Delta Fish Community Analyses

Project Chief: Larry Brown

Several long-term or geographically extensive data sets on fish have been collected by the Interagency Ecological Program and its member agencies. These data sets have primarily been analyzed to address species-specific management questions rather than questions about community. The lack of understanding regarding the structure of fish communities and their relations to environmental variables has limited the ability of CalFed and IEP to predict the outcome of proposed ecosystem restoration actions. Thus, there is disagreement about the potential benefits of such actions. The primary objective of this project is to conduct community-level analyses of existing IEP data sets from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay in support of the missions of both IEP and CalFed. Secondary objectives include development of project proposals and pilot programs in response to questions raised by the analyses or in response to needs of IEP and CalFed.

The data sets are assembled and analyzed in collaboration with the appropriate IEP personnel. Data are analyzed with a variety of univariate and multivariate statistical techniques to determine patterns in species co-occurrence and relations of fishes with environmental variables. Writing is a collaborative effort with IEP personnel. Reports include a minimum of three papers for peer-reviewed journals. Topics are expected to emerge during the analyses and from attendance at IEP and CalFed meetings. Interim and final results of all activities are presented at local, regional, and national meetings of professional societies and at a variety of IEP and CalFed meetings of scientists and managers.

Contact Information

Larry Brown
Office phone: 916-278-3000

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