Daniel J. Isaak
Boise, ID 83702
United States
Understanding effects of climate change on stream habitats and fish communities, Development and implementation of basinscale and regional monitoring programs for bull trout and other aquatic organisms. Development and implementation of basinscale and regional stream temperature models and monitoring protocols . Effects of fire and disturbance on streams. Development of bioclimatic models to predict distributions of trout species to climate scenarios at regional and basinscales.
For more information, please see:
The Rangewide Bull Trout eDNA Project
The National Stream Internet
Climate Shield Cold-Water Refuge Streams for Native Trout
Climate Change, Crowd-Sourcing, and Conserving Aquatic Biotas in the Rocky Mountains This Century
Adaptation for Wildland Aquatic Resources - Science Briefing
Bull Trout and Climate Change - Science Briefing
Bull Trout Monitoring - Science Briefing
Application of a Spatially Explicit Decision Framework for Fish Conservation - Science Briefing
Climate Change and Rocky Mountain Native Trout - Science Briefing
Climate Change and Wildfires: Effects on Stream Temperatures and Thermal Habitat - Science Briefing
A National Stream Internet - Science Briefing
NorWeST: A Regional Stream Temperature Database and Modeled Climate Scenarios – Science Briefing
Pilot Watershed Vulnerability Assessment Project - Science Briefing
Spatial Statistical Modeling Tools for Stream Networks - Science Briefing
Species Distribution Uncertainty - Science Briefing
Stream Isotherm Shifts From Climate Change - Briefing Paper
Stream Temperature Modeling and Monitoring - Science Briefing
Using Underwater Epoxy To Install Temperature Sensors - Science BriefingPlease see also:
2011 Climate- Aquatics Workshop
My primary research interest is in understanding how climate change, disturbance, and biophysical interactions across spatial and temporal scales affect population dynamics of aquatic organisms and their habitats in mountain streams.
The National Stream Internet - The NSI is a network of people, data, and analytical techniques that interact synergistically to create information about streams. This website is a hub designed to connect users with software, data, and tools for creating that information. As better information is developed, it should enable stronger science, management, and conservation as pertains to stream ecosystems.
Cold Water Climate Shield - The Climate Shield website hosts geospatial data and related information that describes specific locations of cold-water refuge streams for native Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout across the northwestern U.S. Forecasts about the locations of refugia could enable the protection of key watersheds, be used to rally support among multiple stakeholders, and provide a foundation for planning climate-smart conservation networks that improve the odds of preserving native trout populations through the 21st century.
Climate- Aquatics Blog: This website archives blogs periodically written by the scientist that describe research pertaining to climate change effects on aquatic resources.
Stream Temperature Modeling and Monitoring Website: This website acts as central repository for information pertaining to monitoring and modeling of stream temperatures that the scientist and his collaborators develop.
SSN & STARS: Tools for Spatial Statistical Modeling on Stream Networks: This website hosts freeware statistical software and GIS tools for implementing a new class of spatial statistical models applicable to data measured on stream networks.
NorWest Stream Temperature- Regional Database and Model: This website hosts a comprehensive interagency stream temperature database and high resolution climate scenarios for the Northwest U.S.
Please click here if interested in following on Twitter.
RMRS Scientist Profile Video (YouTube) - Dr. Dan Isaak talks about building the publically-accessible NorWeST stream temperature database and Its applications for identifying climate refugia for cold-water fish.
Many natural resources are at risk from human development of natural landscapes and the effects of climate change. My research attempts to provide better understanding and predictive models of stream ecosystems so that managers can respond proactively and more effectively to these threats.
