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• 41. [Article] Scientifically Defensible Fish Conservation and Recovery Plans: Addressing Diffuse Threats and Developing Rigorous Adaptive Management Plans

  We discuss the importance of addressing diffuse threats to long-term species and habitat viability in fish conservation and recovery planning. In the Pacific Northwest, USA, salmonid management plans have ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Scientifically Defensible Fish Conservation and Recovery Plans: Addressing Diffuse Threats and Developing Rigorous Adaptive Management Plans Author: Maas-Hebner, Kathleen G., Schreck, Carl B., Hughes, Robert M., Yeakley, J. Alan, Molina, Nancy Year: 2016 We discuss the importance of addressing diffuse threats to long-term species and habitat viability in fish conservation and recovery planning. In the Pacific Northwest, USA, salmonid management plans have typically focused on degraded freshwater habitat, dams, fish passage, harvest rates, and hatchery releases. However, such plans inadequately address threats related to human population and economic growth, intra- and interspecific competition, and changes in climate, ocean, and estuarine conditions. Based on reviews conducted on eight conservation and/or recovery plans, we found that though threats resulting from such changes are difficult to model and/or predict, they are especially important for wide-ranging diadromous species. Adaptive management is also a critical but often inadequately constructed component of those plans. Adaptive management should be designed to respond to evolving knowledge about the fish and their supporting ecosystems; if done properly, it should help improve conservation efforts by decreasing uncertainty regarding known and diffuse threats. We conclude with a general call for environmental managers and planners to reinvigorate the adaptive management process in future management plans, including more explicitly identifying critical uncertainties, implementing monitoring programs to reduce those uncertainties, and explicitly stating what management actions will occur when pre-identified trigger points are reached. Title: Scientifically Defensible Fish Conservation and Recovery Plans: Addressing Diffuse Threats and Developing Rigorous Adaptive Management Plans Author: Maas-Hebner, Kathleen G., Schreck, Carl B., Hughes, Robert M., Yeakley, J. Alan, Molina, Nancy Year: 2016 We discuss the importance of addressing diffuse threats to long-term species and habitat viability in fish conservation and recovery planning. In the Pacific Northwest, USA, salmonid management plans have typically focused on degraded freshwater habitat, dams, fish passage, harvest rates, and hatchery releases. However, such plans inadequately address threats related to human population and economic growth, intra- and interspecific competition, and changes in climate, ocean, and estuarine conditions. Based on reviews conducted on eight conservation and/or recovery plans, we found that though threats resulting from such changes are difficult to model and/or predict, they are especially important for wide-ranging diadromous species. Adaptive management is also a critical but often inadequately constructed component of those plans. Adaptive management should be designed to respond to evolving knowledge about the fish and their supporting ecosystems; if done properly, it should help improve conservation efforts by decreasing uncertainty regarding known and diffuse threats. We conclude with a general call for environmental managers and planners to reinvigorate the adaptive management process in future management plans, including more explicitly identifying critical uncertainties, implementing monitoring programs to reduce those uncertainties, and explicitly stating what management actions will occur when pre-identified trigger points are reached. Close

• 42. [Article] A Terrestrial-Aquatic Food Web Subsidy is Potentially Mediated by Multiple Predator Effects on an Arboreal Crab

