Graduation Date
Summer 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Fisheries
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Jose Marin Jarrin
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Jeffrey Black
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Darren Ward
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Fisheries ecology, Community ecology, Artificial wetlands, Estuaries, Food web, Humboldt Bay, Arcata Marsh, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Hookton Slough, McDaniel Slough, Butcher Slough, Salmon Creek
Abstract
In the face of global wetland loss, artificially created wetlands have the potential to restore ecosystem services for humans while also providing habitat for fish and wildlife. This study explored fish communities in three understudied artificial wetland ponds that are connected to Humboldt Bay in northern California and known to be important wildlife foraging areas. The objectives of this research were to 1) Characterize the environmental conditions of each pond, 2) Calculate the relative catch, richness, diversity, and biomass of fish in each pond, 3) Describe the movement of fish into and out of the ponds with the tides, and 4) Identify which life stages of fish utilize each pond. A multi-method sampling approach of seine nets, fyke nets, and light traps was deployed in each pond to monitor the fish community across species, life stages, and seasons from February to November 2024. All samples were complemented with environmental data collection to characterize ponds’ conditions.
I found that 20 species of fish across 13 families, including freshwater, estuarine, and marine species, used these ponds. This included migratory marine species, species of conservation concern, and the early life stages of multiple species. Ponds exhibited varying environmental conditions and tidal connectivity, resulting in different fish community catch, richness, diversity, and biomass by ponds and seasons. The species studied serve as important prey items for local wildlife, offering insights into relative prey availability in the wetland food web. Creation of this baseline dataset will inform future management and fisheries monitoring within artificial wetlands.
Citation Style
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (TAFS)
Recommended Citation
Olmo, Lily M., "Investigating fish communities as part of the food web in artificial tidal wetland ponds of Humboldt Bay, CA" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2335.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2335