- South Dakota State University, B.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 1991
- University of Idaho, M.S., Fisheries Resources, 1994
- University of Wyoming, Ph.D., Zoology and Physiology, 2001
- Young, Michael K.; Isaak, Daniel J.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Wilcox, Taylor M.; Bingham, Daniel M.; Pilgrim, Kristine L.; Carim, Kellie J.; Campbell, Matthew R.; Corsi, Matthew P.; Horan, Dona L.; Nagel, David E.; Schwartz, Michael K.. 2016. Climate, demography, and zoogeography predict introgression thresholds in salmonid hybrid zones in Rocky Mountain streams
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Young, Michael K.; Nagel, David E.; Horan, Dona L.; Groce, Matthew C.. 2015. The cold-water climate shield: Delineating refugia for preserving salmonid fishes through the 21st century
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Horan, Dona L.. 2011. An evaluation of underwater epoxies to permanently install temperature sensors in mountain streams
- Wenger, Seth J.; Luce, Charles H.; Hamlet, Alan F.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Neville, Helen M.. 2010. Macroscale hydrologic modeling of ecologically relevant flow metrics
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charles H.; Rieman, Bruce E.; Nagel, David E.; Peterson, Erin E.; Horan, Dona L.; Parkes, Sharon; Chandler, Gwynne L.. 2010. Effects of climate change and wildfire on stream temperatures and salmonid thermal habitat in a mountain river network
- Rieman, Bruce E.; Isaak, Daniel J.. 2010. Climate change, aquatic ecosystems, and fishes in the Rocky Mountain West: implications and alternatives for management
- McKean, Jim; Isaak, Dan; Wright, Wayne. 2009. Improving stream studies with a small-footprint green lidar
- Gaines, William L.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Aplet, Gregory H.; Henson, Paul ; Prichard, Susan J.; Churchill, Derek J.; Jones, Gavin M.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Vynne, Carly. 2022. Climate change and forest management on federal lands in the Pacific Northwest, USA: Managing for dynamic landscapes
- Pilliod, David S.; Arkle, Robert S.; Thurow, Russell F.; Isaak, Daniel J.. 2022. Hydroclimatic conditions, wildfire, and species assemblages influence co‐occurrence of bull trout and tailed frogs in northern Rocky Mountain streams
- Fuller, Matthew R.; Leinenbach, Peter ; Detenbeck, Naomi E.; Labiosa, Rochelle ; Isaak, Daniel J.. 2022. Riparian vegetation shade restoration and loss effects on recent and future stream temperatures
- Santos-Fernandez, Edgar ; Ver Hoef, Jay M.; Peterson, Erin E.; McGree, James ; Isaak, Daniel J.; Mengersen, Kerrie. 2022. Bayesian spatio-temporal models for stream networks
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Young, Michael K.; Horan, Dona L.; Nagel, David ; Schwartz, Michael K.; Mckelvey, Kevin S.. 2022. Do metapopulations and management matter for relict headwater bull trout populations in a warming climate?
- Reeder, William Jeff; Gariglio, Frank ; Carnie, Ryan ; Tang, Chunling ; Isaak, Daniel ; Chen, Qiuwen ; Yu, Zhongbo ; McKean, James A.; Tonina, Daniele. 2021. Some (fish might) like it hot: Habitat quality and fish growth from past to future climates
- Paukert, Craig ; Olden, Julian D.; Lynch, Abigail J.; Breshears, David D.; Chambers, R. Christopher; Chu, Cindy ; Daly, Margaret ; Dibble, Kimberly L.; Falke, Jeff ; Issak, Dan ; Jacobson, Peter ; Jensen, Olaf P.; Munroe, Daphne. 2021. Climate change effects on North American fish and fisheries to inform adaptation strategies
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charles H.; Horan, Dona L.; Chandler, Gwynne L.; Wollrab, Sherry P.; Dubois, William B.; Nagel, David E.. 2020. Thermal regimes of perennial rivers and streams in the western United States
- LeMoine, Michael T.; Eby, Lisa A.; Clancy, Chris G.; Nyce, Leslie G.; Jakober, Michael J.; Isaak, Dan J.. 2020. Landscape resistance mediates native fish species distribution shifts and vulnerability to climate change in riverscapes
- Jacobs, Gregory R.; Thurow, Russell F.; Buffington, John M.; Isaak, Dan ; Wenger, Seth J.. 2020. Climate, fire regime, geomorphology, and conspecifics influence the spatial distribution of chinook salmon redds
- Leasure, Douglas R.; Wenger, Seth J.; Chelgren, Nathan D.; Neville, Helen M.; Dauwalter, Daniel C.; Bjork, Robin ; Fesenmyer, Kurt A.; Dunham, Jason B.; Peacock, Mary M.; Luce, Charlie H.; Lute, Abby C.; Isaak, Daniel J.. 2018. Hierarchical multi-population viability analysis
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charles H.; Chandler, Gwynne L.; Horan, Dona L.; Wollrab, Sherry P.. 2018. Principal components of thermal regimes in mountain river networks
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Schwartz, Michael K.. 2018. Science You Can Use in 5 Minutes (SYCU) - From expensive to efficient: New eDNAtlas shares nationwide aquatic species information
- Wilcox, Taylor M.; Young, Michael K.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Horan, Dona L.; Schwartz, Michael K.. 2018. Fine-scale environmental DNA sampling reveals climate-mediated interactions between native and invasive trout species
- Cooke, Brian ; Battaglia, Mike ; Dwire, Kathleen ; Isaak, Dan ; Joyce, Linda ; Merritt, David ; Oropeza, Jill ; Regan, Claudia ; Reynolds, Lindsay ; Rice, Janine ; Schillie, Trey. 2018. Warming and warnings: Assessing climate change vulnerability in the Rocky Mountain Region
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Young, Michael K.; McConnell, Callie ; Roper, Brett B.; Archer, Eric K.; Staab, Brian ; Hirsch, Christine ; Nagel, David E.; Schwartz, Michael K.; Chandler, Gwynne L.. 2018. Crowd-sourced databases as essential elements for Forest Service partnerships and aquatic resource conservation
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Young, Michael K.; Tait, Cynthia; Duffield, Daniel; Horan, Dona L.; Nagel, David E.; Groce, Matthew C.. 2018. Effects of climate change on native fish and other aquatic species [Chapter 5]
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charles H.; Horan, Dona L.; Chandler, Gwynne; Wollrab, Sherry; Nagel, David E.. 2018. Global warming of salmon and trout rivers in the northwestern U.S.: Road to ruin or path through purgatory?
