Dr. Joshua A. Israel

Education

Ph.D., Ecology (Conservation Ecology AOE), UC Davis, 2007.
B.S.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UC Santa Cruz, 1995.

Research

My Ph.D. dissertation in the Genomic Variation Laboratory was titled:

Conservation Genetics of North American Green Sturgeon: Advances for Precautionary Management and Population Monitoring.
    Chapter 1.  Applications for conservation genetics in the management and recovery of North American green sturgeon. [introduction]

    Chapter 2.  Geographic patterns of genetic differentiation among collections of green sturgeon. [abstract]

    Chapter 3.  Stock complexity in North American green sturgeon: the utility of polysomic markers in mixed stock fishery analysis. [abstract]

    Chapter 4.  A ‘capture-recapture’ framework for estimating spawner abundance using relatedness among green sturgeon fry. [abstract]

I have worked on the following projects in the Genomic Variation Laboratory:

Conservation Genetics of North American  Green Sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris

Genetic Purity of Paiute Cutthroat Trout, Oncorhynchus clarki seleniris, Populations in the Silver King Creek Drainage, Alpine County, California  

Population Genetics of   Klamath River Steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus

Research Interests

Conservation genetics in management of native fishes
     I am primarily interested in studying the influence of freshwater and marine ecological processes on the genetic structure and population biology of aquatic species, especially native and anadromous species such as sturgeons, salmonids, and lampreys.  Restoration of fluvial and upslope processes occurs under the premise that restoring rivers to their "natural" state, which reflects dynamic equilibrium will provide adequate habitat for aquatic species.  However, it remains to be seen whether the genetic variability, health and stability of  fish populations will respond as favorably as the river's dynamics. 

    My Ph.D. dissertation has centered around conservation genetic projects related to green sturgeon.  These include an inheritance study of the microsatellite markers I am using, species identification, stock identification, mixed stock analysis, spawning behavior studies, and using genetic markers for demographic studies.      

    I am continuing to develop novel studies and genetic methods to assess the population demography of green sturgeon at the reach scale to assess the potential sensitivity of the population to spatially and temporally distinct risks. I am investigating directions to utilize individual genotypic information and kinship relationship within year classes to discern spatially explicit survival and mortality rates and recruitment processes within age structured populations.

    As these novel genetic methods are increasingly integrated into fisheries management and examination of alternative management scenarios, population assessments of imperiled native fishes will be able to quantify the affect that dispersal, interbreeding, and spawning behavior have on population viability and persistence at spatially and temporally appropriate scales.    

    In the future, I hope to contribute to applied and fundamental projects concerning development of genetic analysis computer programs for polysomic fishes, models for combining genetic and age-structured data for evaluating spatial demography of populations, and trans-Pacific and Klamath Basin comparative phylogenetic investigations.

Biocoupling of life history traits and population demographics in the riverscape paradigm

    Considerable research has been undertaken to evaluate the ecological scale necessary for persistence and viability of fish populations. However, these have focused primarily on native fish in native ecosystems and rarely have considered the plasticity of life history traits mediated by spatial and temporal processes.  In California and globally, imperiled species more frequently occupy riverine system's where the natural processes have been replaced by processed driven by anthropocentric causes. In these cases, what can life history traits, preferences, and expression tell managers about the protection, restoration, and recovery of these species?  

    I am working with other researchers to describe the relationship between the plasticity and evolution of life history characteristics of fish and temporally and spatially heterogeneous physical and nutrient processes. Increasingly, our understanding of the interdependence between aquatic organisms and critical resources is being shaped to demonstrate the essential nature of these elements. This information will be essential to developing hypotheses concerning the persistence of populations, in light of limited knowledge about population response, under alternative management and recovery strategies.

    In the future, I hope to work with landscape ecologists to develop our understanding of rapid evolution and genetic signatures of adapting populations, and how this information can best inform conservation and protection efforts in the Anthropocene.

Utility of novel approaches and increased communication with practitioners and the public for recovery of endangered species

    As the President of the Salmonid Restoration Federation from 2001 to 2006, I am very aware of the necessity for community stakeholders to be part of efforts to recover imperiled species. Unfortunately, too often, community members and practitioners are left out of federal and state processes aimed at determining the framework of actions necessary for restoration and protection. Additionally, these groups of people are not always aware of the most novel tools and science behind restoration and recovery.  