  Terrestrial-aquatic food web subsidies are known to affect food web structure, ecosystem productivity, and stability of recipient habitats. This study describes a prey flux across the land–water interface ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Terrestrial-Aquatic Food Web Subsidy is Potentially Mediated by Multiple Predator Effects on an Arboreal Crab Author: Yeager, Lauren A., Stoner, Elizabeth W., Peters, Joseph R., Layman, Craig A. Year: 2015 Terrestrial-aquatic food web subsidies are known to affect food web structure, ecosystem productivity, and stability of recipient habitats. This study describes a prey flux across the land–water interface associated with a behavioral response to multiple predators. Specifically, mangrove tree crabs (Aratus pisonii, hereafter Aratus) are primarily arboreal, but may jump off mangrove trees to escape avian predators, making them vulnerable to fish predation. Mesocosm experiments, field observations, and tethering assays were used to investigate behavioral responses, habitat shifts, and risk for Aratus associated with these two predator types. In the field, Aratus spent most of their time above the water on mangroves, where risk is lowest. In response to simulated bird strikes in mesocosm trials, crabs jumped off trees to escape imminent risk, and spent more time in and near the water, enhancing risk of fish predation. Fish attacks on crabs were nearly three times greater in treatments with simulated bird attacks. In addition, empirical diet data was used to examine the importance of Aratus as a prey item for a fish predator. Aratus represented up to 29% of diet by volume for one of the most common mesopredators in the Caribbean (gray snapper Lutjanus griseus), with the proportion varying greatly across space. Because Aratus consume mangrove-derived carbon, their consumption by aquatic predators represents another pathway by which mangrove production may be incorporated into aquatic food webs. These data suggest how the nexus of behavioral and food web ecology may provide for new perspectives on energy flow between ecosystems. Title: A Terrestrial-Aquatic Food Web Subsidy is Potentially Mediated by Multiple Predator Effects on an Arboreal Crab Author: Yeager, Lauren A., Stoner, Elizabeth W., Peters, Joseph R., Layman, Craig A. Year: 2015 Terrestrial-aquatic food web subsidies are known to affect food web structure, ecosystem productivity, and stability of recipient habitats. This study describes a prey flux across the land–water interface associated with a behavioral response to multiple predators. Specifically, mangrove tree crabs (Aratus pisonii, hereafter Aratus) are primarily arboreal, but may jump off mangrove trees to escape avian predators, making them vulnerable to fish predation. Mesocosm experiments, field observations, and tethering assays were used to investigate behavioral responses, habitat shifts, and risk for Aratus associated with these two predator types. In the field, Aratus spent most of their time above the water on mangroves, where risk is lowest. In response to simulated bird strikes in mesocosm trials, crabs jumped off trees to escape imminent risk, and spent more time in and near the water, enhancing risk of fish predation. Fish attacks on crabs were nearly three times greater in treatments with simulated bird attacks. In addition, empirical diet data was used to examine the importance of Aratus as a prey item for a fish predator. Aratus represented up to 29% of diet by volume for one of the most common mesopredators in the Caribbean (gray snapper Lutjanus griseus), with the proportion varying greatly across space. Because Aratus consume mangrove-derived carbon, their consumption by aquatic predators represents another pathway by which mangrove production may be incorporated into aquatic food webs. These data suggest how the nexus of behavioral and food web ecology may provide for new perspectives on energy flow between ecosystems. Close

• 43. [Article] The Aquarium Trade as an Invasion Pathway in the Pacific Northwest

  The aquarium trade moves thousands of species around the globe, and unwanted organisms may be released into freshwaters, with adverse ecological and economic effects. We report on the first investigation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Aquarium Trade as an Invasion Pathway in the Pacific Northwest Author: Strecker, Angela L., Campbell, Philip M., Olden, Julian D. Year: 2011 The aquarium trade moves thousands of species around the globe, and unwanted organisms may be released into freshwaters, with adverse ecological and economic effects. We report on the first investigation of the ornamental pet trade as an invasion pathway in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, where a moderate climate and a large human population present ample opportunities for the introduction and establishment of aquarium trade species. Results from a regional survey of pet stores found that the number of fish (n=400) and plant (n=124) species currently in the aquarium trade is vast. Pet stores import thousands of fish every month, the majority of which (58%) are considered to pose an ecological threat to native ecosystems. Our propagule pressure model suggests that approximately 2,500 fish (maximum 21,000 individuals) are likely released annually to the Puget Sound region by aquarists, and that water temperatures in many parts of Washington are suitable for establishment of populations. In conclusion, the aquarium trade may be a significant source of past and future invasions in the Pacific Northwest, and we recommend enhanced public education programs, greater regulation of the aquarium industry, and improved legislation of nonnative species in the ornamental trade. Title: The Aquarium Trade as an Invasion Pathway in the Pacific Northwest Author: Strecker, Angela L., Campbell, Philip M., Olden, Julian D. Year: 2011 The aquarium trade moves thousands of species around the globe, and unwanted organisms may be released into freshwaters, with adverse ecological and economic effects. We report on the first investigation of the ornamental pet trade as an invasion pathway in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, where a moderate climate and a large human population present ample opportunities for the introduction and establishment of aquarium trade species. Results from a regional survey of pet stores found that the number of fish (n=400) and plant (n=124) species currently in the aquarium trade is vast. Pet stores import thousands of fish every month, the majority of which (58%) are considered to pose an ecological threat to native ecosystems. Our propagule pressure model suggests that approximately 2,500 fish (maximum 21,000 individuals) are likely released annually to the Puget Sound region by aquarists, and that water temperatures in many parts of Washington are suitable for establishment of populations. In conclusion, the aquarium trade may be a significant source of past and future invasions in the Pacific Northwest, and we recommend enhanced public education programs, greater regulation of the aquarium industry, and improved legislation of nonnative species in the ornamental trade. Close

• 44. [Article] Fish Species Introductions Provide Novel Insights into the Patterns and Drivers of Phylogenetic Structure in Freshwaters

