icft 2011 presentation
DESCRIPTION
International Conference of Fish TelemetryTRANSCRIPT
Hydroacoustic telemetry as a conservation tool:
Integrating studies
for comprehensive
understanding of
native species
survival in California
Goal / Purpose
Compile history of acoustic tracking research in CA to:
- Assess what we’ve learned in 47 years
- Determine research trends and data gaps
- Determine if we can be more efficient/effective
Species of Concern
Steelhead Trout (O. mykiss) Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha)
Past/present Acoustic Telemetry Participants
State agencies • DWR/CDFG
Federal agencies • USGS/USBR/USFWS/USACE/NMFS/PSMFC
Universities • UC Davis/UC Santa Cruz
Water agencies/consultants • eg FISHBIO/NRS/EBMUD/MWD/ECORP/AECOM
Technology companies• HTI/Vemco/Lotek/ATS/Sontronics/ Smith-Root/Bayshore/
Devoeand Maim
Methods
Contact known telemetry investigators
• Discover and catalog project details• Obtain report / publication• Obtain additional research leads
Search text/bibliographies for additional studies
Online search
• Google and Google Scholar• State and Federal agency websites• University webpages
Compile database• Input project data – objective, timing, species, life-stage,
monitoring locations, number and type of tags, cost, etc
4
6
8
6
4
2
10
2
12
Vemco HTI ATS
DeVoe and Maim Smith-Root Bayshore Systems
Sonotronics
Smith-Root and Bayshore
Nu
mb
er
of
pro
ject
s
North Basin
South Basin
North/South Basin Technology Use Through Time
Study Objectives by RegionN
um
be
r o
f P
roje
cts
South BasinNorth Basin Central Delta Bay
Salmonid Migration & Survival
Predator Behavior
20
15
10
5
Research Effort by Number of Fish Tagged
Chinook O. mykiss Predator
67.4 %
3.6 %
29.0 %
* Number of tagged fish incomplete value based on non-responsive investigators
What We’ve Learned - Salmonids
• Juvenile survival through Delta related to route selection
• Survival lower than expected in upper reaches
• Relationship between flow and survival influenced by multiple mechanisms
• Patterns of diel migrations for O. mykiss are inconsistent between studies and seasons
• Wild O. mykiss migration differs from hatchery fish
Michel et al. 2008; MacFarlane et al 2008; VAMP 2007 and 2008
VAMP 2007 and 2008; Perry et al. 2010; Newman 2008; Holbrook et al. 2008
MacFarlane et al. 2008; Buchanan et al. 2010; Perry et al. 2010; Vogel 2010; Holbrook et al. 2008
Chapman et al. 2008; Sandstrom et al. 2008
Del Real et al. 2010
What We’ve Learned - Predators
• Predation likely cause of high juvenile mortality, especially at lower flows
• Predation on juveniles high at key locations
• Predation confounds interpretation of juvenile survival estimates
• Improving survival estimates requires better data on predator movements relative to salmon movements
MacFarlane et al. 2008; Buchanan et al. 2010
Vogel 2010; SJRGA 2008 and 2009; Clark et al. 2009; Bowen and Bark 2010
Vogel 2010; SJRGA 2008 and 2009; Clark et al. 2009
Vogel 2010; SJRGA 2008 and 2009; Clark et al. 2009; Bowen and Bark 2010
What We Haven’t Learned…
• “Population-level” impact of predation
• Importance of fry survival to population persistence
• Southern population data sparse
• Factors that drive O. mykissanadromy/residency
• Efficient reporting/documentation
• Effective cooperation and information sharing
Conclusions
• Achieved better understanding of:
• Rates of mortality through specific migration routes• Synergy of flows and other sources of mortality• Fine-scale behavior in modified habitats• Potential impacts of predation
• Conventional techniques could not provide this information in such a modified system
• Acoustic telemetry has provided data that is essential for conserving these species
• Expand predation-specific research
• Require information sharing, report more frequently in web-accessible format
• Expand CFTC or similar to include different tag types, with funding and dedicated staff
• Involve statisticians in design of future receiver arrays
• Convene regular annual symposia for active groups
Recommendations
Thank you
Harmony PatricioDoug DemkoChris Becker
John Montgomery
www.fishbio.com
1st International Conference on Fish TelemetrySapporo, JapanJune 2011