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• 51. [Article] Growth rates and species composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) in Oregon’s nearshore and estuarine habitats

  Identification of critical habitat for all life stages of commercially exploited fish populations is critical for effective management. Despite a clear need for basic biological information on juvenile ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Growth rates and species composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) in Oregon’s nearshore and estuarine habitats Author: Gallagher, M. Brett Identification of critical habitat for all life stages of commercially exploited fish populations is critical for effective management. Despite a clear need for basic biological information on juvenile rockfish life history, there have been very few efforts to describe distribution and habitat of this life stage, particularly along the Oregon coast. This study investigated the relationships between habitat-type, species composition and growth of juvenile rockfishes following settlement into nearshore reefs and estuaries. By using a four-level classification system to prioritize and identify Essential Fish Habitat, results of this study refine scientific knowledge of EFH for Oregon’s nearshore rockfish species. Four species of rockfish were collected during the summers of 2004 and 2005. blue rockfish (S. mystinus), black rockfish (S. melanops), yellowtail rockfish (S. flavidus) and widow rockfish (S. entomelas). Nearshore hand net samples were dominated by blue rockfish. Estuary samples were almost exclusively black rockfish, indicating that this species is common in Yaquina Bay. No black rockfish were collected from our nearshore sampling sites in either 2004 or 2005, although this habitat is listed as common for juveniles of this species. Identification of critical habitat for all life stages of commercially exploited fish populations is critical for effective management. Despite a clear need for basic biological information on juvenile rockfish life history, there have been very few efforts to describe distribution and habitat of this life stage, particularly along the Oregon coast. This study investigated the relationships between habitat-type, species composition and growth of juvenile rockfishes following settlement into nearshore reefs and estuaries. By using a four-level classification system to prioritize and identify Essential Fish Habitat, results of this study refine scientific knowledge of EFH for Oregon’s nearshore rockfish species. Four species of rockfish were collected during the summers of 2004 and 2005. blue rockfish (S. mystinus), black rockfish (S. melanops), yellowtail rockfish (S. flavidus) and widow rockfish (S. entomelas). Nearshore hand net samples were dominated by blue rockfish. Estuary samples were almost exclusively black rockfish, indicating that this species is common in Yaquina Bay. No black rockfish were collected from our nearshore sampling sites in either 2004 or 2005, although this habitat is listed as common for juveniles of this species. Blue rockfish settlement was detected from April thru July in 2004, and from May thru June in 2005. Peak settlement timing was in June of both years. Settlement for black rockfish ranged from March thru July both years, with peak settlement timing occurring in mid-May. Yellowtail and widow rockfish juveniles were rarely encountered, with settlement occurring in April and July respectively. Abundance, as estimated from catch per unit effort (CPUE) calculations, varied among years and habitats. Black rockfish were more abundant in 2004 than in 2005. Some of the highest densities were found around pilings, docks and other anthropogenic structures: CPUE decreased within rock, eelgrass, and sand habitats respectively. Growth was not significantly different among habitats for either black or blue rockfish. Growth rate differences were not significant among years for either black or blue rockfish. However, growth differences were significant between species (black 0.50 mm d-1 and blue .54 mm d-1 (two sample-t test, T stat = -3.19, df = 133 P-value <.002). Additionally, this thesis presents a tank validation experiment that investigated the validity of traps as a quantitative measure of habitat quality. This trap validation study showed that as habitat complexity increases, trap efficiency decreases. Trap attractiveness is an important source of bias when used for juvenile rockfish abundance estimation. This study demonstrates abundance estimates may be inflated in areas of low habitat complexity in the natural environment, or under-estimate the relative abundance of rockfishes within complex habitats. This study identifies estuaries as Essential Fish Habitat for black rockfish juveniles along the central Oregon coast, and nearshore reef as EFH for blue rockfish juveniles. Results of this study also provide specific information on spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment, habitat selection and growth, previously unknown for Oregon's nearshore Sebastes species. Title: Growth rates and species composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) in Oregon’s nearshore and estuarine habitats Author: Gallagher, M. Brett Identification of critical habitat for all life stages of commercially exploited fish populations is critical for effective management. Despite a clear need for basic biological information on juvenile rockfish life history, there have been very few efforts to describe distribution and habitat of this life stage, particularly along the Oregon coast. This study investigated the relationships between habitat-type, species composition and growth of juvenile rockfishes following settlement into nearshore reefs and estuaries. By using a four-level classification system to prioritize and identify Essential Fish Habitat, results of this study refine scientific knowledge of EFH for Oregon’s nearshore rockfish species. Four species of rockfish were collected during the summers of 2004 and 2005. blue rockfish (S. mystinus), black rockfish (S. melanops), yellowtail rockfish (S. flavidus) and widow rockfish (S. entomelas). Nearshore hand net samples were dominated by blue rockfish. Estuary samples were almost exclusively black rockfish, indicating that this species is common in Yaquina Bay. No black rockfish were collected from our nearshore sampling sites in either 2004 or 2005, although this habitat is listed as common for juveniles of this species. Identification of critical habitat for all life stages of commercially exploited fish populations is critical for effective management. Despite a clear need for basic biological information on juvenile rockfish life history, there have been very few efforts to describe distribution and habitat of this life stage, particularly along the Oregon coast. This study investigated the relationships between habitat-type, species composition and growth of juvenile rockfishes following settlement into nearshore reefs and estuaries. By using a four-level classification system to prioritize and identify Essential Fish Habitat, results of this study refine scientific knowledge of EFH for Oregon’s nearshore rockfish species. Four species of rockfish were collected during the summers of 2004 and 2005. blue rockfish (S. mystinus), black rockfish (S. melanops), yellowtail rockfish (S. flavidus) and widow rockfish (S. entomelas). Nearshore hand net samples were dominated by blue rockfish. Estuary samples were almost exclusively black rockfish, indicating that this species is common in Yaquina Bay. No black rockfish were collected from our nearshore sampling sites in either 2004 or 2005, although this habitat is listed as common for juveniles of this species. Blue rockfish settlement was detected from April thru July in 2004, and from May thru June in 2005. Peak settlement timing was in June of both years. Settlement for black rockfish ranged from March thru July both years, with peak settlement timing occurring in mid-May. Yellowtail and widow rockfish juveniles were rarely encountered, with settlement occurring in April and July respectively. Abundance, as estimated from catch per unit effort (CPUE) calculations, varied among years and habitats. Black rockfish were more abundant in 2004 than in 2005. Some of the highest densities were found around pilings, docks and other anthropogenic structures: CPUE decreased within rock, eelgrass, and sand habitats respectively. Growth was not significantly different among habitats for either black or blue rockfish. Growth rate differences were not significant among years for either black or blue rockfish. However, growth differences were significant between species (black 0.50 mm d-1 and blue .54 mm d-1 (two sample-t test, T stat = -3.19, df = 133 P-value <.002). Additionally, this thesis presents a tank validation experiment that investigated the validity of traps as a quantitative measure of habitat quality. This trap validation study showed that as habitat complexity increases, trap efficiency decreases. Trap attractiveness is an important source of bias when used for juvenile rockfish abundance estimation. This study demonstrates abundance estimates may be inflated in areas of low habitat complexity in the natural environment, or under-estimate the relative abundance of rockfishes within complex habitats. This study identifies estuaries as Essential Fish Habitat for black rockfish juveniles along the central Oregon coast, and nearshore reef as EFH for blue rockfish juveniles. Results of this study also provide specific information on spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment, habitat selection and growth, previously unknown for Oregon's nearshore Sebastes species. Close

• 52. [Article] The use of remote sensing for characterizing forests in wildlife habitat modeling

  Spatially explicit maps of habitat relationships have proven to be valuable tools for conservation and management applications including evaluating how and which species may be impacted by large scale ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The use of remote sensing for characterizing forests in wildlife habitat modeling Author: Vogeler, Jody C. Spatially explicit maps of habitat relationships have proven to be valuable tools for conservation and management applications including evaluating how and which species may be impacted by large scale climate change, ongoing fragmentation of habitat, and local land-use practices. Studies have turned to remote sensing datasets as a way to characterize vegetation for the examination of habitat selection and for mapping realized relationships across the landscape. Although the use of remote sensing in wildlife studies has increased in recent years, the use of these datasets is still limited and some data sources and methods are yet to be explored. The overall goal of this dissertation was to look at the state of the wildlife ecology discipline in the use of geospatial data for habitat mapping, and to advance this area through the fusion of remote sensing tools for the mapping of previously difficult to characterize forest metrics for inclusion in avian cavity-nester habitat models. Chapter 2 reviewed over 60 years of selected wildlife literature to examine the wildlife ecology disciple through historic trends and recent advances in the use of remote sensing for habitat characterization focusing on aspects of scale and the use of available technology. We discuss commonly used remote sensing data sources, point out recent advances in the use of geospatial data for characterizing forest wildlife habitat (the use of lidar data and the creation of spatially explicit habitat prediction maps), and provide future suggestions for increased utilization of available datasets (secondary lidar metrics and time series Landsat data). In chapters 3 and 4 we explored the use of remote sensing for characterizing forest components previously difficult to map across landscapes at scales relevant to local wildlife habitat selection. Chapter 3 found promise in the fusion of lidar structure and Landsat time series disturbance products in the modeling and mapping of post-fire snag and shrub distributions at fine scales and at size/cover thresholds relevant for habitat mapping applications for many wildlife species. The study was conducted within the 2003 B&B Fire Complex in central Oregon. Using 164 field calibration plots and remote sensing predictors, we modeled the presence/absence of snag classes (dbh ≥40cm, ≥50cm, and ≥75cm) and woody shrub cover resulting in 10m output predictive grid maps. Remote sensing predictors included various lidar structure and topography variables and Landsat time series products representing the pre-fire forest, disturbance magnitude, and current forest conditions. We were able to model and map all habitat metrics with acceptable predictive performance and low-moderate errors. The utility of these snag and shrub metrics for representing important nesting habitat features for a cavity-nesting species of conservation concern, the Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), was demonstrated in Chapter 4. We were able to model nesting habitat with good accuracies according to multiple performance measures and then map realized relationships for this species of conservation concern in an identified source habitat type, providing a potential resource for local scale conservation and management efforts and adding to the regional knowledge of habitat selection for the Lewis's Woodpecker. To our knowledge, these chapters represent first attempts to fuse lidar and time series Landsat disturbance metrics in a post-fire landscape and for the mapping of snag and shrub distributions at scales relevant to avian cavity nesting habitat. Title: The use of remote sensing for characterizing forests in wildlife habitat modeling Author: Vogeler, Jody C. Spatially explicit maps of habitat relationships have proven to be valuable tools for conservation and management applications including evaluating how and which species may be impacted by large scale climate change, ongoing fragmentation of habitat, and local land-use practices. Studies have turned to remote sensing datasets as a way to characterize vegetation for the examination of habitat selection and for mapping realized relationships across the landscape. Although the use of remote sensing in wildlife studies has increased in recent years, the use of these datasets is still limited and some data sources and methods are yet to be explored. The overall goal of this dissertation was to look at the state of the wildlife ecology discipline in the use of geospatial data for habitat mapping, and to advance this area through the fusion of remote sensing tools for the mapping of previously difficult to characterize forest metrics for inclusion in avian cavity-nester habitat models. Chapter 2 reviewed over 60 years of selected wildlife literature to examine the wildlife ecology disciple through historic trends and recent advances in the use of remote sensing for habitat characterization focusing on aspects of scale and the use of available technology. We discuss commonly used remote sensing data sources, point out recent advances in the use of geospatial data for characterizing forest wildlife habitat (the use of lidar data and the creation of spatially explicit habitat prediction maps), and provide future suggestions for increased utilization of available datasets (secondary lidar metrics and time series Landsat data). In chapters 3 and 4 we explored the use of remote sensing for characterizing forest components previously difficult to map across landscapes at scales relevant to local wildlife habitat selection. Chapter 3 found promise in the fusion of lidar structure and Landsat time series disturbance products in the modeling and mapping of post-fire snag and shrub distributions at fine scales and at size/cover thresholds relevant for habitat mapping applications for many wildlife species. The study was conducted within the 2003 B&B Fire Complex in central Oregon. Using 164 field calibration plots and remote sensing predictors, we modeled the presence/absence of snag classes (dbh ≥40cm, ≥50cm, and ≥75cm) and woody shrub cover resulting in 10m output predictive grid maps. Remote sensing predictors included various lidar structure and topography variables and Landsat time series products representing the pre-fire forest, disturbance magnitude, and current forest conditions. We were able to model and map all habitat metrics with acceptable predictive performance and low-moderate errors. The utility of these snag and shrub metrics for representing important nesting habitat features for a cavity-nesting species of conservation concern, the Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), was demonstrated in Chapter 4. We were able to model nesting habitat with good accuracies according to multiple performance measures and then map realized relationships for this species of conservation concern in an identified source habitat type, providing a potential resource for local scale conservation and management efforts and adding to the regional knowledge of habitat selection for the Lewis's Woodpecker. To our knowledge, these chapters represent first attempts to fuse lidar and time series Landsat disturbance metrics in a post-fire landscape and for the mapping of snag and shrub distributions at scales relevant to avian cavity nesting habitat. Close

• 53. [Article] The relationship between stream habitat complexity and anadromous salmonid diversity and habitat selection

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The relationship between stream habitat complexity and anadromous salmonid diversity and habitat selection Author: Chen, Glenn K. Title: The relationship between stream habitat complexity and anadromous salmonid diversity and habitat selection Author: Chen, Glenn K. Close

• 54. [Article] Evaluation of a U.S. West coast groundfish habitat conservation regulation via analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of trawl fishing efforts

  Recent emphasis on linkages between essential fish habitat and fish stock productivity has raised concerns about the management of fishing activities such as trawling, which have the potential to impact ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evaluation of a U.S. West coast groundfish habitat conservation regulation via analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of trawl fishing efforts Author: Bellman, Marlene A. Recent emphasis on linkages between essential fish habitat and fish stock productivity has raised concerns about the management of fishing activities such as trawling, which have the potential to impact fish habitat. Knowing specifically where and how intensively trawl effort has occurred over time provides ecologists with the necessary background for habitat impact and recovery studies, and provides fishery managers with an assessment of how habitat conservation objectives are being met. The objectives of this study were to (1) examine the extent to which the 2000 Pacific Fishery Management Council footrope restriction has shifted and reduced trawl fishing effort on Oregon fishing grounds, (2) to relate these changes in distribution to the benthic habitat type over which they occur, and (3) to develop methods for enhancing fine-scale spatial review of targeted fishing effort. Density analysis of available trawl start locations provided a spatial and temporal understanding of how fishing efforts increased and decreased in relation to habitat distribution and fishery management actions between 1995 and 2002. Trawl effort patterns exhibit significant inter-annual variability and patchy distribution. Areas of increased fishing effort were still evident between years, despite an overall decline in trawl tows across the time scale of this study. Tow end point locations for the years 1998-2001 were retrieved from manual logbooks for five reference sites located in the proximity of rock habitat features. Trawl towlines were mapped from start to end point and demonstrated a marked enhancement of fine-scale fishing effort resolution, with increased ability to identify effort shifts over benthic habitat. Distinct spatial shifts in fishing intensity (measured as km towed) away from rock habitat were evident at all reference sites, with an average reduction of 86%. Some slight shifts into surrounding unconsolidated sediments also occurred, indicating effort displacement as well as reduction. Fishing intensity was calculated from commercial trawl and research trawl survey towlines to achieve the most accurate assessment of fishing impacts and potential habitat recovery areas. Research trawling intensity was less than 1% of commercial trawl effort originating from the same sites. A brief comparison of Oregon vessel towlines and California vessel towlines demonstrated similar targeted fishing patterns by both fleets, except at one site. Results indicate that the footrope restriction, in conjunction with associated landing limits, was effective in protecting rocky habitats from trawl fishing impacts. Reference areas were identified where essential fish habitat (EFH) recovery is likely occurring off the coast of Oregon. Substantial regulatory changes continue in this fishery, with trip limits and gear restrictions continuously adjusted. Continued monitoring and review of spatial trawl data would assist in fishery management decision-making and assess conservation objectives for depleted groundfish and associated habitats. Future research should incorporate analysis of catch data and expand the review of trawl towlines for the entire US West coast groundfish fishery. The trawl towline spatial analysis developed in this work is a credible method for reviewing fishing effort at the scale of the fishery and in relation to detailed habitat data. The research presented here provides an example of how an interdisciplinary approach and critical assessment of data can work to resolve marine management challenges. Title: Evaluation of a U.S. West coast groundfish habitat conservation regulation via analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of trawl fishing efforts Author: Bellman, Marlene A. Recent emphasis on linkages between essential fish habitat and fish stock productivity has raised concerns about the management of fishing activities such as trawling, which have the potential to impact fish habitat. Knowing specifically where and how intensively trawl effort has occurred over time provides ecologists with the necessary background for habitat impact and recovery studies, and provides fishery managers with an assessment of how habitat conservation objectives are being met. The objectives of this study were to (1) examine the extent to which the 2000 Pacific Fishery Management Council footrope restriction has shifted and reduced trawl fishing effort on Oregon fishing grounds, (2) to relate these changes in distribution to the benthic habitat type over which they occur, and (3) to develop methods for enhancing fine-scale spatial review of targeted fishing effort. Density analysis of available trawl start locations provided a spatial and temporal understanding of how fishing efforts increased and decreased in relation to habitat distribution and fishery management actions between 1995 and 2002. Trawl effort patterns exhibit significant inter-annual variability and patchy distribution. Areas of increased fishing effort were still evident between years, despite an overall decline in trawl tows across the time scale of this study. Tow end point locations for the years 1998-2001 were retrieved from manual logbooks for five reference sites located in the proximity of rock habitat features. Trawl towlines were mapped from start to end point and demonstrated a marked enhancement of fine-scale fishing effort resolution, with increased ability to identify effort shifts over benthic habitat. Distinct spatial shifts in fishing intensity (measured as km towed) away from rock habitat were evident at all reference sites, with an average reduction of 86%. Some slight shifts into surrounding unconsolidated sediments also occurred, indicating effort displacement as well as reduction. Fishing intensity was calculated from commercial trawl and research trawl survey towlines to achieve the most accurate assessment of fishing impacts and potential habitat recovery areas. Research trawling intensity was less than 1% of commercial trawl effort originating from the same sites. A brief comparison of Oregon vessel towlines and California vessel towlines demonstrated similar targeted fishing patterns by both fleets, except at one site. Results indicate that the footrope restriction, in conjunction with associated landing limits, was effective in protecting rocky habitats from trawl fishing impacts. Reference areas were identified where essential fish habitat (EFH) recovery is likely occurring off the coast of Oregon. Substantial regulatory changes continue in this fishery, with trip limits and gear restrictions continuously adjusted. Continued monitoring and review of spatial trawl data would assist in fishery management decision-making and assess conservation objectives for depleted groundfish and associated habitats. Future research should incorporate analysis of catch data and expand the review of trawl towlines for the entire US West coast groundfish fishery. The trawl towline spatial analysis developed in this work is a credible method for reviewing fishing effort at the scale of the fishery and in relation to detailed habitat data. The research presented here provides an example of how an interdisciplinary approach and critical assessment of data can work to resolve marine management challenges. Close

