This project explores the impact of non-native species on native, resident fish populations. The emphasis is on documenting the effects of non-native species on predator-prey relationships, food availability and habitat quality. In the project's first year, the Delta Science Fellow explored trends in fish populations, for species such as Sacramento blackfish and tule perch. He is now comparing what native and non-native fishes, with presumably similar roles in the ecosystem, consume and how they utilize habitat. The goal is to better understand how native and non-native fishes might respond to various restoration options and the degree to which declines in native, resident fish species might be due to competition with invasive species for food and habitat. Findings will provide greater insight into the factors that are most critical to rebuilding or sustaining native resident fishes.
Research mentor: Peter Moyle, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, and Center for Watershed Sciences, UC Davis
Community mentor: Fred Feyrer, Bay-Delta Office, US Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento