Has habitat loss altered the base of the food web in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta? This project seeks to test the hypothesis that the primary source of carbon (energy) at the base of the food web has shifted from plant detritus to phytoplankton, as wetlands and their marsh plants have been destroyed. As a result, the food chain has become structured around pelagic food web dynamics and is yet one more symptom of ecosystem degradation.
To investigate these ideas, the Delta Science Fellow is using stable isotope and fatty acid biomarkers to: 1) identify the origin, transport and fate of organic debris in the delta and Suisun Bay, and 2) investigate the role of this debris in supporting key invertebrate prey organisms in tidal marshes and other shallow-water ecosystems. Ultimately, she would like to evaluate implications of freshwater discharges on these processes and investigate the connection between marsh ecosystems and aquatic food webs. Findings will be of relevance to wetland restoration planning.
Research mentor: Charles Simenstad, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington
Community mentor: Robin Stewart, USGS, Menlo Park; and Steve Culberson, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Attachments
Howe-Simenstad-2014.pdf