• 55. [Article] Habitat-destructive fishing practices

  Abstract only.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Habitat-destructive fishing practices Author: Mikkelsen, Eirik Abstract only. Title: Habitat-destructive fishing practices Author: Mikkelsen, Eirik Abstract only. Close

• 56. [Article] Fish assemblages of rocky banks of the Pacific Northwest: data report: 1988-1990 Bottom types and invertebrates

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fish assemblages of rocky banks of the Pacific Northwest: data report: 1988-1990 Bottom types and invertebrates Author: Tissot, Brian N. (Brian Nelson), Hixon, Mark A. (Mark Anthony), 1951-, Pearcy, William G. Title: Fish assemblages of rocky banks of the Pacific Northwest: data report: 1988-1990 Bottom types and invertebrates Author: Tissot, Brian N. (Brian Nelson), Hixon, Mark A. (Mark Anthony), 1951-, Pearcy, William G. Close

• 57. [Article] Habitat use and home range size of breeding northern goshawks in the southern Cascades

  I investigated habitat use and home range size of northern goshawks in the southern Cascades, in the Shasta- Trinity and Klamath National Forests of northern California. My objectives were to 1) estimate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Habitat use and home range size of breeding northern goshawks in the southern Cascades Author: Austin, Karen K. I investigated habitat use and home range size of northern goshawks in the southern Cascades, in the Shasta- Trinity and Klamath National Forests of northern California. My objectives were to 1) estimate the average home range and 2) describe the use of habitats within home ranges by breeding goshawks. Ten goshawks (5 males, 5 females) were trapped, radio-transmitters attached, and tracked for approximately 50 days during the breeding season in 1988 and 1989. A mean of 33 data points per bird (range = 27-43) produced home range estimates (100% minimum convex polygon method) of 2,425 ha (range = 1083-3902 ha) for 5 males and 3,774 ha (range = 2007-6908 ha) for 5 females. Vegetation plots were sampled at 20 locations determined by radio-tracking (used) and 20 locations randomly identified (available) in each of 9 goshawk home ranges. Two variables were sampled within 30-m radius habitat plots, average dbh and canopy closure. These variables were combined to classify the plot into 1 of 5 classes. Goshawks used habitats within their home ranges non-randomly. Analyses of individual goshawk habitat selection were not conclusive, but trends in individual habitat selection was used to examine pooled analysis results. Goshawks avoided open habitats (meadows, seedling and sapling stands) and individual trends supported pooled analysis results. Goshawks did not avoid or select pole habitat stands, and individual trends supported these results. Goshawks avoided open-canopied, small sawtimber and mature stands (26-52+ cm dbh, canopy closure < 40%), but trends in individual goshawk selection were inconsistent. Stands of closed-canopied, small sawtimber (26-51 cm dbh, canopy closure [greater than or equal to] 40%), the most abundant habitat type within goshawk home ranges was not selected or avoided by goshawks, and individual trends agree with pooled results. Goshawks selected closed-canopied stands of mature and old-growth habitat ([greater than or equal to] 52 cm dbh, canopy closure [greater than or equal to] 40%), and trends in individual goshawk selection generally agreed with pooled results. Management recommendations are not meant to be extrapolated beyond the limitations of my study, but in the absence of other information this data can be used in developing interim recommendations and can help focus future research efforts. The area considered for management of habitat for breeding goshawks should include a minimum of 4,765 contiguous hectares (11,774 acres), within which habitats should be managed for goshawk foraging, resting, nesting, and raising young. Habitats managed for goshawks should include a minimum of 20% of each area in closed-canopied mature and old-growth forest ([greater than or equal to] 52 cm or [greater than or equal to] 21" dbh, canopy closure [greater than or equal to] 40%), and a minimum of 40% in closed-canopied small sawtimber forest (26-51 cm, or 11-21" dbh, [greater than or equal to] 40% canopy closure). No more than 10% of the management area should be maintained in the seedling/sapling/grass-forb habitats and unforested condition. Title: Habitat use and home range size of breeding northern goshawks in the southern Cascades Author: Austin, Karen K. I investigated habitat use and home range size of northern goshawks in the southern Cascades, in the Shasta- Trinity and Klamath National Forests of northern California. My objectives were to 1) estimate the average home range and 2) describe the use of habitats within home ranges by breeding goshawks. Ten goshawks (5 males, 5 females) were trapped, radio-transmitters attached, and tracked for approximately 50 days during the breeding season in 1988 and 1989. A mean of 33 data points per bird (range = 27-43) produced home range estimates (100% minimum convex polygon method) of 2,425 ha (range = 1083-3902 ha) for 5 males and 3,774 ha (range = 2007-6908 ha) for 5 females. Vegetation plots were sampled at 20 locations determined by radio-tracking (used) and 20 locations randomly identified (available) in each of 9 goshawk home ranges. Two variables were sampled within 30-m radius habitat plots, average dbh and canopy closure. These variables were combined to classify the plot into 1 of 5 classes. Goshawks used habitats within their home ranges non-randomly. Analyses of individual goshawk habitat selection were not conclusive, but trends in individual habitat selection was used to examine pooled analysis results. Goshawks avoided open habitats (meadows, seedling and sapling stands) and individual trends supported pooled analysis results. Goshawks did not avoid or select pole habitat stands, and individual trends supported these results. Goshawks avoided open-canopied, small sawtimber and mature stands (26-52+ cm dbh, canopy closure < 40%), but trends in individual goshawk selection were inconsistent. Stands of closed-canopied, small sawtimber (26-51 cm dbh, canopy closure [greater than or equal to] 40%), the most abundant habitat type within goshawk home ranges was not selected or avoided by goshawks, and individual trends agree with pooled results. Goshawks selected closed-canopied stands of mature and old-growth habitat ([greater than or equal to] 52 cm dbh, canopy closure [greater than or equal to] 40%), and trends in individual goshawk selection generally agreed with pooled results. Management recommendations are not meant to be extrapolated beyond the limitations of my study, but in the absence of other information this data can be used in developing interim recommendations and can help focus future research efforts. The area considered for management of habitat for breeding goshawks should include a minimum of 4,765 contiguous hectares (11,774 acres), within which habitats should be managed for goshawk foraging, resting, nesting, and raising young. Habitats managed for goshawks should include a minimum of 20% of each area in closed-canopied mature and old-growth forest ([greater than or equal to] 52 cm or [greater than or equal to] 21" dbh, canopy closure [greater than or equal to] 40%), and a minimum of 40% in closed-canopied small sawtimber forest (26-51 cm, or 11-21" dbh, [greater than or equal to] 40% canopy closure). No more than 10% of the management area should be maintained in the seedling/sapling/grass-forb habitats and unforested condition. Close

• 58. [Article] Physical habitat classification for conservation planning in the Klamath Mountains region

  I classified the environment of the Klamath Mountains region into physical habitat types using climate and soil variables and a geographic information system (GIS). I used principal components analysis ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Physical habitat classification for conservation planning in the Klamath Mountains region Author: Vance-Borland, Kenneth W. I classified the environment of the Klamath Mountains region into physical habitat types using climate and soil variables and a geographic information system (GIS). I used principal components analysis to find four variables representing most regional climate variation: average annual precipitation, the difference between December and July precipitation, average annual temperature, and the difference between July and January average temperatures. I used soil depth and soil water-holding capacity to represent soil quality. I used the four climate variables and two soil variables for cluster analysis to classify the region into 19 physical habitat types. To test the habitat classification, I surveyed woody vegetation in 97 plots throughout the region. I recorded 29 tree species and 53 shrub species. Mantel tests showed significant correlations between woody vegetation and the environmental variables used in the classification. Muitiresponse permutation procedures (MRPP) showed woody plant assemblages differ significantly between physical habitat types. Overlaying Gap Analysis Program (GAP) vegetation types with the physical habitat types showed multiple physical habitats occurring within most vegetation types, a possible indication of the beta diversity within GAP vegetation types. Wilderness areas covered 14% of the study area, but regional physical habitat diversity was poorly represented in the wilderness reserve system. Five of the 19 physical habitat types had at least 25% of their areas in wilderness, and all 5 of those types were in the mountains. Nine physical habitat types had less than 10% of their areas in wilderness, and 3 low interior fertile types had no area in wilderness. Wilderness areas and Late Successional Reserves (LSRs) made up 40% of the study area, but three lowland physical habitat types had less than 25% of their areas in wilderness and LSRs, and three other lowland physical habitat types had less than 10%of their areas in in wilderness and LSRs. I used conservation planning software to select two examples of more fully representative reserve networks based on existing wilderness areas. One represented at least 10% of each physical habitat type and the other at least 25%. Two-thirds of the region is in public ownership, but private lands would be needed to represent lowland warm fertile habitat types in reserves. GIS and newly available environmental data sets allowed cost-effective mapping of physical habitat diversity for conservation planning. Title: Physical habitat classification for conservation planning in the Klamath Mountains region Author: Vance-Borland, Kenneth W. I classified the environment of the Klamath Mountains region into physical habitat types using climate and soil variables and a geographic information system (GIS). I used principal components analysis to find four variables representing most regional climate variation: average annual precipitation, the difference between December and July precipitation, average annual temperature, and the difference between July and January average temperatures. I used soil depth and soil water-holding capacity to represent soil quality. I used the four climate variables and two soil variables for cluster analysis to classify the region into 19 physical habitat types. To test the habitat classification, I surveyed woody vegetation in 97 plots throughout the region. I recorded 29 tree species and 53 shrub species. Mantel tests showed significant correlations between woody vegetation and the environmental variables used in the classification. Muitiresponse permutation procedures (MRPP) showed woody plant assemblages differ significantly between physical habitat types. Overlaying Gap Analysis Program (GAP) vegetation types with the physical habitat types showed multiple physical habitats occurring within most vegetation types, a possible indication of the beta diversity within GAP vegetation types. Wilderness areas covered 14% of the study area, but regional physical habitat diversity was poorly represented in the wilderness reserve system. Five of the 19 physical habitat types had at least 25% of their areas in wilderness, and all 5 of those types were in the mountains. Nine physical habitat types had less than 10% of their areas in wilderness, and 3 low interior fertile types had no area in wilderness. Wilderness areas and Late Successional Reserves (LSRs) made up 40% of the study area, but three lowland physical habitat types had less than 25% of their areas in wilderness and LSRs, and three other lowland physical habitat types had less than 10%of their areas in in wilderness and LSRs. I used conservation planning software to select two examples of more fully representative reserve networks based on existing wilderness areas. One represented at least 10% of each physical habitat type and the other at least 25%. Two-thirds of the region is in public ownership, but private lands would be needed to represent lowland warm fertile habitat types in reserves. GIS and newly available environmental data sets allowed cost-effective mapping of physical habitat diversity for conservation planning. Close

• 59. [Article] Modeling sage-grouse habitat using a state-and-transition model

  Habitat for wildlife species that depend on sagebrush ecosystems is of great management concern. Evaluating how management activities and climate change may affect the abundance of moderate and high-quality ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Modeling sage-grouse habitat using a state-and-transition model Author: Evers, Louisa Habitat for wildlife species that depend on sagebrush ecosystems is of great management concern. Evaluating how management activities and climate change may affect the abundance of moderate and high-quality habitat necessitates the development of models that examine vegetation dynamics, but modeling tools for rangeland systems are limited. I developed state-and-transition models using a combination of scientific literature and data for climate, soils, and wildfire to examine how different types of natural events, management activities, changing climate, and potential future vegetation dynamics may interact and affect the abundance of habitat for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Specific periods examined include the era prior to 1850, the current era, and late in the 21st century in southeastern Oregon. A primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of climate data to define most event probabilities and, subsequently, the relative mix of ecological states, community phases, and sage-grouse habitat with an eye towards a modeling approach that was objective, repeatable, and transferrable to other locations. Contrary to expectations, model results of the conditions prior to 1850 indicated fire may not have been the most important disturbance factor influencing sage-grouse habitat abundance, merely the most visible. Other, more subtle disturbances that thinned sagebrush density, such as drought, herbivory, and weather-related mortality, may have been equally or more important in shaping sage-grouse habitat. Sage-grouse breeding habitat may have been slightly more abundant than levels currently recommended by sage-grouse biologists, brood-rearing habitat may have been as or more abundant, but wintering habitat may have been less abundant. Under the current conditions, livestock grazing during severe drought, postfire seeding success, juniper expansion probabilities, and the frequency of vegetation treatments were the most important determinants of sage-grouse habitat abundance. The current vegetation trajectory would lead to considerably less nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering habitat than sage-grouse biologists recommend. Model results suggested reducing or eliminating livestock grazing during severe drought, increasing postfire seeding success, and treating at least 10% of the so-called expansion juniper each year was necessary to maintain higher levels of sage-grouse habitat, although nesting and brood-rearing habitat remained in short supply. I examined three potential future climates based on long-term climate trends in southeastern Oregon and modeled climate and ecosystem projections for the Pacific Northwest generally. The first scenario produced warmer and drier conditions than present, the second scenario warmer and wetter conditions in winter, and the third scenario warmer and wetter conditions in summer. The implications for sage-grouse habitat abundance were very different between these three scenarios, but all would likely result in the loss or near complete loss of cooler, moister sagebrush communities important for nesting and brood-rearing. Salt desert shrub and warmer, drier sagebrush communities could expand under the first scenario but would have a high risk of displacement by cheatgrass. Juniper woodlands could increase in density and salt desert shrub may expand slightly under the second scenario. The remaining sagebrush communities would remain at high risk of displacement by cheatgrass. Pinyon-juniper woodland could largely displace sagebrush in the third scenario. Sage-grouse habitat quality likely would decline in all three scenarios and the abundance decrease significantly in the second and third scenario. Title: Modeling sage-grouse habitat using a state-and-transition model Author: Evers, Louisa Habitat for wildlife species that depend on sagebrush ecosystems is of great management concern. Evaluating how management activities and climate change may affect the abundance of moderate and high-quality habitat necessitates the development of models that examine vegetation dynamics, but modeling tools for rangeland systems are limited. I developed state-and-transition models using a combination of scientific literature and data for climate, soils, and wildfire to examine how different types of natural events, management activities, changing climate, and potential future vegetation dynamics may interact and affect the abundance of habitat for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Specific periods examined include the era prior to 1850, the current era, and late in the 21st century in southeastern Oregon. A primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of climate data to define most event probabilities and, subsequently, the relative mix of ecological states, community phases, and sage-grouse habitat with an eye towards a modeling approach that was objective, repeatable, and transferrable to other locations. Contrary to expectations, model results of the conditions prior to 1850 indicated fire may not have been the most important disturbance factor influencing sage-grouse habitat abundance, merely the most visible. Other, more subtle disturbances that thinned sagebrush density, such as drought, herbivory, and weather-related mortality, may have been equally or more important in shaping sage-grouse habitat. Sage-grouse breeding habitat may have been slightly more abundant than levels currently recommended by sage-grouse biologists, brood-rearing habitat may have been as or more abundant, but wintering habitat may have been less abundant. Under the current conditions, livestock grazing during severe drought, postfire seeding success, juniper expansion probabilities, and the frequency of vegetation treatments were the most important determinants of sage-grouse habitat abundance. The current vegetation trajectory would lead to considerably less nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering habitat than sage-grouse biologists recommend. Model results suggested reducing or eliminating livestock grazing during severe drought, increasing postfire seeding success, and treating at least 10% of the so-called expansion juniper each year was necessary to maintain higher levels of sage-grouse habitat, although nesting and brood-rearing habitat remained in short supply. I examined three potential future climates based on long-term climate trends in southeastern Oregon and modeled climate and ecosystem projections for the Pacific Northwest generally. The first scenario produced warmer and drier conditions than present, the second scenario warmer and wetter conditions in winter, and the third scenario warmer and wetter conditions in summer. The implications for sage-grouse habitat abundance were very different between these three scenarios, but all would likely result in the loss or near complete loss of cooler, moister sagebrush communities important for nesting and brood-rearing. Salt desert shrub and warmer, drier sagebrush communities could expand under the first scenario but would have a high risk of displacement by cheatgrass. Juniper woodlands could increase in density and salt desert shrub may expand slightly under the second scenario. The remaining sagebrush communities would remain at high risk of displacement by cheatgrass. Pinyon-juniper woodland could largely displace sagebrush in the third scenario. Sage-grouse habitat quality likely would decline in all three scenarios and the abundance decrease significantly in the second and third scenario. Close

• 60. [Article] The influence of geology and timber harvest on channel morphology and salmonid populations in Oregon coast range streams

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The influence of geology and timber harvest on channel morphology and salmonid populations in Oregon coast range streams Author: Hicks, Brendan J. Title: The influence of geology and timber harvest on channel morphology and salmonid populations in Oregon coast range streams Author: Hicks, Brendan J. Close

• 61. [Article] Bird records for the Siletz/Logsden area of Lincoln County that are not given elsewhere

  This article includes 609 observations, 531 of which were by Llewellyn. This article is an amalgamation of incidental records for various specific and general areas.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Bird records for the Siletz/Logsden area of Lincoln County that are not given elsewhere Author: Bayer, Range D., 1947-, Llewellyn, Bob This article includes 609 observations, 531 of which were by Llewellyn. This article is an amalgamation of incidental records for various specific and general areas. Title: Bird records for the Siletz/Logsden area of Lincoln County that are not given elsewhere Author: Bayer, Range D., 1947-, Llewellyn, Bob This article includes 609 observations, 531 of which were by Llewellyn. This article is an amalgamation of incidental records for various specific and general areas. Close

• 62. [Article] Salmon and forests : report on the Nehalem Watershed

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Salmon and forests : report on the Nehalem Watershed Author: Coast Range Association Title: Salmon and forests : report on the Nehalem Watershed Author: Coast Range Association Close