- Young, Michael K.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Spaulding, Scott; Thomas, Cameron A.; Barndt, Scott A.; Groce, Matthew C.; Horan, Dona; Nagel, David E.. 2018. Climate vulnerability of native cold-water salmonids in the Northern Rockies Region [Chapter 5]
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Ver Hoef, Jay M.; Peterson, Erin E.; Horan, Dona L.; Nagel, David E.. 2017. Scalable population estimates using spatial-stream-network (SSN) models, fish density surveys, and national geospatial database frameworks for streams
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Wenger, Seth J.; Young, Michael K.. 2017. Big biology meets microclimatology: Defining thermal niches of ectotherms at landscape scales for conservation planning
- Clifton, Caty F.; Day, Kate T.; Dello, Kathie; Grant, Gordon E.; Halofsky, Jessica E.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charles H.; Safeeq, Mohammad; Staab, Brian P.; Stevenson, John. 2017. Climate change and hydrology in the Blue Mountains [Chapter 3]
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Ramsey, Katherine; Chatel, John C.; Konnoff, Deborah L.; Gecy, Robert A.; Horan, Dona. 2017. Climate change, fish, and aquatic habitat in the Blue Mountains [Chapter 5]
- Young, Michael K.; Isaak, Daniel J.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Wilcox, Taylor M.; Campbell, Matthew R.; Corsi, Matthew P.; Horan, Dona ; Schwartz, Michael K.. 2017. Ecological segregation moderates a climactic conclusion to trout hybridization
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Wenger, Seth J.; Peterson, Erin E.; Ver Hoef, Jay M.; Nagel, David E.; Luce, Charles H.; Hostetler, Steven W.; Dunham, Jason B.; Roper, Brett B.; Wollrab, Sherry P.; Chandler, Gwynne L.; Horan, Dona L.; Parkes-Payne, Sharon. 2017. The NorWeST summer stream temperature model and scenarios for the western U.S.: A crowd-sourced database and new geospatial tools foster a user community and predict broad climate warming of rivers and streams
- Isaak, Daniel; Young, Michael. 2017. Delineating climate refugia for native aquatic species with big crowd-sourced databases
- Carnie, Ryan; Tonina, Daniele; McKean, Jim; Isaak, Daniel. 2016. Habitat connectivity as a metric for aquatic microhabitat quality: Application to Chinook salmon spawning habitat
- Vose, James M.; Miniat, Chelcy Ford; Luce, Charles H.; Asbjornsen, Heidi; Caldwell, Peter V.; Campbell, John L.; Grant, Gordon E.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Loheide, Steven P., II.; Sun, Ge. 2016. Echohydrological implications of drought for forests in the United States
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Young, Michael K.; Luce, Charlie; Hostetler, Steven W.; Wenger, Seth J.; Peterson, Erin E.; Ver Hoef, Jay M.; Groce, Matthew C.; Horan, Dona L.; Nagel, David E.. 2016. Slow climate velocities of mountain streams portend their role as refugia for cold-water biodiversity
- Benjankar, Rohan; Tonina, Daniele; Marzadri, Alessandra; McKean, Jim; Isaak, Daniel J.. 2016. Effects of habitat quality and ambient hyporheic flows on salmon spawning site selection
- Williams, J. E.; Isaak, Daniel; Imhof, J.; Hendrickson, D. A.; McMillan, J. R.. 2015. Cold-water fishes and climate change in North America
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Peterson, Erin E.; Ver Hoef, Jay M.; Wenger, Seth J.; Falke, Jeffrey A.; Torgersen, Christian E.; Sowder, Colin; Steel, E. Ashley; Fortin, Marie-Josee; Jordan, Chris E.; Ruesch, Aaron S.; Som, Nicholas; Monestiez, Pascal. 2014. Applications of spatial statistical network models to stream data
- Luce, Charles; Staab, Brian; Kramer, Marc; Wenger, Seth; Isaak, Dan; McConnell, Callie. 2014. Sensitivity of summer stream temperatures to climate variability in the Pacific Northwest
- Holsinger, Lisa; Keane, Robert E.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Eby, Lisa; Young, Michael K.. 2014. Relative effects of climate change and wildfires on stream temperatures: A simulation modeling approach in a Rocky Mountain watershed