  Despite long-standing interest of terrestrial ecologists, freshwater ecosystems are a fertile, yet unappreciated, testing ground for applying community phylogenetics to uncover mechanisms of species assembly. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fish Species Introductions Provide Novel Insights into the Patterns and Drivers of Phylogenetic Structure in Freshwaters Author: Strecker, Angela L., Olden, Julian D. Year: 2014 Despite long-standing interest of terrestrial ecologists, freshwater ecosystems are a fertile, yet unappreciated, testing ground for applying community phylogenetics to uncover mechanisms of species assembly. We quantify phylogenetic clustering and overdispersion of native and non-native fishes of a large river basin in the American Southwest to test for the mechanisms (environmental filtering versus competitive exclusion) and spatial scales influencing community structure. Contrary to expectations, non-native species were phylogenetically clustered and related to natural environmental conditions, whereas native species were not phylogenetically structured, likely reflecting human-related changes to the basin. The species that are most invasive (in terms of ecological impacts) tended to be the most phylogenetically divergent from natives across watersheds, but not within watersheds, supporting the hypothesis that Darwin's naturalization conundrum is driven by the spatial scale. Phylogenetic distinctiveness may facilitate non-native establishment at regional scales, but environmental filtering restricts local membership to closely related species with physiological tolerances for current environments. By contrast, native species may have been phylogenetically clustered in historical times, but species loss from contemporary populations by anthropogenic activities has likely shaped the phylogenetic signal. Our study implies that fundamental mechanisms of community assembly have changed, with fundamental consequences for the biogeography of both native and non-native species. Title: Fish Species Introductions Provide Novel Insights into the Patterns and Drivers of Phylogenetic Structure in Freshwaters Author: Strecker, Angela L., Olden, Julian D. Year: 2014 Despite long-standing interest of terrestrial ecologists, freshwater ecosystems are a fertile, yet unappreciated, testing ground for applying community phylogenetics to uncover mechanisms of species assembly. We quantify phylogenetic clustering and overdispersion of native and non-native fishes of a large river basin in the American Southwest to test for the mechanisms (environmental filtering versus competitive exclusion) and spatial scales influencing community structure. Contrary to expectations, non-native species were phylogenetically clustered and related to natural environmental conditions, whereas native species were not phylogenetically structured, likely reflecting human-related changes to the basin. The species that are most invasive (in terms of ecological impacts) tended to be the most phylogenetically divergent from natives across watersheds, but not within watersheds, supporting the hypothesis that Darwin's naturalization conundrum is driven by the spatial scale. Phylogenetic distinctiveness may facilitate non-native establishment at regional scales, but environmental filtering restricts local membership to closely related species with physiological tolerances for current environments. By contrast, native species may have been phylogenetically clustered in historical times, but species loss from contemporary populations by anthropogenic activities has likely shaped the phylogenetic signal. Our study implies that fundamental mechanisms of community assembly have changed, with fundamental consequences for the biogeography of both native and non-native species. Close

• 45. [Article] Factors Influencing the Survival of Outmigrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Multiple Dam Passages: An Individual-Based Approach

  Substantial declines of Pacific salmon populations have occurred over the past several decades related to large-scale anthropogenic and climatic changes in freshwater and marine environments. In the Columbia ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Factors Influencing the Survival of Outmigrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Multiple Dam Passages: An Individual-Based Approach Author: Elder, Timothy, Woodley, Christa M., Weiland, Mark A., Strecker, Angela L. Year: 2016 Substantial declines of Pacific salmon populations have occurred over the past several decades related to large-scale anthropogenic and climatic changes in freshwater and marine environments. In the Columbia River Basin, migrating juvenile salmonids may pass as many as eight large-scale hydropower projects before reaching the ocean; however, the cumulative effects of multiple dam passages are largely unknown. Using acoustic transmitters and an extensive system of hydrophone arrays in the Lower Columbia River, we calculated the survival of yearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) passing one, two, or three dams. We applied a unique index of biological characteristics and environmental exposures, experienced by each fish individually as it migrated downstream, in order to examine which factors most influence salmonid survival. High outflow volumes led to involuntary spill in 2011 and created an environment of supersaturated dissolved gas concentrations. In this environment, migrating smolt survival was strongly influenced by barometric pressure, fish velocity, and water temperature. The effect of these variables on survival was compounded by multiple dam passages compared to fish passing a single dam. Despite spatial isolation between dams in the Lower Columbia River hydrosystem, migrating smolt appear to experience cumulative effects akin to a press disturbance. In general, Chinook salmon and steelhead respond similarly in terms of survival rates and responses to altered environmental conditions. Management actions that limit dissolved gas concentrations in years of high flow will benefit migrating salmonids at this life stage. Title: Factors Influencing the Survival of Outmigrating Juvenile Salmonids Through Multiple Dam Passages: An Individual-Based Approach Author: Elder, Timothy, Woodley, Christa M., Weiland, Mark A., Strecker, Angela L. Year: 2016 Substantial declines of Pacific salmon populations have occurred over the past several decades related to large-scale anthropogenic and climatic changes in freshwater and marine environments. In the Columbia River Basin, migrating juvenile salmonids may pass as many as eight large-scale hydropower projects before reaching the ocean; however, the cumulative effects of multiple dam passages are largely unknown. Using acoustic transmitters and an extensive system of hydrophone arrays in the Lower Columbia River, we calculated the survival of yearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) passing one, two, or three dams. We applied a unique index of biological characteristics and environmental exposures, experienced by each fish individually as it migrated downstream, in order to examine which factors most influence salmonid survival. High outflow volumes led to involuntary spill in 2011 and created an environment of supersaturated dissolved gas concentrations. In this environment, migrating smolt survival was strongly influenced by barometric pressure, fish velocity, and water temperature. The effect of these variables on survival was compounded by multiple dam passages compared to fish passing a single dam. Despite spatial isolation between dams in the Lower Columbia River hydrosystem, migrating smolt appear to experience cumulative effects akin to a press disturbance. In general, Chinook salmon and steelhead respond similarly in terms of survival rates and responses to altered environmental conditions. Management actions that limit dissolved gas concentrations in years of high flow will benefit migrating salmonids at this life stage. Close

