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Using Bayesian Multispecies Models To Evaluate Fish And Invertebrate Detection Probability And Distribution In The Hypersaline Bahia Grande Tidal Basin, Roy M. Ulibarri, Catherine M. Eckert, David Hicks, David Montagne, Brandon Jones, David R. Stewart

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective

In 2000, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge acquired the Bahia Grande (Texas) management unit, a space that had lain barren and arid for 70 years. A large cooperative partnership launched a restoration project to replenish the basin and recover its original tidal hydrology. In 2005, the construction of a pilot channel successfully restored water throughout the basin, and plans to eventually widen the channel were developed. Our study aims to evaluate an estuarine habitat restoration by assessing ecological drivers and the impacts on species diversity.

Methods

We evaluated species richness, detection/occupancy rates, and species–habitat relationships, and we estimated …

Impacts Of Lake Elevation Decline On Tui Chub, A Critical Forage Species For Lahontan Cutthroat Trout In Pyramid Lake, Nevada, Usa, Sarah Barnes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Lake level decline affects lakes worldwide, changing the availability and character of nearshore habitat used by fish to spawn, and increasing total dissolved solids (TDS), similar to salinity, a factor that negatively impacts fish health. Lake level decline can affect different lakes in different ways, but typically when lake level declines significantly, there is less nearshore habitat overall, and what nearshore habitat remains has less diverse habitat for fish. We investigated whether both impacts of lake level decline may be causing declines of Tui Chub Siphateles bicolor, a large minnow native to Pyramid Lake that spawns in nearshore habitat. …

Understanding The Connection Between Water, Fish, And Pfas Concentrations: Implications Of Fish Diet And Species-Specific Variability, Ece Yeldan

Honors College

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” have emerged as a significant concern for both human health and the environment. These persistent compounds permeate various aspects of commerce, leading to widespread exposure and the cycling of these compounds through environmental feedback routes. Among the sources of exposure to humans, fish consumption stands out prominently. Recreational and sustenance fishing, cherished by Maine residents and indigenous communities alike, underscores the need to comprehend PFAS dynamics in fish and water. To explore the variability of PFAS accumulation in fish, water, and sediment, I conducted a comprehensive literature review. The …

Lake Bonneville's Legacy: Genetic Drift And Diversity Loss In Snake Range Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, Tanner Van Orden, Dennis Shiozawa, Peter Searle, Ana Kokkonen, Jonathan Reynolds, R. Paul Evans

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

• Many Bonneville Basin streams have been isolated for 18,000-plus years (Behnke 1976).
• Bonneville cutthroat trout in small streams may have been experiencing genetic drift since the desiccation of Lake Bonneville.
• Small streams in the west desert of Utah and Nevada are at a high risk of genetic drift and diversity loss due to their small size

Tryon Creek Culvert Replacement: Bringing Salmon Back, Amy Chomowicz

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

The overarching goal of the Tryon Creek Culvert Replacement Project is simple: to restore native and wild salmonids and lamprey in the lower Willamette River. The existing Tryon Creek Highway 43 culvert is one-quarter mile upstream from the confluence of Tryon Creek and the Willamette River, and it bars access to vital spawning, rearing, and migratory habitat for all salmon, steelhead, and Pacific Lamprey using the Willamette. The City of Portland and project partner, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, will construct a new, much wider, open bottom culvert that will allow the stream to flow more naturally. The …

Edna Study Of The Kellogg-Mt. Scott Watershed, Amy D. Van Riessen

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

The Kellogg Creek Restoration and Community Enhancement Project is an exciting effort occurring in the heart of downtown Milwaukie. The project encompasses many elements, including:

• providing fish passage to 15 miles of habitat by removing the barrier at Kellogg Dam
• restoring 17 acres of high-quality habitat behind the dam
• providing public access and viewing points to encourage nature-based recreation and outdoor education
• increasing flood storage capacity to reduce flooding in lower Kellogg Creek
• modernizing the existing Oregon State Highway 99E bridge with an alternative that increases seismic resiliency and establishes a safe bike/pedestrian undercrossing
• providing interactive learning, scientific research and …

