Matthew Young is a research fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and has been with the California Water Science Center since 2016.
He received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Davis. His work research is focused on interactions of native and non-native fishes with their environment, including novel ecosystem elements such as altered hydrology and proliferating non-native habitat engineers such as submersed aquatic vegetation. Currently he works in a variety of systems exploring relationships between native fishes and changes to their environment. This includes the spread of non-native species and potential displacement/competition, habitat alteration and the loss of underlying ecosystem processes, and the potential for habitat restoration to provide key mechanistic benefits to native fishes and other aquatic organisms.
Science and Products
Longfin Smelt Distribution in the Coastal Pacific Ocean
Fish distribution and tidal currents in the Upper San Francisco Estuary in 2022
Distribution and stomach contents of fishes in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, 2020-2022
Marine Observations of Longfin Smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys in the northeast Pacific Ocean
Vertical Distribution of Longfin Smelt in the San Francisco Estuary (ver. 2.1, August 2020)
Diets and Stable Isotopes of Fishes in Rodeo Lagoon, California, 2016-2017
Zooplankton Survey of the Northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, 2016-2018
Little Holland Tract and Wildlands Flux Study; Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, and Larval Fish Taxonomic Data, 2017-2018
Isotopic Analysis of Clear Lake Hitch collected from Clear Lake, Lake County, California, 2017
Largemouth bass population assessment within flooded islands of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Physical and Biological Drivers of Fish Populations in the Sacramento Deep Water Shipping Channel, California, 2016-2018
Abundance and Distribution of Clear Lake Hitch in Clear Lake, Lake County, California, 2017-2022 (ver. 4.0, December 2022)
Fishes of Ryer Island, Suisun Bay, California, 2016-2017
Hydrodynamics structure plankton communities and interactions in a freshwater tidal estuary
Ecology and ecosystem impacts of submerged and floating aquatic vegetation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Hydrodynamics and habitat interact to structure fish communities within terminal channels of a tidal freshwater delta
Habitat-specific foraging by striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the San Francisco Estuary, California: Implications for tidal restoration
Gill-net selectivity for fifteen fish species of the upper San Francisco Estuary
Ocean connectivity drives trophic support for consumers in an intermittently closed coastal lagoon
Disentangling stationary and dynamic estuarine fish habitat to inform conservation: Species-specific responses to physical habitat and water quality in San Francisco Estuary
Eye lenses reveal ontogenetic trophic and habitat shifts in an imperiled fish, Clear Lake hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi)
Use of the smeltCam as an efficient fish sampling alternative within the San Francisco Estuary
Estuarine habitat use by White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
Recruitment dynamics of non-native largemouth bass within the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta
Hydrodynamics drive pelagic communities and food web structure in a tidal environment
Non-USGS Publications**
Sommer T. Understanding imperfect detection in a San
Francisco Estuary long-term larval and juvenile fish monitoring
programme. Fish Manag Ecol. 2017;24:488–503.
https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12257
**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
- Science
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. - Data
Fish distribution and tidal currents in the Upper San Francisco Estuary in 2022
This data release includes field data for fishes sampled through mid-water trawls and otter trawl methods from Suisun Bay, CA to the mouth of the Sacramento River. These data were collected from September 9, 2022 through October 6, 2022 as a part of a multi-year study of Suisun Dredging and Fish Distribution (SDFD). This data release includes quantitative data on collected fish taxa focused on habDistribution and stomach contents of fishes in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, 2020-2022
This data set includes count, location, and ancillary habitat data for fishes sampled in adjacent reaches of Georgiana Slough, Sacramento River, and Steamboat Slough in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It also includes data on the stomach contents of selected individual black basses (Micropterus). Fishes were sampled by boat electrofishing from approximately January-May, 2020-2022, plusMarine Observations of Longfin Smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys in the northeast Pacific Ocean
This dataset is a compilation of Longfin Smelt observations from multiple sources, including research institutions and museums, and local, state, and federal fisheries agencies.Vertical Distribution of Longfin Smelt in the San Francisco Estuary (ver. 2.1, August 2020)
Field data for fishes sampled using mid-water trawls, otter trawls, and the SmeltCam during day and night in San Pablo Bay, CA. This data release includes all measured environmental parameters and fish taxa included in the analysis.Diets and Stable Isotopes of Fishes in Rodeo Lagoon, California, 2016-2017
