Robert Lusardi

Robert Lusardi

Associate Director
Faculty

  • Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology

Dr. Lusardi is an aquatic research ecologist and applied conservation biologist at the Center for Watershed Sciences, is the California Trout-UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Scientist, and is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Rob is broadly interested in stream ecology and food web dynamics of rivers throughout California and their role in shaping salmonid response. He uses a combination of field and manipulation experiments to address the mechanisms underpinning field observations. Specifically, his research examines interactions between water temperature and food availability on the growth and survival of juvenile salmon, how different habitat types influence the costs and benefits of juvenile salmonid rearing, the conservation implications of different salmonid reintroduction strategies, and the status and conservation of salmonids throughout California.

Current projects include (i) understanding how food webs and other environmental factors interact to affect juvenile salmonid growth in different river systems, (ii) quantitatively isolating key hydrograph attributes that enhance biological diversity in regulated rivers, and (iii) determining viable reintroduction strategies for Klamath River and Central Valley Chinook salmon species. Dr. Lusardi was a co-author on State of the Salmonids: Status of California’s Emblematic Fishes 2017.

Robert Lusardi's Recent Projects

Spring-Fed vs. Snowmelt Rivers: Ecosystem Productivity

This project measures and compares ecological productivity in two types of river systems in the Upper Sacramento River watershed. The project's team of ecologists, geologist and biologists is comparing the food-web dynamics of three spring-fed systems - Hat Creek, Fall River and tributaries of the upper Sacramento River - with those of rivers that receive mainly snowmelt and stormwater runoff in the same watershed.

Shasta River

Interdisciplinary teams of Center scientists are investigating the causes for the decline of salmon and steelhead in Shasta River, historically one of the most productive tributaries in the lower Klamath Basin. A large spring complex (Big Springs Creek) provides the majority of its water, particularly during the summer.

Little Shasta River

The Little Shasta River project is the third phase of CWS’ research in the Shasta basin – moving past baseline assessment and demonstration projects to private landowner collaboration. The Center for Watershed Sciences is partnering with private landowners, California Trout, and The Nature Conservancy to identify how heritage rangeland can be managed to ensure the long-term viability of both rangeland and recover coho salmon populations. Our research shows how science can inform and influence the management of rangeland and environmental resources.