppression for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) recovery in Flathead Lake, Montana, North America Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) suppression for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) recovery in Flathead Lake, Montana, North America
Non-native lake trout Salvelinus namaycush displaced native bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in Flathead Lake, Montana, USA, after 1984, when Mysis diluviana became abundant following its introduction in upstream lakes in 1968–1976. We developed a simulation model to determine the fishing mortality rate on lake trout that would enable bull trout recovery. Model simulations indicated...
Authors
Michael Hansen, Barry Hansen, David Beauchamp
Development of a bioenergetics model for the threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Development of a bioenergetics model for the threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
The Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus is widely distributed across northern hemisphere ecosystems, has ecological influence as an abundant planktivore, and is commonly used as a model organism, but the species lacks a comprehensive model to describe bioenergetic performance in response to varying environmental or ecological conditions. This study parameterized a bioenergetics...
Authors
Rachel Hovel, David Beauchamp, Adam G. Hansen, Mark Sorel
Extensive feeding on sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts by bull trout Salvelinus confluentus during initial outmigration into a small, unregulated and inland British Columbia river Extensive feeding on sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts by bull trout Salvelinus confluentus during initial outmigration into a small, unregulated and inland British Columbia river
Stomach contents were collected and analysed from 22 bull trout Salvelinus confluentus at the edge of the Chilko Lake and Chilko River in British Columbia, Canada, during spring outmigration of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka smolts. Twenty of the 22 (>90%) stomachs contained prey items, virtually all identifiable prey items were outmigrant O. nerka smolts and stomach contents...
Authors
Nathan Furey, Scott Hinch, A.G. Lotto, David Beauchamp
Temperature and depth mediate resource competition and apparent competition between Mysis diluviana and kokanee Temperature and depth mediate resource competition and apparent competition between Mysis diluviana and kokanee
In many food webs, species in similar trophic positions can interact either by competing for resources or boosting shared predators (apparent competition), but little is known about how the relative strengths of these interactions vary across environmental gradients. Introduced Mysis diluviana shrimp interact with planktivorous fishes such as kokanee salmon (lacustrine Oncorhynchus nerka...
Authors
Erik Schoen, David Beauchamp, Anna Buettner, Nathanael Overman
Trophic ontogeny of fluvial Bull Trout and seasonal predation on Pacific Salmon in a riverine food web Trophic ontogeny of fluvial Bull Trout and seasonal predation on Pacific Salmon in a riverine food web
Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus are typically top predators in their host ecosystems. The Skagit River in northwestern Washington State contains Bull Trout and Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytschapopulations that are among the largest in the Puget Sound region and also contains a regionally large population of steelhead O. mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout). All three species are...
Authors
Erin Lowery, David Beauchamp
Life-stage-specific physiology defines invasion extent of a riverine fish Life-stage-specific physiology defines invasion extent of a riverine fish
Many ecologists have called for mechanism-based investigations to identify the underlying controls on species distributions. Understanding these controls can be especially useful to construct robust predictions of how a species range may change in response to climate change or the extent to which a non-native species may spread in novel environments.Here, we link spatially intensive...
Authors
David Lawrence, David Beauchamp, Julian D. Olden
Effects of prey abundance, distribution, visual contrast and morphology on selection by a pelagic piscivore Effects of prey abundance, distribution, visual contrast and morphology on selection by a pelagic piscivore
Most predators eat only a subset of possible prey. However, studies evaluating diet selection rarely measure prey availability in a manner that accounts for temporal–spatial overlap with predators, the sensory mechanisms employed to detect prey, and constraints on prey capture.We evaluated the diet selection of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) feeding on a diverse planktivore...
Authors
Adam G. Hansen, David Beauchamp
Latitudinal and photic effects on diel foraging and predation risk in freshwater pelagic ecosystems Latitudinal and photic effects on diel foraging and predation risk in freshwater pelagic ecosystems
1. Clark & Levy (American Naturalist, 131, 1988, 271–290) described an antipredation window for smaller planktivorous fish during crepuscular periods when light permits feeding on zooplankton, but limits visual detection by piscivores. Yet, how the window is influenced by the interaction between light regime, turbidity and cloud cover over a broad latitudinal gradi- ent remains...
Authors
Adam G. Hansen, David Beauchamp
Size-selective mortality of steelhead during freshwater and marine life stages related to freshwater growth in the Skagit River, Washington Size-selective mortality of steelhead during freshwater and marine life stages related to freshwater growth in the Skagit River, Washington
We evaluated freshwater growth and survival from juvenile (ages 0–3) to smolt (ages 1–5) and adult stages in wild steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss sampled in different precipitation zones of the Skagit River basin, Washington. Our objectives were to determine whether significant size-selective mortality (SSM) in steelhead could be detected between early and later freshwater stages and...
Authors
Jamie Thompson, David Beauchamp
Modeling prey consumption by native and non-native piscivorous fishes: implications for competition and impacts on shared prey in an ultraoligotrophic lake in Patagonia Modeling prey consumption by native and non-native piscivorous fishes: implications for competition and impacts on shared prey in an ultraoligotrophic lake in Patagonia
We examined trophic interactions of the nonnative salmonids Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, Brown Trout Salmo trutta, and Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalisand the main native predator Creole Perch Percichthys trucha in Lake Nahuel Huapi (Patagonia, Argentina) to determine the relative impact of each predator on their forage base and to evaluate the potential vulnerability of each...
Authors
Romina Juncos, David Beauchamp, Pablo Viglianoc
Development and evaluation of a bioenergetics model for bull trout Development and evaluation of a bioenergetics model for bull trout
We conducted laboratory experiments to parameterize a bioenergetics model for wild Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus, estimating the effects of body mass (12–1,117 g) and temperature (3–20°C) on maximum consumption (C max) and standard metabolic rates. The temperature associated with the highest C max was 16°C, and C max showed the characteristic dome-shaped temperature-dependent...
Authors
Matthew Mesa, Lisa Welland, Helena Christiansen, Sally Sauter, David Beauchamp
Low-level copper exposures increase visibility and vulnerability of juvenile coho salmon to cutthroat trout predators Low-level copper exposures increase visibility and vulnerability of juvenile coho salmon to cutthroat trout predators
Copper contamination in surface waters is common in watersheds with mining activities or agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential human land uses. This widespread pollutant is neurotoxic to the chemosensory systems of fish and other aquatic species. Among Pacific salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.), copper-induced olfactory impairment has previously been shown to disrupt behaviors...
Authors
Jenifer McIntyre, David H. Baldwin, David Beauchamp, Nathaniel Scholz
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.