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.
Biography
Education:
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
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.
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
Science and Products
KFFS Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise
Lead Scientist - Expertise
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.
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)
Tribal Collaboration - KFFS
Factors limiting survival of juvenile endangered suckers.
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.
Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) - KFFS
Species Studied
Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris)
Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) - KFFS
Species Studied
Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus)
Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi) - KFFS
Species Studied
Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi)
Data for Trap Net Captured Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers from Upper Klamath Lake
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
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...
Martin, Barbara A.; Burdick, Summer M.; Staiger, Stephen T.; Kelsey, Caylen M.
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...
Hewitt, David A.; Hayes, Brian S.; Harris, Alta C.; Janney, Eric C.; Kelsey, Caylen M.; Perry, Russell W.; Burdick, Summer M.
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...
Burdick, Summer M.; Conway, Carla M.; Ostberg, Carl O.; Bart, Ryan J.; Elliott, Diane G.
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...
Martin, Barbara A.; Burdick, Summer M.; Purcell, Maureen K.; Powers, Rachel L. 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...
Burdick, Summer M.; Hewitt, David A.; Martin, Barbara A.; Schenk, Liam N.; Rounds, Stewart
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...
Bart, Ryan J.; Burdick, Summer M.; Hoy, Marshal S.; Ostberg, Carl O.
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...
Bart, Ryan J.; Burdick, Summer M.; Hoy, Marshal S.; Ostberg, Carl O. 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...
Burdick, Summer M.; Hereford, Danielle M; Conway, Carla M.; Banet, Nathan V; Powers, Rachel L.; Martin, Barbara A.; Elliott, Diane G.
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...
Martin, Barbara A.; Echols, Kathy R.; Elliott, Diane G.; Feltz, Kevin; Conway, Carla M.; Burdick, Summer M.
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...
Hereford, Danielle M.; Conway, Carla M.; Burdick, Summer M.; Elliott, Diane G.; Perry, Todd M.; Dolan-Caret, Amari; Harris, Alta C.
Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year class strength, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2016 Monitoring Report
Executive SummaryThe largest populations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) exist in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir, California. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because adult mortality, which is relatively low, is not being balanced by...
Burdick, Summer M.; Ostberg, Carl O.; Hoy, Marshal S.
Health and condition of endangered young-of-the-year Lost River and Shortnose suckers relative to water quality in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2014–2015
Most mortality of endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, occurs within the first year of life. Juvenile suckers in Clear Lake Reservoir, California, survive longer and may even recruit to the spawning populations. In a previous (2013–2014) study, the health and...
Burdick, Summer M.; Conway, Carla M.; Elliott, Diane G.; Hoy, Marshal S.; Dolan-Caret, Amari; Ostberg, Carl O.
Western Fisheries Science News, October 2017 | Issue 5.10
Scientists Continue to Gain Insights into Endangered Suckers in the Klamath Basin
Western Fisheries Science News, August 2016 | Issue 4.8
Mesocosms Give Us the Fish-eye View into the Lives and Deaths of Endangered Suckers
Western Fisheries Science News, April 2015 | Issue 3.4
Is Spawning of Endangered Suckers in the Upper Klamath Lake Affected by Low Water Levels?