• 46. [Article] A Follow-up Study of Selected Biomarkers of Health in Cod Gadus Morhua L. Collected from the Southern Baltic off the Polish Coast

  Selected biomarkers of health were examined in 50 post-spawning cod Gadus morhua collected in November 2015 from the southern Baltic. The biomarkers included condition factor (CF), macroscopic lesions, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Follow-up Study of Selected Biomarkers of Health in Cod Gadus Morhua L. Collected from the Southern Baltic off the Polish Coast Author: Borucinska, Joanna D., Morka, Dorota, Grabowski, Zbigniew, Smith, H. Year: 2017 Selected biomarkers of health were examined in 50 post-spawning cod Gadus morhua collected in November 2015 from the southern Baltic. The biomarkers included condition factor (CF), macroscopic lesions, histopathology of spleen, liver and gonads, and morphometry of follicular atresia and hepatic and splenic melanomacrophage cells (MMC). All fish appeared in good body condition. One fish had a dermal ulcer, and in seven, macroscopic nematodes were noted within body cavity. Microscopic lesions in the liver included biliary myxozoanosis, microsporidial and necrocentric granulomas, parasitic hepatitis, multifocal necrosis, foci of cellular alterations, spongiosis, peliosis and cytoplasmic fibrillar inclusions. The spleen and gonads had microsporidial and/or necrocentric granulomas. Some of the biomarkers showed differences as compared to spawning cod collected in May from the same location in 2012, most importantly values an order of magnitude lower for splenic MMC in post-spawning fish. In post-spawning fish, there were statistically significant correlations between MMC, CF, follicular atresia, parasitic hepatitis and microsporidiosis. This is the first comparison of biomarkers of health in post-spawning and spawning Baltic cod. Future studies need to examine the relationships of biomarkers to levels of pollutants in the environment and in tissues of cod. Title: A Follow-up Study of Selected Biomarkers of Health in Cod Gadus Morhua L. Collected from the Southern Baltic off the Polish Coast Author: Borucinska, Joanna D., Morka, Dorota, Grabowski, Zbigniew, Smith, H. Year: 2017 Selected biomarkers of health were examined in 50 post-spawning cod Gadus morhua collected in November 2015 from the southern Baltic. The biomarkers included condition factor (CF), macroscopic lesions, histopathology of spleen, liver and gonads, and morphometry of follicular atresia and hepatic and splenic melanomacrophage cells (MMC). All fish appeared in good body condition. One fish had a dermal ulcer, and in seven, macroscopic nematodes were noted within body cavity. Microscopic lesions in the liver included biliary myxozoanosis, microsporidial and necrocentric granulomas, parasitic hepatitis, multifocal necrosis, foci of cellular alterations, spongiosis, peliosis and cytoplasmic fibrillar inclusions. The spleen and gonads had microsporidial and/or necrocentric granulomas. Some of the biomarkers showed differences as compared to spawning cod collected in May from the same location in 2012, most importantly values an order of magnitude lower for splenic MMC in post-spawning fish. In post-spawning fish, there were statistically significant correlations between MMC, CF, follicular atresia, parasitic hepatitis and microsporidiosis. This is the first comparison of biomarkers of health in post-spawning and spawning Baltic cod. Future studies need to examine the relationships of biomarkers to levels of pollutants in the environment and in tissues of cod. Close

• 47. [Article] Intestinal Microbiota Diversity of Pre-Smolt Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Across Six Oregon and Washington Hatcheries

