Dr. Donald W. Sada
Adjunct Professor
Hydrologic Sciences

University of the Pacific, Stockton , 1973, Biology B.S., 1973

California State University, Long Beach, 1977, Biology M.S.

University of Nevada Reno, 1990, Biology Ph.D.

Current Projects / Research Interest
My primary research interest examines the relationships between environmental factors and the structure and function of Great Basin aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate communities. Most of my recent work has been in small springs and high elevation streams. This work has included aquatic mollusk biogeography and taxonomy, inventorying aquatic communities in springs, and designing conservation programs for arid land wetlands. Current research topics include: defining baseline biotic and abiotic conditions prior to restoration of the lower Truckee River, determining effects of increased discharge on trout communities in Sierra Nevada streams, quantifying spatial and temporal variation in spring-fed aquatic communities, designing inventory and monitoring programs for the Mojave Network of Parks, U.S. National Park Service, and examining the ecology of the Tassi Springs springsnail.

Contact Information:

2215 Raggio Parkway
Reno, NV 89512

email Don Sada

Phone:

Selected Publications
Sada, D.W., E. Fleischman, and D.D. Murphy. 2005. Associations among spring-dependent aquatic assemblages and environmental and land use gradients in a Mojave Desert mountain range. Diversity and Distributions 11:91-99.

Bradford, D.F., A.C. Neale, M.S. Nash, D.W. Sada, and J.R. Jaeger. 2003. Habitat patch occupancy by the red-spotted toad (Bufo punctatus) in a naturally fragmented environment. Ecology 84:1012-1023.

Sada, D.W. and G.L. Vinyard. 2002. Antrhopogenic changes in biogeography of Great Basin Aquatic Biota. Pages 277 – 293. In, R. Hershler, D.B. Madsen, & D.R. Currey (eds.). Great Basin aquatic systems History. Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences, Number 33.

Hershler, R. & D.W. Sada. 2002. Biogeography of the Great Basin aquatic snails of the genus Pyrgulopsis. Pages 255 – 276. In, R. Hershler, D.B. Madsen, & D.R. Currey (eds.). Great Basin aquatic systems History. Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences, Number 33.

Sada, D.W. 2001. Demography and habitat use of the Badwater snail (Assiminea infima), with observations on its conservation status, Death Valley National Park, California, U.S.A. Hydrobiologia 466:255-265.

Sada, D.W. 2000. Native fishes. Pages 246 – 264. In, G. Smith (ed.). Sierra east. Edge of the Great Basin. University of California Press.

Hershler, R. and D.W. Sada. 2000. A new species of hydrobiid snail of the genus Pyrgulopsis from northwestern Nevada. The Veliger 43:367-375.

Sada, D.W., H.B. Britten, and P.F. Brussard. 1995. Desert aquatic ecosystems and the genetic and morphological diversity of Death Valley system speckled dace. American Fisheries Society Symposium 17:350-359.