- Isaak, Daniel J.. 2014. Climate change and the future of freshwater fisheries
- Stamp, Jen; Hamilton, Anna; Craddock, Michelle; Parker, Laila; Roy, Allison H.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Holden, Zach; Passmore, Margaret; Bierwagen, Britta G.. 2014. Best practices for continuous monitoring of temperature and flow in wadeable streams
- Isaak, Dan. 2014. Blogging fish science
- Hines, Sarah; Isaak, Dan; Luce, Charles; Young, Michael K.. 2014. Science You Can Use (SYCU) - Climate change, crowd-sourcing, and conserving aquatic biotas in the Rocky Mountains this century
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Young, Michael K.; Nagel, David; Horan, Dona. 2014. Cold water as a climate shield to preserve native trout through the 21st Century
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Rieman, Bruce E.. 2013. Stream isotherm shifts from climate change and implications for distributions of ectothermic organisms
- Peterson, Erin E.; Ver Hoef, Jay M.; Isaak, Dan J.; Falke, Jeffrey A.; Fortin, Marie-Josee; Jordan, Chris E.; McNyset, Kristina; Monestiez, Pascal; Ruesch, Aaron S.; Sengupta, Aritra; Som, Nicholas; Steel, E. Ashley; Theobald, David M.; Torgersen, Christian E.; Wenger, Seth J.. 2013. Modelling dendritic ecological networks in space: An integrated network perspective
- Peterson, Douglas P.; Wenger, Seth J.; Rieman, Bruce E.; Isaak, Daniel J.. 2013. Linking climate change and fish conservation efforts using spatially explicit decision support tools
- Goode, Jaime R.; Buffington, John M.; Tonina, Daniele; Isaak, Daniel J.; Thurow, Russell F.; Wenger, Seth; Nagel, David; Luce, Charlie; Tetzlaff, Doerthe; Soulsby, Chris. 2013. Potential effects of climate change on streambed scour and risks to salmonid survival in snow-dominated mountain basins
- Wenger, Seth J.; Som, Nicholas A.; Dauwalter, Daniel C.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Neville, Helen M.; Luce, Charles H.; Dunham, Jason B.; Young, Michael K.; Fausch, Kurt D.; Rieman, Bruce E.. 2013. Probabilistic accounting of uncertainty in forecasts of species distributions under climate change
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Horan, Dona L.; Wollrab, Sherry P.. 2013. A simple protocol using underwater epoxy to install annual temperature monitoring sites in rivers and streams
- Al-Chokhachy, Robert; Wenger, Seth J.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Kershner, Jeffrey L.. 2013. Characterizing the thermal suitability of instream habitat for salmonids: A cautionary example from the Rocky Mountains
- Luce, Charles; Morgan, Penny; Dwire, Kathleen; Isaak, Daniel; Holden, Zachary; Rieman, Bruce. 2012. Climate change, forests, fire, water, and fish: Building resilient landscapes, streams, and managers
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Muhlfeld, Clint C.; Todd, Andrew S.; Al-Chokhachy, Robert; Roberts, James; Kershner, Jeffrey L.; Fausch, Kurt D.; Hostetler, Steven W.. 2012. The past as prelude to the future for understanding 21st-Century climate effects on Rocky Mountain trout
- Wenger, Seth J.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Dunham, Jason B.; Fausch, Kurt D.; Luce, Charlie; Neville, Helen M.; Rieman, Bruce E.; Young, Michael K.; Nagel, David E.; Horan, Dona L.; Chandler, Gwynne L.. 2011. Role of climate and invasive species in structuring trout distributions in the interior Columbia River Basin, USA
- Wenger, Seth J.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charlie; Neville, Helen M.; Fausch, Kurt D.; Dunham, Jason B.; Dauwalter, Daniel C.; Young, Michael K.; Elsner, Marketa M.; Rieman, Bruce E.; Hamlet, Alan F.; Williams, Jack E.. 2011. Flow regime, temperature, and biotic interactions drive differential declines of trout species under climate change [includes Supporting Information]
- Isaak, Daniel J.. 2011. Stream temperature monitoring and modeling: Recent advances and new tools for managers
- Isaak, D. J.; Wollrab, S.; Horan, D.; Chandler, G.. 2011. Climate change effects on stream and river temperatures across the northwest U.S. from 1980-2009 and implications for salmonid fishes