  The Pacific Northwest is known for its once-abundant wild salmonid populations that have been in decline for more than 50 years due to habitat destruction and commercial overexploitation. To compensate, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Intestinal Microbiota Diversity of Pre-Smolt Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Across Six Oregon and Washington Hatcheries Author: Yildirimer, Christina Carrell Year: 2017 The Pacific Northwest is known for its once-abundant wild salmonid populations that have been in decline for more than 50 years due to habitat destruction and commercial overexploitation. To compensate, federal and state agencies annually release hundreds of thousands of hatchery-reared fish into the wild. However, accumulating data indicate that hatchery fish have lower fitness in natural environments, and that hatchery rearing negatively influences return rates of anadromous salmonids. Recently, mounting evidence revealed that the richness and diversity of intestinal microbial species influence host health. We examined the gut microbiota of pre-migratory hatchery-reared steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to assess microbial community diversity. The Cascade Mountains serve as an allopatric border between two distinct clades of steelhead that show significant differences in genomic and mitochondrial diversity. We identified differences in core microbiota of hatchery-reared fish that correlate with this divergent phylogeographic distribution. Steelhead sampled from hatcheries east of the Cascades had overall greater core gut microbiota diversity. These differences were found despite similarities in diet and rearing conditions. In addition to taxonomic variation across the geographic divide, we identified significant differences in metabolic pathways using PICRUSt gene prediction software. Our analysis revealed significant enrichment of genes associated with lipid metabolism in the gut microbiome of western fish. 8 of 19 individual lipid metabolism pathways were more prominent in western populations. Lipids are a vital nutritional component for teleost species involved in migration and subsequent return for spawning in natal environments. We hypothesize that the observed differences in lipid metabolism across this phylogenetic divide results from an increased ability of eastern Cascade (O. m. gairdneri) fish to utilize lipids taken in via the diet. This increased absorption and utilization would make lipids less available for the intestinal microbiota of the eastern fish, as evidenced by the lower abundance of lipid metabolism genes in the east. Our research utilizes information from the microbiome to understand the phenotypic implications occurring in segregated populations of hatchery-reared steelhead, further confirming elements of coevolution between an organism and its internal environment. Title: Intestinal Microbiota Diversity of Pre-Smolt Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Across Six Oregon and Washington Hatcheries Author: Yildirimer, Christina Carrell Year: 2017 The Pacific Northwest is known for its once-abundant wild salmonid populations that have been in decline for more than 50 years due to habitat destruction and commercial overexploitation. To compensate, federal and state agencies annually release hundreds of thousands of hatchery-reared fish into the wild. However, accumulating data indicate that hatchery fish have lower fitness in natural environments, and that hatchery rearing negatively influences return rates of anadromous salmonids. Recently, mounting evidence revealed that the richness and diversity of intestinal microbial species influence host health. We examined the gut microbiota of pre-migratory hatchery-reared steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to assess microbial community diversity. The Cascade Mountains serve as an allopatric border between two distinct clades of steelhead that show significant differences in genomic and mitochondrial diversity. We identified differences in core microbiota of hatchery-reared fish that correlate with this divergent phylogeographic distribution. Steelhead sampled from hatcheries east of the Cascades had overall greater core gut microbiota diversity. These differences were found despite similarities in diet and rearing conditions. In addition to taxonomic variation across the geographic divide, we identified significant differences in metabolic pathways using PICRUSt gene prediction software. Our analysis revealed significant enrichment of genes associated with lipid metabolism in the gut microbiome of western fish. 8 of 19 individual lipid metabolism pathways were more prominent in western populations. Lipids are a vital nutritional component for teleost species involved in migration and subsequent return for spawning in natal environments. We hypothesize that the observed differences in lipid metabolism across this phylogenetic divide results from an increased ability of eastern Cascade (O. m. gairdneri) fish to utilize lipids taken in via the diet. This increased absorption and utilization would make lipids less available for the intestinal microbiota of the eastern fish, as evidenced by the lower abundance of lipid metabolism genes in the east. Our research utilizes information from the microbiome to understand the phenotypic implications occurring in segregated populations of hatchery-reared steelhead, further confirming elements of coevolution between an organism and its internal environment. Close

• 48. [Article] Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project: Alagnak Wild River Resident User Study

