Research Activities
Research activities are focused primarily at China Camp and Rush Ranch through implementation of the System-Wide Monitoring Program. Additional effort is focused on estuarine areas immediately adjacent to the Reserve sites through expanded vegetation mapping around both sites, measurement of suspended sediment concentrations in nearby waters, and oyster monitoring along the Marin County shoreline south of China Camp.
Highlighted Research
Oysters and Climate
Researchers from San Francisco Bay and Elkhorn Slough NERRs, UC Davis, and Smithsonian developed a collaborative research project to study population dynamics of native oyster populations in both estuaries and develop tools to guide selection of future restoration sites.
Mud on the Move: New Approaches to Sampling Suspended Sediment
“Mud on the Move” is testing methods for monitoring suspended sediment concentrations above the marsh surface. The project aims to develop monitoring protocol for data needed to improve accuracy of marsh sustainability models.
How do native fish use intertidal channels?
Long-term data suggest that Rush Ranch’s tidal marsh acts as a refuge for native fish, particularly young Sacramento splittail. Researchers from UC Davis monitor the use of intertidal channels by fish and tag fish with transponders to record their movement in interconnected tidal channels.
More Research in the Reserve
The NERR Science Collaborative website keeps up to date summaries of many research projects within our reserve.
Would you like your research highlighted on this website?
If you are scientist doing research within the Reserve, and would like to have a general summary of your research presented here, or would like a Research in the Reserve poster created for your project, please contact our Education Coordinator.