• 63. [Article] Small-mammal herpetofauna abundance in riparian and upslope areas of five forest conditions

  I compared species composition and relative abundance of'small mammals and herpetofauna between riparian and upslope habitats among 5 forest types. Riparian- and upslope- associated species were identified based ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Small-mammal herpetofauna abundance in riparian and upslope areas of five forest conditions Author: Gomez, Douglas M. I compared species composition and relative abundance of'small mammals and herpetofauna between riparian and upslope habitats among 5 forest types. Riparian- and upslope- associated species were identified based on capture frequency. Small mammal species richness was similar between stream and upslope habitats and among the 5 forest types. There were differences (P<0.05) in the abundances of 9 small mammal species among forest types. The total captures of small mammals was highest in deciduous stands and progressively lower from shrub to old-growth coniferous forests. Neurotrichus gibbsii, Sorex bendirii, Sorex pacificus, Microtus longicaudus, Microtus townsendii, Phenacomys albioes, and Zapus trinotatus were captured in higher numbers in riparian than in upslope habitats; Sorex pacificus, Microtus longicaudus, and Phenacomys albioes may be considered riparian associated species; and S. bendirii may an obligate of riparian habitat. In contrast, Clethrionomys californicus showed a strong association with upslope habitats. Herpetofauna species richness was similar among forest types but slightly greater in the shrub stands. The abundances of 3 of herpetofauna species differed among forest types. Total captures of herpetofauna was highest in deciduous forests, intermediate in the mature conifer forests, and lowest in the 2 younger forest types. Herpetofauna species richness was similar between stream and upslope habitats, however captures of this group were higher in riparian than upslope habitat. Ascaphus truei, Plethodon dunni, Taricha qranulosa, Dicamptodon tenebrosus and Rana aurora had higher captures in riparian than upslope habitats; Taricha qranulosa and Dicamptodon tenebrosus may be considered riparian associated species; and Ascaphus truei and Plethodon dunni may be obligates of riparian habitat. E. eschscholtzi was associated with upslope habitats. I described riparian microhabitat components important to capture of small mammals and herpetofauna. S. bendirii was found only associated with intermittent streams in upslope habitats, and A. truei was positively correlated with stream depth, additional evidence that these 2 species were associated with riparian habitat. S. pacificus, N. gibbsii, P. albipes, M. longicaudus, and Z. trinotatus were associated with deciduous vegetation. In addition, M. longicaudus was positively correlated with the number of logs. The high abundance of Z. trinotatus along streams was associated with herbaceous vegetation. This is supported by it's high abundance in shrub stands where herbaceous cover is high. C. californicus was captured most frequently in mature and old-growth forests, it was associated with deep litter and abundant snags. The results suggested that small (second- third- and fourth- order) riparian systems and adjacent upslope areas may provide important habitat to some small mammals and herpetofauna on the Oregon Coast Ranges. It is vital that these systems be considered in management plans which include the protection of at least some of these areas from timber harvest. Title: Small-mammal herpetofauna abundance in riparian and upslope areas of five forest conditions Author: Gomez, Douglas M. I compared species composition and relative abundance of'small mammals and herpetofauna between riparian and upslope habitats among 5 forest types. Riparian- and upslope- associated species were identified based on capture frequency. Small mammal species richness was similar between stream and upslope habitats and among the 5 forest types. There were differences (P<0.05) in the abundances of 9 small mammal species among forest types. The total captures of small mammals was highest in deciduous stands and progressively lower from shrub to old-growth coniferous forests. Neurotrichus gibbsii, Sorex bendirii, Sorex pacificus, Microtus longicaudus, Microtus townsendii, Phenacomys albioes, and Zapus trinotatus were captured in higher numbers in riparian than in upslope habitats; Sorex pacificus, Microtus longicaudus, and Phenacomys albioes may be considered riparian associated species; and S. bendirii may an obligate of riparian habitat. In contrast, Clethrionomys californicus showed a strong association with upslope habitats. Herpetofauna species richness was similar among forest types but slightly greater in the shrub stands. The abundances of 3 of herpetofauna species differed among forest types. Total captures of herpetofauna was highest in deciduous forests, intermediate in the mature conifer forests, and lowest in the 2 younger forest types. Herpetofauna species richness was similar between stream and upslope habitats, however captures of this group were higher in riparian than upslope habitat. Ascaphus truei, Plethodon dunni, Taricha qranulosa, Dicamptodon tenebrosus and Rana aurora had higher captures in riparian than upslope habitats; Taricha qranulosa and Dicamptodon tenebrosus may be considered riparian associated species; and Ascaphus truei and Plethodon dunni may be obligates of riparian habitat. E. eschscholtzi was associated with upslope habitats. I described riparian microhabitat components important to capture of small mammals and herpetofauna. S. bendirii was found only associated with intermittent streams in upslope habitats, and A. truei was positively correlated with stream depth, additional evidence that these 2 species were associated with riparian habitat. S. pacificus, N. gibbsii, P. albipes, M. longicaudus, and Z. trinotatus were associated with deciduous vegetation. In addition, M. longicaudus was positively correlated with the number of logs. The high abundance of Z. trinotatus along streams was associated with herbaceous vegetation. This is supported by it's high abundance in shrub stands where herbaceous cover is high. C. californicus was captured most frequently in mature and old-growth forests, it was associated with deep litter and abundant snags. The results suggested that small (second- third- and fourth- order) riparian systems and adjacent upslope areas may provide important habitat to some small mammals and herpetofauna on the Oregon Coast Ranges. It is vital that these systems be considered in management plans which include the protection of at least some of these areas from timber harvest. Close

• 64. [Article] Shifts in Microbial Communities Based Upon Transect Habitat

  Coral reef health has been in severe decline around the globe in the past several decades, in many cases due to direct human impact. Human action, such as overfishing, habitat destruction and nutrient ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Shifts in Microbial Communities Based Upon Transect Habitat Author: Greydanus, Logan Coral reef health has been in severe decline around the globe in the past several decades, in many cases due to direct human impact. Human action, such as overfishing, habitat destruction and nutrient loading, has caused coral coverage to drop to record lows, threatening the future of these critically important biodiversity hotspots. This study investigates the changes in microbial community along reef transects on the South Pacific island of Moorea. Samples were collected at three distinct habitats along reef transects: Fringing Reef, Back Reef, and Cresting Reef. Reef habitats were compared between three regions around the island: North, East and West. Results indicate that there is a significant difference in Bacterial and Archaeal (16S) species between the inner fringing reef habitat and the outer Cresting and Back reef habitats. This difference can consistently be seen across all regions sampled around Moorea. Comparison of the 16S communities based solely on region resulted in no significant difference, suggesting that the primary driver of microbial diversity is location on transect and not region. Based on these results, it appears the Bacterial and Archaeal communities are defined by the reef habitat they belong to and that these communities are not unique to region. Title: Shifts in Microbial Communities Based Upon Transect Habitat Author: Greydanus, Logan Coral reef health has been in severe decline around the globe in the past several decades, in many cases due to direct human impact. Human action, such as overfishing, habitat destruction and nutrient loading, has caused coral coverage to drop to record lows, threatening the future of these critically important biodiversity hotspots. This study investigates the changes in microbial community along reef transects on the South Pacific island of Moorea. Samples were collected at three distinct habitats along reef transects: Fringing Reef, Back Reef, and Cresting Reef. Reef habitats were compared between three regions around the island: North, East and West. Results indicate that there is a significant difference in Bacterial and Archaeal (16S) species between the inner fringing reef habitat and the outer Cresting and Back reef habitats. This difference can consistently be seen across all regions sampled around Moorea. Comparison of the 16S communities based solely on region resulted in no significant difference, suggesting that the primary driver of microbial diversity is location on transect and not region. Based on these results, it appears the Bacterial and Archaeal communities are defined by the reef habitat they belong to and that these communities are not unique to region. Close

• 65. [Article] Texture analysis riparian coniferous forest ADAR imagery to identify potential ecological indicators for monitoring

  The Airborne Data Acquisition and Registration (ADAR) remote sensing system captured one-meter resolution imagery of 25 different riparian sites in drift Creek Basin of coastal northwestern Oregon, USA. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Texture analysis riparian coniferous forest ADAR imagery to identify potential ecological indicators for monitoring Author: Fiorella, M., Barker, Jerry R., Ringold, P.L., Bradshaw, Gay, Bollman, Mike The Airborne Data Acquisition and Registration (ADAR) remote sensing system captured one-meter resolution imagery of 25 different riparian sites in drift Creek Basin of coastal northwestern Oregon, USA. The multispectral, digital data characterized riparian areas with the intent to develop ecological indicators for long-term monitoring. Title: Texture analysis riparian coniferous forest ADAR imagery to identify potential ecological indicators for monitoring Author: Fiorella, M., Barker, Jerry R., Ringold, P.L., Bradshaw, Gay, Bollman, Mike The Airborne Data Acquisition and Registration (ADAR) remote sensing system captured one-meter resolution imagery of 25 different riparian sites in drift Creek Basin of coastal northwestern Oregon, USA. The multispectral, digital data characterized riparian areas with the intent to develop ecological indicators for long-term monitoring. Close

• 66. [Article] From the forest to the sea : a story of fallen trees

  Large fallen trees in various stages of decay contribute much-needed diversity of ecological processes to terrestrial, aquatic, estuarine, coastal beach, and open ocean habitats in the Pacific Northwest. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: From the forest to the sea : a story of fallen trees Author: Maser, Chris, Trappe, James M., Tarrant, Robert F., Franklin, Jerry F. Large fallen trees in various stages of decay contribute much-needed diversity of ecological processes to terrestrial, aquatic, estuarine, coastal beach, and open ocean habitats in the Pacific Northwest. Intensive utilization and management can deprive these habitats of large fallen trees. The publication presents sound information for managers making resource management decisions on the impact of this loss on habitat diversity and on ecological processes that have an impact on long-term ecosystem productivity. Title: From the forest to the sea : a story of fallen trees Author: Maser, Chris, Trappe, James M., Tarrant, Robert F., Franklin, Jerry F. Large fallen trees in various stages of decay contribute much-needed diversity of ecological processes to terrestrial, aquatic, estuarine, coastal beach, and open ocean habitats in the Pacific Northwest. Intensive utilization and management can deprive these habitats of large fallen trees. The publication presents sound information for managers making resource management decisions on the impact of this loss on habitat diversity and on ecological processes that have an impact on long-term ecosystem productivity. Close

• 67. [Article] Defining marine habitat of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and coho salmon, O. kisutch, in the northern California Current System

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer Science and can be found at: www.springer.com/.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Defining marine habitat of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and coho salmon, O. kisutch, in the northern California Current System Author: Reese, Douglas C., Pool, Suzan S., Brodeur, Richard D. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer Science and can be found at: www.springer.com/. Title: Defining marine habitat of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and coho salmon, O. kisutch, in the northern California Current System Author: Reese, Douglas C., Pool, Suzan S., Brodeur, Richard D. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer Science and can be found at: www.springer.com/. Close

• 68. [Article] Effects of hypoxia on habitat quality of pelagic planktivorous fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Inter-Research ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of hypoxia on habitat quality of pelagic planktivorous fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico Author: Stow, Craig A., Mason, Doran M., et al., Brandt, Stephen B., Zhang, Hongyan To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Inter-Research and can be found at: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/. Title: Effects of hypoxia on habitat quality of pelagic planktivorous fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico Author: Stow, Craig A., Mason, Doran M., et al., Brandt, Stephen B., Zhang, Hongyan To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Inter-Research and can be found at: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/. Close

• 69. [Article] Floodplain emergent wetlands as rearing habitat for fishes and the implications for wetland enhancement

  Seasonal emergent wetlands in the Pacific Northwest have not been regarded traditionally as fish rearing habitat, despite access to such habitat when river flows overtop riverbanks and connect to the floodplain. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Floodplain emergent wetlands as rearing habitat for fishes and the implications for wetland enhancement Author: Henning, Julie A. Seasonal emergent wetlands in the Pacific Northwest have not been regarded traditionally as fish rearing habitat, despite access to such habitat when river flows overtop riverbanks and connect to the floodplain. As a result, restoration and enhancement projects to remediate for the loss of such wetland habitat are being implemented for waterfowl and other wildlife with little consideration for fishes such as juvenile salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). The objectives of this study were to examine the degree to which fish utilize emergent wetlands and to determine the influence of wetland enhancement on fish communities in the Chehalis River floodplain. Furthermore, I quantified the influence of enhanced wetlands on juvenile coho salmon. A minimum of 18 fish species utilized floodplain wetlands, and the most abundant were three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi). Both enhanced and unenhanced emergent wetlands had higher abundances of nongame native fishes than oxbow habitats. Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) was the dominant salmonid at all sites and enhanced wetlands had significantly higher abundances of yearling coho salmon than unenhanced wetlands. Dissolved oxygen concentrations decreased in emergent wetlands throughout the season and were near lethal limits for juvenile salmon by June each year. Survival of fishes utilizing emergent wetlands was dependent on movement to the river before water quality decreased and/or the wetland became isolated and stranding occurred. Emigration patterns suggested that coho salmon yearling and young-of-the-year emigrated as habitat conditions declined. This was further supported by the results of the experimental release of yearling coho salmon. Yearling coho salmon benefited from rearing in enhanced wetland habitats where their growth and survival were comparable to studies of juvenile coho off-channel habitats. Title: Floodplain emergent wetlands as rearing habitat for fishes and the implications for wetland enhancement Author: Henning, Julie A. Seasonal emergent wetlands in the Pacific Northwest have not been regarded traditionally as fish rearing habitat, despite access to such habitat when river flows overtop riverbanks and connect to the floodplain. As a result, restoration and enhancement projects to remediate for the loss of such wetland habitat are being implemented for waterfowl and other wildlife with little consideration for fishes such as juvenile salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). The objectives of this study were to examine the degree to which fish utilize emergent wetlands and to determine the influence of wetland enhancement on fish communities in the Chehalis River floodplain. Furthermore, I quantified the influence of enhanced wetlands on juvenile coho salmon. A minimum of 18 fish species utilized floodplain wetlands, and the most abundant were three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi). Both enhanced and unenhanced emergent wetlands had higher abundances of nongame native fishes than oxbow habitats. Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) was the dominant salmonid at all sites and enhanced wetlands had significantly higher abundances of yearling coho salmon than unenhanced wetlands. Dissolved oxygen concentrations decreased in emergent wetlands throughout the season and were near lethal limits for juvenile salmon by June each year. Survival of fishes utilizing emergent wetlands was dependent on movement to the river before water quality decreased and/or the wetland became isolated and stranding occurred. Emigration patterns suggested that coho salmon yearling and young-of-the-year emigrated as habitat conditions declined. This was further supported by the results of the experimental release of yearling coho salmon. Yearling coho salmon benefited from rearing in enhanced wetland habitats where their growth and survival were comparable to studies of juvenile coho off-channel habitats. Close

• 70. [Article] Habitat-Fisheries Interactions and Destructive Fishing

  Suggested Bibliographic Reference: Challenging New Frontiers in the Global Seafood Sector: Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Habitat-Fisheries Interactions and Destructive Fishing Author: Armstrong, Claire, Mikkelsen, Eirik Year: 2016 Suggested Bibliographic Reference: Challenging New Frontiers in the Global Seafood Sector: Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade, July 11-15, 2016. Compiled by Stefani J. Evers and Ann L. Shriver. International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET), Corvallis, 2016. Title: Habitat-Fisheries Interactions and Destructive Fishing Author: Armstrong, Claire, Mikkelsen, Eirik Year: 2016 Suggested Bibliographic Reference: Challenging New Frontiers in the Global Seafood Sector: Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade, July 11-15, 2016. Compiled by Stefani J. Evers and Ann L. Shriver. International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET), Corvallis, 2016. Close

• 71. [Article] Persistence and heterogeneity in habitat selection studies

  Recently the independent multinomial selections model (IMS) with the multinomial logit link has been suggested as an analysis tool for radio-telemetry habitat selection data. This model assumes independence ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Persistence and heterogeneity in habitat selection studies Author: Usner, Dale Wesley Recently the independent multinomial selections model (IMS) with the multinomial logit link has been suggested as an analysis tool for radio-telemetry habitat selection data. This model assumes independence between animals, independence between sightings within an animal, and identical multinomial habitat selection probabilities for all animals. We propose two generalizations to the IMS model. The first generalization is to allow a Markov chain dependence between consecutive sightings of the same animal. This generalization allows for both positive correlation (individuals persisting in the same habitat class in which they were previously sighted) and negative correlation (individual vacating the habitat class in which they were previously sighted). The second generalization is to allow for heterogeneity. Here, a hierarchical Dirichlet-multinomial distribution is used to allow for variability in selection probabilities between animals. This generalization accounts for over-dispersion of selection probabilities and allows for inference to the population of animals, assuming that the animals studied constitute a random sample from that population.. Both generalizations are one parameter extensions to the multinomial logit model and allow for testing the assumptions of identical multinomial selection probabilities and independence. These tests are performed using the score, Wald, and asymptotic likelihood ratio statistics. Estimates of model parameters are obtained using maximum likelihood techniques, and habitat characteristics are tested using drop-in-deviance statistics. Using example data, we show that persistence and heterogeneity exist in habitat selection data and illustrate the difference in analysis results between the IMS model and the persistence and heterogeneity models. Through simulation, we show that analyzing persistence data assuming independence between sightings within an animal gives liberal tests of significance for habitat characteristics when the data are generated with positive correlation and conservative tests of significance when the data are generated with negative correlation. Similarly, we show that analyzing heterogeneous data, assuming identical multinomial selection probabilities, gives liberal tests of significance for habitat characteristics. Title: Persistence and heterogeneity in habitat selection studies Author: Usner, Dale Wesley Recently the independent multinomial selections model (IMS) with the multinomial logit link has been suggested as an analysis tool for radio-telemetry habitat selection data. This model assumes independence between animals, independence between sightings within an animal, and identical multinomial habitat selection probabilities for all animals. We propose two generalizations to the IMS model. The first generalization is to allow a Markov chain dependence between consecutive sightings of the same animal. This generalization allows for both positive correlation (individuals persisting in the same habitat class in which they were previously sighted) and negative correlation (individual vacating the habitat class in which they were previously sighted). The second generalization is to allow for heterogeneity. Here, a hierarchical Dirichlet-multinomial distribution is used to allow for variability in selection probabilities between animals. This generalization accounts for over-dispersion of selection probabilities and allows for inference to the population of animals, assuming that the animals studied constitute a random sample from that population.. Both generalizations are one parameter extensions to the multinomial logit model and allow for testing the assumptions of identical multinomial selection probabilities and independence. These tests are performed using the score, Wald, and asymptotic likelihood ratio statistics. Estimates of model parameters are obtained using maximum likelihood techniques, and habitat characteristics are tested using drop-in-deviance statistics. Using example data, we show that persistence and heterogeneity exist in habitat selection data and illustrate the difference in analysis results between the IMS model and the persistence and heterogeneity models. Through simulation, we show that analyzing persistence data assuming independence between sightings within an animal gives liberal tests of significance for habitat characteristics when the data are generated with positive correlation and conservative tests of significance when the data are generated with negative correlation. Similarly, we show that analyzing heterogeneous data, assuming identical multinomial selection probabilities, gives liberal tests of significance for habitat characteristics. Close