Braiding Knowledges For Healthy Futures For All Communities, Nanda Ramos, Lili Yazzie

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

Founded in 1970 by park neighbors, Friends of Tryon Creek, a nonprofit, focuses on preserving Tryon Canyon. Partnering with Oregon State Parks, their mission aims to inspire communities to reconnect with nature in the urban forest. In 2021, the organization revamped its mission, vision, and strategic plan to enhance community engagement. Acknowledging historical exclusions, especially for BIPOC communities, the group commits to internal changes, prioritizing BIPOC leadership and dismantling traditional organizational models. Tryon Creek State Natural Area, covering 20% of the watershed, provides vital urban habitat. Over 70% of the staff and board represent marginalized identities. Proactive measures, like the …

Assessment Of The Status Of The Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource, Corey Wakefield, Ainslie Denham, Fabian Trinnie, Sybrand A. Hesp, Rachel Marks, Dion Boddington, Stephen J. Newman

Fisheries research reports

Executive Summary

For this assessment of the Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource (PDSR) of Western Australia, red emperor and bluespotted emperor are the indicator species used to represent the status of the resource. In addition, goldband snapper, though not an indicator species, is relatively abundant in the annual catches, particularly in deeper waters (around 100 m) and in the western Pilbara region and its status has also been assessed.

The Impacts Of Anthropogenic Activity And Climate Change On The Formation Of Harmful Algal Blooms (Habs) And Its Ecological Consequence, Zhangxi Hu, Aifeng Li, Zhun Li, Margaret R. Mulholland

OES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Capfish Project Report : Phase 1 Outcomes And Summer Academy For The Mediterranean, World Maritime University

Reports

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a complex and multifaceted problem, with disastrous consequences for aquatic ecosystems, coastal communities, fishers and fish workers, and economic and national security. Over the past three years, the CAPFISH Project has strengthened capacity to fight IUU fishing by providing training and educational materials to developing country administrations around the world, most recently with a two-week regional Summer Academy for the Mediterranean. The Academy ran for two weeks and targeted delegates from fisheries administrations in developing countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Europe, as a way to promote inter-regional learning and …

Estimating Daily Growth Of Age-0 Channel Catfish In A Free-Flowing, Commercially Exploited Midwestern River, Kaleb B. Wood

Masters Theses

The larval stage in fishes is an important stage in the life history, as their survival dictates the ability of the population to sustain itself as an adult population. While there is a plethora of information available for juvenile and adult life stages of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), very little is understood about their larval life stage. This study sought to determine overall density, growth rates, and size structure of cohorts of age-0 Channel Catfish during a study year on the Wabash River. In 2018, I sampled age-0 Channel Catfish using a benthic trawl from May to September. …

Population Demographics Of Channel Catfish In The Lower Wabash River, Valerie J. Thompson

Masters Theses

Inland fisheries are experiencing increasing demands due to anthropogenic stressors, especially within large river systems that support both recreational and commercial fisheries. Riverine species are sensitive to habitat degradation, species introductions, and exploitation, so continued monitoring and management of these communities are vital to maintain abundance and diversity within these systems. The North American catfish family, Ictaluridae, supports both recreational and commercial fisheries throughout the United States. Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus are heavily studied and managed compared to other sport catfishes in this family because of their economic and ecological significance. One important Channel Catfish fishery exists in the lower …

Employment And Industry Implications Of The Offshore Wind Projects In Rhode Island, Sarah M. Benoit, Anna Dwyer, Andrew Senecal, Aidan Tucker, Michael Keating

