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Summer Burdick

I am an applied quantitative fish ecologist focused on understanding how agricultural water allocation affects imperiled fishes in the Klamath Basin. My educational background is in quantitative population dynamics and habitat use modeling.  Most of my recent research is conducted as part of interdisciplinary collaborations with experts in various aspects of aquatic ecology.

Research Interests:                                    

The motivation for my research is determining the balance between anthropogenic water uses in the presence of a changing climate and the ecological needs of aquatic communities in the Klamath Basin. I am interested in understanding how water quality and availability affect when, where and how imperiled fish interact with both lotic and lentic environments at all life stages.  My research interests extend from salmon and trout species to endangered suckers of the Klamath Basin.  The primary goal of my present research is to identify and rank factors responsible for high apparent juvenile mortality of two ESA listed species, Lost River and shortnose suckers. My recent research includes 1) understanding the effects of agricultural water use on shoreline sucker spawning habitat, 2) a comprehensive survey of juvenile sucker health and condition relative to water quality, 3) investigating the link between water-quality and juvenile sucker mortality using in-lake mesocosms, 4) understanding long-term trends in water-quality, instream flow, and annual year class formation of suckers in the Upper Klamath basin, and 5) mapping juvenile sucker food webs in Upper Klamath Lake using stable isotopes.

Professional Experience

  • 2006 to Present – Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Science Center, Klamath Falls Field Station, Klamath Falls, OR

  • 2005-2006 - Marine Fisheries Research Fellow, North Carolina State University and North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Raleigh, NC

  • 2003-2005 - Research Assistant, North Carolina State Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, Raleigh, NC

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. 2005. Fisheries and Wildlife Science with minor in Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

  • B.S. 1999. Ecology, the Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA

Science and Products

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Downloading data in flood

KFFS Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise

Lead Scientist - Expertise
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Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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KFFS Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise

Lead Scientist - Expertise
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Spawning Lost River suckers

Species Studied at the Klamath Falls Field Station

The Klamath Falls Field Station conducts research on rare and imperiled fishes in the Klamath Basin and the desert southwest. The following list contains both common and scientific names. Descriptions of species and studies can be found under the "Related Science" tab.
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Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Species Studied at the Klamath Falls Field Station

The Klamath Falls Field Station conducts research on rare and imperiled fishes in the Klamath Basin and the desert southwest. The following list contains both common and scientific names. Descriptions of species and studies can be found under the "Related Science" tab.
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White River spinedace

White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis) and White River desert suckers (Catostomus clarki) - KFFS

Species Studied - White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis) and White River desert suckers (Catostomus clarki)
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis) and White River desert suckers (Catostomus clarki) - KFFS

Species Studied - White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis) and White River desert suckers (Catostomus clarki)
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Cyanobacteria bloom

Water Quality Effects on Fish

Impaired water quality conditions in Upper Klamath Lake have been implicated in reduced survival of fishes and are a concern for recovery efforts.
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Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Water Quality Effects on Fish

Impaired water quality conditions in Upper Klamath Lake have been implicated in reduced survival of fishes and are a concern for recovery efforts.
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Klamath Tribe Research Hatchery

Tribal Collaboration - KFFS

Factors limiting survival of juvenile endangered suckers.
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Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Tribal Collaboration - KFFS

Factors limiting survival of juvenile endangered suckers.
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Adult Lost River sucker

Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) - KFFS

Species Studied - Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus)
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) - KFFS

Species Studied - Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus)
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Adult shortnose sucker

Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) - KFFS

Species Studied - Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris)
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) - KFFS

Species Studied - Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris)
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Adult Klamath largescale sucker

Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi) - KFFS

Species Studied - Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi)
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi) - KFFS

Species Studied - Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi)
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Marginal increment and age data from fin rays of endangered suckers

Data included in this data set are from suckers collected in Hagelstein Pond from 2014 through 2021. Data were collected on age, marginal increment, and marginal increment ratios from fin rays, and length of suckers captured during monthly sampling events. There are two levels of data. Fin ray data contains 409 records and the data file is 31 KB, repeat data contains 58 records and the data file i
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Western Fisheries Research Center

Data from 2018 Experiment on Effects of Temperature on Survival and Growth of Juvenile Lost River Suckers (Deltistes luxatus) naturally exposed to Ichthyobodo spp

Data included in this data set are for an experiment conducted in 2018. Data were collected on survival, growth, food consumption, and Ichthyobodo copy numbers of Lost River suckers exposed to five different temperature groups. There are five levels of data. Temperature data contains 1,178 records and the data file is 35 KB, survival data contains 150 records and the data file is 3 KB, food consum
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Data for Trap Net Captured Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

Data included in this data set are for trap net captured juvenile suckers from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon starting in 2001. Data were collected on fishing effort, the number of suckers captured, sucker length, and sucker species. There are two levels of data. Net level data contains 14,838 records and the data file is 2,069 KB and fish level data contains 25,236 records and the data file is 1,543
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Ecosystems, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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Growth, survival, and cohort formation of juvenile Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2020 monitoring report