• 72. [Article] Ocean habitat use in autumn by Chinook salmon in coastal waters of Oregon and California

  The published version of this article is copyrighted by Inter-Research and can be found here: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Ocean habitat use in autumn by Chinook salmon in coastal waters of Oregon and California Author: Boehlert, George W., Zedonis, Paul, Hinke, Jefferson T., Watters, George M. The published version of this article is copyrighted by Inter-Research and can be found here: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/ Title: Ocean habitat use in autumn by Chinook salmon in coastal waters of Oregon and California Author: Boehlert, George W., Zedonis, Paul, Hinke, Jefferson T., Watters, George M. The published version of this article is copyrighted by Inter-Research and can be found here: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/ Close

• 73. [Article] Arthropod community organization and development in pear

  Arthropod communities in pear are conceptualized as hierarchically organized systems in which several levels of organization or subsystems can be recognized between the species population level and the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Arthropod community organization and development in pear Author: Gut, Larry J. Arthropod communities in pear are conceptualized as hierarchically organized systems in which several levels of organization or subsystems can be recognized between the species population level and the community as a whole. An individual tree is taken to be the community habitat with arthropod subcommunities developing on leaf, fruit and wood subcommunity habitats. Over a hundred species are reported to colonize one or more subcommunity habitats. Each subcommunity is composed of trophically organized systems of populations. Each system of populations is comprised of a guild of arthropods that use the habitat primarily for feeding but also for overwintering or egg deposition, and associated guilds of specialized predators, parasitoids and hyperparasitoids. Understanding community organization entails understanding how subsystems and their environments interact so as to be incorporated into a unified whole. Along with the relatively specialized interrelationships so important in organizing systems of populations, higher level community subsystems are coupled through the activities of phytophagous and predaceous generalists which feed in or take their prey from more than one subcommunity. In meeting the habitat requirements of each of its life history stages, several members of the pear community move from one subcommunity to another during the course of community development and serve to integrate these subsystems. Additional habitat, trophic and life history aspects of subsystem incorporation and interpenetration are discussed. Community development or change in organization through time is conceptualized as being jointly determined by the development of the habitat and the organization of the species pool. Seasonal development of the pear arthropod community is described in terms of changes in the species composition, size, and spatial distribution of guilds and subcommunities. Community habitat development is taken to be the primary determinant of changes in community structure and organization. As the season progresses, changes in the kinds and biomass of developmental states of each subcommunity habitat are accompanied by changes in the kinds, number or biomass, and distribution of associated community subsystems. Although the influence of habitat development on community development is emphasized, it is from the the species pool that arthropods colonize pear. The species that colonize, and their abundance and time of arrival is partially determined by the organization of this system of communities. Title: Arthropod community organization and development in pear Author: Gut, Larry J. Arthropod communities in pear are conceptualized as hierarchically organized systems in which several levels of organization or subsystems can be recognized between the species population level and the community as a whole. An individual tree is taken to be the community habitat with arthropod subcommunities developing on leaf, fruit and wood subcommunity habitats. Over a hundred species are reported to colonize one or more subcommunity habitats. Each subcommunity is composed of trophically organized systems of populations. Each system of populations is comprised of a guild of arthropods that use the habitat primarily for feeding but also for overwintering or egg deposition, and associated guilds of specialized predators, parasitoids and hyperparasitoids. Understanding community organization entails understanding how subsystems and their environments interact so as to be incorporated into a unified whole. Along with the relatively specialized interrelationships so important in organizing systems of populations, higher level community subsystems are coupled through the activities of phytophagous and predaceous generalists which feed in or take their prey from more than one subcommunity. In meeting the habitat requirements of each of its life history stages, several members of the pear community move from one subcommunity to another during the course of community development and serve to integrate these subsystems. Additional habitat, trophic and life history aspects of subsystem incorporation and interpenetration are discussed. Community development or change in organization through time is conceptualized as being jointly determined by the development of the habitat and the organization of the species pool. Seasonal development of the pear arthropod community is described in terms of changes in the species composition, size, and spatial distribution of guilds and subcommunities. Community habitat development is taken to be the primary determinant of changes in community structure and organization. As the season progresses, changes in the kinds and biomass of developmental states of each subcommunity habitat are accompanied by changes in the kinds, number or biomass, and distribution of associated community subsystems. Although the influence of habitat development on community development is emphasized, it is from the the species pool that arthropods colonize pear. The species that colonize, and their abundance and time of arrival is partially determined by the organization of this system of communities. Close

• 74. [Article] Testing the ArcGIS Marine Data Model : busing spatial information to examine habitat utilization patterns of reef fish along the west coast of Hawaii

  In response to anthropogenic pressures that have degraded habitat and put marine resources at risk (Leslie et al., 2003; Mumby et al., 2001; Puniwai et al., 2003), there has been a growing interest in ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Testing the ArcGIS Marine Data Model : busing spatial information to examine habitat utilization patterns of reef fish along the west coast of Hawaii Author: Aaby, Alyssa Anne In response to anthropogenic pressures that have degraded habitat and put marine resources at risk (Leslie et al., 2003; Mumby et al., 2001; Puniwai et al., 2003), there has been a growing interest in the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a management tool to help slow, prevent or reverse negative anthropogenic changes. Recent studies have shown that the most effective MPAs are those which represent a full range of habitat types (Leslie et al., 2003; Carr et al., 2003). Yet, available scientific research has not evaluated the near-shore marine habitat utilization along the West Coast of Hawaii at the large-scales utilized by resource managers. Thus, this study focused on identifying the regional habitat utilization patterns for selected Hawaiian reef fish species to determine the most effective combination of habitat types. In addition, the habitat utilization analysis was used as one of several case studies to test the ArcGIS Marine Data Model’s (MDM) (Wright et al., 2001) adaptability to work with real-world data and perform real-world analyses, as well as meet the five goals outlined by the MDM Working Group (Wright et al., 2001). Created in 2001, by researchers from Oregon State University, Duke University, NOAA, the Danish Hydrologic Institute and ESRI, the MDM is a geodatabase template tailored to meet the needs of the marine GIS user community. Ultimately, this analysis will aid marine managers as it establishes correlations between small and large-scale habitat information, which provides a regional look at habitat utilization. Also, by testing the functionality of the MDM, its strengths and weaknesses will be identified so that it can be improved to better serve the marine GIS user community. Title: Testing the ArcGIS Marine Data Model : busing spatial information to examine habitat utilization patterns of reef fish along the west coast of Hawaii Author: Aaby, Alyssa Anne In response to anthropogenic pressures that have degraded habitat and put marine resources at risk (Leslie et al., 2003; Mumby et al., 2001; Puniwai et al., 2003), there has been a growing interest in the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a management tool to help slow, prevent or reverse negative anthropogenic changes. Recent studies have shown that the most effective MPAs are those which represent a full range of habitat types (Leslie et al., 2003; Carr et al., 2003). Yet, available scientific research has not evaluated the near-shore marine habitat utilization along the West Coast of Hawaii at the large-scales utilized by resource managers. Thus, this study focused on identifying the regional habitat utilization patterns for selected Hawaiian reef fish species to determine the most effective combination of habitat types. In addition, the habitat utilization analysis was used as one of several case studies to test the ArcGIS Marine Data Model’s (MDM) (Wright et al., 2001) adaptability to work with real-world data and perform real-world analyses, as well as meet the five goals outlined by the MDM Working Group (Wright et al., 2001). Created in 2001, by researchers from Oregon State University, Duke University, NOAA, the Danish Hydrologic Institute and ESRI, the MDM is a geodatabase template tailored to meet the needs of the marine GIS user community. Ultimately, this analysis will aid marine managers as it establishes correlations between small and large-scale habitat information, which provides a regional look at habitat utilization. Also, by testing the functionality of the MDM, its strengths and weaknesses will be identified so that it can be improved to better serve the marine GIS user community. Close

• 75. [Article] Quantifying physical habitat in wadeable streams : surface waters

  We describe concepts, rationale, and analytical procedures for characterizing physical habitat in wadeable streams based on raw data generated from methods similar or equal to those of Kaufmann and Robison ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Quantifying physical habitat in wadeable streams : surface waters Author: Robison, E. George, Seeliger, Curt, Levine, Paul, Peck, David V., Kaufmann, Phillip R. We describe concepts, rationale, and analytical procedures for characterizing physical habitat in wadeable streams based on raw data generated from methods similar or equal to those of Kaufmann and Robison (in PB99-139156). We provide guidance for calculating measures or indices of stream size and gradient, sinuosity, substrate size and stability, habitat complexity and cover, woody debris size and abundance, residual pool dimensions and frequency, riparian vegetation cover and structure, anthropogenic disturbances, and channel-riparian interaction. We evaluated sampling precision of field habitat survey methods employed by EMAP in several hundred streams in Oregon and the Mid-Atlantic region, comparing variance among streams ('signals') with variance between repeat stream visits (measurement 'noise'). The final measure of the utility of a habitat approach is whether it is useful for interpreting controls on biota or impacts of human activity. Title: Quantifying physical habitat in wadeable streams : surface waters Author: Robison, E. George, Seeliger, Curt, Levine, Paul, Peck, David V., Kaufmann, Phillip R. We describe concepts, rationale, and analytical procedures for characterizing physical habitat in wadeable streams based on raw data generated from methods similar or equal to those of Kaufmann and Robison (in PB99-139156). We provide guidance for calculating measures or indices of stream size and gradient, sinuosity, substrate size and stability, habitat complexity and cover, woody debris size and abundance, residual pool dimensions and frequency, riparian vegetation cover and structure, anthropogenic disturbances, and channel-riparian interaction. We evaluated sampling precision of field habitat survey methods employed by EMAP in several hundred streams in Oregon and the Mid-Atlantic region, comparing variance among streams ('signals') with variance between repeat stream visits (measurement 'noise'). The final measure of the utility of a habitat approach is whether it is useful for interpreting controls on biota or impacts of human activity. Close

• 76. [Article] Integration of submersible transect data and high-resolution multibeam sonar imagery for a habitat-based groundfish assessment of Heceta Bank, Oregon

  In the face of dramatic declines in groundfish populations and a lack of sufficient stock assessment information, a need has arisen for new methods of assessing groundfish populations. We describe the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Integration of submersible transect data and high-resolution multibeam sonar imagery for a habitat-based groundfish assessment of Heceta Bank, Oregon Author: Tissot, Brian N., Wright, Dawn J., Merle, Susan G., Embley, Bob W., Nasby-Lucas, Nicole M., Hixon, Mark A. In the face of dramatic declines in groundfish populations and a lack of sufficient stock assessment information, a need has arisen for new methods of assessing groundfish populations. We describe the integration of seafloor transect data gathered by a manned submersible with high-resolution sonar imagery to produce a habitat- based stock assessment system for groundfish. The data sets used in this study were collected from Heceta Bank, Oregon, and were derived from 42 submersible dives (1988–90) and a multibeam sonar survey (1998). The submersible habitat survey investigated seafloor topography and groundfish abundance along 30-minute transects over six predetermined stations and found a statistical relationship between habitat variability and groundfish distribution and abundance. These transects were analyzed in a geographic information system (GIS) by using dynamic segmentation to display changes in habitat along the transects. We used the submersible data to extrapolate fish abundance within uniform habitat patches over broad areas of the bank by means of a habitat classification based on the sonar imagery. After applying a navigation correction to the submersible-based habitat segments, a good correlation with major boundaries on the backscatter and topographic boundaries on the imagery were apparent. Extrapolation of the extent of uniform habitats was made in the vicinity of the dive stations and a preliminary stock assessment of several species of demersal fish was calculated. Such a habitat-based approach will allow researchers to characterize marine communities over large areas of the seafloor. Title: Integration of submersible transect data and high-resolution multibeam sonar imagery for a habitat-based groundfish assessment of Heceta Bank, Oregon Author: Tissot, Brian N., Wright, Dawn J., Merle, Susan G., Embley, Bob W., Nasby-Lucas, Nicole M., Hixon, Mark A. In the face of dramatic declines in groundfish populations and a lack of sufficient stock assessment information, a need has arisen for new methods of assessing groundfish populations. We describe the integration of seafloor transect data gathered by a manned submersible with high-resolution sonar imagery to produce a habitat- based stock assessment system for groundfish. The data sets used in this study were collected from Heceta Bank, Oregon, and were derived from 42 submersible dives (1988–90) and a multibeam sonar survey (1998). The submersible habitat survey investigated seafloor topography and groundfish abundance along 30-minute transects over six predetermined stations and found a statistical relationship between habitat variability and groundfish distribution and abundance. These transects were analyzed in a geographic information system (GIS) by using dynamic segmentation to display changes in habitat along the transects. We used the submersible data to extrapolate fish abundance within uniform habitat patches over broad areas of the bank by means of a habitat classification based on the sonar imagery. After applying a navigation correction to the submersible-based habitat segments, a good correlation with major boundaries on the backscatter and topographic boundaries on the imagery were apparent. Extrapolation of the extent of uniform habitats was made in the vicinity of the dive stations and a preliminary stock assessment of several species of demersal fish was calculated. Such a habitat-based approach will allow researchers to characterize marine communities over large areas of the seafloor. Close

• 77. [Article] Incorporation of salmon derived nutrients into Oregon coastal streams and the role of physical habitat

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Incorporation of salmon derived nutrients into Oregon coastal streams and the role of physical habitat Author: Shaff, Courtney D. Title: Incorporation of salmon derived nutrients into Oregon coastal streams and the role of physical habitat Author: Shaff, Courtney D. Close

• 78. [Article] Integration of oceanographic information off the Washington and Oregon coasts into west coast groundfish ecology and fisheries management

  To date, the use of oceanographic data in fisheries management has been limited by the scarcity and the difficulty of accessing complete oceanographic datasets. Consequently, fish stocks are managed with ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Integration of oceanographic information off the Washington and Oregon coasts into west coast groundfish ecology and fisheries management Author: Juan Jorda, Maria Jose To date, the use of oceanographic data in fisheries management has been limited by the scarcity and the difficulty of accessing complete oceanographic datasets. Consequently, fish stocks are managed with limited knowledge about the habitat where fish live and incomplete understanding of what oceanographic conditions affect their populations. With the long-term goal to improve science for ecosystem-based management of the West Coast groundfish fishery, this study had three objectives. First, the assembling and merging of disperse oceanographic datasets for temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a and current velocity from the 1930s to the year 2004 off the Washington and Oregon coasts. Second, the generation of oceanographic data products relevant for fisheries research, consisting of the computation and the plotting of climatological monthly means, standard deviations and coefficients of variation for a variety of ocean variables at several depths. Third, the development of an exploratory example of how oceanographic information collected in this study can be of use to improve the science and management of groundfish. Thus, a study was developed to investigate if groundfish distribution and abundances are associated with any ocean habitat or individual oceanographic variables, using a combination of univariate, classification and ordination techniques. The fish data were derived from a routine bottom trawl survey conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA-NWFSC). Five ocean habitats with distinct physical and biological characteristics were identified off the Washington and Oregon coast: Offshore Habitat, Upwelling Habitat, Highly Variable Upwelling Habitat, River Plume Habitat, and Highly Variable Habitat. These ocean habitats were characteristic of cold-regime summer upwelling conditions. Overall, the analyses suggested that the species composition differ among the five ocean habitats. Some species were highly indicative of some habitats; however, overall the associations were weak due to the high degree of overlap of ocean habitats in terms of species composition. All the analyses were consistent in associating shallower species with the shallowest habitats (the Highly Variable, River Plume and Upwelling habitats) and the deeper species with the deeper habitats (the Offshore and the Highly Variable Upwelling habitats), suggesting that groundfish are adapted to wide environmental ranges. In addition, the overall abundance and diversity of groundfish was higher in the shallower habitats. In contrast, groundfish species showed strong associations with individual environmental factors, primarily depth, surface chlorophyll-a, and salinity and temperature at the bottom of the seafloor, indicating that groundfish distributions are mainly organized along depth gradients. Latitudinal variations in upwelling intensity, river discharge and productivity along the coast were also important factors influencing shallow species distributions and abundances. For example, three regions with high chlorophyll-a concentrations were associated with large abundances of specific groundfish species. These regions were found over Heceta Bank, over the Juan de Fuca canyon and in the Columbia River Plume. This study began with the assembly of several ocean variables and the development of some preliminary ocean data products relevant to fisheries studies. However, the addition of other ocean variables, such as dissolved oxygen, and the computation of new ocean products, such as mixed-layer depth, and thermocline depth and strength, would be valuable. Future work should involve more interdisplinary studies between fisheries and oceanography, the integration of oceanographic information off the west coast of the U.S., and the collection of concurrent ocean data at each fish trawl location. Title: Integration of oceanographic information off the Washington and Oregon coasts into west coast groundfish ecology and fisheries management Author: Juan Jorda, Maria Jose To date, the use of oceanographic data in fisheries management has been limited by the scarcity and the difficulty of accessing complete oceanographic datasets. Consequently, fish stocks are managed with limited knowledge about the habitat where fish live and incomplete understanding of what oceanographic conditions affect their populations. With the long-term goal to improve science for ecosystem-based management of the West Coast groundfish fishery, this study had three objectives. First, the assembling and merging of disperse oceanographic datasets for temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a and current velocity from the 1930s to the year 2004 off the Washington and Oregon coasts. Second, the generation of oceanographic data products relevant for fisheries research, consisting of the computation and the plotting of climatological monthly means, standard deviations and coefficients of variation for a variety of ocean variables at several depths. Third, the development of an exploratory example of how oceanographic information collected in this study can be of use to improve the science and management of groundfish. Thus, a study was developed to investigate if groundfish distribution and abundances are associated with any ocean habitat or individual oceanographic variables, using a combination of univariate, classification and ordination techniques. The fish data were derived from a routine bottom trawl survey conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA-NWFSC). Five ocean habitats with distinct physical and biological characteristics were identified off the Washington and Oregon coast: Offshore Habitat, Upwelling Habitat, Highly Variable Upwelling Habitat, River Plume Habitat, and Highly Variable Habitat. These ocean habitats were characteristic of cold-regime summer upwelling conditions. Overall, the analyses suggested that the species composition differ among the five ocean habitats. Some species were highly indicative of some habitats; however, overall the associations were weak due to the high degree of overlap of ocean habitats in terms of species composition. All the analyses were consistent in associating shallower species with the shallowest habitats (the Highly Variable, River Plume and Upwelling habitats) and the deeper species with the deeper habitats (the Offshore and the Highly Variable Upwelling habitats), suggesting that groundfish are adapted to wide environmental ranges. In addition, the overall abundance and diversity of groundfish was higher in the shallower habitats. In contrast, groundfish species showed strong associations with individual environmental factors, primarily depth, surface chlorophyll-a, and salinity and temperature at the bottom of the seafloor, indicating that groundfish distributions are mainly organized along depth gradients. Latitudinal variations in upwelling intensity, river discharge and productivity along the coast were also important factors influencing shallow species distributions and abundances. For example, three regions with high chlorophyll-a concentrations were associated with large abundances of specific groundfish species. These regions were found over Heceta Bank, over the Juan de Fuca canyon and in the Columbia River Plume. This study began with the assembly of several ocean variables and the development of some preliminary ocean data products relevant to fisheries studies. However, the addition of other ocean variables, such as dissolved oxygen, and the computation of new ocean products, such as mixed-layer depth, and thermocline depth and strength, would be valuable. Future work should involve more interdisplinary studies between fisheries and oceanography, the integration of oceanographic information off the west coast of the U.S., and the collection of concurrent ocean data at each fish trawl location. Close