ENV 334 Environmental Justice

Offshore wind farms will have beneficial long-term effects on Rhode Island's industry and employment. While locals have expressed mixed opinions about the wind farm projects, fishermen have been the most concerned. Many of their fears are not founded in the reality of offshore wind farms. Impacts on the fishing industry could be slightly negative during construction with disruption from the pipeline (Becker 2024). After implementation, they should increase biodiversity with the artificial reef effect (Gill et al. 2020; Perry and Heyman 2020; Van Hoey et al. 2021). In the long-term, the fossil fuel industry has and will be more harmful …

Endangered Whales Still Get Tangled In Fishing Gear: Let’S Change The Way We Approach The Problem, Tora Johnson

Maine Policy Review

The Gulf of Maine lobster industry has been roiled by conflict over whale entanglement for decades. With fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales remaining, federal regulators are again seeking to implement new measures to protect them from tangling in fishing gear, while the lobster industry faces myriad challenges. My 2005 book Entanglements examined the complex and fraught debate between whale advocates and fishermen. Each side believed the other was inherently evil, greedy, and unduly powerful. Of course, the truth lay somewhere between. Between them were the brave souls who went to sea to wrestle fishing gear off of entangled …

State Of The Fisheries: Status Reports And Aquatic Resources Of Western Australia 2022/23, S.J. Newman, K.G. Santoro, D.J. Gaughan

Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources

Aquatic resources within Western Australia (WA) are in good condition, and this has positioned WA as a global leader in sustainable fisheries management. The sustainable fisheries of WA continue to support our strong economy and regional communities. Nonetheless, the lack of a consistent approach to build in the knowledge of Traditional Owners remains a gap in our longer term fisheries science in Western Australia.

Climate change and climate variability continues to impact fish stocks, challenging our ability to effectively monitor, assess, and manage fish stocks. We are continually working with our stakeholders, and the broader community to be adaptive, responsive, …

Using Ethnohistoric Data To Correct Historical Ecological Baselines: Urbanization And The Collapse Of Forage Fish In Vancouver, Jesse Morin, Blake Evans, Meaghan Efford

Institute Publications

Indigenous people and government bodies are often at odds when it comes to acceptable levels of impacts to local ecology that are based on two very different historical and cultural perspectives. For Coast Salish peoples such as Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN), who have lived around the Salish Sea for thousands of years, recent historical fisheries records are a pale reflection of the former abundance harvested by their ancestors. For modern ecologists and fisheries scientists, recent fisheries records (post colonization) provide historic baseline and objectives for current management. While this latter perspective is pervasive among regulators, we argue that historical and ongoing …

Nutritional Challenges Of Substituting Farmed Animals For Wild Fish In Human Diets, Sebastian A. Heilpern, Rafael M. Almeida, Kathryn J. Fiorella, Alexander S. Flecker, Demetra Williams, Peter B. Mcintyre

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wild fisheries provide billions of people with a key source of multiple essential nutrients. As fisheries plateau or decline, nourishing more people will partially rely on shifting consumption to farmed animals. The environmental implications of transitions among animal-sourced foods have been scrutinized, but their nutritional substitutability remains unclear. We compared concentrations of six essential dietary nutrients across >5000 species of wild fishes, aquaculture, poultry and livestock species, representing >65% of animals consumed globally. Wild fishes are both more nutrient-dense and variable than farmed animals; achieving recommended intake of all nutrients with farmed species could require consuming almost four times more …

South Coast Offshore Crustacean Resource Of Western Australia Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries management papers

Harvest strategies for aquatic resources in Western Australia (WA) that are managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) are formal documents that ensures decision-making processes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) and the Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016 (ARMA), which is anticipated replace the FRMA once enacted. At this point, the Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 (FRMR) is also anticipated to …

