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Sampling Uncharted Waters: Examining Rearing Habitat of Larval Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) in the Upper San Francisco Estuary

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Abstract

The southern-most reproducing Longfin Smelt population occurs in the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA. Long-term monitoring of estuarine habitat for this species has generally only considered deep channels, with little known of the role shallow waters play in supporting their early life stage. To address the need for focused research on shallow-water habitat, a targeted study of Longfin Smelt larvae in littoral habitat was conducted to identify potential rearing habitats during 2013 and 2014. Our study objectives were to (1) determine if larval densities vary between littoral habitats (tidal slough vs. open-water shoal), (2) determine how larval densities in littoral habitats vary with physicochemical and biological attributes, (3) determine if larval densities vary between littoral habitats and long-term monitoring channel collections, and (4) determine what factors predict larval rearing distributions from the long-term monitoring channel collections. Larval densities did not vary between littoral habitats but they did vary between years. Water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a were found important in predicting larval densities in littoral habitats. Larval densities do not vary between littoral and channel surveys; however, the analysis based on channel data suggests that Longfin Smelt are hatching and rearing in a much broader region and under higher salinities (∼2–12 psu) than previously recognized. Results of this study indicate that conservation efforts should consider how freshwater flow, habitat, climate, and food webs interact as mechanisms that influence Longfin Smelt recruitment in estuarine environments.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided by the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP), Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the State and Federal Contractors Water Agency. The IEP Management Team, Dave Fullerton, Shawn Acuña, and Stephanie Fong, provided instrumental assistance with study implementation and study design. Special acknowledgement is given to Tenera Environmental (Dave Mayer, Carol Raifsnider, Colin Brennan, Dan Abbott, and Eric Sommerauer) and Johnson Wang for identifying larval fish samples and helping with field logistics. Fish collection permits were obtained with assistance from Erin Gleason and Jim Starr. Finally, the hard work and long hours of boat operators Nick Van Ark and Nick Sakata are recognized and greatly appreciated. This manuscript was improved through assistance and thoughtful feedback provided by Marin Greenwood, Jason Hassrick, Andrew Kalmbach, Ted Sommer, Louise Conrad, Randy Baxter, LeAnne Rojas, the IEP Management Team, and three anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICF, 650 Folsom St., Suite 200, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA

    Lenny Grimaldo & Jillian Burns

  2. United States Geological Survey, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA

    Fred Feyrer

  3. ICF, 75 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA, 95113, USA

    Donna Maniscalco

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  1. Lenny Grimaldo
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  2. Fred Feyrer
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  4. Donna Maniscalco
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Correspondence to Lenny Grimaldo.

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Grimaldo, L., Feyrer, F., Burns, J. et al. Sampling Uncharted Waters: Examining Rearing Habitat of Larval Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) in the Upper San Francisco Estuary. Estuaries and Coasts 40, 1771–1784 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0255-9

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