Ecology of Pacific Lamprey

Pacific lamprey is a native anadromous species in decline around the Pacific Rim that does not home to natal sites. We have been part of a large research effort to understand the factors that limit the distribution and production of Pacific lamprey in the Columbia River basin. Our projects have used a variety of technologies, including radiotelemetry, acoustic telemetry, PIT telemetry, underwater video and acoustic cameras (DIDSON) to monitor lamprey behavior and survival at dams, in reservoirs and in tributary environments. These projects have been collaborative efforts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA-Fisheries, University of California-Davis and Pacific Northwest Tribal groups.

Study topics include:

• Adult lamprey migration survival (escapement) through main stem rivers and into spawning tributaries
• Identification of upstream passage bottlenecks and potential solutions at hydroelectric dams
• Experiments to evaluate lamprey behaviors and test swimming performance inside an artificial fishway
• Development of lamprey-specific fishways that circumvent traditional ladders
• Estimation of night-time lamprey passage at dams using underwater video
• Passive monitoring of lamprey behavior in and near fishways using Dual Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON)
• Effects of river environment and lamprey condition on migration distance
• Associations between lamprey genetic markers and lamprey behavior and distribution