Tidal Wetlands
Loss of tidal wetland habitat in the San Francisco Estuary affects fish and other aquatic organisms.
Longfin Smelt
Longfin Smelt is a threatened species found in waters along the Pacific coast. Its complex life cycle makes it vulnerable in both freshwater and at sea.
Sacramento Splittail
Spinal deformities in California native fish species, the Sacramento Splittail, are now attributed to exposure to the chemical element selenium.
The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.
The Aquatic Ecology Group at the US Geological Survey’s California Water Science Center is a team of scientists working to solve important natural science challenges facing society.
Our research covers all aspects of aquatic ecology with a focus on freshwater, estuarine and marine fishes and environments. Particular topics include:
- Water resources
- Threatened and endangered species
- Fish habitat
- Food web dynamics
- Climate change
- Drought
We work closely with scientists in other disciplines at USGS to tackle challenges with comprehensive, interdisciplinary research. A particular strength of our group is the ability to use new technology to generate novel solutions to natural resource problems. We also maintain active collaborations with many federal, state, and local agencies, and universities.
We pursue innovative solutions to a diverse array of natural resource problems through applied research. A large portion of our research is field-based and incorporates elements of behavioral, population, and community ecology. Individual projects range from the biology and ecology of individual species to the effects of climate change on ecosystems.
Estimating Natural Flows for Hydrologic Reference Streams
Application of the SmeltCam to Describe Processes Influencing Delta Smelt Distribution and Movements
Understanding Influences on Habitat Quality for Delta Smelt and Other Imperiled Fish Populations
Technical Support and Synthesis of Data Collected on the Health and Status of Delta Smelt
Rearing Habitats of Longfin Smelt in the Low Salinity Zone of the San Francisco Estuary
Physical and Biological Drivers of Longfin Smelt Vertical Distribution
Abiotic and Biotic Effects on Delta Smelt Abundance and Distribution
Native Fish Population and Habitat Study - Santa Ana River
Exploring Drivers of Pelagic Fish Population Decline in Bay-Delta
Ecology of Selected Tidal Wetlands of the San Francisco Estuary
Below are publications associated with the Aquatic Ecology Group
Estuarine habitat use by White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
Resistance and resilience of pelagic and littoral fishes to drought in the San Francisco Estuary
Hydrodynamics drive pelagic communities and food web structure in a tidal environment
Sacramento pikeminnow migration record
Characterizing benthic macroinvertebrate and algal biological condition gradient models for California wadeable Streams, USA
Cryptic lives of conspicuous animals: Otolith chemistry chronicles life histories of coastal lagoon fishes
First record of pughead deformity in the threatened Clear Lake Hitch
Resolving selenium exposure risk: Spatial, temporal, and tissue-specific variability of an endemic fish in a large, dynamic estuary
Dissolved oxygen controls summer habitat of Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi), an imperilled potamodromous cyprinid
Strontium isotopes reveal ephemeral streams used for spawning and rearing by an imperiled potamodromous cyprinid--Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi
Using the Distinct Population Segment concept to protect fishes with low levels of genomic differentiation: conservation of an endemic minnow (Hitch, Lavinia exilicauda)
Fish-habitat relationships along the estuarine gradient of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California: Implications for habitat restoration
Below are news stories associated with this project.
The following list of partners have helped make the work of the Aquatic Ecology Group possible.
The California Water Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Group is making great strides in research and reporting.
The Aquatic Ecology Group at the US Geological Survey’s California Water Science Center is a team of scientists working to solve important natural science challenges facing society.
Our research covers all aspects of aquatic ecology with a focus on freshwater, estuarine and marine fishes and environments. Particular topics include:
- Water resources
- Threatened and endangered species
- Fish habitat
- Food web dynamics
- Climate change
- Drought
We work closely with scientists in other disciplines at USGS to tackle challenges with comprehensive, interdisciplinary research. A particular strength of our group is the ability to use new technology to generate novel solutions to natural resource problems. We also maintain active collaborations with many federal, state, and local agencies, and universities.
We pursue innovative solutions to a diverse array of natural resource problems through applied research. A large portion of our research is field-based and incorporates elements of behavioral, population, and community ecology. Individual projects range from the biology and ecology of individual species to the effects of climate change on ecosystems.
Estimating Natural Flows for Hydrologic Reference Streams
Application of the SmeltCam to Describe Processes Influencing Delta Smelt Distribution and Movements
Understanding Influences on Habitat Quality for Delta Smelt and Other Imperiled Fish Populations
Technical Support and Synthesis of Data Collected on the Health and Status of Delta Smelt
Rearing Habitats of Longfin Smelt in the Low Salinity Zone of the San Francisco Estuary
Physical and Biological Drivers of Longfin Smelt Vertical Distribution
Abiotic and Biotic Effects on Delta Smelt Abundance and Distribution
Native Fish Population and Habitat Study - Santa Ana River
Exploring Drivers of Pelagic Fish Population Decline in Bay-Delta
Ecology of Selected Tidal Wetlands of the San Francisco Estuary
Below are publications associated with the Aquatic Ecology Group
Estuarine habitat use by White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
Resistance and resilience of pelagic and littoral fishes to drought in the San Francisco Estuary
Hydrodynamics drive pelagic communities and food web structure in a tidal environment
Sacramento pikeminnow migration record
Characterizing benthic macroinvertebrate and algal biological condition gradient models for California wadeable Streams, USA
Cryptic lives of conspicuous animals: Otolith chemistry chronicles life histories of coastal lagoon fishes
First record of pughead deformity in the threatened Clear Lake Hitch
Resolving selenium exposure risk: Spatial, temporal, and tissue-specific variability of an endemic fish in a large, dynamic estuary
Dissolved oxygen controls summer habitat of Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi), an imperilled potamodromous cyprinid
Strontium isotopes reveal ephemeral streams used for spawning and rearing by an imperiled potamodromous cyprinid--Clear Lake hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi
Using the Distinct Population Segment concept to protect fishes with low levels of genomic differentiation: conservation of an endemic minnow (Hitch, Lavinia exilicauda)
Fish-habitat relationships along the estuarine gradient of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California: Implications for habitat restoration
Below are news stories associated with this project.
The following list of partners have helped make the work of the Aquatic Ecology Group possible.