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A moving target - incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations

Cooke, S.J.; Martins, E.G.; Struthers, D.P.; Gutowsky, L.F.G.; Power, M.; Doka, S.E.; Dettmers, J.M.; Crook, D.A.; Lucas, M.C.; Holbrook, C.M.; Krueger, C.C.

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Authors

S.J. Cooke

E.G. Martins

D.P. Struthers

L.F.G. Gutowsky

M. Power

S.E. Doka

J.M. Dettmers

D.A. Crook

C.M. Holbrook

C.C. Krueger



Abstract

Freshwater fish move vertically and horizontally through the aquatic landscape for a variety of reasons, such as to find and exploit patchy resources or to locate essential habitats (e.g., for spawning). Inherent challenges exist with the assessment of fish populations because they are moving targets. We submit that quantifying and describing the spatial ecology of fish and their habitat is an important component of freshwater fishery assessment and management. With a growing number of tools available for studying the spatial ecology of fishes (e.g., telemetry, population genetics, hydroacoustics, otolith microchemistry, stable isotope analysis), new knowledge can now be generated and incorporated into biological assessment and fishery management. For example, knowing when, where, and how to deploy assessment gears is essential to inform, refine, or calibrate assessment protocols. Such information is also useful for quantifying or avoiding bycatch of imperiled species. Knowledge of habitat connectivity and usage can identify critically important migration corridors and habitats and can be used to improve our understanding of variables that influence spatial structuring of fish populations. Similarly, demographic processes are partly driven by the behavior of fish and mediated by environmental drivers. Information on these processes is critical to the development and application of realistic population dynamics models. Collectively, biological assessment, when informed by knowledge of spatial ecology, can provide managers with the ability to understand how and when fish and their habitats may be exposed to different threats. Naturally, this knowledge helps to better evaluate or develop strategies to protect the long-term viability of fishery production. Failure to understand the spatial ecology of fishes and to incorporate spatiotemporal data can bias population assessments and forecasts and potentially lead to ineffective or counterproductive management actions.

Citation

Cooke, S., Martins, E., Struthers, D., Gutowsky, L., Power, M., Doka, S., …Krueger, C. (2016). A moving target - incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188(4), Article 239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5228-0

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 3, 2016
Online Publication Date Mar 22, 2016
Publication Date Apr 1, 2016
Deposit Date Apr 1, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Print ISSN 0167-6369
Electronic ISSN 1573-2959
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 188
Issue 4
Article Number 239
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5228-0

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