- Isaak, Dan; Rieman, Bruce; Horan, Dona. 2009. A watershed-scale monitoring protocol for bull trout
- Courbois, Jean-Yves; Katz, Stephen L.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Steel, E. Ashley; Thurow, Russell F.; Rub, A. Michelle Wargo; Olsen, Tony; Jordan, Chris E.. 2008. Evaluating probability sampling strategies for estimating redd counts: an example with Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
- Neville, Helen; Isaak, Daniel; Thurow, Russell; Dunham, Jason; Rieman, Bruce. 2007. Microsatellite variation reveals weak genetic structure and retention of genetic variability in threatened Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytcha) within a Snake River watershed
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Thurow, Russell F.; Rieman, Bruce E.; Dunham, Jason B.. 2007. Chinook salmon use of spawning patches: Relative roles of habitat quality, size, and connectivity
- Rieman, Bruce E.; Isaak, Daniel; Adams, Susan; Horan, Dona; Nagel, David; Luce, Charles; Myers, Deborah. 2007. Anticipated climate warming effects on bull trout habitats and populations across the interior Columbia River basin
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Thurow, Russell F.. 2006. Network-scale spatial and temporal variation in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redd distributions: patterns inferred from spatially continuous replicate surveys
- Neville, H. M.; Isaak, D. J.; Dunham, J. B.; Thurow, R. F.; Rieman, B. E.. 2006. Fine-scale natal homing and localized movement as shaped by sex and spawning habitat in Chinook salmon: Insights from spatial autocorrelation analysis of individual genotypes
- Isaak, Daniel J.; Hubert, Wayne A.. 2004. Nonlinear response of trout abundance to summer stream temperatures across a thermally diverse montane landscape
- Isaak, D. J.; Thurow, R. F.; Rieman, B. E.; Dunham, J. B.. 2003. Temporal variation in synchrony among chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redd counts from a wilderness area in central Idaho
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Chandler, G.L.; Wollrab, S.P.; Horan, D. L.; Nagel, D. E.; Parkes, S.L.; Isaak, D.J.; Horan, D.L; Wenger, S.J.; Peterson, E.E.; Ver Hoef, J.M.; Hostetler, S.W.; Luce, C.H.; Dunham, J.B.; Kershner, J.L.; Roper, B.B. 2016. NorWeST stream temperature data summaries for the western U.S. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2016-0032.
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Isaak, D.J.; Wenger, S.J.; Peterson, E.E.; Ver Hoef, J.M.; Hostetler, S.W.; Luce, C.H.; Dunham, J.B.; Kershner, J.L.; Roper, B.B.; Nagel, D.E.; Chandler, G.L.; Wollrab, S.P.; Parkes, S.L.; Horan, D.L. 2016. NorWeST modeled summer stream temperature scenarios for the western U.S. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2016-0033.
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Young, Michael K.; Isaak, Daniel J.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Schwartz, Michael K.; Carim, Kellie J.; Fredenberg, Wade; Wilcox, Taylor M.; Franklin, Thomas W.; Chandler, Gwynne L.; Nagel, David E.; Parkes-Payne, Sharon L.; Horan, Dona L.; Wollrab, Sherry P. 2017. Species occurrence data from the Range-Wide Bull Trout eDNA Project. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0038.
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Schwartz, M. K., Young, M.K., McKelvey, K.S., Isaak, D.J., Nagel, D.E., Franklin, T.W., Greaves, S.E., Dysthe, J.C., Chandler, G.L., Wollrab, S.P., Carim, K.J., Wilcox, T.M., Parkes-Payne, S.L., Horan, D.L. 2018. Species occurrence data from the Aquatic eDNAtlas database. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. DOI Pending.
Mapping Climate Refugia to Preserve Cold-water Biodiversity Using Crowd-sourced Databases
New Class of Statistical Model Developed for Stream Networks
The Cold Water Climate Shield: Prioritizing High-value Aquatic Resources
The eDNAtlas project: A national map of aquatic biodiversity
Headwater Streams are Resistant to Trout Hybridization
Monitoring the impact of changing climate on western rivers and cold water species