• 79. [Article] Using a species-centered approach to examine patterns and drivers of avian species richness in the Rogue Basin, Oregon

  The combined effects of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation pose a serious threat to Earth's biodiversity, imperiling even relatively common species. 'Habitat' is necessarily a species-specific ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Using a species-centered approach to examine patterns and drivers of avian species richness in the Rogue Basin, Oregon Author: Halstead, Katherine E. The combined effects of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation pose a serious threat to Earth's biodiversity, imperiling even relatively common species. 'Habitat' is necessarily a species-specific concept, and investigations of bird diversity relationships and subsequent efforts to prioritize conservation areas, are challenged by the difficulty of estimating complex habitat gradients for multiple species across broad spatial scales. Technologies such as fine-resolution remote sensing combined with enhanced species distribution modeling techniques hold promise for more accurate assessments of multi-species habitat distributions. In this research, I focused on forest bird species which utilize and/or are highly associated with threatened Oregon white oak and California black oak (Quercus garrayana and Q. kelloggii) vegetation types in the Rogue Basin of southwest Oregon. I created individual species distribution models (SDMs) for 48 bird species as a function of fine-resolution (30 x 30 m) remotely sensed land cover and other environmental variables using boosted regression tree (BRT) models. I then 'stacked' SDMs for spatially explicit regional estimates of multi-species avian richness. In my first chapter, I examined the potential for site-level species richness to be influenced by local vegetation and environmental conditions (e.g. the "local vegetation heterogeneity hypothesis") or by landscape-level dispersal potential (e.g. the "regional species pool hypothesis"). I summarized 'stacked' SDMs for indices of 1) habitat amount at a local scale relevant bird territory use and 2) habitat amount at a broad scale relevant to forest bird dispersal, and ask whether local- or landscape-scale habitat amount is relatively more important to site-level bird species richness. I hypothesized that greater importance of either habitat amount metric would indicate greater influence of local or landscape drivers to local richness. I found evidence that for a large pool of bird species with diverse habitat associations, landscape-scale habitat amount may be relatively more important to local (i.e., territory level) richness of forest birds than is local habitat amount. In contrast, for more specialized (i.e., oak-associated) guilds, local-scale habitat may be considerably more important than amount of habitat within the surrounding landscape. My results suggest the importance of local- and landscape-scale processes in structuring bird communities, supporting both 'local vegetation heterogeneity' and 'regional species pool' hypotheses. In my second chapter, I examined the relationships between landownership, oak vegetation distribution, and bird diversity, with the objective of determining which of five primary landownership types contribute most strongly to bird species habitat in the Rogue Basin. I asked whether individual bird species distributions and estimated richness are 'additive' or 'redundant' among land ownership types, hypothesizing that differences among owners will be apparent and related to the amount of oak-dominant vegetation held by each owner regionally. I found that estimated local mean species richness of oak-associated birds in private non-industrial (PNI) ownerships is approximately double that of other Rogue Basin public and private ownerships examined. This result may be driven by disproportionate PNI ownership of limited oak cover types, and/or by hypothesized variation in management goals and activities among owners which influence local vegetation structure. Relatively greater importance of territory-scale habitat to local oak-associated species richness suggests management for these species should maximize site-level habitat amount and quality. The importance of private non-industrial owners to oak-associated avian richness validates current focus on engaging private landowners in bird-focused oak conservation and restoration. Overall, my research links efforts to conserve avian habitat with efforts to understand multi-scale drivers of bird diversity, using a novel methodology that embraces the complexity of species' habitat gradients. Title: Using a species-centered approach to examine patterns and drivers of avian species richness in the Rogue Basin, Oregon Author: Halstead, Katherine E. The combined effects of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation pose a serious threat to Earth's biodiversity, imperiling even relatively common species. 'Habitat' is necessarily a species-specific concept, and investigations of bird diversity relationships and subsequent efforts to prioritize conservation areas, are challenged by the difficulty of estimating complex habitat gradients for multiple species across broad spatial scales. Technologies such as fine-resolution remote sensing combined with enhanced species distribution modeling techniques hold promise for more accurate assessments of multi-species habitat distributions. In this research, I focused on forest bird species which utilize and/or are highly associated with threatened Oregon white oak and California black oak (Quercus garrayana and Q. kelloggii) vegetation types in the Rogue Basin of southwest Oregon. I created individual species distribution models (SDMs) for 48 bird species as a function of fine-resolution (30 x 30 m) remotely sensed land cover and other environmental variables using boosted regression tree (BRT) models. I then 'stacked' SDMs for spatially explicit regional estimates of multi-species avian richness. In my first chapter, I examined the potential for site-level species richness to be influenced by local vegetation and environmental conditions (e.g. the "local vegetation heterogeneity hypothesis") or by landscape-level dispersal potential (e.g. the "regional species pool hypothesis"). I summarized 'stacked' SDMs for indices of 1) habitat amount at a local scale relevant bird territory use and 2) habitat amount at a broad scale relevant to forest bird dispersal, and ask whether local- or landscape-scale habitat amount is relatively more important to site-level bird species richness. I hypothesized that greater importance of either habitat amount metric would indicate greater influence of local or landscape drivers to local richness. I found evidence that for a large pool of bird species with diverse habitat associations, landscape-scale habitat amount may be relatively more important to local (i.e., territory level) richness of forest birds than is local habitat amount. In contrast, for more specialized (i.e., oak-associated) guilds, local-scale habitat may be considerably more important than amount of habitat within the surrounding landscape. My results suggest the importance of local- and landscape-scale processes in structuring bird communities, supporting both 'local vegetation heterogeneity' and 'regional species pool' hypotheses. In my second chapter, I examined the relationships between landownership, oak vegetation distribution, and bird diversity, with the objective of determining which of five primary landownership types contribute most strongly to bird species habitat in the Rogue Basin. I asked whether individual bird species distributions and estimated richness are 'additive' or 'redundant' among land ownership types, hypothesizing that differences among owners will be apparent and related to the amount of oak-dominant vegetation held by each owner regionally. I found that estimated local mean species richness of oak-associated birds in private non-industrial (PNI) ownerships is approximately double that of other Rogue Basin public and private ownerships examined. This result may be driven by disproportionate PNI ownership of limited oak cover types, and/or by hypothesized variation in management goals and activities among owners which influence local vegetation structure. Relatively greater importance of territory-scale habitat to local oak-associated species richness suggests management for these species should maximize site-level habitat amount and quality. The importance of private non-industrial owners to oak-associated avian richness validates current focus on engaging private landowners in bird-focused oak conservation and restoration. Overall, my research links efforts to conserve avian habitat with efforts to understand multi-scale drivers of bird diversity, using a novel methodology that embraces the complexity of species' habitat gradients. Close

• 80. [Article] Sauvie Island north unit wetlands project : biological opinion

  The objective of this Biological Opinion (BO) is to determine whether the action to restore emergent vegetation to wetlands on Sauvie Island is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Upper Willamette ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Sauvie Island north unit wetlands project : biological opinion The objective of this Biological Opinion (BO) is to determine whether the action to restore emergent vegetation to wetlands on Sauvie Island is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Upper Willamette River chinook salmon and Lower Columbia river chinook salmon or destroy, or adversely modify proposed critical habitat. Title: Sauvie Island north unit wetlands project : biological opinion The objective of this Biological Opinion (BO) is to determine whether the action to restore emergent vegetation to wetlands on Sauvie Island is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Upper Willamette River chinook salmon and Lower Columbia river chinook salmon or destroy, or adversely modify proposed critical habitat. Close

• 81. [Article] Relationships between depredation of nests of ground-dwelling birds and habitat structure and pattern

  Rates of predation on artificial nests and nests of pen-reared ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), released in spring, were compared between strip and block habitats at different densities of nests. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Relationships between depredation of nests of ground-dwelling birds and habitat structure and pattern Author: Haensly, Thomas F. Rates of predation on artificial nests and nests of pen-reared ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), released in spring, were compared between strip and block habitats at different densities of nests. Nests in strips had rates of predation 4-7 times greater than nests in blocks, regardless of nest density. Differences between successful and depredated nests were due primarily to differences in habitat pattern rather than structural characteristics of vegetation at nest sites. Predators may be able to control prey populations in habitats where prey are concentrated and effectiveness of predators is high, therefore predation could be viewed as acting in a density-independent manner. Title: Relationships between depredation of nests of ground-dwelling birds and habitat structure and pattern Author: Haensly, Thomas F. Rates of predation on artificial nests and nests of pen-reared ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), released in spring, were compared between strip and block habitats at different densities of nests. Nests in strips had rates of predation 4-7 times greater than nests in blocks, regardless of nest density. Differences between successful and depredated nests were due primarily to differences in habitat pattern rather than structural characteristics of vegetation at nest sites. Predators may be able to control prey populations in habitats where prey are concentrated and effectiveness of predators is high, therefore predation could be viewed as acting in a density-independent manner. Close

• 82. [Article] Changes in plant communities following rangeland brush control

  Recently, the big sagebrush taxa has been split into subspecies and forms. Four habitat types related to subspecies of big sagebrush were studied in Eastern Oregon. Response of understory vegetation was measured ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Changes in plant communities following rangeland brush control Author: Findley, Roger Raymond Recently, the big sagebrush taxa has been split into subspecies and forms. Four habitat types related to subspecies of big sagebrush were studied in Eastern Oregon. Response of understory vegetation was measured following three range improvement techniques implemented on the four habitat types for several ages of treatment. Crown cover, density, and frequency of three subspecies of big sagebrush were measured, the relationship of sagebrush to improvement treatment and composition of understory vegetation was evaluated. In general, the same plant species responded differently on four habitat types manipulated by spray-release treatment. Approximately one-third of the perennial grass species increased, one-third decreased, and one-third showed no change in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas four years after treatment on the basin big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass-bottlebrush squirreltail habitat type. However, total grass representation increased after treatment. Perennial forb and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover in the fourth year following spray-release treatment on the same habitat type. Perennial grass and shrub species generally showed no change while perennial forb species generally decreased in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the fourth year following spray-release treatment on the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type. Perennial vegetation generally showed no difference in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the sixth year following spray-release treatment on mountain big sagebrush-Idaho fescue habitat type. Perennial grass species generally increased, perennial forb species generally showed no change, and shrubs species generally decreased in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the sixth year after spray-release treatment on the Wyoming big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass habitat type. The same plant species responded differently to three improvement treatments implemented on the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type. Annual vegetation generally increased in frequency on treated areas compared to untreated areas in six years following spray-seed treatment on this habitat type. Approximately half of the native perennial grass species decreased and half showed no change in frequency, density, and cover after six years following spray-seed treatment on this habitat type. Total grass representation increased after treatment. Perennial forb and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover after six years following spray-seed treatment on this habitat type. Approximately half of the annual forb and grass species increased in frequency and the rest either decreased or showed no change in frequency on treated and untreated areas in ten years following plow-seed treatment on this habitat type. Total representation of annual vegetation increased after treatment. Perennial grass species generally decreased in density, frequency, and cover in ten years following plow-seed treatment on this habitat type. Total grass representation, however, increased after treatment on this habitat type as a result of seeding crested wheatgrass. Perennial forb and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover ten years after plow-seed treatment on this habitat type. Sagebrush did decrease in representation while green rabbitbrush increased after treatment. Annual vegetation generally showed no change in frequency in the fourth year after spray-release treatment on the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type. Perennial grass species generally showed no change, perennial forb species generally decreased, and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the fourth year after spray-release treatment on this habitat type. Sagebrush was found to reinvade at a constant rate in the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type in the sixth year following spray-seed treatment. Extrapolation of data showed in approximately 7.4 years the density of sagebrush on the treated area would be the same as on untreated areas. The reinvasion of sagebrush was found to be highly variable on Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type following plow-seed treatment. Sizes of improved areas on the study were calculated from high flight photography. Results obtained from the photos differed from known acreage by 8%. Title: Changes in plant communities following rangeland brush control Author: Findley, Roger Raymond Recently, the big sagebrush taxa has been split into subspecies and forms. Four habitat types related to subspecies of big sagebrush were studied in Eastern Oregon. Response of understory vegetation was measured following three range improvement techniques implemented on the four habitat types for several ages of treatment. Crown cover, density, and frequency of three subspecies of big sagebrush were measured, the relationship of sagebrush to improvement treatment and composition of understory vegetation was evaluated. In general, the same plant species responded differently on four habitat types manipulated by spray-release treatment. Approximately one-third of the perennial grass species increased, one-third decreased, and one-third showed no change in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas four years after treatment on the basin big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass-bottlebrush squirreltail habitat type. However, total grass representation increased after treatment. Perennial forb and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover in the fourth year following spray-release treatment on the same habitat type. Perennial grass and shrub species generally showed no change while perennial forb species generally decreased in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the fourth year following spray-release treatment on the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type. Perennial vegetation generally showed no difference in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the sixth year following spray-release treatment on mountain big sagebrush-Idaho fescue habitat type. Perennial grass species generally increased, perennial forb species generally showed no change, and shrubs species generally decreased in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the sixth year after spray-release treatment on the Wyoming big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass habitat type. The same plant species responded differently to three improvement treatments implemented on the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type. Annual vegetation generally increased in frequency on treated areas compared to untreated areas in six years following spray-seed treatment on this habitat type. Approximately half of the native perennial grass species decreased and half showed no change in frequency, density, and cover after six years following spray-seed treatment on this habitat type. Total grass representation increased after treatment. Perennial forb and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover after six years following spray-seed treatment on this habitat type. Approximately half of the annual forb and grass species increased in frequency and the rest either decreased or showed no change in frequency on treated and untreated areas in ten years following plow-seed treatment on this habitat type. Total representation of annual vegetation increased after treatment. Perennial grass species generally decreased in density, frequency, and cover in ten years following plow-seed treatment on this habitat type. Total grass representation, however, increased after treatment on this habitat type as a result of seeding crested wheatgrass. Perennial forb and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover ten years after plow-seed treatment on this habitat type. Sagebrush did decrease in representation while green rabbitbrush increased after treatment. Annual vegetation generally showed no change in frequency in the fourth year after spray-release treatment on the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type. Perennial grass species generally showed no change, perennial forb species generally decreased, and shrub species generally showed no change in frequency, density, and cover between treated and untreated areas in the fourth year after spray-release treatment on this habitat type. Sagebrush was found to reinvade at a constant rate in the Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type in the sixth year following spray-seed treatment. Extrapolation of data showed in approximately 7.4 years the density of sagebrush on the treated area would be the same as on untreated areas. The reinvasion of sagebrush was found to be highly variable on Wyoming big sagebrush-Thurber needlegrass habitat type following plow-seed treatment. Sizes of improved areas on the study were calculated from high flight photography. Results obtained from the photos differed from known acreage by 8%. Close

• 83. [Article] Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse (including the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment) Habitat Assessment Policy

  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides policy on how to assess habitat for Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse, including the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, (hereafter referred to as "sage-grouse") ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse (including the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment) Habitat Assessment Policy Author: Ellis, Steven A. , Bureau of Land Management This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides policy on how to assess habitat for Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse, including the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, (hereafter referred to as "sage-grouse") and under what circumstances the habitat assessment is required. Title: Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse (including the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment) Habitat Assessment Policy Author: Ellis, Steven A. , Bureau of Land Management This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides policy on how to assess habitat for Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse, including the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, (hereafter referred to as "sage-grouse") and under what circumstances the habitat assessment is required. Close

• 84. [Article] Coastal steelhead trout : life in the watershed

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Coastal steelhead trout : life in the watershed Author: Fitzpatrick, Martin S., Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program Title: Coastal steelhead trout : life in the watershed Author: Fitzpatrick, Martin S., Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program Close

• 85. [Article] Resource Selection, and Demographic Rates of Female Greater Sage-Grouse Following Large-Scale Wildfire