This dataset includes lab data for fish, fish diets, and stable isotopes for fish tissue, vegetation, and invertebrates collected during daylight hours in the Rodeo Lagoon and Lake in Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the Pacific Coast, USA during 2016 and 2017. This data release includes all animal taxa, and isotope values included in the analysis.Zooplankton Survey of the Northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, 2016-2018
This data set contains information on zooplankton and associated environmental parameters for sampling conducted in California's northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta between May 2016 and April 2018. Macrozooplankton were sampled with horizontal tows (water surface) of a 50 cm-diameter conical plankton net that was 150cm long with 102um mesh. Samples were preserved in the field in 10 percent formaLittle Holland Tract and Wildlands Flux Study; Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, and Larval Fish Taxonomic Data, 2017-2018
This data set includes taxonomic data for zooplankton, larval fish, and phytoplankton sampled in Little Holland Tract and Liberty Island Conservation Bank, in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California. Zooplankton and larval fish were collected with target specific trawl nets and phytoplankton was collected from water grabs. This data release includes all measured environmental pIsotopic Analysis of Clear Lake Hitch collected from Clear Lake, Lake County, California, 2017
This dataset includes data from isotopic analysis of eye and muscle tissue from fish collected in Clear Lake, Lake County, California during June and July 2017. This data release includes all biological measurements and fish taxa included in the analysis.Largemouth bass population assessment within flooded islands of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Field and laboratory data collected for fishes sampled by boat electrofishing in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta, CA. This data release includes all measured environmental parameters, body composition analyses, otoliths, and fish taxa included in the analysis.Physical and Biological Drivers of Fish Populations in the Sacramento Deep Water Shipping Channel, California, 2016-2018
This dataset includes field and lab data for fish, vegetation, zooplankton, phytoplankton, fish diets, and stable isotopes collected during daylight hours in the Sacramento Deep Water Shipping Channel in the Northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, USA. This data release includes all measured environmental parameters, animal taxa, and isotope values included in the analysis.Abundance and Distribution of Clear Lake Hitch in Clear Lake, Lake County, California, 2017-2022 (ver. 4.0, December 2022)
Field data for fishes sampled using bottom and surface gill nets during daylight hours in Clear Lake, California, USA. This data release includes all measured environmental parameters and fish taxa included in the analysis.Fishes of Ryer Island, Suisun Bay, California, 2016-2017
This data set includes field data for fishes sampled using gill nets and otter trawls during daylight hours in and around Ryer Island, Suisun Bay, California. This data release includes all measured environmental parameters and fish taxa included in the analysis. - Multimedia
- Publications
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Hydrodynamics structure plankton communities and interactions in a freshwater tidal estuary
Drivers of phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics vary spatially and temporally in estuaries due to variation in hydrodynamic exchange and residence time, complicating efforts to understand controls on food web productivity. We conducted approximately monthly (2012–2019; n = 74) longitudinal sampling at 10 fixed stations along a freshwater tidal terminal channel in the San Francisco Estuary, CalifAuthorsAdrianne P Smits, Luke C. Loken, Erwin E Van Nieuwenhuyse, Matthew Young, Paul Stumpner, Leah Kammel, Jon R. Burau, Randy A Dahlgren, Tiffany Brown, April Hennessey, Steven SadroEcology and ecosystem impacts of submerged and floating aquatic vegetation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Substantial increases in non-native aquatic vegetation have occurred in the upper San Francisco Estuary over the last 2 decades, largely from the explosive growth of a few submerged and floating aquatic plant species. Some of these species act as ecosystem engineers by creating conditions that favor their further growth and expansion as well as by modifying habitat for other organisms. Over the laAuthorsMairgareth A. Christman, Shruti Khanna, Judith Z. Drexler, Matthew YoungHydrodynamics and habitat interact to structure fish communities within terminal channels of a tidal freshwater delta
Terminal channels were historically a common feature of tidal delta ecosystems but have become increasingly rare as landscapes have been modified. Tidal hydrodynamics are a defining feature in tidal terminal channel ecosystems from which native aquatic communities have evolved. However, few studies have explored the relationship between fish community structure and hydrodynamics in these tidal terAuthorsBrock Huntsman, Matthew Young, Frederick Feyrer, Paul Stumpner, Larry R. Brown, Jon R. BurauHabitat-specific foraging by striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the San Francisco Estuary, California: Implications for tidal restoration
Non-native predatory fish strongly impact aquatic communities, and their impacts can be exacerbated by anthropogenic habitat alterations. Loss of natural habitat and restoration actions reversing habitat loss can modify relationships between non-native predators and prey. Predicting how these relationships will change is often difficult because insufficient information exists on the habitat-specifAuthorsMatthew Young, Frederick Feyrer, Collin Smith, Dennis A. ValentineGill-net selectivity for fifteen fish species of the upper San Francisco Estuary