Executive SummaryPopulations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter, Clear Lake), California, are experiencing long-term decreases in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing not only because of adult mortality, which is relatively low, but also becau
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Growth, survival, and cohort formation of juvenile Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2019 Monitoring Report

Populations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter, Clear Lake), California, are experiencing long-term decreases in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing not only due to adult mortality, which is relatively low, but also because they are not being
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Water quality, instream habitat, and the distribution of suckers in the upper Lost River watershed of Oregon and California, summer 2018

Executive SummaryEndangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) suckers primarily use lotic habitats during the spring spawning season in the Upper Klamath Lake watershed. However, summer-time surveys of the upper Lost River watershed in 1972, 1975 and 1989–90 indicated that adults of both endangered species use tributaries of Clear Lake Reservoir (hereafter: Cle
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Dynamics of endangered sucker populations in Clear Lake Reservoir, California

Executive SummaryIn collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Geological Survey began a consistent monitoring program for endangered Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Clear Lake Reservoir, California, in fall 2004. The program was intended to improve understanding of the Clear Lake Reservoir populations because they are important
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Survival and growth of suckers in mesocosms at three locations within Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2018

Executive SummaryDue to high mortality in the first year or two of life, Lost River (Deltistes luxatus sp.) and Shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris sp.) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon rarely reach maturity. In 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began the Sucker Assisted Rearing Program (SARP) to improve early life survival before releasing the fish back into Upper Klamath Lake. Surviva
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Effect of temperature on survival of Lost River Suckers with a natural infection of Ichthyobodo spp.

To compensate for low natural survival of endangered Lost River Suckers Deltistes luxatus, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Klamath Tribes have initiated captive rearing programs. We conducted laboratory experiments intended to determine the temperature for optimum growth of juvenile Lost River Suckers; however, due to an unanticipated infection with Ichthyobodo spp., we instead estimate
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Effects of harmful algal blooms and associated water-quality on endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers

Anthropogenic eutrophication contributes to harmful blooms of cyanobacteria in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. In Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, massive blooms of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and smaller blooms of other cyanobacteria are associated with cyanotoxins, hypoxia, high pH, high concentrations of ammonia, and potentially hypercapnia. Recovery of the endangered Lost River sucker Deltistes luxat
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year-class formation, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2018 monitoring report

Executive SummaryPopulations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter Clear Lake), California, are experiencing long-term decreases in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing not only because of adult mortality, which is relatively low, but also becaus
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year-class formation, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2017 Monitoring Report

Executive SummaryPopulations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter referred to as Clear Lake; fig. 1), California, are experiencing long-term declines in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because juvenile suckers are not surviving and recruiti
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Mortality of endangered juvenile Lost River Suckers associated with cyanobacteria blooms in mesocosms in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

Unsustainably high mortality within the first 2 years of life prevents endangered Lost River Suckers Deltistes luxatus in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, from recruiting to spawning populations. Massive blooms of the cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos‐aquae and their subsequent death and decay in the lake (bloom‐crashes) are associated with high pH, low percent oxygen saturation, high total ammonia con
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Effects of microcystin-LR on juvenile Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) during feeding trials, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2014−16

Executive SummaryHistorically, populations of Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) of the Upper Klamath Basin were so numerous that they were commercially harvested; however, declining numbers throughout the 20th century led to the listing of the species under the United States Endangered Species Act in 1988. Habitat destruction, poor water quality, competition with (and predation by) nonnative
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)

Assessing causes of mortality for endangered juvenile Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) in mesocosms in Upper Klamath Lake, south-central Oregon, 2016

Executive SummaryThe recovery of endangered Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) in Upper Klamath Lake, south-central Oregon, has been impeded because juveniles are not recruiting into adult spawning populations. Adult sucker populations spawn each spring but mortality of age-0 suckers during their first summer is excessively high, and recruitment of juveniles into adult populations does not occ
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Fish Health Program (FHP), Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS)
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WFRC science featured in Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Field Guide

March is Women's History Month! Watch this story about work to save endangered suckers in the Klamath Basin, featuring WFRC Fish Biologist, Summer...

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Western Fisheries Science News, October 2017 | Issue 5.10

Scientists Continue to Gain Insights into Endangered Suckers in the Klamath Basin

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Western Fisheries Science News, August 2016 | Issue 4.8

Mesocosms Give Us the Fish-eye View into the Lives and Deaths of Endangered Suckers

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Western Fisheries Science News, April 2015 | Issue 3.4

Is Spawning of Endangered Suckers in the Upper Klamath Lake Affected by Low Water Levels?

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White River spinedace
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USGS PIT detection antenna, Flag Springs Complex, eastern Nevada
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White River spinedace
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White River desert sucker
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White River spinedace
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Trap net set to capture White River Spinedace
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Juvenile Sucker
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