  Understanding the effects of habitat disturbance on a species' habitat selection patterns, and demographic rates, is essential to projecting the trajectories of populations affected by disturbance, as ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Resource Selection, and Demographic Rates of Female Greater Sage-Grouse Following Large-Scale Wildfire Author: Foster, Lee (Lee Jacob) Understanding the effects of habitat disturbance on a species' habitat selection patterns, and demographic rates, is essential to projecting the trajectories of populations affected by disturbance, as well as for determining the appropriate conservation actions needed to maintain those populations. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation concern in western North America. The distribution of the species has been reduced by approximately half since European settlement, with concurrent and continuing population declines across its occupied range. The primary threats to the species are habitat alteration and loss, caused by multiple factors. In the western portion of its distribution, increasing wildfire activity is a primary cause of habitat loss and degradation. Single wildfires in this area may now reach extremely large sizes (>100,000 ha), and wildfires have been linked to local population declines. However, no published studies, to date, have examined the immediate effects of large-scale wildfire on sage-grouse habitat selection and demographic rates, using modern telemetry methods. I studied the habitat selection patterns, nest success, and survival of adult, and yearling female sage-grouse, captured within or near the Holloway fire, using state-of-the-art GPS-PTT telemetry methods. The Holloway fire burned ~187,000 ha of highly productive sage-grouse habitat in August, 2012. My study began during the first spring post-fire (March, 2013), and continued through February, 2015. I monitored seasonal habitat use patterns, and site-fidelity of sage-grouse, and modeled third-order seasonal resource selection, using mixed effects resource selection functions, in relation to characteristics of the post-fire habitat mosaic, terrain, mesic habitat availability, and herbaceous vegetation regeneration. I described sage-grouse nesting habitat use, nesting effort, and modeled daily nest survival in relation to temporal patterns, patch scale vegetation, biological factors, and landscape-scale habitat composition. I modeled adult and yearling female sage-grouse survival in relation to temporal patterns, biological factors, and landscape-scale habitat composition. Female sage-grouse primarily exhibited a three range seasonal movement pattern, with differentiation between breeding-nesting-early brood-rearing habitat (mean use dates: 8 Mar - 12 Jun), late brood-rearing-summer habitat (13 Jun - 20 Oct), and winter habitat (21 Oct - 7 Mar). However there was variation in seasonal range behavior among individuals. Sage-grouse exhibited considerable fidelity to all seasonal ranges, for individuals which survived >1 yr, mean distance between seasonal range centroids of the same type were 1.80 km, 1.65 km, and 3.96 km, for breeding ranges, summer ranges, and winter ranges, respectively. Within seasonal ranges, sage-grouse exhibited third-order resource selection patterns similar to those observed for populations in undisturbed habitats. Sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for level terrain throughout the year. During the breeding season sage-grouse selected for areas with increased amounts of intact sagebrush land-cover within a 1-km² area around used locations, areas of increased NDVI values within a 6.25-km² area, an amount of mesic habitat within a 6.25-km² area roughly equal to that available on the landscape, and mid-level elevations. During summer, sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for an areas with an intermediate density of burned-intact habitat edge within a 1 km² area, areas of increased NDVI values within a 6.25-km² area, intermediate distances to mesic habitat, and high elevations. During winter, sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for increased amounts of intact sagebrush land-cover within a 0.089-km² area, areas with decreased variation in NDVI within a 0.089-km² area, an amount of mesic habitat within a 6.25-km² area roughly equal to that available on the landscape, and intermediate elevations. There was considerable variation in third-order resource selection patterns among individuals during all seasons. Sage-grouse nest success was consistently low during the study (2013: 19.3%, 2014: 30.1%), and nest initiation rates were average to high (2013: 1st nest initiation = 90.5%, 2nd nest initiation = 23.1%; 2014: 1st nest initiation = 100%, 2nd nest initiation = 57.1%). Daily nest survival rates were influenced by an interaction between year and nesting attempt, and by forb cover within 5 m of the nest. Nest survival over the incubation period was consistently low for 1st and 2nd nests during 2013, and for 1st nests during 2014 (range: 0.131 - 0.212), but increased to 0.744 for 2nd nests during 2014. Forb cover within 5 m of the nest had a positive effect on daily nest survival rates, with a 1% increase in forb cover increasing the probability of a nest surviving a given day by 1.02 times. We did not detect strong direct effects of habitat or biological characteristics on survival of adult and yearling female sage-grouse. Rather, survival varied by month with lowest survival occurring in April and August of each year, and highest survival occurring during the winter. While patterns of monthly survival were similar between years, there was a strong, negative additive effect on survival which extended from the beginning of the study (March, 2013), through the end of the first post fire growing season (July, 2013). Although monthly survival increased following the end of the 1st post-fire growing season, yearly survival over both the 1st and 2nd biological years post-fire was low (March 2013 - February 2014: 24.0%; March 2014 - February 2015: 37.9%). These results indicate that female greater-sage grouse do not respond to wildfire related habitat disturbance through emigration, and rather continue to attempt to exist and reproduce in habitats disturbed by wildfire during the immediate years following a fire. While, due to site-fidelity, sage-grouse are not able to leave wildfire affected seasonal ranges, within those seasonal ranges they still attempt to utilize habitat components which most closely match their life-history requirements. However, this behavior appears to have an acute fitness cost to individuals, with reduced nesting success and survival of individuals utilizing fire-affected habitats during the first two years post-fire. This reduction in demographic rates likely explains observed sage-grouse population declines following wildfire, and indicates that these population declines are not the result of sage-grouse emigration away from fire-affected leks, but rather a true decline in the number of individual sage-grouse on the landscape following large-scale wildfire. Title: Resource Selection, and Demographic Rates of Female Greater Sage-Grouse Following Large-Scale Wildfire Author: Foster, Lee (Lee Jacob) Understanding the effects of habitat disturbance on a species' habitat selection patterns, and demographic rates, is essential to projecting the trajectories of populations affected by disturbance, as well as for determining the appropriate conservation actions needed to maintain those populations. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation concern in western North America. The distribution of the species has been reduced by approximately half since European settlement, with concurrent and continuing population declines across its occupied range. The primary threats to the species are habitat alteration and loss, caused by multiple factors. In the western portion of its distribution, increasing wildfire activity is a primary cause of habitat loss and degradation. Single wildfires in this area may now reach extremely large sizes (>100,000 ha), and wildfires have been linked to local population declines. However, no published studies, to date, have examined the immediate effects of large-scale wildfire on sage-grouse habitat selection and demographic rates, using modern telemetry methods. I studied the habitat selection patterns, nest success, and survival of adult, and yearling female sage-grouse, captured within or near the Holloway fire, using state-of-the-art GPS-PTT telemetry methods. The Holloway fire burned ~187,000 ha of highly productive sage-grouse habitat in August, 2012. My study began during the first spring post-fire (March, 2013), and continued through February, 2015. I monitored seasonal habitat use patterns, and site-fidelity of sage-grouse, and modeled third-order seasonal resource selection, using mixed effects resource selection functions, in relation to characteristics of the post-fire habitat mosaic, terrain, mesic habitat availability, and herbaceous vegetation regeneration. I described sage-grouse nesting habitat use, nesting effort, and modeled daily nest survival in relation to temporal patterns, patch scale vegetation, biological factors, and landscape-scale habitat composition. I modeled adult and yearling female sage-grouse survival in relation to temporal patterns, biological factors, and landscape-scale habitat composition. Female sage-grouse primarily exhibited a three range seasonal movement pattern, with differentiation between breeding-nesting-early brood-rearing habitat (mean use dates: 8 Mar - 12 Jun), late brood-rearing-summer habitat (13 Jun - 20 Oct), and winter habitat (21 Oct - 7 Mar). However there was variation in seasonal range behavior among individuals. Sage-grouse exhibited considerable fidelity to all seasonal ranges, for individuals which survived >1 yr, mean distance between seasonal range centroids of the same type were 1.80 km, 1.65 km, and 3.96 km, for breeding ranges, summer ranges, and winter ranges, respectively. Within seasonal ranges, sage-grouse exhibited third-order resource selection patterns similar to those observed for populations in undisturbed habitats. Sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for level terrain throughout the year. During the breeding season sage-grouse selected for areas with increased amounts of intact sagebrush land-cover within a 1-km² area around used locations, areas of increased NDVI values within a 6.25-km² area, an amount of mesic habitat within a 6.25-km² area roughly equal to that available on the landscape, and mid-level elevations. During summer, sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for an areas with an intermediate density of burned-intact habitat edge within a 1 km² area, areas of increased NDVI values within a 6.25-km² area, intermediate distances to mesic habitat, and high elevations. During winter, sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for increased amounts of intact sagebrush land-cover within a 0.089-km² area, areas with decreased variation in NDVI within a 0.089-km² area, an amount of mesic habitat within a 6.25-km² area roughly equal to that available on the landscape, and intermediate elevations. There was considerable variation in third-order resource selection patterns among individuals during all seasons. Sage-grouse nest success was consistently low during the study (2013: 19.3%, 2014: 30.1%), and nest initiation rates were average to high (2013: 1st nest initiation = 90.5%, 2nd nest initiation = 23.1%; 2014: 1st nest initiation = 100%, 2nd nest initiation = 57.1%). Daily nest survival rates were influenced by an interaction between year and nesting attempt, and by forb cover within 5 m of the nest. Nest survival over the incubation period was consistently low for 1st and 2nd nests during 2013, and for 1st nests during 2014 (range: 0.131 - 0.212), but increased to 0.744 for 2nd nests during 2014. Forb cover within 5 m of the nest had a positive effect on daily nest survival rates, with a 1% increase in forb cover increasing the probability of a nest surviving a given day by 1.02 times. We did not detect strong direct effects of habitat or biological characteristics on survival of adult and yearling female sage-grouse. Rather, survival varied by month with lowest survival occurring in April and August of each year, and highest survival occurring during the winter. While patterns of monthly survival were similar between years, there was a strong, negative additive effect on survival which extended from the beginning of the study (March, 2013), through the end of the first post fire growing season (July, 2013). Although monthly survival increased following the end of the 1st post-fire growing season, yearly survival over both the 1st and 2nd biological years post-fire was low (March 2013 - February 2014: 24.0%; March 2014 - February 2015: 37.9%). These results indicate that female greater-sage grouse do not respond to wildfire related habitat disturbance through emigration, and rather continue to attempt to exist and reproduce in habitats disturbed by wildfire during the immediate years following a fire. While, due to site-fidelity, sage-grouse are not able to leave wildfire affected seasonal ranges, within those seasonal ranges they still attempt to utilize habitat components which most closely match their life-history requirements. However, this behavior appears to have an acute fitness cost to individuals, with reduced nesting success and survival of individuals utilizing fire-affected habitats during the first two years post-fire. This reduction in demographic rates likely explains observed sage-grouse population declines following wildfire, and indicates that these population declines are not the result of sage-grouse emigration away from fire-affected leks, but rather a true decline in the number of individual sage-grouse on the landscape following large-scale wildfire. Close

• 86. [Article] Stream habitat classification and restoration in the Blue Mountians of northeast Oregon

  The restoration of rivers and streams should be based on a strong conceptual framework. Streams are developing systems. As such, streams exhibit temporal behaviors that change with changing stream environments. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Stream habitat classification and restoration in the Blue Mountians of northeast Oregon Author: Ebersole, Joseph Lamar The restoration of rivers and streams should be based on a strong conceptual framework. Streams are developing systems. As such, streams exhibit temporal behaviors that change with changing stream environments. Underlying the dynamic development of streams is potential capacity. Streams express this capacity as an array of habitats over time and across the landscape. Human land uses in the western United States have rapidly altered aquatic habitats as well as the processes that shape habitat. As a result, the diversity of native fishes and their habitats has been suppressed. Restoration is fundamentally about allowing stream systems to re-express their capacities. Four steps are provided to guide stream restoration activities. Key tasks include: identification of the historic patterns of habitat development; protection of the developmental diversity that remains; local application of specific knowledge about suppressive factors; classification of sensitive, critical or refugium habitats; release of anthropogenic suppression; and monitoring of biotic response to habitat change. Applying these concepts, I describe potential habitat refugia for aquatic organisms in the Joseph Creek basin in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. Five valley segment classes, differing in valley corridor landforms, are described. Of these, low-gradient wide alluvial valleys have been most altered by human land use. Riparian vegetation has been extensively removed or altered in alluvial valleys. Currently, stream habitats are structurally depauperate, and warm to temperatures well above thermal tolerances of native salmonids. Potential refugia for native coldwater fishes in these valleys include patches of complex habitat within stream reaches. Reaches fenced to exclude domestic livestock exhibit narrower channels, more pools, and higher frequencies of stable vegetated banks than nearby unfenced reaches. During summer low flow periods, cold groundwater seeping into and accumulating in stream channels forms "cold pools". Cold pools provide potential seasonal refuge for coldwater fish at microhabitat scales. Cold pools are associated with channel complexity, and are more frequent in reaches with vigorous riparian vegetation. Seven classes of cold pools are described. Cold pool classes differ in minimum temperature, maximum depth and volume. Distributions of cold pool classes between valley segment classes suggest that valley geomorphology in addition to local channel form may influence development of certain cold pool types. Although refugia at the microhabitat to reach scales are important, the context within which remnant or refugium habitats and associated relict populations are maintained may ultimately determine the persistence of those species and habitats. In managed landscapes, protection and restoration of habitats at many scales may be necessary if we are to best insure the persistence of native species. Title: Stream habitat classification and restoration in the Blue Mountians of northeast Oregon Author: Ebersole, Joseph Lamar The restoration of rivers and streams should be based on a strong conceptual framework. Streams are developing systems. As such, streams exhibit temporal behaviors that change with changing stream environments. Underlying the dynamic development of streams is potential capacity. Streams express this capacity as an array of habitats over time and across the landscape. Human land uses in the western United States have rapidly altered aquatic habitats as well as the processes that shape habitat. As a result, the diversity of native fishes and their habitats has been suppressed. Restoration is fundamentally about allowing stream systems to re-express their capacities. Four steps are provided to guide stream restoration activities. Key tasks include: identification of the historic patterns of habitat development; protection of the developmental diversity that remains; local application of specific knowledge about suppressive factors; classification of sensitive, critical or refugium habitats; release of anthropogenic suppression; and monitoring of biotic response to habitat change. Applying these concepts, I describe potential habitat refugia for aquatic organisms in the Joseph Creek basin in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. Five valley segment classes, differing in valley corridor landforms, are described. Of these, low-gradient wide alluvial valleys have been most altered by human land use. Riparian vegetation has been extensively removed or altered in alluvial valleys. Currently, stream habitats are structurally depauperate, and warm to temperatures well above thermal tolerances of native salmonids. Potential refugia for native coldwater fishes in these valleys include patches of complex habitat within stream reaches. Reaches fenced to exclude domestic livestock exhibit narrower channels, more pools, and higher frequencies of stable vegetated banks than nearby unfenced reaches. During summer low flow periods, cold groundwater seeping into and accumulating in stream channels forms "cold pools". Cold pools provide potential seasonal refuge for coldwater fish at microhabitat scales. Cold pools are associated with channel complexity, and are more frequent in reaches with vigorous riparian vegetation. Seven classes of cold pools are described. Cold pool classes differ in minimum temperature, maximum depth and volume. Distributions of cold pool classes between valley segment classes suggest that valley geomorphology in addition to local channel form may influence development of certain cold pool types. Although refugia at the microhabitat to reach scales are important, the context within which remnant or refugium habitats and associated relict populations are maintained may ultimately determine the persistence of those species and habitats. In managed landscapes, protection and restoration of habitats at many scales may be necessary if we are to best insure the persistence of native species. Close

• 87. [Article] Habitat management for beneficial insects on Willamette Valley vegetable and berry farms

  Conservation biological control involves manipulating farm landscapes or management systems to enhance populations of beneficial predators of agricultural pests. Farmscaping is one aspect of conservation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Habitat management for beneficial insects on Willamette Valley vegetable and berry farms Author: Russell, Michael C. Conservation biological control involves manipulating farm landscapes or management systems to enhance populations of beneficial predators of agricultural pests. Farmscaping is one aspect of conservation biological control where predators of important pests are identified, the availability on the farm landscape of resources and habitat components needed by the beneficials to complete their lifecycles is evaluated, and hedgerows, beetle banks, or other conservation plantings can be added to the landscape to provide the lacking resources. To be able to efficiently survey a farm landscape for the presence of resources that support beneficial predator populations there needs to be information on the resource availability with different habitats. This dissertation describes a series of investigations into determining the amount of resources available in particular habitat types, and how to create conservation plantings which provide these resources with minimal expense and impact on the farming system. The first investigation is into the floral resource availability to parasitoid wasps in cane berry production landscapes. A meta analysis was performed to estimate the effects of different species on longevity of and attraction to various flowers. This information was then used to evaluate the plant species found on Willamette valley cane berry farms and calculate the total floral resource availability of different habitats during different times of the year. Surveys identified particular habitats on the landscape, and different management regimes as having high floral resource availability relative to other habitats or management regimes. The second investigation focuses on the biology of a group of ground beetles that are common on Willamette valley vegetable farms. Pitfall trapping and soil core samples were used to determine the seasonal activity patterns of the carabids, and to identify which habitats they were using most. Sentinel prey cards were used to compare pitfall trap counts with the risk of predation of a potential prey item. Laboratory experiments identified differences in the feeding and activity of different species, and the changes over the season. The third investigation used soil cores to sample the over wintering arthropod predator populations in a variety of habitats on Willamette valley farms, and in plantings of native species on beetle banks in a common garden at the Hyslop research farm in Corvallis, Oregon. Grassy habitats were found to support the highest arthropod populations both on the farms and in the common garden. Some perennial forbs also had high arthropod numbers, while other perennial forbs and annual forbs had low numbers. Differences in the number of over wintering arthropods in different species were related with differences in the structure and composition of the vegetation. The information presented here can be used to assign value to different habitats based on the provision of specific resources required for beneficial predators to complete their life cycles. This will aid in rapid evaluations of farm landscapes based on aerial imagery interpretation or a quick tour. After initial predictions are made it is easier to conduct more in depth sampling to confirm whether the beneficials are in fact present and thriving. If there are resources that are in too short a supply the information provided here will help in designing conservation plantings to provide those resources. Title: Habitat management for beneficial insects on Willamette Valley vegetable and berry farms Author: Russell, Michael C. Conservation biological control involves manipulating farm landscapes or management systems to enhance populations of beneficial predators of agricultural pests. Farmscaping is one aspect of conservation biological control where predators of important pests are identified, the availability on the farm landscape of resources and habitat components needed by the beneficials to complete their lifecycles is evaluated, and hedgerows, beetle banks, or other conservation plantings can be added to the landscape to provide the lacking resources. To be able to efficiently survey a farm landscape for the presence of resources that support beneficial predator populations there needs to be information on the resource availability with different habitats. This dissertation describes a series of investigations into determining the amount of resources available in particular habitat types, and how to create conservation plantings which provide these resources with minimal expense and impact on the farming system. The first investigation is into the floral resource availability to parasitoid wasps in cane berry production landscapes. A meta analysis was performed to estimate the effects of different species on longevity of and attraction to various flowers. This information was then used to evaluate the plant species found on Willamette valley cane berry farms and calculate the total floral resource availability of different habitats during different times of the year. Surveys identified particular habitats on the landscape, and different management regimes as having high floral resource availability relative to other habitats or management regimes. The second investigation focuses on the biology of a group of ground beetles that are common on Willamette valley vegetable farms. Pitfall trapping and soil core samples were used to determine the seasonal activity patterns of the carabids, and to identify which habitats they were using most. Sentinel prey cards were used to compare pitfall trap counts with the risk of predation of a potential prey item. Laboratory experiments identified differences in the feeding and activity of different species, and the changes over the season. The third investigation used soil cores to sample the over wintering arthropod predator populations in a variety of habitats on Willamette valley farms, and in plantings of native species on beetle banks in a common garden at the Hyslop research farm in Corvallis, Oregon. Grassy habitats were found to support the highest arthropod populations both on the farms and in the common garden. Some perennial forbs also had high arthropod numbers, while other perennial forbs and annual forbs had low numbers. Differences in the number of over wintering arthropods in different species were related with differences in the structure and composition of the vegetation. The information presented here can be used to assign value to different habitats based on the provision of specific resources required for beneficial predators to complete their life cycles. This will aid in rapid evaluations of farm landscapes based on aerial imagery interpretation or a quick tour. After initial predictions are made it is easier to conduct more in depth sampling to confirm whether the beneficials are in fact present and thriving. If there are resources that are in too short a supply the information provided here will help in designing conservation plantings to provide those resources. Close

