Theresa "Marty" Liedtke
Marty Liedtke is a Project Leader at the Columbia River Research Laboratory with 25+ years of experience focused on movement, behavior, and performance of fishes in both freshwater and marine systems.
My research is currently focused on Pacific Lamprey and other native lampreys in the Columbia River Basin and forage fishes in Puget Sound. My team evaluates juvenile and larval lamprey performance under controlled laboratory conditions to address management needs such as dewatering of lamprey habitat, interactions with screens at water diversions, and dredging impacts. A newly developed, prototype acoustic telemetry transmitter, designed for use in lamprey and eels allowed us to conduct one of the first acoustic telemetry studies of juvenile Pacific lamprey migration movements. Prior to the development of this transmitter such studies were not possible due to the small size of these fish. In Puget Sound we have focused on Pacific sand lance and surf smelt and have evaluated spawning site selection, responses to climate change, food habits, and rearing habitats. Most recently we are investigating linkages between forage fishes and legacy and current use contaminants in both field and laboratory settings.
Historically my team has conducted radio and acoustic telemetry studies to evaluate juvenile salmon passage and survival at hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin. We have used telemetry to monitor the behavior and movements of many fishes, including adult salmonids using transmitters with sensors (temperature, motion). I have developed standard operating procedures for surgical implantation of transmitters and regularly train others to design tagging operations and conduct tagging for telemetry studies. I am interested in the performance of fish equipped with telemetry transmitters, specifically comparing the stress response, swimming performance, buoyancy compensation, and predator avoidance ability of tagged fish to untagged fish.
Professional Experience
1994 to Present - Research Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, WA
Education and Certifications
M.S. Zoology/Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
B.S. Biology, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Science and Products
Evaluation of the behavior and movement of adult summer steelhead in the lower Cowlitz River, Washington, following collection and release, 2013-2014
Post-release behavior and movement patterns of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) after capture using alternative commercial fish gear, lower Columbia River, Washington and Oregon, 2013
Surgical insertions of transmitters and telemetry methods in fisheries research
Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013
Identifying resource manager information needs for the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Evaluation of the behavior and movement patterns of adult coho salmon and steelhead in the North Fork Toutle River, Washington, 2005-2009
The Regional Salmon Outmigration Study--survival and migration routing of juvenile Chinook salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta during the winter of 2008-09
Behavior and movement of adult summer steelhead following collection and release, lower Cowlitz River, Washington, 2012--2013
Conservation and Ecology of Marine Forage Fishes--Proceedings of a Research Symposium, September 2012
A standard operating procedure for the surgical implantation of transmitters in juvenile salmonids
Using a non-physical behavioural barrier to alter migration routing of juvenile Chinook salmon in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
Elevated streamflows increase dam passage by juvenile coho salmon during winter: Implications of climate change in the Pacific Northwest
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
Evaluation of the behavior and movement of adult summer steelhead in the lower Cowlitz River, Washington, following collection and release, 2013-2014
Post-release behavior and movement patterns of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) after capture using alternative commercial fish gear, lower Columbia River, Washington and Oregon, 2013
Surgical insertions of transmitters and telemetry methods in fisheries research
Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013
Identifying resource manager information needs for the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Evaluation of the behavior and movement patterns of adult coho salmon and steelhead in the North Fork Toutle River, Washington, 2005-2009
The Regional Salmon Outmigration Study--survival and migration routing of juvenile Chinook salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta during the winter of 2008-09
Behavior and movement of adult summer steelhead following collection and release, lower Cowlitz River, Washington, 2012--2013
Conservation and Ecology of Marine Forage Fishes--Proceedings of a Research Symposium, September 2012
A standard operating procedure for the surgical implantation of transmitters in juvenile salmonids
Using a non-physical behavioural barrier to alter migration routing of juvenile Chinook salmon in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
Elevated streamflows increase dam passage by juvenile coho salmon during winter: Implications of climate change in the Pacific Northwest
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.