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
Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration: Columbia River food webs Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration: Columbia River food webs
Well-functioning food webs are fundamental for sustaining rivers as ecosystems and maintaining associated aquatic and terrestrial communities. The current emphasis on restoring habitat structure—without explicitly considering food webs—has been less successful than hoped in terms of enhancing the status of targeted species and often overlooks important constraints on ecologically...
Authors
Robert Naiman, Richard Alldredge, David Beauchamp, Peter Bisson, James Congleton, Charles Henny, Nancy Huntly, Roland Lamberson, Colin Levings, Erik Merrill, William Pearcy, Bruce Rieman, Gregory Ruggerone, Dennis Scarnecchia, Peter Smouse, Chris C. Wood
Bioenergetic response by steelhead to variation in diet, thermal habitat, and climate in the north Pacific Ocean Bioenergetic response by steelhead to variation in diet, thermal habitat, and climate in the north Pacific Ocean
Energetic responses of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss to climate-driven changes in marine conditions are expected to affect the species’ ocean distribution, feeding, growth, and survival. With a unique 18-year data series (1991–2008) for steelhead sampled in the open ocean, we simulated interannual variation in prey consumption and growth efficiency of steelhead using a bioenergetics...
Authors
Margaret Atcheson, Katherine Myers, David Beauchamp, Nathan Mantua
Columbia River food webs: Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration Columbia River food webs: Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration
The objectives of this report are to provide a fundamental understanding of aquatic food webs in the Columbia River Basin and to illustrate and summarize their influences on native fish restoration efforts. The spatial scope addresses tributaries, impoundments, the free-flowing Columbia and Snake rivers, as well as the estuary and plume. Achieving the Council's vision for the Columbia...
Authors
J. Alldredge, David Beauchamp, Peter Bisson, James Congleton, Charles Henny, Nancy Huntly, Roland Lamberson, Colin Levings, Robert Naiman, William Pearcy, Bruce Rieman, Greg Ruggerone, Dennis Scarnecchia, Peter Smouse, Chris C. Wood
Rapid growth in the early marine period improves the marine survival of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Puget Sound, Washington Rapid growth in the early marine period improves the marine survival of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Puget Sound, Washington
We examined the effect of early marine entry timing and body size on the marine (smolt-to-adult) survival of Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). We used data from coded wire tag release groups of hatchery Chinook salmon to test whether hatchery release date, release size, and size in offshore waters in July and September influenced marine survival. Marine survival was...
Authors
Elisabeth Duffy, David Beauchamp
Pelagic Piscivory Under Shifting Environmental Gradients: Application of A Visual Foraging Model To Diel and Seasonal Sonic Telemetry of Cutthroat Trout In Strawberry Reservoir Pelagic Piscivory Under Shifting Environmental Gradients: Application of A Visual Foraging Model To Diel and Seasonal Sonic Telemetry of Cutthroat Trout In Strawberry Reservoir
No abstract available.
Authors
David Beauchamp, Adam G. Hansen, Casey Baldwin
Marine effect of introduced salmonids: Prey consumption by exotic steelhead and anadromous brown trout in the Patagonian Continental Shelf Marine effect of introduced salmonids: Prey consumption by exotic steelhead and anadromous brown trout in the Patagonian Continental Shelf
On the basis of stable isotope analysis, we estimated the marine diet of the most abundant anadromous salmonid species in Patagonian Atlantic basins. The results were coupled with bioenergetic and population models to estimate the consumption of food by salmonids and was compared with that by seabirds, the most abundant top predators in the area. Amphipods were the main salmonid prey...
Authors
J. Ciancio, D.A. Beauchamp, M. Pascual
Distribution and habitat associations of radio-tagged adult Lost River suckers and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon Distribution and habitat associations of radio-tagged adult Lost River suckers and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
Radiotelemetry was used to investigate the summer distribution and diel habitat associations of endangered adult Lost River suckers Deltistes luxatus and shortnose suckers Chasmistes brevirostris in northern Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. From 2002 to 2004, Lost River and shortnose suckers were tracked by boat, and water depth and water quality were measured at each fish location. A series...
Authors
Nolan Banish, Barbara Adams, Rip Shively, Michael Mazur, David Beauchamp, Tamara Wood
Bioenergetic model estimates of interannual and spatial patterns in consumption demand and growth potential of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the Gulf of Alaska Bioenergetic model estimates of interannual and spatial patterns in consumption demand and growth potential of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the Gulf of Alaska
A bioenergetic model of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) was used to estimate daily prey consumption and growth potential of four ocean habitats in the Gulf of Alaska during 2001 and 2002. Growth potential was not significantly higher in 2002 than in 2001 at an alpha level of 0.05 (P=0.073). Average differences in growth potential across habitats were minimal (slope habitat...
