Science Institute News Recent accomplishments of CDFW's scientific community California’s Disappearing Kelp Forests: What Scientists and Divers can do to Reverse this Trend July 18, 2019 in Wildlife Research The view of northern California’s beautiful coastline has historically been pristine and breathtaking. With dense kelp forest canopies blanketing the surface of the nearshore areas and protecting the abundant rockfishes, red abalone, sea stars and red urchins that lived below, it was a healthy, natural ecosystem rich with thriving inhabitants. Unfortunately, the ocean is now changing, and this idyllic scene is no more. Tagged With: abalone, biologist, diver, diving, ecosysem, forest, kelp, red, rockfish, scientist, urchin CDFW Biologists Confirm Green Sturgeon Spawn in Yuba River May 31, 2019 in Wildlife Research CDFW biologists have been taking a new approach to looking at reproduction in one of the oldest fish species in existence. Green sturgeon, which are listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act, are in effect a living fossil, having swam in both the fresh and ocean waters from California to Alaska for more than 200 million years. Tagged With: biologist, egg mats, endangered species act, fisheries, fisheries management, green sturgeon, spawning, threatened species, yuba river Habitat Study Shows How American Pikas Fare in Warming Temperatures March 7, 2019 in Wildlife Research CDFW staff recently conducted a study to determine whether American pika in California are able to find sufficient refuge from elevated temperatures in their natural habitat. Previous CDFW collaborative research and related work has suggested that pikas in California and Nevada have been declining in warmer areas, but some scientists contend that underground temperature refuges will protect pikas from warming temperature trends. Tagged With: biologist, pika, research, rodent, scientist, wildlife Iron Gate Hatchery February 1, 2019 in General At Iron Gate Hatchery in Hornbrook, the fall 2018 spawning operation has just concluded. Iron Gate spawns both Fall-Run Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon from the Klamath River. For Chinook, the hatchery staff manually collect the eggs and mix it with the milt immediately after the fish come into the facility. Tagged With: biologist, chinook, coho, environmental scientist, hatchery, iron gate, klamath, klamath river, salmon, scientist Conserving the Short-eared Owl: An Opportunity for Citizen Scientists January 24, 2019 in Wildlife Research A team of raptor biologists is working on a study of western populations of the Short-eared Owl – and are inviting members of the public to help collect and contribute important data as “citizen scientists.” Tagged With: biologist, citizen scientist, owls, raptors, short-eared owl
Subscribe to receive Science Institute news by email. Email Subscribe Recent Posts New Salmon Habitat Created Along the Sacramento River Near AndersonJanuary 11, 2021Restoring Habitat at Southern California’s Salton SeaJanuary 6, 2021New Issue of CDFW Scientific Journal Focuses on WildfireJanuary 4, 2021Spotlight: Kokanee Salmon Egg Collection from Stampede ReservoirDecember 14, 2020New Issue of CDFW’s Scientific Journal Reviews Environmental Impacts of Cannabis CultivationOctober 30, 2020Read More Archives 2021January (3) 2020January (1) February (1) March (2) April (1) May (3) June (3) July (4) August (3) September (2) October (3) November (1) December (1) 2019January (2) February (3) March (4) April (4) May (2) June (2) July (2) August (1) September (1) October (1) December (1) 2018January (5) February (4) March (3) April (5) May (4) June (2) July (5) August (3) September (4) October (4) November (1) December (2) 2017February (2) March (3) April (4) May (5) June (3) July (3) August (5) September (4) October (4) November (4) December (3) Mammals Birds Reptiles and Amphibians Fish Invertebrates Plants Ecosystems Pollution and Water Quality Climate and Renewable Energy