Two potential new species of lamprey fish have been discovered in California waters, according to a University of California, Davis, study. The research is part of a special section on native lampreys published this week in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management.
https://phys.org/news/2024-01-species-lamprey-fish-documented-california.amp
Abnormalities in the ear bones of hatchery-reared delta smelt could challenge efforts to save the endangered fish.
https://hakaimagazine.com/news/something-fishy-is-happening-inside-the-ears-of-delta-smelt/
For the seventh September in a row, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has caught zero Delta smelt during its Fall Midwater Trawl Survey of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The massive fish die-off appears to be caused by an algae bloom across the Bay Area.
A vanishing number of Delta smelt in San Francisco Bay is finding a changing climate contributing to its declining numbers.
Celebrate California’s Natural Beauty!
Join us and our partners for a weeklong celebration of California Biodiversity Day, September 5 – 13.
https://www.sdnhm.org/blog/blog_details/california-biodiversity-week-2020/154/
Keep an eye out for the giant sea bass's spots.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/giant-sea-bass-california.amp
Toxic metals can cause such growth anomalies. To see if the animals were exposed to such contaminants, the researchers analyzed the chemical composition of the animal’s otoliths.
“Steelhead are one of the most iconic fish species on the Pacific coast of the United States,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Damon Goodman, who works in the Arcata office. “One of the things they are most well-known for is their athleticism. They are the top athletes of all salmonids. They can leap up and over waterfalls and swim through extreme rapids to access their habitats.”
The annual Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival will return with its message of fun and conservation on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Milt Brandt Visitors Center at Lake Sonoma, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