• 88. [Article] Over-winter demography of the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) in fragmented and continuous habitats

  Large scale disruption of natural habitats worldwide has led to concern over the effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations. Small scale experiments may be a useful tool for discovering effects ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Over-winter demography of the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) in fragmented and continuous habitats Author: Brunkal, Heidi L. Large scale disruption of natural habitats worldwide has led to concern over the effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations. Small scale experiments may be a useful tool for discovering effects of fragmentation over larger landscape scales. I sought to explore the potential for using voles as an experimental model system, at a small scale, to discover mechanisms that may affect other species at different spatial scales. I compared over-winter demography of gray-tailed voles, Microtus canicaudus, in two experimental landscapes, consisting of fragmented and continuous habitat, to assess the effects of habitat fragmentation. I chose winter as the time frame of the experiment because it poses harsh conditions for voles and because seasonal bottlenecks may affect population persistence. Population size, population growth rates, reproduction, recruitment, survival and movements, were monitored using mark-recapture methods in 8, 0.2-ha enclosures planted with alfalfa. The habitat within the enclosures was manipulated into 2 configurations of equal area, 1 large continuous patch (625 m²), and a mosaic of 25 small patches (each 25 m²), prior to the introduction of 12 pairs of animals/enclosure. I hypothesized that population size and growth rates, reproduction, recruitment, and survival would be greater for vole populations in continuous habitats than for populations in fragmented habitats. Additionally, I hypothesized that movements would be more restricted within fragmented habitat because the voles would perceive the area between habitat patches as a barrier. I did not detect significant differences between vole populations in continuous and fragmented treatments. However, populations residing in fragmented habitat showed higher variability over the study period. Populations in both treatments decreased throughout the winter period and all became extinct by the end of the study. Reproduction occurred only during the fall period, and there were no significant differences between treatments. Movements were not different between treatments, or between male and female voles, but movements did increase over time. Survival appeared to be higher for male voles in continuous habitat than in fragmented habitat, but female vole survival was similar between treatments. Survival was influenced by weather conditions, and predation. These results contrast with a previous experiment during the summer season, and indicate that seasonal bottlenecks may be important to consider when studying habitat fragmentation. Extinction of populations in both treatments demonstrates that small populations are extremely vulnerable to both environmental and demographic stochastic events. Title: Over-winter demography of the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) in fragmented and continuous habitats Author: Brunkal, Heidi L. Large scale disruption of natural habitats worldwide has led to concern over the effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations. Small scale experiments may be a useful tool for discovering effects of fragmentation over larger landscape scales. I sought to explore the potential for using voles as an experimental model system, at a small scale, to discover mechanisms that may affect other species at different spatial scales. I compared over-winter demography of gray-tailed voles, Microtus canicaudus, in two experimental landscapes, consisting of fragmented and continuous habitat, to assess the effects of habitat fragmentation. I chose winter as the time frame of the experiment because it poses harsh conditions for voles and because seasonal bottlenecks may affect population persistence. Population size, population growth rates, reproduction, recruitment, survival and movements, were monitored using mark-recapture methods in 8, 0.2-ha enclosures planted with alfalfa. The habitat within the enclosures was manipulated into 2 configurations of equal area, 1 large continuous patch (625 m²), and a mosaic of 25 small patches (each 25 m²), prior to the introduction of 12 pairs of animals/enclosure. I hypothesized that population size and growth rates, reproduction, recruitment, and survival would be greater for vole populations in continuous habitats than for populations in fragmented habitats. Additionally, I hypothesized that movements would be more restricted within fragmented habitat because the voles would perceive the area between habitat patches as a barrier. I did not detect significant differences between vole populations in continuous and fragmented treatments. However, populations residing in fragmented habitat showed higher variability over the study period. Populations in both treatments decreased throughout the winter period and all became extinct by the end of the study. Reproduction occurred only during the fall period, and there were no significant differences between treatments. Movements were not different between treatments, or between male and female voles, but movements did increase over time. Survival appeared to be higher for male voles in continuous habitat than in fragmented habitat, but female vole survival was similar between treatments. Survival was influenced by weather conditions, and predation. These results contrast with a previous experiment during the summer season, and indicate that seasonal bottlenecks may be important to consider when studying habitat fragmentation. Extinction of populations in both treatments demonstrates that small populations are extremely vulnerable to both environmental and demographic stochastic events. Close

• 89. [Article] Formation and maintenance of fish assemblages in a high desert Oregon stream

  Considerable controversy exists about how fish assemblages are organized. I explicitly took fish movement into account while I studied the effects of disturbance, habitat complexity, and predation at different ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Formation and maintenance of fish assemblages in a high desert Oregon stream Author: Pearsons, Todd N. Considerable controversy exists about how fish assemblages are organized. I explicitly took fish movement into account while I studied the effects of disturbance, habitat complexity, and predation at different times of the summer to understand the major factors influencing assemblage structure in a high desert Oregon stream. The effects of disturbance were determined by sampling fish assemblages before and after summer and spring floods. Proportions of fish density and diversity decreased more in simple habitats than in complex ones following a summer flood and assemblages were quite resilient in all habitats. Following these floods, three controlled field experiments were performed to investigate fish assemblage formation and maintenance in response to habitat complexity and predation. Experiments were designed to allow fish to move in and out of manipulated habitats. Complex habitats from these experiments had higher juvenile and adult fish densities and diversities than simple habitats. Simple habitats had a high proportion of age 0+ fish and low species richness. Pool habitats with high densities of squawfish predators (>0.22 squawfish/m³) had lower fish densities and diversities than pools with low squawfish densities. Pools with high densities of predators had a high proportion of age 0+ fish, few juvenile suckers, and low species richness. Migration of fish during the spring and summer was the dominant feature affecting fish density and assemblage structure in Rock Creek. Habitat complexity, predation, and disturbance altered the patterns of migrations into different habitat types in Rock Creek. Migrations of fish resulted in an increase in diversity and density which peaked in late summer. A suite of models are presented that assume increasing fish density and diversity with time as a template. The affects of variations in habitat complexity, predator density, and disturbance timing alter the trajectory of the template in different ways. For example, summer floods are predicted to have greater effects on the template than spring floods. In addition, complex habitats and pool habitats with high densities of squawfish predators are predicted to have higher fish colonization rates than simple habitats and pools with low densities of squawfish predators, and these rates diverge through time. Application of these models to fish assemblages in other streams is related to distances from colonization sources and regional and environmental contexts. Title: Formation and maintenance of fish assemblages in a high desert Oregon stream Author: Pearsons, Todd N. Considerable controversy exists about how fish assemblages are organized. I explicitly took fish movement into account while I studied the effects of disturbance, habitat complexity, and predation at different times of the summer to understand the major factors influencing assemblage structure in a high desert Oregon stream. The effects of disturbance were determined by sampling fish assemblages before and after summer and spring floods. Proportions of fish density and diversity decreased more in simple habitats than in complex ones following a summer flood and assemblages were quite resilient in all habitats. Following these floods, three controlled field experiments were performed to investigate fish assemblage formation and maintenance in response to habitat complexity and predation. Experiments were designed to allow fish to move in and out of manipulated habitats. Complex habitats from these experiments had higher juvenile and adult fish densities and diversities than simple habitats. Simple habitats had a high proportion of age 0+ fish and low species richness. Pool habitats with high densities of squawfish predators (>0.22 squawfish/m³) had lower fish densities and diversities than pools with low squawfish densities. Pools with high densities of predators had a high proportion of age 0+ fish, few juvenile suckers, and low species richness. Migration of fish during the spring and summer was the dominant feature affecting fish density and assemblage structure in Rock Creek. Habitat complexity, predation, and disturbance altered the patterns of migrations into different habitat types in Rock Creek. Migrations of fish resulted in an increase in diversity and density which peaked in late summer. A suite of models are presented that assume increasing fish density and diversity with time as a template. The affects of variations in habitat complexity, predator density, and disturbance timing alter the trajectory of the template in different ways. For example, summer floods are predicted to have greater effects on the template than spring floods. In addition, complex habitats and pool habitats with high densities of squawfish predators are predicted to have higher fish colonization rates than simple habitats and pools with low densities of squawfish predators, and these rates diverge through time. Application of these models to fish assemblages in other streams is related to distances from colonization sources and regional and environmental contexts. Close

• 90. [Article] Linking greater sage-grouse habitat use and suitability across spatiotemporal scales in central Oregon

  Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat research has historically focused on fine-scale (0.007 - 0.032 ha) vegetation structure and composition immediately surrounding sites selected by ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Linking greater sage-grouse habitat use and suitability across spatiotemporal scales in central Oregon Author: Freese, Mark T. Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat research has historically focused on fine-scale (0.007 - 0.032 ha) vegetation structure and composition immediately surrounding sites selected by birds. However, little work has evaluated vegetation attributes important for Greater Sage-grouse at a landscape-scale or identified landscape attributes that influence habitat use patterns. Habitat use patterns by Greater Sage-grouse are complex and can occur across relatively large heterogeneous landscapes. This creates a major challenge for managers to interpret and predict habitat use patterns as well as to evaluate habitat suitability and prioritize habitats that are in need of ecological restoration. The goals of this research were to evaluate plot-level habitat characteristics found to be important in sustaining Greater Sage-grouse populations at a landscape-level and to identify landscape-level attributes associated with bird occurrence. Specific questions this research addressed were: 1) what is the variation in vegetation composition and structure at the plot versus landscape-level, 2) how does topography influence the distribution of vegetation composition and structure, and 3) what attributes at the landscape-level are most closely associated with Greater Sage-grouse habitat use? To address these questions we selected a 31,416 ha area in central Oregon surrounding a Greater Sage-grouse lek with a population that has been relatively stable since 1987. In February 2006, 50 Greater Sage-grouse were trapped, radio collared, and then tracked for two consecutive years. Four-hundred eighty bird UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinate location points were recorded for the entire population of birds during the duration of this study. Each collared Greater Sage-grouse was located on average every 15 ± 0.56 (mean ± SE) days, ranging from 1 to 154 days. Vegetation for the entire study area was mapped by cover types, which were defined by the dominant shrub species. When shrubs were not present in the plant community, cover types were separated by other surface characteristics such as bare ground, water, meadow, etc. A total of 23 cover types were delineated. Cover types were mapped using 0.5-m NAIP (National Agricultural Imagery Program) imagery. In addition to cover type, a set of biophysical predictor variables were created for the entire study area in a GIS (Geographic Information System) to evaluate the association with Greater Sage-grouse location points. These variables included elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, solar radiation, ruggedness index, northing, easting, and distance from roads, leks, and mesic habitats. A stratified random sample with cover types serving as the stratum was used to select random locations for sampling plot-level habitat variables. A total of 352 plots were sampled from 18 cover types across the study area with a minimum of 15 plots per cover type. Vegetation measurements collected were similar to those reported in the habitat guidelines developed by Connelly et al. (2000) and the Bureau of Land Management et al. (2000). Measurements included vegetation cover, height, and density of forbs recognized as important Greater Sage-grouse food species. Plot elevation, slope, aspect, curvature and landscape position were also recorded. Summary statistics were used to describe means and ranges within and between cover types. A combination of multiple linear regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the effects of topographic attributes on the distribution of vegetation composition and structure. To address the third question, maximum entropy software was used to develop models that predict Greater Sage-grouse seasonal habitat use, generate maps from those models, and describe the shapes of the response curves as it relates Greater Sage-grouse habitat preference to individual landscape predictor variables. Total shrub canopy cover across all cover types averaged 19.4%, ranging from 11.6 to 27.7%. Big (mountain and Wyoming) and low sagebrush canopy cover commonly varied between 2.6 and 16 fold within cover types. Deep-rooted perennial tussock grass cover averaged across all upland plots, was 26.7%, ranging from less than 1% to over 50%. Vegetation cover, Greater Sage-grouse food forb density, and sagebrush and grass height were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with topographic attributes. Cover for the different plant life forms and food forb density increased with elevation. Cover for most of the herbaceous life forms was also greater on north than south aspects. Compared to Connelly et al. (2000) and the BLM et al. (2000) habitat guidelines, < 1% of the study area satisfied breeding and nesting guideline criteria, while < 31% satisfied the brood-rearing guideline criteria. Although most of the study area did not meet habitat recommendations presented in the guidelines, patches imbedded throughout the study area did and most areas satisfied many but not all of the guideline requirements. These results suggests that evaluating only mean values of community structure, both within and among cover types across the study area, limited the ability to fully identify patch variability and landscape heterogeneity as it relates to habitat suitability across large areas. Maximum entropy results suggest Greater Sage-grouse habitat use during the breeding season increases near leks and within cover types of low sagebrush and low sagebrush/mountain big sagebrush complexes. Preferred summer habitat includes areas relatively high in elevation, distances that are close to leks, and within or a close proximity to habitats that harbor succulent vegetation through much of the summer. With Greater Sage-grouse utilizing resources within expansive landscapes, understanding the attributes that can be applied at a landscape-scale that attract disproportionate levels of habitat use can help managers predict where birds are likely to occur across the landscape. With the ability to discriminate between areas that Greater Sage-grouse are likely to use or avoid, managers can allocate limited resources to more effectively create, manipulate, and administer habitat conservation efforts where bird use is predicted and prioritize areas across the landscape in need of ecological restoration. Title: Linking greater sage-grouse habitat use and suitability across spatiotemporal scales in central Oregon Author: Freese, Mark T. Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat research has historically focused on fine-scale (0.007 - 0.032 ha) vegetation structure and composition immediately surrounding sites selected by birds. However, little work has evaluated vegetation attributes important for Greater Sage-grouse at a landscape-scale or identified landscape attributes that influence habitat use patterns. Habitat use patterns by Greater Sage-grouse are complex and can occur across relatively large heterogeneous landscapes. This creates a major challenge for managers to interpret and predict habitat use patterns as well as to evaluate habitat suitability and prioritize habitats that are in need of ecological restoration. The goals of this research were to evaluate plot-level habitat characteristics found to be important in sustaining Greater Sage-grouse populations at a landscape-level and to identify landscape-level attributes associated with bird occurrence. Specific questions this research addressed were: 1) what is the variation in vegetation composition and structure at the plot versus landscape-level, 2) how does topography influence the distribution of vegetation composition and structure, and 3) what attributes at the landscape-level are most closely associated with Greater Sage-grouse habitat use? To address these questions we selected a 31,416 ha area in central Oregon surrounding a Greater Sage-grouse lek with a population that has been relatively stable since 1987. In February 2006, 50 Greater Sage-grouse were trapped, radio collared, and then tracked for two consecutive years. Four-hundred eighty bird UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinate location points were recorded for the entire population of birds during the duration of this study. Each collared Greater Sage-grouse was located on average every 15 ± 0.56 (mean ± SE) days, ranging from 1 to 154 days. Vegetation for the entire study area was mapped by cover types, which were defined by the dominant shrub species. When shrubs were not present in the plant community, cover types were separated by other surface characteristics such as bare ground, water, meadow, etc. A total of 23 cover types were delineated. Cover types were mapped using 0.5-m NAIP (National Agricultural Imagery Program) imagery. In addition to cover type, a set of biophysical predictor variables were created for the entire study area in a GIS (Geographic Information System) to evaluate the association with Greater Sage-grouse location points. These variables included elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, solar radiation, ruggedness index, northing, easting, and distance from roads, leks, and mesic habitats. A stratified random sample with cover types serving as the stratum was used to select random locations for sampling plot-level habitat variables. A total of 352 plots were sampled from 18 cover types across the study area with a minimum of 15 plots per cover type. Vegetation measurements collected were similar to those reported in the habitat guidelines developed by Connelly et al. (2000) and the Bureau of Land Management et al. (2000). Measurements included vegetation cover, height, and density of forbs recognized as important Greater Sage-grouse food species. Plot elevation, slope, aspect, curvature and landscape position were also recorded. Summary statistics were used to describe means and ranges within and between cover types. A combination of multiple linear regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the effects of topographic attributes on the distribution of vegetation composition and structure. To address the third question, maximum entropy software was used to develop models that predict Greater Sage-grouse seasonal habitat use, generate maps from those models, and describe the shapes of the response curves as it relates Greater Sage-grouse habitat preference to individual landscape predictor variables. Total shrub canopy cover across all cover types averaged 19.4%, ranging from 11.6 to 27.7%. Big (mountain and Wyoming) and low sagebrush canopy cover commonly varied between 2.6 and 16 fold within cover types. Deep-rooted perennial tussock grass cover averaged across all upland plots, was 26.7%, ranging from less than 1% to over 50%. Vegetation cover, Greater Sage-grouse food forb density, and sagebrush and grass height were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with topographic attributes. Cover for the different plant life forms and food forb density increased with elevation. Cover for most of the herbaceous life forms was also greater on north than south aspects. Compared to Connelly et al. (2000) and the BLM et al. (2000) habitat guidelines, < 1% of the study area satisfied breeding and nesting guideline criteria, while < 31% satisfied the brood-rearing guideline criteria. Although most of the study area did not meet habitat recommendations presented in the guidelines, patches imbedded throughout the study area did and most areas satisfied many but not all of the guideline requirements. These results suggests that evaluating only mean values of community structure, both within and among cover types across the study area, limited the ability to fully identify patch variability and landscape heterogeneity as it relates to habitat suitability across large areas. Maximum entropy results suggest Greater Sage-grouse habitat use during the breeding season increases near leks and within cover types of low sagebrush and low sagebrush/mountain big sagebrush complexes. Preferred summer habitat includes areas relatively high in elevation, distances that are close to leks, and within or a close proximity to habitats that harbor succulent vegetation through much of the summer. With Greater Sage-grouse utilizing resources within expansive landscapes, understanding the attributes that can be applied at a landscape-scale that attract disproportionate levels of habitat use can help managers predict where birds are likely to occur across the landscape. With the ability to discriminate between areas that Greater Sage-grouse are likely to use or avoid, managers can allocate limited resources to more effectively create, manipulate, and administer habitat conservation efforts where bird use is predicted and prioritize areas across the landscape in need of ecological restoration. Close

• 91. [Article] Trends in Developed Land Cover Adjacent to Habitat for Threatened Salmon in Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A.