  This report represents a thematic summary of findings from the Alagnak Wild River Resident Users Study, the final project in a larger series of studies conducted for the National Park Service (NPS) as ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project: Alagnak Wild River Resident User Study Author: Deur, Douglas Year: 2008 This report represents a thematic summary of findings from the Alagnak Wild River Resident Users Study, the final project in a larger series of studies conducted for the National Park Service (NPS) as part of the Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project. The National Park service administers the 56 miles of designated Wild River along the Alagnak in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which manages fish and wildlife populations along the river. The NPS is charged with managing the river’s natural and cultural resources, as well as preserving the river’s lands and resources for current and future generations. Alagnak River has long served as a home and resource procurement area to Native Alaskan peoples. Though these peoples have relocated to villages nearby in the region, descendents of Alagnak’s former occupants as well as their fellow residents from nearby communities have continued to seasonally occupy Alagnak’s riparian zone and to hunt, fish, gather plant materials and participate in social activities. In recent years, non-resident visitation of Alagnak Wild River has escalated, especially for recreational fishing, but also for recreational hunting, boating, rafting, and other pursuits. In some cases, these non-resident uses of the river have been reported to conflict with Native Alaskan uses of the river. In an effort to best manage the natural and cultural resources of Alagnak Wild River, as well as to judiciously balance the needs of different visiting constituencies, the National Park Service requires additional information regarding the past and present uses of Alagnak River by Native Alaskans, as well as the observations and perspectives of Native Alaskan river users on non-resident visitation and its possible impacts. Using a variety of principally qualitative data sources, the current report seeks to thematically compile information relating to these themes. This report describes the transformation of the Alagnak River corridor from center of Native Alaskan habitation to a peripheral resource territory that is still used by descendants of its original inhabitants today. Relying primarily on ethnographic data focusing on the experiences of residents from Levelock, Igiugig, King Salmon, Naknek, South Naknek, and Kokhanok, the document also outlines the use of the Alagnak River as a place of enduring importance within Native Alaskan subsistence traditions. Individual sections provide summaries of hunting, fishing, and berry gathering, as well as trapping and other economic pursuits. In addition, this document provides an overview of concerns expressed by Native Alaskans regarding the potential impacts of visitors on the river, including: crowding, motorboat use, and their effects on public safety; the displacement of resident users and the possible cultural effects of this displacement; the possible effects of increased non-resident visitation on water quality, fish and game populations; possible increased threats associated with brown bears; and impacts on lands, allotments, and plant resources. This document also provides a an overview of what some Native Alaskans perceive as the positive effects of non-resident visitation, such as employment and land lease opportunities, as well as the availability of NPS cabins for emergencies along the Alagnak River corridor. The veracity of Native Alaskans’ claims pertaining to visitors impacts is not critically explored using biophysical methodologies, but this information is organized thematically so as to aid the National Park Service in natural and cultural resource planning for the Alagnak River corridor, to identify further research needs, and to assist that agency in anticipating concerns that may emerge in future consultation with Native Alaskan communities that are historically associated with Alagnak Wild River. Title: Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project: Alagnak Wild River Resident User Study Author: Deur, Douglas Year: 2008 This report represents a thematic summary of findings from the Alagnak Wild River Resident Users Study, the final project in a larger series of studies conducted for the National Park Service (NPS) as part of the Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project. The National Park service administers the 56 miles of designated Wild River along the Alagnak in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which manages fish and wildlife populations along the river. The NPS is charged with managing the river’s natural and cultural resources, as well as preserving the river’s lands and resources for current and future generations. Alagnak River has long served as a home and resource procurement area to Native Alaskan peoples. Though these peoples have relocated to villages nearby in the region, descendents of Alagnak’s former occupants as well as their fellow residents from nearby communities have continued to seasonally occupy Alagnak’s riparian zone and to hunt, fish, gather plant materials and participate in social activities. In recent years, non-resident visitation of Alagnak Wild River has escalated, especially for recreational fishing, but also for recreational hunting, boating, rafting, and other pursuits. In some cases, these non-resident uses of the river have been reported to conflict with Native Alaskan uses of the river. In an effort to best manage the natural and cultural resources of Alagnak Wild River, as well as to judiciously balance the needs of different visiting constituencies, the National Park Service requires additional information regarding the past and present uses of Alagnak River by Native Alaskans, as well as the observations and perspectives of Native Alaskan river users on non-resident visitation and its possible impacts. Using a variety of principally qualitative data sources, the current report seeks to thematically compile information relating to these themes. This report describes the transformation of the Alagnak River corridor from center of Native Alaskan habitation to a peripheral resource territory that is still used by descendants of its original inhabitants today. Relying primarily on ethnographic data focusing on the experiences of residents from Levelock, Igiugig, King Salmon, Naknek, South Naknek, and Kokhanok, the document also outlines the use of the Alagnak River as a place of enduring importance within Native Alaskan subsistence traditions. Individual sections provide summaries of hunting, fishing, and berry gathering, as well as trapping and other economic pursuits. In addition, this document provides an overview of concerns expressed by Native Alaskans regarding the potential impacts of visitors on the river, including: crowding, motorboat use, and their effects on public safety; the displacement of resident users and the possible cultural effects of this displacement; the possible effects of increased non-resident visitation on water quality, fish and game populations; possible increased threats associated with brown bears; and impacts on lands, allotments, and plant resources. This document also provides a an overview of what some Native Alaskans perceive as the positive effects of non-resident visitation, such as employment and land lease opportunities, as well as the availability of NPS cabins for emergencies along the Alagnak River corridor. The veracity of Native Alaskans’ claims pertaining to visitors impacts is not critically explored using biophysical methodologies, but this information is organized thematically so as to aid the National Park Service in natural and cultural resource planning for the Alagnak River corridor, to identify further research needs, and to assist that agency in anticipating concerns that may emerge in future consultation with Native Alaskan communities that are historically associated with Alagnak Wild River. Close

• 49. [Article] Social-Ecological Dynamics of Coral Reef Resource Use and Management