Genetic Effects Of Anthropogenic Disturbance On Native Charrs, Brad Erdman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Artificial propagation has been utilized for over a century to offset anthropogenic declines of abundance for many fishes. Complex and poorly documented histories of habitat degradation and stockings have resulted in considerable uncertainty regarding whether contemporary populations are of native, hatchery, or mixed origins. This uncertainty is problematic as it precludes prioritizing the conservation of native populations that are postulated to possess local adaptations and greater evolutionary potential. Population genetics can assess the relative reproductive contributions of previous stocking events and in this dissertation I apply these methods to four empirical studies of native charr (genus Salvelinus) that have …

Collaborative And Engaged Research To Strengthen Equity And Adaptive Governance In Co-Managed Fisheries, Gabrielle V. Hillyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Small-scale, co-managed fisheries are found throughout the world and often represent intertwining cultures, societies, communities, economies, institutions, and governments. They face complex issues, derived from ecological and social sources. Solving these issues requires diverse expertise, often developed through engaged methodologies which can facilitate collaborative solution creation between researchers, community members, and others. In this dissertation, I demonstrate the benefits of these engaged methodologies and review how they, when coupled with anticolonial approaches to research, can create more equitable solutions to complex issues. This dissertation focuses on multiple projects within the wild clam fishery in Maine including: (1) the creation of …

Resource Assessment Report For Western Australian Salmon In Western Australia, Rodney Duffy Dr., Bianca Brooks, Alex Hesp, Amber Quinn, Blaine Hodgson, Marcus Newman

Fisheries research reports

This document provides a cumulative description and assessment of the Western Australian Salmon Resource (Resource) and all fishing activities (i.e., fisheries / fishing sectors) affecting this Resource in WA. The overall Resource comprises a single species, Western Australian salmon, caught within WA, in both the WCB and SCB. This species is primarily captured during the annual autumn ‘salmon run’ by recreational fishers and commercial beach seine fishers that operate on the South Coast. The report contains information relevant to assist the assessment of the Resource against Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act export approval requirements / the Marine Stewardship …

Fishing Out Nutrients: The Spatiotemporal And Ecological Dynamics Of Fishery-Based Nutrient Extraction, Adrián A. González Ortiz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Marine fisheries are one of the most impactful human activities on the planet. Since the 1950s, marine fisheries have removed billions of metric tons of marine biomass leading to substantial declines in many fish populations. Among their impacts, we have begun to investigate the role of fisheries in disrupting marine nutrient cycles. Specifically, removing biomass can change nutrient cycles by reducing the amount of nutrients stored within animal biomass.

No studies have investigated the large-scale geographical and ecological contexts of nutrient removal by fisheries over a large timescale. For my thesis, we compiled data on fishery-targeted organisms' carbon, nitrogen, and …

Differential Movement Response Of Silver Carp To Individual And Environmental Conditions In The Illinois And Wabash Rivers, Taylor Mogavero

Theses

Knowledge about the spatial dynamics of invasive species is essential to predict, restrict, and prevent their spread to new areas. Invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) populations are expanding on all fronts and are threatening to establish in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Understanding their movement patterns is vital to prevent their populations from spreading further and to improve management efficiency. This study looked at multiple factors to understand which have an influence on the movement of invasive Silver Carp in two different river systems. Chapter 1 examined the relationship between individual and environmental factors—including length, body condition, temperature, and discharge—and movement …

Commercial Fishing Identification Guide 2023, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries occasional publications

Throughout this guide you will see all or some of the marine bioregion symbols with each fish illustration, indicating where the species is most likely to occur.

This guide has been developed to help you identify the more common species in Western Australia you may encounter. The purpose of this guide is to enhance consistent and accurate species identification.

If you are unsure about a particular species (or if it is not in this guide), please discuss it with a representative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.

State Of The Fisheries: Status Reports And Aquatic Resources Of Western Australia 2021/22, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia, S J. Newman, B S. Wise, K G. Santaro, D J. Gaughan

Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources

Aquatic resources within Western Australia (WA) are in good condition, and this has positioned WA as a global leader in sustainable fisheries management. The sustainable fisheries of WA continue to support our strong economy and regional communities. Nonetheless, the lack of a consistent approach to build in the knowledge of Traditional Owners remains a gap in our longer-term fisheries science in Western Australia.