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article was published by the Public Library ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Trends in Developed Land Cover Adjacent to Habitat for Threatened Salmon in Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A. Author: Ford, Michael J., et al., Kennedy, Robert E., Beechie, Timothy J., Bartz, Krista K. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article was published by the Public Library of Science and is in the public domain. The published article can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/. Title: Trends in Developed Land Cover Adjacent to Habitat for Threatened Salmon in Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A. Author: Ford, Michael J., et al., Kennedy, Robert E., Beechie, Timothy J., Bartz, Krista K. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article was published by the Public Library of Science and is in the public domain. The published article can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/. Close

• 92. [Article] Pup Vibrissae Stable Isotopes Reveal Geographic Differences in Adult Female Southern Sea Lion Habitat Use during Gestation

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Public Library of Science. The published article can be found at: http://journals.plos.org/plos...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Pup Vibrissae Stable Isotopes Reveal Geographic Differences in Adult Female Southern Sea Lion Habitat Use during Gestation Author: Staniland, Iain J., Voigt, Christian C., Baylis, Alastair M. M., Orben, Rachael A., Hoffman, Joseph I., Trillmich, Fritz, Kowalski, Gabriele J. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Public Library of Science. The published article can be found at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/ Title: Pup Vibrissae Stable Isotopes Reveal Geographic Differences in Adult Female Southern Sea Lion Habitat Use during Gestation Author: Staniland, Iain J., Voigt, Christian C., Baylis, Alastair M. M., Orben, Rachael A., Hoffman, Joseph I., Trillmich, Fritz, Kowalski, Gabriele J. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Public Library of Science. The published article can be found at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/ Close

• 93. [Article] Niche partitioning by lesser prairie-chickens Tympanuchus pallidicinctus and ring-necked pheasants Phasianus colchicus in southwestern Kansas.

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Nordic Council for Wildlife Research and published by Oikos Editorial Office. It can be found at: http://www.wildlifebiology.org/

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Niche partitioning by lesser prairie-chickens Tympanuchus pallidicinctus and ring-necked pheasants Phasianus colchicus in southwestern Kansas. Author: Robel, Robert J., Applegate, Roger D., Loughin, Thomas M., Hagen, Chrisitan A., Pitman, James C. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Nordic Council for Wildlife Research and published by Oikos Editorial Office. It can be found at: http://www.wildlifebiology.org/ Title: Niche partitioning by lesser prairie-chickens Tympanuchus pallidicinctus and ring-necked pheasants Phasianus colchicus in southwestern Kansas. Author: Robel, Robert J., Applegate, Roger D., Loughin, Thomas M., Hagen, Chrisitan A., Pitman, James C. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by Nordic Council for Wildlife Research and published by Oikos Editorial Office. It can be found at: http://www.wildlifebiology.org/ Close

• 94. [Article] Spatial and Temporal Variability of Macroinvertebrates in Spawning and Non-Spawning Habitats during a Salmon Run in Southeast Alaska

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by PLoS ONE and can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/home.action.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatial and Temporal Variability of Macroinvertebrates in Spawning and Non-Spawning Habitats during a Salmon Run in Southeast Alaska Author: Merritt, Richard W., Campbell, Emily Y., Benbow, M. Eric, Cummins, Kenneth W. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by PLoS ONE and can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/home.action. Title: Spatial and Temporal Variability of Macroinvertebrates in Spawning and Non-Spawning Habitats during a Salmon Run in Southeast Alaska Author: Merritt, Richard W., Campbell, Emily Y., Benbow, M. Eric, Cummins, Kenneth W. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by PLoS ONE and can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/home.action. Close

• 95. [Article] Colonization and extinction in dynamic habitats: an occupancy approach for a Great Plains stream fish assemblage

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Ecological ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Colonization and extinction in dynamic habitats: an occupancy approach for a Great Plains stream fish assemblage Author: Falke, Jeffrey A., Bestgen, Kevin R., Bailey, Larissa L., Fausch, Kurt D. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Ecological Society of America and can be found at: http://esa.org/. Title: Colonization and extinction in dynamic habitats: an occupancy approach for a Great Plains stream fish assemblage Author: Falke, Jeffrey A., Bestgen, Kevin R., Bailey, Larissa L., Fausch, Kurt D. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Ecological Society of America and can be found at: http://esa.org/. Close

• 96. [Article] The effect of spatial configuration of habitat capacity on β diversity

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The effect of spatial configuration of habitat capacity on β diversity Author: Olden, J. D., Muneepeerakul, R., Lytle, D. A., Dong, X. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by the Ecological Society of America. The published article can be found at: http://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%292150-8925/ Title: The effect of spatial configuration of habitat capacity on β diversity Author: Olden, J. D., Muneepeerakul, R., Lytle, D. A., Dong, X. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by the Ecological Society of America. The published article can be found at: http://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%292150-8925/ Close

• 97. [Article] Characterization of pools and reaches with salmonid species in the Alsea and Nestucca Sub-Basins

  Streams in the Alsea and Nestucca Sub-Basins were characterized using suites of habitat attributes at the pool and reach scales. These suites were analyzed using a multivariate process with the Multiple ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Characterization of pools and reaches with salmonid species in the Alsea and Nestucca Sub-Basins Author: McKinney, Shaun P. Streams in the Alsea and Nestucca Sub-Basins were characterized using suites of habitat attributes at the pool and reach scales. These suites were analyzed using a multivariate process with the Multiple Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP) to test for differences in groups. There were differences in the suite of habitat variables between pools with cutthroat trout, coho salmon, steelhead trout and those corresponding pools without those species. Further, there were differences in a second suite of habitat variables at the reach level. These differences were between reaches with cutthroat trout, coho salmon, steelhead trout and those without. These individual species were then grouped together to comprise salmonid communities. The groups consisted of pools and reaches with one, two and all three species present. These six groups were tested using MRPP. Differences were found between all salmonid communities and their corresponding pools or reaches without the community present. Each species and community group was then fully described at the pool and reach ecological level. Additionally each suite of habitat variables was graphed as a percentage of the full distribution mean. This allowed the habitat suite to be viewed on the same scale. The graph line connecting the individual variables provided both species and community specific response curves or signatures. These signatures were then compared and contrasted against one another at the species, community and sub-basin contexts. Each species or community expressed its own unique signature that quantitatively described habitat partitioning and community interactions. The response curves may be used to guide land managers in restoration activities. These signatures provide insight into species and community specific utilization of pools and reaches. In addition they also provide understanding into how the individual habitat characteristics operate together in a suite attributes. Title: Characterization of pools and reaches with salmonid species in the Alsea and Nestucca Sub-Basins Author: McKinney, Shaun P. Streams in the Alsea and Nestucca Sub-Basins were characterized using suites of habitat attributes at the pool and reach scales. These suites were analyzed using a multivariate process with the Multiple Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP) to test for differences in groups. There were differences in the suite of habitat variables between pools with cutthroat trout, coho salmon, steelhead trout and those corresponding pools without those species. Further, there were differences in a second suite of habitat variables at the reach level. These differences were between reaches with cutthroat trout, coho salmon, steelhead trout and those without. These individual species were then grouped together to comprise salmonid communities. The groups consisted of pools and reaches with one, two and all three species present. These six groups were tested using MRPP. Differences were found between all salmonid communities and their corresponding pools or reaches without the community present. Each species and community group was then fully described at the pool and reach ecological level. Additionally each suite of habitat variables was graphed as a percentage of the full distribution mean. This allowed the habitat suite to be viewed on the same scale. The graph line connecting the individual variables provided both species and community specific response curves or signatures. These signatures were then compared and contrasted against one another at the species, community and sub-basin contexts. Each species or community expressed its own unique signature that quantitatively described habitat partitioning and community interactions. The response curves may be used to guide land managers in restoration activities. These signatures provide insight into species and community specific utilization of pools and reaches. In addition they also provide understanding into how the individual habitat characteristics operate together in a suite attributes. Close

• 98. [Article] Redd site selection and spawning habitat use by fall chinook salmon

  The spawning habitat associated with fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redd clusters was investigated in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. A conceptual spawning habitat model is proposed ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Redd site selection and spawning habitat use by fall chinook salmon Author: Geist, David R. The spawning habitat associated with fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redd clusters was investigated in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. A conceptual spawning habitat model is proposed that describes how geomorphic features of river channels create hydraulic processes, including hyporheic flows, that influence where salmon spawn in unconstrained reaches of large mainstem alluvial rivers. Spatial point pattern analysis of redds showed that redd clusters averaged approximately 10 hectares in area and their locations were consistent from year to year. The tendency to spawn in clusters suggests fall chinook salmon's use of spawning habitat is highly selective. Hydraulic characteristics of the redd clusters were significantly different than the habitat surrounding them. Velocity and lateral slope of the river bottom were the most important habitat variables in predicting redd site selection. While these variables explained a large proportion of the variance in redd site selection (86 to 96%), some unmeasured factors still accounted for a small percentage of actual spawning site selection. Further investigation showed that the magnitude and chemical characteristics of hyporheic discharge were different between and within two spawning areas. Apparently, fall chinook salmon used chemical and physical cues from the discharge to locate spawning areas. Traditional spawning habitat models could be improved if they: used spawning area-specific, rather than river-specific; spawning characteristics; incorporated hyporheic discharge measurements; and gave further consideration to the geomorphic features that are present in the unconstrained segments of large alluvial rivers. Ultimately the recovery of endangered fall chinook salmon will depend on how well we are able to recreate the characteristics once common in alluvial floodplains of large rivers. The results from this research can be used to better define the relationship between these physical habitat characteristics and fall chinook salmon spawning site selection, and provide more efficient use of limited recovery resources. Title: Redd site selection and spawning habitat use by fall chinook salmon Author: Geist, David R. The spawning habitat associated with fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redd clusters was investigated in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. A conceptual spawning habitat model is proposed that describes how geomorphic features of river channels create hydraulic processes, including hyporheic flows, that influence where salmon spawn in unconstrained reaches of large mainstem alluvial rivers. Spatial point pattern analysis of redds showed that redd clusters averaged approximately 10 hectares in area and their locations were consistent from year to year. The tendency to spawn in clusters suggests fall chinook salmon's use of spawning habitat is highly selective. Hydraulic characteristics of the redd clusters were significantly different than the habitat surrounding them. Velocity and lateral slope of the river bottom were the most important habitat variables in predicting redd site selection. While these variables explained a large proportion of the variance in redd site selection (86 to 96%), some unmeasured factors still accounted for a small percentage of actual spawning site selection. Further investigation showed that the magnitude and chemical characteristics of hyporheic discharge were different between and within two spawning areas. Apparently, fall chinook salmon used chemical and physical cues from the discharge to locate spawning areas. Traditional spawning habitat models could be improved if they: used spawning area-specific, rather than river-specific; spawning characteristics; incorporated hyporheic discharge measurements; and gave further consideration to the geomorphic features that are present in the unconstrained segments of large alluvial rivers. Ultimately the recovery of endangered fall chinook salmon will depend on how well we are able to recreate the characteristics once common in alluvial floodplains of large rivers. The results from this research can be used to better define the relationship between these physical habitat characteristics and fall chinook salmon spawning site selection, and provide more efficient use of limited recovery resources. Close

• 99. [Article] Incorporating Habitat Dynamics into Bioeconomic Model of Fishery. Application to Artificial Reefs

  In this paper the emphasis is put on an important aspect of renewable resource use that was disregarded until now. It is the evolution of environmental carrying capacity which is traditionally interpreted ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Incorporating Habitat Dynamics into Bioeconomic Model of Fishery. Application to Artificial Reefs Author: Cartigny, Pierre, Ami, Dominique, Udumyan, Narine In this paper the emphasis is put on an important aspect of renewable resource use that was disregarded until now. It is the evolution of environmental carrying capacity which is traditionally interpreted as a maximal population level that can be supported by the environment (or by habitats of which it consists). Hence we adapt the Gordon-Schaefer model with constant carrying capacity by incorporating time-dependent carrying capacity that determines the state of habitats. They are subject to some biological processes (habitat rehabilitation) as well as to human aggressions (in particular habitat degradation due to fishing). Based on the developed model, we reassess the recommendations considered as a benchmark for resource managers until recently. Under simple hypotheses on the form of habitat (carrying capacity) dynamics, the current study has shown the importance of the latter for the design of management tools. When dynamic patterns of habitats are not taken into account, fishery recommendations based on Gordon-Schaefer model can be aberrant and lead to the collapse of the fishery. The presented model allows not only to enrich the design of management tools but also to assess the performance of artificial reefs, a promising ecosystem-based tool widely used in some coastal areas. The economic benefits of artificial reefs are still not well studied and represent a challenge to take up. Since artificial reefs are conceived as replacement for natural habitats, they assume the same role as these latter. Therefore the structure of our model seems appropriate to evaluate this particular management tool. Title: Incorporating Habitat Dynamics into Bioeconomic Model of Fishery. Application to Artificial Reefs Author: Cartigny, Pierre, Ami, Dominique, Udumyan, Narine In this paper the emphasis is put on an important aspect of renewable resource use that was disregarded until now. It is the evolution of environmental carrying capacity which is traditionally interpreted as a maximal population level that can be supported by the environment (or by habitats of which it consists). Hence we adapt the Gordon-Schaefer model with constant carrying capacity by incorporating time-dependent carrying capacity that determines the state of habitats. They are subject to some biological processes (habitat rehabilitation) as well as to human aggressions (in particular habitat degradation due to fishing). Based on the developed model, we reassess the recommendations considered as a benchmark for resource managers until recently. Under simple hypotheses on the form of habitat (carrying capacity) dynamics, the current study has shown the importance of the latter for the design of management tools. When dynamic patterns of habitats are not taken into account, fishery recommendations based on Gordon-Schaefer model can be aberrant and lead to the collapse of the fishery. The presented model allows not only to enrich the design of management tools but also to assess the performance of artificial reefs, a promising ecosystem-based tool widely used in some coastal areas. The economic benefits of artificial reefs are still not well studied and represent a challenge to take up. Since artificial reefs are conceived as replacement for natural habitats, they assume the same role as these latter. Therefore the structure of our model seems appropriate to evaluate this particular management tool. Close

• 100. [Article] Mapping surficial geologic habitats of the Oregon continental margin using integrated interpretive GIS techniques

  We map the regional physiography and surficial lithology (Surficial Geologic Habitat or SGH) over the continental margin of Oregon. This thesis develops, describes, and implements an iterative interpretive ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Mapping surficial geologic habitats of the Oregon continental margin using integrated interpretive GIS techniques Author: Romsos, Christopher G. We map the regional physiography and surficial lithology (Surficial Geologic Habitat or SGH) over the continental margin of Oregon. This thesis develops, describes, and implements an iterative interpretive method to map seafloor habitat types from disparate geological and geophysical datasets including: bathymetric images, sidescan sonar images, seismic reflection profiles, sediment samples, geologic maps of structure, and observations from submersibles. An indirect technique for the assessment of map accuracy or habitat type misidentification error is also explored and used to derive supplemental maps of varying interpretative confidence, or "quality". The geological and geophysical datasets used to produce the SGH maps of the Oregon margin are by their nature patchy, and form an irregular mosaic of variable data density and quality. Uniform sampling of continental margins does not yet exist, thus these maps are an attempt to glean as much information as possible from the framework of existing data. In any given area the quantity and quality of data available varied considerably, and required a flexible method of interpretation based on this availability. The integrated interpretative GIS techniques are developed to facilitate mapping geologic habitat types over this region of discontinuous and patchy seafloor data. The SGH map and thematic map accuracy assessment support improved habitat-based inventory and assessment methods. They also serve as habitat reference materials for marine resources management and planning activities at local to national scales. SGH and data quality maps are incorporated as thematic layers within a broader habitat geodatabase for west coast groundfish and are directly applied for modeling Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for these species. Title: Mapping surficial geologic habitats of the Oregon continental margin using integrated interpretive GIS techniques Author: Romsos, Christopher G. We map the regional physiography and surficial lithology (Surficial Geologic Habitat or SGH) over the continental margin of Oregon. This thesis develops, describes, and implements an iterative interpretive method to map seafloor habitat types from disparate geological and geophysical datasets including: bathymetric images, sidescan sonar images, seismic reflection profiles, sediment samples, geologic maps of structure, and observations from submersibles. An indirect technique for the assessment of map accuracy or habitat type misidentification error is also explored and used to derive supplemental maps of varying interpretative confidence, or "quality". The geological and geophysical datasets used to produce the SGH maps of the Oregon margin are by their nature patchy, and form an irregular mosaic of variable data density and quality. Uniform sampling of continental margins does not yet exist, thus these maps are an attempt to glean as much information as possible from the framework of existing data. In any given area the quantity and quality of data available varied considerably, and required a flexible method of interpretation based on this availability. The integrated interpretative GIS techniques are developed to facilitate mapping geologic habitat types over this region of discontinuous and patchy seafloor data. The SGH map and thematic map accuracy assessment support improved habitat-based inventory and assessment methods. They also serve as habitat reference materials for marine resources management and planning activities at local to national scales. SGH and data quality maps are incorporated as thematic layers within a broader habitat geodatabase for west coast groundfish and are directly applied for modeling Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for these species. Close