  This dissertation investigates social and ecological factors that facilitate effective management of coral reefs as social-ecological systems. Meta-analytical and field-based methods were employed to examine ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Social-Ecological Dynamics of Coral Reef Resource Use and Management Author: Freed, Sarah J. Year: 2013 This dissertation investigates social and ecological factors that facilitate effective management of coral reefs as social-ecological systems. Meta-analytical and field-based methods were employed to examine current management challenges and identify strategies that improve management effectiveness and coral reef health. A meta-analysis was used to evaluate biological indicators of reef health in relation to the types of fishing regulations in place (no-take areas, gear restriction areas, and periodic closures) and the actor groups (community-based, co-management, state, private) involved in management efforts for coral reef fisheries throughout the world. Other than enhancement of fish biomass within no-take areas that was significantly greater than in gear restriction areas, most biological indicators benefitted similarly from management techniques of no-take areas and gear restriction areas. Community-based and co-management were the best performing management arrangements for some biological outcomes but require further case studies to verify findings. Investigation of management effects by region indicated that previously degraded reefs received fewer benefits from management implementation than did relatively healthier reefs. For field investigations, the Comoros islands in the Western Indian Ocean served as a model for tropical coral reefs with challenging socioeconomic contexts, high biodiversity, and high vulnerability to coral reef degradation. Empirical study at 21 sites was used to identify the relative effects of natural and anthropogenic threats to coral reefs of the Comoros. Most previous studies of reef health focus on primarily natural factors or a single anthropogenic threat. This study examined suites of natural factors and human activities to identify the relative importance of each on reef health. Human activities including fishing, sand extraction, and beachfront housing and development were the best predictors of reef health status. Most notably, human population and fishing predicted fish richness, abundance, and biomass with seasonal variation in the effects, while site orientation strongly predicted benthic cover. Field studies in the Comoros were also used to investigate the roles of community and state actors in co-management and compare effectiveness of comanagement across sites with varying levels of actor participation. Effective management was found to occur with community or `meta-community' (in this case, a Marine Protected Area in which the efforts of several communities were organized) participation in governance and support of state or external agents, while resilient management that overcame considerable challenges was found to occur only with strong community participation and leadership in governance. External agents were found to contribute to development of meta-community governance structure and initiation of community participation through education and capacity building. The findings from these studies reveal that coral reef management can be improved through context appropriate regulations that address detrimental human activities and through wide acceptance and participation in governance with cooperation among states, communities, and external agents. Title: Social-Ecological Dynamics of Coral Reef Resource Use and Management Author: Freed, Sarah J. Year: 2013 This dissertation investigates social and ecological factors that facilitate effective management of coral reefs as social-ecological systems. Meta-analytical and field-based methods were employed to examine current management challenges and identify strategies that improve management effectiveness and coral reef health. A meta-analysis was used to evaluate biological indicators of reef health in relation to the types of fishing regulations in place (no-take areas, gear restriction areas, and periodic closures) and the actor groups (community-based, co-management, state, private) involved in management efforts for coral reef fisheries throughout the world. Other than enhancement of fish biomass within no-take areas that was significantly greater than in gear restriction areas, most biological indicators benefitted similarly from management techniques of no-take areas and gear restriction areas. Community-based and co-management were the best performing management arrangements for some biological outcomes but require further case studies to verify findings. Investigation of management effects by region indicated that previously degraded reefs received fewer benefits from management implementation than did relatively healthier reefs. For field investigations, the Comoros islands in the Western Indian Ocean served as a model for tropical coral reefs with challenging socioeconomic contexts, high biodiversity, and high vulnerability to coral reef degradation. Empirical study at 21 sites was used to identify the relative effects of natural and anthropogenic threats to coral reefs of the Comoros. Most previous studies of reef health focus on primarily natural factors or a single anthropogenic threat. This study examined suites of natural factors and human activities to identify the relative importance of each on reef health. Human activities including fishing, sand extraction, and beachfront housing and development were the best predictors of reef health status. Most notably, human population and fishing predicted fish richness, abundance, and biomass with seasonal variation in the effects, while site orientation strongly predicted benthic cover. Field studies in the Comoros were also used to investigate the roles of community and state actors in co-management and compare effectiveness of comanagement across sites with varying levels of actor participation. Effective management was found to occur with community or `meta-community' (in this case, a Marine Protected Area in which the efforts of several communities were organized) participation in governance and support of state or external agents, while resilient management that overcame considerable challenges was found to occur only with strong community participation and leadership in governance. External agents were found to contribute to development of meta-community governance structure and initiation of community participation through education and capacity building. The findings from these studies reveal that coral reef management can be improved through context appropriate regulations that address detrimental human activities and through wide acceptance and participation in governance with cooperation among states, communities, and external agents. Close

