Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Investigation of marine migratory chemical signature in Dolly Varden and whitefish otoliths from Alaska freshwater streams (2010)

Client: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

ABR performed thin sectioning of approximately 600 Dolly Varden and whitefish otoliths in order to analyze samples using an electron microprobe to investigate chemical signatures indicative of a marine migratory life history. This work is important in establishing certain freshwater streams as being critical to the spawning, rearing or migration of marine migratory or anadromous species in the ADF&G Anadromous Waters Catalogue. Such water bodies are afforded special protection under the Anadromous Fish Act (Alaska Statue 16.05.871) and the federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the latter designed to protect Essential Fish Habitat, including freshwaters used by anadromous species. ABR has also provided otolith analyses to a number of clients including the Oregon Department of Fish and Game, US Geological Survey, and Oregon State University.  Contact John Seigle for details regarding this service (jseigle@abrinc.com).

Client: Hatch Acres for Copper Valley Electric Association

electrofishing, macroinvertebrates, and habitat assessment, hatcher pass, ak (2008–2009)

Client: Matanuska Susitna Borough, DOWL HKM

Tualatin Basin Fish and Macroinvertebrate Biotic Integrity Studies (2001 & 2005)

Client: Clean Water Services

In 2001 ABR studied the condition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in relation to land use and instream physical and chemical conditions in 63 stream reaches throughout the Tualatin River Basin, Oregon. ABR performed all field work, macroinvertebrate taxonomic work, analysis, and reporting for the project. Four years later, ABR is examining the condition of both fish and macroinverte-brate communities in more than 70 stream reaches in the basin, including a reassessment of macroinvertebrate communities in the 2001 sample reaches.

Fenton River Macroinvertebrate Study, Connecticut (2005)

Client: University of Connecticut

ABR is performing a study to examine the effects of the drying of a section of the Fenton River in late summer 2005 on the benthic macroinvertebrate community. ABR is performing field sampling and all laboratory analyses in this four-year study. Both the effects of the drying of the river and subsequent recovery of the benthic community are being examined under this study.

South Fork of the John Day River Watershed Restoration Monitoring (2000–present)

Client: Grant Soil and Water Conservation District

ABR is currently engaged in long-term physical, biological, and chemical monitoring of the South Fork of the John Day River and several tributaries to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration projects and best management practices intended to improve watershed conditions and function. Physical monitoring includes measuring instream, riparian, and upland habitat conditions, while biological monitoring focuses on the benthic macroinvertebrate community.

Microchemistry Evaluation of Laboratory-reared and Naturally Stream-reared Salmonid Otoliths for Strontium Content (2004)

Client: U.S. Geological Survey–Fisheries

ABR performed electron-microprobe analysis of growth rings in juvenile salmonids reared in various salinities and from natural streams to aid in determination of relationship between salinity and strontium level in otoliths. (2004)

Eastern Washington Last Fish Temporal Variability Studies (2002 & 2005)

Client: Washington Department of Natural Resources

ABR is performing field research to examine seasonal and annual changes in the upper limits of fish distribution in forested watersheds across eastern Washington. The study includes multiple field investigations by ABR staff of the upper limits of fish distribution throughout ten watersheds. The data will be used, in part, to evaluate the validity of data used to build an existing stream-typing model for Washington State. Results of this research have been published in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. Click on the journal name to view a PDF of the article.

Studies of Headwater-Stream Amphibians and Macroinvertebrates in Managed Forests of Western Oregon (2001 & 2002)

Client: Weyerhaeuser Company

ABR performed field studies of headwater-stream amphibian and macroinvertebrate communities in managed forests of the Oregon Coast and Cascade mountain ranges. Distribution and abundance patterns of torrent salamanders and macroinvertebrate taxa were characterized and related to stream-reach and landscape-scale features. Results of these studies have been published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Journal of Wildlife Management, and the Wildlife Society Bulletin. Click on a journal to view a PDF of the article.

Watershed Assessment of the Lower Molalla River, Oregon (2003)

Client: Molalla River Watch

ABR performed an assessment of the lower Molalla River watershed in western Oregon. Activities included characterization of historic conditions, classifying stream-channel types, and examining fish distribution, habitat quality, riparian zone conditions, water quality, and hydrology. The assessment products produced by this project will aid resource managers and land owners in developing specific plans and monitoring strategies to improve or restore watershed conditions.

For more information about all of these studies, please contact John Seigle (Alaska), jseigle@abrinc.com, or Mike Cole, mcole@abrinc.com (Pacific Northwest).

Read about ABR's Fisheries and Aquatic Science Services