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Manatee Research (Sirenia Project)

Web page for the Sirenia Project, a USGS Florida Integrated Science Center project that conducts studies on the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Includes links to manatee research in the news, international research, publications and presentations, and project staff contact information.

  • close up of a manatee

Streamflow and Endangered Species Habitat in the Lower Isleta Reach of the Middle Rio Grande

San Acacia Dam is located in a reach of the Rio Grande that has been designated as critical habitat for two endangered species, the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) and the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). Presently, Rio Grande upstream from the dam is used to convey irrigation water to the Socorro main More...

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Evaluating the Role of Wetlands to Endangered Salmonids at Toppenish and Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Threatened and endangered salmonids in the Pacific Northwest often use backwaters and wetlands as they migrate toward the ocean, however our understanding of the role of wetlands to juvenile salmonids is limited. The major Objective of this study was to determine whether juvenile steelhead were being tapped on the wetland during spring, and More...

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Investigating Passage of ESA-listed Juvenile Fall Chinook Salmon at Lower Granite Dam During Winter When the Fish Bypass System is Not Operated

Fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Snake River are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although fish bypass systems reduce the mortality of fish entering turbine intakes at mainstem hydroelectric dams, they are only operated during the spring, summer, and early fall during the peaks of seaward More...

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Paddlefish Study Project

Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) have been lost from four states and Canada, and 11 of 22 states within the remaining species range now list the paddlefish as endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern. Restoration of paddlefish populations is a shared goal of many state and federal agencies. UMESC scientists, in collaboration with the More...

  • Image of a Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)

Genetic population structure of the green floater (Lasmigona subviridis): Identification of management units and associated fish hosts

Freshwater bivalves, which are among the most threatened animals in North America, present significant challenges to conservation biologists that attempt to maintain ecological and evolutionary processes within and among populations. Effective management of this rare fauna is often complicated because inadequate information exists for More...

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Near-Shore Habitat Use by Endangered Juvenile Suckers

The objectives of this study are 1) to determine how and when juvenile suckers use near-shore habitat with emergent vegetation, 2) determine how the distribution and abundance of juvenile suckers varies between near shore and offshore areas as well as between different areas of the lake over time, 3) determine if water quality conditions affect More...

  • Juvenile sucker captured in emergent vegetation.

Swimming Performance of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus)

Bull trout in the western United States are now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. One cause of bull trout population declines is fish passage issues caused by dams and diversion structures. In order to best design or modify culverts and other fish passage structures in watersheds where bull trout are present, baseline swimming More...

  • Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus)

Habitat Requirements of the Endangered California Freshwater Shrimp in Streams on the Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreational Area

The California freshwater shrimp (Syncaris pacifica) is a federally listed endangered species whose distribution is seemingly restricted to low elevation perennial streams in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties north of San Francisco Bay, California. This study will help understand habitat requirements of shrimp by quantitatively assessing the More...

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Evaluation of sampling designs to monitor populations of freshwater mussels in small- to mid-sized drainages in the northeastern ecoregion

Freshwater mussels are declining rapidly in response to habitat degradation associated with anthropogenic changes. Williams et. al. (1993) reported that 213 of the 297 recognized taxa are considered endangered, threatened, or of special concern. There is a documented need for BRD centers to provide guidance on freshwater mussel ecology in general, More...

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Landscape Analysis of Freshwater Mussels in the Upper Mississippi River Basin

Freshwater mussels are the largest group of federally listed endangered or threatened invertebrates, and their declines may signal declining riverine health. They are a renewable resource, providing significant ecological and economic benefits to the Nation. Our study uses a landscape-level approach to assess whether the distribution of mussels More...

  • butterfly mussel (Ellipsaria lineolata)

Manatee Captures and Health Assessment

Health assessments are a valuable tool to determine the fitness, specifically related to environmental and medical issues, of any population of wildlife. Marine mammals, such as manatees, are often used as sentinels for emerging threats to the ocean environment and human health. A two-team approach is used to capture and exam manatees. The More...

  • Underwater view of a manatee in Crystal River, Florida