Associate Researcher, John Muir Institute of the Environment Bill Bennett's research involves the ecology of fishes, primarily in estuarine and marine systems. His main focus has been on understanding the population dynamics and forces structuring fish assemblages in the San Francisco Estuary and near-shore marine environments in California. This work involves statistical analyses of historical data, and field investigations to understand the influences of multiple interacting stressors, including exotic species, hydrodynamics, exposure to pollutants, and climate change. He is considered a leading expert on the delta smelt and striped bass populations in the San Francisco Estuary, and has worked extensively on management issues with the Interagency Ecological Program, CALFED Science Program, and associated agencies, including state and federal policy-makers. Bill has also been a co-investigator with the Pacific Estuarine Ecosystem Indicator Research Consortium (PEEIR) focusing on tidal-marsh goby populations, as well as with the U.S. Geological Survey CASCaDE project to examine the likely consequences of climate change on estuarine fishes of northern California.

William Bennett
Senior Researcher
Summary
Published articles Show More
Where the Wild Things Arent Making the Delta a Better Place for Native Species
Published in Public Policy Institute of California
Habitat Variability and Complexity in the Upper San Francisco Estuary
Published in San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science
High variability in environmental conditions in both space and time once made the upper San Francisco Estuary (the Estuary) highly productive for native biota. Present conditions often discourage native species, providing a rationale for restoring estuarine variability and habitat complexity. Achieving a variable, more complex Estuary requires poli...
Critical assessment of the delta smelt population in the San Francisco Estuary, California
Published in San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science
The delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) is a small and relatively obscure fish that has recently risen to become a major focus of environmental concern in California. It was formally abundant in the low-salinity and freshwater habitats of the northeastern San Francisco Estuary, but is now listed as threatened under the Federal and California Sta...