• 50. [Article] Oregon's Fish and Wildlife in a Changing Climate

  Chapter 7 in: The Oregon Climate Change Assessment Report Oregon's fish and wildlife include animals on land, fish and other species in rivers and lakes, and various kinds of sea life in estuaries and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon's Fish and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Author: Hixon, Mark A., Gregory, Stanley V., Robinson, W. Douglas, Baker, C. Scott, Batchelder, Harold P., Epps, Clinton, Garcia, Tiffany S., Haig, Susan M., Letelier, Ricardo M., Lytle, David A., Menge, Bruce A., Miller, Jeffery C., Noakes, David L.G., Peterson, William T., Rice, James M., Rumrill, Steven S., Schreck, Carl B., Suryan, Robert M., Sytsma, Mark D., White, Angelicque E. Year: 2010 Chapter 7 in: The Oregon Climate Change Assessment Report Oregon's fish and wildlife include animals on land, fish and other species in rivers and lakes, and various kinds of sea life in estuaries and coastal ocean. Oregon is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country. The state’s robust biodiversity, some of which is already threatened or endangered -- inhabits complex and dynamic ecosystems that we have only begun to understand, let alone examine in terms of climate change.It is clear that the abundance and distribution of species are shifting already and will shift more rapidly as habitats on land, in freshwater, and in the sea are altered due to increasing temperatures and related environmental changes. It remains to be seen if past changes are all tied to global climate change or if they are a result of some other variability, but they represent a proxy for how species may shift in a warmer climate. Among the observed species changes: Insects are moving in from the south of Oregon, frogs are reproducing earlier in the year and land birds are shifting their distributions northward and migrating earlier. Freshwater fish are losing their cool-water habitats. In the marine environment, algal blooms have increased (figure 11) and the highly predatory Humboldt squid have shifted their distribution from subtropical and tropical regions, making an appearance off the coast of Oregon in the last few years. In a warmer climate, plant and animal species may have to shift upward or northward on land or deeper at sea for survival. Rare or endangered species may become less abundant or extinct; insect pests, invasive species and harmful algal blooms may become more abundant. Declines in the abundance of species may be caused directly by physiological stress related to changes in temperature, water availability, and other environmental shifts, and/or indirectly by habitat degradation and negative interactions with species that are benefited by climate change (diseases, parasites, predators, and competitors). Understanding the responses of Oregon’s fish and wildlife to climate change will require a better understanding of smaller organisms and insects and ocean species. Knowledge of ecological interactions will be crucial for understanding the related effects of climate change (increased predation or competition, for example). Management and natural resource polices that protect intact ecosystems are a tool for adaptation; native species can live and migrate to these safe refugia. Title: Oregon's Fish and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Author: Hixon, Mark A., Gregory, Stanley V., Robinson, W. Douglas, Baker, C. Scott, Batchelder, Harold P., Epps, Clinton, Garcia, Tiffany S., Haig, Susan M., Letelier, Ricardo M., Lytle, David A., Menge, Bruce A., Miller, Jeffery C., Noakes, David L.G., Peterson, William T., Rice, James M., Rumrill, Steven S., Schreck, Carl B., Suryan, Robert M., Sytsma, Mark D., White, Angelicque E. Year: 2010 Chapter 7 in: The Oregon Climate Change Assessment Report Oregon's fish and wildlife include animals on land, fish and other species in rivers and lakes, and various kinds of sea life in estuaries and coastal ocean. Oregon is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country. The state’s robust biodiversity, some of which is already threatened or endangered -- inhabits complex and dynamic ecosystems that we have only begun to understand, let alone examine in terms of climate change.It is clear that the abundance and distribution of species are shifting already and will shift more rapidly as habitats on land, in freshwater, and in the sea are altered due to increasing temperatures and related environmental changes. It remains to be seen if past changes are all tied to global climate change or if they are a result of some other variability, but they represent a proxy for how species may shift in a warmer climate. Among the observed species changes: Insects are moving in from the south of Oregon, frogs are reproducing earlier in the year and land birds are shifting their distributions northward and migrating earlier. Freshwater fish are losing their cool-water habitats. In the marine environment, algal blooms have increased (figure 11) and the highly predatory Humboldt squid have shifted their distribution from subtropical and tropical regions, making an appearance off the coast of Oregon in the last few years. In a warmer climate, plant and animal species may have to shift upward or northward on land or deeper at sea for survival. Rare or endangered species may become less abundant or extinct; insect pests, invasive species and harmful algal blooms may become more abundant. Declines in the abundance of species may be caused directly by physiological stress related to changes in temperature, water availability, and other environmental shifts, and/or indirectly by habitat degradation and negative interactions with species that are benefited by climate change (diseases, parasites, predators, and competitors). Understanding the responses of Oregon’s fish and wildlife to climate change will require a better understanding of smaller organisms and insects and ocean species. Knowledge of ecological interactions will be crucial for understanding the related effects of climate change (increased predation or competition, for example). Management and natural resource polices that protect intact ecosystems are a tool for adaptation; native species can live and migrate to these safe refugia. Close