Climate change and climate variability continues to impact fish stocks, challenging our ability to effectively monitor, assess, and manage fish stocks. We are continually working with our stakeholders, and the broader community to be adaptive, responsive, and …

Variability In Billfish Vertical Distribution And Fishing Interactions Driven By Environmental Conditions In The Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, H. E. Blondin, D. E. Haulsee, Ryan Logan, Mahmood Shivji, E. R. Hoffmayer, J. H. Walker, J. M. Dean, E. L. Hazen, L. B. Crowder

Biology Faculty Articles

Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are ecologically important predators and valuable species throughout the world’s recreational, commercial, and subsistence fisheries. Comparing multi-species vertical habitat use can inform ecological uncertainties such as inter-species competition, as well as relative vulnerabilities to fishing activities. In this study, we identified key differences in both depth use and which environmental variables drive these selections, which highlights the variability in the catchability both as target species in recreational fisheries and bycatch in commercial fisheries. To understand these two species’ vertical habitat use, we examined depth profiles from 26 sailfish …

An Exploration Of Palauan Fishing Methods And Fisheries: A Study For The Conservation Of Dugongs, Mia Glover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is an important marine mammal in Palau. However, current population dynamics are not well understood. This study aimed to connect scientific data with local knowledge by examining the social implications of changing fishing methods and their impact on dugong population dynamics in the face of climate change and fisheries commercialization. Through interviews with local fishers, it was found that destructive fishing methods like trawling and long lining have led to habitat loss and degradation for dugongs. These tactics, driven by economic factors, have disrupted the delicate balance between human activities and the preservation of dugong habitats, …

Understanding Dietary And Thermal Influences On Invasive Cichlids In Puerto Rico Reservoir Systems, Jacob A. Moreland

Theses and Dissertations

Jaguar Guapote (Parachromis managuensis) and Amphilophus spp. were assessed for effects of temperature on standard metabolic rate (SMR) and lower dissolved oxygen tolerance (LDOT), efficacy of gastric lavage for diet analysis, and diet in Puerto Rico reservoirs. Fish were acclimated to 22°C, 28°C, and 34°C and SMR and LDOT were measured using intermittent respirometers. Jaguar Guapote acclimated to 34°C had the greatest SMR, with 22°C and 28°C having similar SMR values. Amphilophus spp. acclimated to 28°C were similar to fish acclimated at 22°C and 34°C. Fish were resilient to high temperatures, losing equilibrium more rapidly at the coldest temperature, 22°C. …

Patterns Of Distribution And Dispersion Of Silver Carp In An Oxbow Lake, Jordan Besson

Theses and Dissertations

Oxbow lakes are highly productive waterbodies that host multiple life stages of many freshwater aquatic species. Oxbow lakes also provide habitat to Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), which has enabled populations to grow and expand within the United States. Silver Carp are undesirable because they can compete for resources with native fishes. My goal was to identify patterns of distribution and dispersion of Silver Carp in Moon Lake, Mississippi, to assist and inform precise harvesting of fish. I implanted thirty-five adult Silver Carp with acoustic tags that I released into Moon Lake. I observed that Silver Carp were disproportionately …

Fish Community Impacts And Conservation Implications Of A Novel Barrier On The San Juan River, Utah, Zachary T. Ahrens

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Stream fragmentation and non-native species introductions are among a suite of anthropogenic disturbances shaping the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems. The impacts of such alterations contribute to the global decline of stream fish biodiversity and may be synergistic in their effects. For example, the Colorado River basin’s unique native fish assemblage is imperiled not only by numerous dams and diversions, but also by threats of predation and competition for limited resources from non-native fish species. On the San Juan River, Utah, a recently formed fish barrier prevents upstream movement of native and non-native fish. The goal of this project …