White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
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.
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.
Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) - KFFS
Species Studied - Lost River Sucker ( Deltistes luxatus )
Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) - KFFS
Species Studied - Shortnose Sucker ( Chasmistes brevirostris )
Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi) - KFFS
Species Studied - Klamath Largescale Sucker ( Catostomus snyderi )
White River spinedace
White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River spinedace
White River spinedace. Photo taken by Summer Burdick, USGS, Klamath Falls Field Station.
White River spinedace. Photo taken by Summer Burdick, USGS, Klamath Falls Field Station.
White River desert sucker
White River desert sucker. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River desert sucker. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
USGS passive integrated transponder (PIT) detection antenna
Passive integrated transponder detection antenna located in the Flag Springs Complex in eastern Nevada. This is the only place on earth where White River spinedace still exist.
Passive integrated transponder detection antenna located in the Flag Springs Complex in eastern Nevada. This is the only place on earth where White River spinedace still exist.
White River spinedace
White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
Trap net set to capture White River Spinedace in the south fork of Flag Spring in Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in southeast Nevada
linkUSGS is working with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to capture White River Spinedace with trap nets in the Flag Springs complex as part of a mark-recapture study. The goals of this study are to estimate seasonal survival and examine seasonal movements indicative of spawning activity for this rare species.
Trap net set to capture White River Spinedace in the south fork of Flag Spring in Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in southeast Nevada
linkUSGS is working with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to capture White River Spinedace with trap nets in the Flag Springs complex as part of a mark-recapture study. The goals of this study are to estimate seasonal survival and examine seasonal movements indicative of spawning activity for this rare species.
Science and Products
- Science
KFFS Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise
Lead Scientist - ExpertiseSpecies 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.Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus) - KFFS
Species Studied - Lost River Sucker ( Deltistes luxatus )Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) - KFFS
Species Studied - Shortnose Sucker ( Chasmistes brevirostris )Klamath Largescale Sucker (Catostomus snyderi) - KFFS
Species Studied - Klamath Largescale Sucker ( Catostomus snyderi ) - Data
- Multimedia
White River spinedace
White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River spinedaceWhite River spinedace. Photo taken by Summer Burdick, USGS, Klamath Falls Field Station.
White River spinedace. Photo taken by Summer Burdick, USGS, Klamath Falls Field Station.
White River desert suckerWhite River desert sucker. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River desert sucker. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
USGS passive integrated transponder (PIT) detection antennaPassive integrated transponder detection antenna located in the Flag Springs Complex in eastern Nevada. This is the only place on earth where White River spinedace still exist.
Passive integrated transponder detection antenna located in the Flag Springs Complex in eastern Nevada. This is the only place on earth where White River spinedace still exist.
White River spinedaceWhite River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
White River spinedace. Photo taken Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area, Lund, NV.
Trap net set to capture White River Spinedace in the south fork of Flag Spring in Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in southeast NevadaTrap net set to capture White River Spinedace in the south fork of Flag Spring in Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in southeast Nevada
linkUSGS is working with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to capture White River Spinedace with trap nets in the Flag Springs complex as part of a mark-recapture study. The goals of this study are to estimate seasonal survival and examine seasonal movements indicative of spawning activity for this rare species.
Trap net set to capture White River Spinedace in the south fork of Flag Spring in Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in southeast Nevada
linkUSGS is working with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to capture White River Spinedace with trap nets in the Flag Springs complex as part of a mark-recapture study. The goals of this study are to estimate seasonal survival and examine seasonal movements indicative of spawning activity for this rare species.
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