Much of our research explores the effects of habitat and environmental change on fish and food webs in the San Francisco Estuary.  We lead the Interagency Ecological Program's Suisun Marsh Fish Study, which was started by Peter Moyle over 40 years ago. We have another long-term study on the effects of habitat, hydrodynamics, water quality, and food webs on fish communities in the northern California Delta. 

Projects: 

Suisun Marsh Fish Study - 1980-present - Project Lead: Teejay O'Rear 

(sponsored by  California Department of Water Resources)

North Delta Ecosystem Study - 2012-present - Project Leads: Brian Williamshen & Kimberly Luke

(sponsored by Solano County Water Agency)

We are particularly interested in wetlands, complex habitats that support many species of fish, mammals and birds. Most of the wetlands in the SF Estuary have been destroyed, but some are being restored. We study the effects of both traditional and novel wetland management on food webs and fishes. Our research supports the idea that non-traditional practices that can be implemented in ag lands and ponds can support ecosystem recovery. 

Projects:

Montezuma Wetlands Fish & Habitat Study - 2020-present - Project Lead: Elsie Platzer

(sponsored by Montezuma Wetlands LLC)

Dutch Slough Habitat Restoration Study - 2020-present - Project Lead: Lynette Williams

(sponsored by California Department of Water Resources)

Socio-ecological Potential for Co-management of Tidal Wetlands for Fish and Fowl - 2022-present - Project Leads: John Durand (UCD) and Jake Souza (ICF) (in collaboration with ICF International and Suisun Resource Conservation District)

(sponsored by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Proposition 1 Restoration Grant)

The physical structure, or geomorphology,  of tidal marshes interacts with tides and flows to create a complicated and diverse landscape. We study these dynamics to understand how food webs develop and disperse to create feeding opportunities for fishes. We also study nutrient cycling and production in floodplain habitats and managed wetlands, which act as food web accelerators. 

Projects

Enhanced plankton production in flood-pulse managed ponds in Suisun Marsh - 2022-present - Project Leads: Kyle Phillips and Alice Tung 

(sponsored by California Department of Water Resources)

Hydrodynamic Influences on the Food Webs of Restoring Tidal Wetlands - 2017-2022 - 

Project Lead: Sophie Munger and John Durand

(sponsored by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Proposition 1 Restoration Grant)

We have a number of studies dedicated to conservation of California fishes, including Delta Smelt, Sacramento Perch, and Broad-nosed Seven-gill Sharks. We are particularly interested in using large data sets to document long-terms species trends, and to understand the function of various fish nurseries throughout the SF Estuary. 

Projects:

Spatial and Temporal shifts in Fish Distributions Across the SF Estuary - 2019-2022 - Project Lead: Dylan Stompe

(in collaboration with California Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Reproductive Habitat and Anthropogenic Impacts on Broadnose Sevengill Sharks - 2021 - 2024  Project Lead: Meghan Holst

Reappraising California Native Minnows - 2018 - present - Project Lead: Peter Moyle

(sponsored by UCD Center for Watershed Sciences)

Carp-Dependent Urgent Management Project - 2019-present - Project Lead: Kim Luke

(sponsored by The Green Initiative Fund, UC Davis)

Sacramento Perch Pond Restoration and Reintroduction Project - 2019 - present - Project Leads: Marcus Tice and Kayla Trowbridge

(sponsored by UCD Center for Watershed Sciences)