Authors
J.H. Moss, D.A. Beauchamp, A.D. Cross, E.V. Farley, J.M. Murphy, J.H. Helle, R.V. Walker, K.W. Myers
Coldwater fish in large standing waters Coldwater fish in large standing waters
Large coldwater lakes are defined here as standing freshwater bodies with surface area greater than 200 ha that support coldwater fishes such as trouts and salmons throughout the year. These large water bodies can be exposed to extensive wind fetch, which will affect the timing, mobility, and safety of personnel and gear. These considerations become important constraints for deploying...
Authors
David Beauchamp, Donna L. Parrish, Roy Whaley
Linking habitat quality with trophic performance of steelhead along forest gradients in the South Fork Trinity River Watershed, California Linking habitat quality with trophic performance of steelhead along forest gradients in the South Fork Trinity River Watershed, California
We examined invertebrate prey, fish diet, and energy assimilation in relation to habitat variation for steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous rainbow trout) and rainbow trout in nine low-order tributaries of the South Fork Trinity River, northern California. These streams spanned a range of environmental conditions, which allowed us to use bioenergetics modeling to determine the...
Authors
Sarah McCarthy, Jeffrey Duda, John Emlen, Garth Hodgson, David Beauchamp
Early marine growth of pink salmon in Prince William Sound and the coastal gulf of Alaska during years of low and high survival Early marine growth of pink salmon in Prince William Sound and the coastal gulf of Alaska during years of low and high survival
Although early marine growth has repeatedly been correlated with overall survival in Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., we currently lack a mechanistic understanding of smolt-to-adult survival. Smolt-to-adult survival of pink salmon O. gorbuscha returning to Prince William Sound was lower than average for juveniles that entered marine waters in 2001 and 2003 (3% in both years), and high...
Authors
A.D. Cross, D.A. Beauchamp, K.W. Myers, J.H. Moss
Reverse Evolution of Armor Plates in the Threespine Stickleback Reverse Evolution of Armor Plates in the Threespine Stickleback
Faced with sudden environmental changes, animals must either adapt to novel environments or go extinct. Thus, study of the mechanisms underlying rapid adaptation is crucial not??only for the understanding of natural evolutionary processes but also for the understanding of human-induced evolutionary change, which is an increasingly important problem [1-8]. In the present study, we...
Authors
J. Kitano, D.I. Bolnick, D.A. Beauchamp, M.M. Mazur, S. Mori, T. Nakano, C.L. Peichel
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
Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration: Columbia River food webs Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration: Columbia River food webs
Well-functioning food webs are fundamental for sustaining rivers as ecosystems and maintaining associated aquatic and terrestrial communities. The current emphasis on restoring habitat structure—without explicitly considering food webs—has been less successful than hoped in terms of enhancing the status of targeted species and often overlooks important constraints on ecologically...
Authors
Robert Naiman, Richard Alldredge, David Beauchamp, Peter Bisson, James Congleton, Charles Henny, Nancy Huntly, Roland Lamberson, Colin Levings, Erik Merrill, William Pearcy, Bruce Rieman, Gregory Ruggerone, Dennis Scarnecchia, Peter Smouse, Chris C. Wood
Bioenergetic response by steelhead to variation in diet, thermal habitat, and climate in the north Pacific Ocean Bioenergetic response by steelhead to variation in diet, thermal habitat, and climate in the north Pacific Ocean
Energetic responses of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss to climate-driven changes in marine conditions are expected to affect the species’ ocean distribution, feeding, growth, and survival. With a unique 18-year data series (1991–2008) for steelhead sampled in the open ocean, we simulated interannual variation in prey consumption and growth efficiency of steelhead using a bioenergetics...
Authors
Margaret Atcheson, Katherine Myers, David Beauchamp, Nathan Mantua
Columbia River food webs: Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration Columbia River food webs: Developing a broader scientific foundation for river restoration
The objectives of this report are to provide a fundamental understanding of aquatic food webs in the Columbia River Basin and to illustrate and summarize their influences on native fish restoration efforts. The spatial scope addresses tributaries, impoundments, the free-flowing Columbia and Snake rivers, as well as the estuary and plume. Achieving the Council's vision for the Columbia...
Authors
J. Alldredge, David Beauchamp, Peter Bisson, James Congleton, Charles Henny, Nancy Huntly, Roland Lamberson, Colin Levings, Robert Naiman, William Pearcy, Bruce Rieman, Greg Ruggerone, Dennis Scarnecchia, Peter Smouse, Chris C. Wood
Rapid growth in the early marine period improves the marine survival of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Puget Sound, Washington Rapid growth in the early marine period improves the marine survival of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Puget Sound, Washington
We examined the effect of early marine entry timing and body size on the marine (smolt-to-adult) survival of Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). We used data from coded wire tag release groups of hatchery Chinook salmon to test whether hatchery release date, release size, and size in offshore waters in July and September influenced marine survival. Marine survival was...