    In the future, I hope to continue building public involvement and communication into the studies and projects I am involved in to keep more than just other scientists aware.  If we expect for our work to translate into alternative strategies for conservation, scientists will need to engage the concerned public at least as much as the managers we work with.

Peer-reviewed and Technical Publications

      Klimley, A.P., P.A. Allen, J.A. Israel and J.T. Kelly. “Green sturgeon and its environment: introduction.” Environmental Biology of Fishes, Online First. [pdf]

Papa, R., J.A. Israel, F. N. Marzano, and B. May. “Assessment of Genetic Variation Among Reproductive Ecotypes of Klamath River Steelhead Reveals Differentiation Associated with Different Run-timings.”  Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23: 142-146. [pdf]

·        Israel, J.A. and B. May. 2007. “Mixed stock analysis of green sturgeon from Washington state coastal aggregations ” Report to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 22p. [pdf]

Moyle, P. and J.A. Israel. 2005. “Untested assumptions: effectiveness of screening diversions for conservation of fish populations. Fisheries: 30(5): 20-28. [pdf]

Israel, J.A., M. Blumberg, J. Cordes and B. May. 2004. “Geographic patterns of genetic differentiation among western U.S. collections of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris).”  North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24: 922-931. [pdf]

J.F. Cordes, Israel J.A., and B. May. 2004. “Conservation of Paiute cutthroat trout: measuring the genetic legacy of population transplants and hybridization in an endemic California salmonid.” California Fish and Game Bulletin 90(3): 101-118. [pdf]

·        Israel, J.A., K.S. Williamson, and B. May. 2003. “Investigation of trout and anadromous Fish Genetics in the Klamath Hydroelectric Project Area.” PacifiCorp FERC Licensing Document, Portland, OR. 48p. [pdf]

Publications (submitted and in preparation)

·     Israel, J.A., K.J. Bando, E.C. Anderson, and B. May. “Deciphering stock complexity in green sturgeon: Comparison of composition estimates with Bayesian and likelihood methods” In preparation.

      Israel, J.A. and B. May. “Estimating breeding population size using kinship partitioning of censused fry: evaluating North American green sturgeon recruitment” In preparation.

     Recent Presentations

Israel, J.A. 2007 “Update on Conservation Genetics in Green Sturgeon Management” Upper Sacramento River Monitoring Project Work Team Meeting, Red Bluff CA.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2007. “Regulation and Conservation:  Insight on the Southern green sturgeon DPS from Mixed Stock Analysis.” Interagency Ecological Program, Monterey, CA
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2006. “Determining annual green sturgeon spawner abundance estimates in Sacramento River reaches using kinship reconstruction” CALFED Science Conference, Sacramento CA.
Israel, J.A. 2007 “Utilizing genetic information in the conservation of green sturgeon” Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis.
Israel, J.A. 2006. “Conservation genetics of green sturgeon” Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center, Dexter NM.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2006. “Green sturgeon in Pacific estuaries: potential impacts of mixed stock fisheries.” NMFS Green sturgeon Public Scoping Workshop, Sacramento CA.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2006. “Utilizing genetics in a Southern green sturgeon DPS stock assessment, NMFS Green sturgeon Public Scoping Workshop, Sacramento CA.
Israel, J.A. O. Langness, and B.P. May. 2006. “Stock complexity in green sturgeon: evaluating origins of mixed estuarine stocks beyond Distinct Population Segment boundaries.” American Fisheries Society Meeting, Bozeman MT.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2006. “Estimating spawner population size in Sacramento River green sturgeon.” American Fisheries Society Meeting, Bozeman MT.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2006. “Determining spawning population estimates for green sturgeon with microsatellite DNA markers.” Interagency Ecological Program, Monterey CA.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2005. “Characterization of microsatellite DNA markers in green sturgeon and their utility in parental reconstruction.” American Fisheries Society Meeting, Anchorage AL.
Israel, J.A. and B.P. May. 2005. “Detecting differential contribution of green sturgeon population to summer estuarine aggregations among the Pacific Northwest coast.” Cal-Neva American Fisheries Society Meeting, Sacramento CA.

Interesting (and personal) Facts

Born in Boston on July 14, 1973.

Married to Barbara on June 21, 2001.

2 Children: Saul Julius Johan born on July 21, 2002 and Sabrina Shoshana Liliana Irene on April 19, 2007

I really enjoy traveling with my family, listening to string instruments, gardening in our yard, and biking to work.