Gill-net size selectivity for 15 fish species occurring in the upper San Francisco Estuary was estimated from a data set compiled from multiple studies which together contained 7,096 individual fish observations from 882 gill net sets. The gill nets considered in this study closely resembled the American Fisheries Society’s recommended standardized experimental gill nets for sampling inland watersAuthorsMarissa L. Wulff, Frederick Feyrer, Matthew YoungOcean connectivity drives trophic support for consumers in an intermittently closed coastal lagoon
Estuarine food webs are complex, as marine, freshwater, and terrestrial inputs combine and contribute variable amounts of organic material. Seasonal fluctuations in precipitation amplify the dynamism inherent to estuarine food webs, particularly in lagoonal estuaries, which can be seasonally closed and disconnected from the ocean in low-runoff periods (bar-built lagoons). Despite their abundance aAuthorsMatthew Young, Frederick Feyrer, Darren Fong, Rachel C. Johnson, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Veronica Larwood, Elizabeth Stumpner, Megan B. YoungDisentangling stationary and dynamic estuarine fish habitat to inform conservation: Species-specific responses to physical habitat and water quality in San Francisco Estuary
Estuaries represent critical aquatic habitat that connects surface water distributed between Earth’s landmasses and oceans. They are dynamic transitional ecosystems, which provide important habitat for fishes and other aquatic organisms. Effective conservation of species inhabiting estuaries requires knowledge of the habitat features that drive their abundance and distribution. We sought to elucidAuthorsFrederick Feyrer, Matthew Young, Brock Huntsman, Larry R. BrownEye lenses reveal ontogenetic trophic and habitat shifts in an imperiled fish, Clear Lake hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi)
Stable isotopes recorded in fish eye lenses are an emerging tool to track dietary shifts coincident with use of diverse habitats over the lifetime of individuals. Eye lenses are metabolically inert, sequentially deposited, archival tissues that can open avenues to chronicle contaminant exposures, diet histories, trophic dynamics and migratory histories of individual fishes. In this study, we demonAuthorsMatthew Young, Veronica Larwood, Justin Kinsey Clause, Miranda Bell-Tilcock, George Whitman, Rachel C. Johnson, Frederick FeyrerUse of the smeltCam as an efficient fish sampling alternative within the San Francisco Estuary
Resource managers often rely on long-term monitoring surveys to detect trends in biological data. However, no survey gear is 100% efficient, and many sources of bias can be responsible for detecting or not detecting biological trends. The SmeltCam is an imaging apparatus developed as a potential sampling alternative to long-term trawling gear surveys within the San Francisco Estuary, California, tAuthorsBrock Huntsman, Frederick Feyrer, Matthew YoungEstuarine 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 Young, Frederick FeyrerRecruitment dynamics of non-native largemouth bass within the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta
Largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) recruitment is limited by a critical developmental period during early life stages, but this mechanism may be less important within non-native habitats. We conducted boat electrofishing surveys in four tidal lakes of California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (SSJD) from 2010 to 2011 to describe introduced LMB recruitment dynamics. We evaluated growth, pAuthorsBrock Huntsman, Frederick Feyrer, Matthew Young, James A. Hobbs, Shawn Acuna, Joseph E. Kirsch, Brian Mahardja, Swee TehHydrodynamics 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 Young, Frederick Feyrer, Paul Stumpner, Veronica Larwood, Oliver Patton, Larry R. BrownNon-USGS Publications**
Ferrari, M.C.O., Ranåker, L., Weinersmith, K.L. et al. Effects of turbidity and an invasive waterweed on predation by introduced largemouth bass. Environ Biol Fish 97, 79–90 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0125-7Conrad, J.L., Bibian, A.J., Weinersmith, K.L., De Carion, D., Young, M.J., Crain, P., Hestir, E.L., Santos, M.J. and Sih, A., 2016. Novel species interactions in a highly modified estuary: association of Largemouth Bass with Brazilian waterweed Egeria densa. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 145(2), pp.249-263. https://doi.org/10.1080/00028487.2015.1114521Schroeter, R. E, O'Rear, T. A, Young, M. J, & Moyle, P. B. (2015). The Aquatic Trophic Ecology of Suisun Marsh, San Francisco Estuary, California, During Autumn in a Wet Year. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 13(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2015v13iss3art6 Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3w96c3dtYoung, M.J., Berridge, K.A., O’Rear, T. et al. Habitat partitioning by native and alien fishes and decapods in novel habitats of the upper San Francisco Estuary. Biol Invasions 19, 2693–2710 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1477-2Mahardja B, Young MJ, Schreier B,
Sommer T. Understanding imperfect detection in a San
Francisco Estuary long-term larval and juvenile fish monitoring
programme. Fish Manag Ecol. 2017;24:488–503.
https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12257Weinersmith, K. L, Colombano, D. D, Bibian, A. J, Young, M. J, Sih, A., & Conrad, J. L. (2019). Diets of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 17(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2019v17iss1art3 Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9mn0v9qb**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.
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