Authors
Elisabeth Duffy, David Beauchamp
Pelagic Piscivory Under Shifting Environmental Gradients: Application of A Visual Foraging Model To Diel and Seasonal Sonic Telemetry of Cutthroat Trout In Strawberry Reservoir Pelagic Piscivory Under Shifting Environmental Gradients: Application of A Visual Foraging Model To Diel and Seasonal Sonic Telemetry of Cutthroat Trout In Strawberry Reservoir
No abstract available.
Authors
David Beauchamp, Adam G. Hansen, Casey Baldwin
Marine effect of introduced salmonids: Prey consumption by exotic steelhead and anadromous brown trout in the Patagonian Continental Shelf Marine effect of introduced salmonids: Prey consumption by exotic steelhead and anadromous brown trout in the Patagonian Continental Shelf
On the basis of stable isotope analysis, we estimated the marine diet of the most abundant anadromous salmonid species in Patagonian Atlantic basins. The results were coupled with bioenergetic and population models to estimate the consumption of food by salmonids and was compared with that by seabirds, the most abundant top predators in the area. Amphipods were the main salmonid prey...
Authors
J. Ciancio, D.A. Beauchamp, M. Pascual
Distribution and habitat associations of radio-tagged adult Lost River suckers and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon Distribution and habitat associations of radio-tagged adult Lost River suckers and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
Radiotelemetry was used to investigate the summer distribution and diel habitat associations of endangered adult Lost River suckers Deltistes luxatus and shortnose suckers Chasmistes brevirostris in northern Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. From 2002 to 2004, Lost River and shortnose suckers were tracked by boat, and water depth and water quality were measured at each fish location. A series...
Authors
Nolan Banish, Barbara Adams, Rip Shively, Michael Mazur, David Beauchamp, Tamara Wood
Bioenergetic model estimates of interannual and spatial patterns in consumption demand and growth potential of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the Gulf of Alaska Bioenergetic model estimates of interannual and spatial patterns in consumption demand and growth potential of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the Gulf of Alaska
A bioenergetic model of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) was used to estimate daily prey consumption and growth potential of four ocean habitats in the Gulf of Alaska during 2001 and 2002. Growth potential was not significantly higher in 2002 than in 2001 at an alpha level of 0.05 (P=0.073). Average differences in growth potential across habitats were minimal (slope habitat...
Authors
J.H. Moss, D.A. Beauchamp, A.D. Cross, E.V. Farley, J.M. Murphy, J.H. Helle, R.V. Walker, K.W. Myers
Coldwater fish in large standing waters Coldwater fish in large standing waters
Large coldwater lakes are defined here as standing freshwater bodies with surface area greater than 200 ha that support coldwater fishes such as trouts and salmons throughout the year. These large water bodies can be exposed to extensive wind fetch, which will affect the timing, mobility, and safety of personnel and gear. These considerations become important constraints for deploying...
Authors
David Beauchamp, Donna L. Parrish, Roy Whaley
Linking habitat quality with trophic performance of steelhead along forest gradients in the South Fork Trinity River Watershed, California Linking habitat quality with trophic performance of steelhead along forest gradients in the South Fork Trinity River Watershed, California
We examined invertebrate prey, fish diet, and energy assimilation in relation to habitat variation for steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous rainbow trout) and rainbow trout in nine low-order tributaries of the South Fork Trinity River, northern California. These streams spanned a range of environmental conditions, which allowed us to use bioenergetics modeling to determine the...
Authors
Sarah McCarthy, Jeffrey Duda, John Emlen, Garth Hodgson, David Beauchamp
Early marine growth of pink salmon in Prince William Sound and the coastal gulf of Alaska during years of low and high survival Early marine growth of pink salmon in Prince William Sound and the coastal gulf of Alaska during years of low and high survival
Although early marine growth has repeatedly been correlated with overall survival in Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., we currently lack a mechanistic understanding of smolt-to-adult survival. Smolt-to-adult survival of pink salmon O. gorbuscha returning to Prince William Sound was lower than average for juveniles that entered marine waters in 2001 and 2003 (3% in both years), and high...
Authors
A.D. Cross, D.A. Beauchamp, K.W. Myers, J.H. Moss
Reverse Evolution of Armor Plates in the Threespine Stickleback Reverse Evolution of Armor Plates in the Threespine Stickleback
Faced with sudden environmental changes, animals must either adapt to novel environments or go extinct. Thus, study of the mechanisms underlying rapid adaptation is crucial not??only for the understanding of natural evolutionary processes but also for the understanding of human-induced evolutionary change, which is an increasingly important problem [1-8]. In the present study, we...
Authors
J. Kitano, D.I. Bolnick, D.A. Beauchamp, M.M. Mazur, S. Mori, T. Nakano, C.L. Peichel
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.